The Open Road
By: G. Barton

It late one night when Jarod got this idea from a book he picked up for Miss Parker. He threw his things in the car and drove to Blue Cove. He arrived in the early morning hours. He slipped in her house as he normal did from time to time. He walked over to her bed and watched the sleeping form. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth soaked with chloroform. He placed it over her mouth. Parker fought a few minutes before falling in a deep sleep. Jarod put her over his shoulder and carried her out to the car. He started the engine and took off again. He hoped to put many miles between them and Blue Cove before she woke.

He watched her a she began to move. "It won't be long." He said to himself.

Parker could feel the warm sun hitting her body when her eyes popped opened. She let out a moan. She quickly raised up as she watched the trees move by.

"What in the hell?"

"Good morning, Miss Parker."

"Jarod?" Her head turned sharp at the sound of the Pretender's voice. She stared at him a few minutes. "How did...better yet...where are we and why am I in the car with you?" She snapped.

"Not a morning person, are we?"

"Cut the crap. Tell me what is going on." She grabbed the door handle but he had it locked.

"We are going on a road trip." He smiled.

"A what?" She tried to unlock the door but Jarod must have had it child proofed.

"A road trip. Oh don't tell me you haven't been on one before."

She groaned. "I'm in hell."

"No you aren't."

After giving up on getting out of the car, she reached over and pinched him.

"Ow. What did you do that for?"

"To see if I was dreaming!" She shouted.

"You dream of me often?" His eye brow raised slightly.

"Hell no!" She yelled back as she leaned back in the seat.

"It's okay if you do." He smiled a sly grin.

She hit him again. "Why are we taking a road trip?"

"Because I never got to take one before. I had a friend that promised me that we would go on one but I haven't heard from her in while."

"Her?"

"Yeah. A cute red head." He grinned from ear to ear of just the thought of Zoe. "Beside I was in this book store the other and picked a little something up for you when I got this idea."

"A gift for me. You shouldn't have." She smirked.

"It wasn't much really."

"Are you going to tell me what it is?"

"Here." He handed her a small book with a pink cover.

"The Bad Girl's Guide to the Open Road?"

"Yeah. I figured you need to get away. You look like you are under some stress."

"The only stress in my life is you." She shot back.

"Not really."

"And what is that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing."

"No, offense but the book does say it's for girls."

"Well, since either of us has any friends I guess I will have to do."

She gave him a go to hell look as she flipped through the pages and stopped at the Yo-yo game. "Now this sounds interesting." She had a smile on her face that ran from one ear to the other.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"On page 33 you will find a Bad girl's tool kit. I hope you don't mind but I packed a few things I thought you might need."

She quickly turned to page 33. "Duct tape. Jump rope. Condoms. Jarod, you naughty boy. What did you have in mind?" She laughed.

"It's not what you think!"

She watched him squirm. "Can we stop somewhere? I need to go to the bathroom and I'm not ready to pee on the side of the road!" She added.

"Sure. If you promise not to run."

"I won't. Besides you were right, is nice to get away from that old dreary building."

They drove to the next exit. Jarod filled the car up with gas while Parker found the restroom. It was long until they hit the road again.

Parker settled down in the passenger seat again. She opened a bag of peanuts. "Would you like some?" She handed the bag to him as she went through the music tapes he had laying around everywhere.

"Maybe later."

She read the tapes off as she picked them up. "Sheryl Crow, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Madonna, Willie Nelson. You sure do have a section of music here."

"I just picked up what the book said were good road tunes." His eyes focused on the open highway.

"Led Zeppelin. I don't see them in the book." She wonder why he would be listening to something that hard.

"I just like them." He commented.

"Oh, I see." She turned back to the book and flipped some more pages.

"There is something you can do for me?" He turned his focus to her.

"What?"

He handed her his phone.

"You want me to call work?"

"Yeah. I don't want them to find us."

"Where are we headed anyway?"

"Where would you like to go?"

"I don't know." She flipped through the book. "What kind mood are you in?"

He looked over at her. "What?"

"It says on page 39 that if you are feeling trapped go to Freedom, California. How are you feeling?"

"I feel like heading south. What does it say about Florida?"

"If you are feeling sick head to Doctor Phillips, Florida." She smirked.

"Okay what else?"

"There's a directory in the back. Let me see what I can find." She turned to the back of the book and started calling out places.

"Hey go back one."

"What?"

"The one after the Native American Hoop Dance."

"Nudes-A-Poppin Show."

"Yeah! When is it?" He grinned.

"You missed it." She keep on reading.

"Tell me when it was. I might need to remember that date."

"It is the 3rd Sunday in July and August. Happy!"

"Thanks."

"There is lot to do in Texas."

"Like what?"

"Well there is the Cadillac Ranch, Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Cockroach Hall of Fame, and the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup."

"Hey...."

"No! I'm not going where there is rattlesnakes."

"How about cockroaches?"

"No. You have put me through that already."

"Oh...I forgot. Time flies when you are having fun." He joked.

She threw the book at him.

"Ow. Just make your call."

She dialed the number.

"This is Sydney."

"Sydney...."

"Miss Parker, where are you? Your father has been asking about you. Broots and I have been worried."

"And my father?"

"He wants to know where you are."

"He hasn't been worried."

"I'm sure he is."

"Syd, listen I will be gone a while. Something has come up."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I had to visit an old friend."

"When will we expect you."

"I'm not sure. I will let you know." She hung up the phone.

******

Broots stood next to Sydney. "What did she say?"

"She had to visit a friend."

"I don't believe it."

"I don't either."

"No. Miss Parker has a friend?" Broots shook his head and walked off.

******

"Okay, it's done." She handed the phone back to it's rightful owner.

As he took the phone, "Parker, I'm sure he's worried." He glanced up at her.

"Yeah." She turned her head and stared out the window.

The silence went from minutes to an hour.

"Hey, what do you say we play a game?"

"I'm not in the mood."

"Come on. There's the license plate game, 20 questions, or we could just talk."

"Maybe later."

Jarod would glance over at her every once in awhile to make sure she was okay. Finally, he couldn't take the silence any longer.

"South Carolina."

"What?"

"South Carolina." He pointed to the car in front of them.

"I said..."

"Come on, Parker, don't ruin our road trip."

She crossed her arms at her chest, took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Georgia."

"Uh. Where?"

"The trucker in front of us."

"Oh."

They played that game for a while then decided to move onto something else.

"I know, we could talk about our first and worst." Parker looked over at him, hoping to hear that his time with Nia wasn't that good. But then again, it was his first and probably only time so she thought.

"Our first and worst?"

"Yeah, Jarod. Your first love, first kiss, first time making love and the worst of those things." She grinned over at him.

"Well you were my first kiss."

"I know that."

"And first love."

"What?" She laughed.

"You heard me."

"Come on, Jarod. Be serious."

"I am."

"Okay, this may not have been a good idea." She whispered.

"No. You wanted to play unless you are going to be jealous."

"Me? Jealous? No. Never."

Jarod smiled. "Okay Parker, how was your first time?"

"My first time....." She placed her hand over her mouth. "It's been so long ago I can't remember my first time."

"Parker, everybody remembers their first time."

"Okay. He was nice looking boy. We had to be 16 or 17. It was nice." She beamed. She could see Jarod watching her through the corner of her eyes. "Your turn."

"My turn? That's it."

She rolled the window down a little. "It's getting hot in here." She fanned her face.

"All right. My first time was with Nia. We were looking for this man. His plane went down on the mountain and began our search when it got late. We had to spend the night out in the cool air when we found a barn to sleep in."

"Get on with it!" She snapped.

"Well...we made love. It was nice."

"That's it."

"Oh, excuse me 'Miss I was 16 and it was nice'." He teased.

"Okay but I bet she was the only one you had."

"No. Actually, there was this FBI agent and Zoe."

"Please. Like I'm suppose to believe you and an FBI agent."

"It's true. Believe what you want. I don't care." He kept on driving. "It's getting late. We need stop somewhere and get some rest."

"Whatever you want to do."

******

They stopped at some motel at the side of the road. "I'll get us a room." Parker stayed in the car while Jarod went and came out.

"It's over there. Room 221."

They got settled in. "I have dibs on the shower." Parker ran toward the bathroom.

"Ladies first."

"Why are you being so nice?"

"I thought I would go get us some clothes."

Parker eyed him as he left. "I'll be back." The door shut.

When Jarod returned he found Parker coming out of the shower with a towel around her. Her wet hair hung down her back dripping small amounts of water which rolled down her bare shoulder to her back.

"You're back." She smiled.

"I can wait outside while you dress." He turned quickly.

"Jarod, you can have the shower. I'll get dress in here."

He turned back around and laid a bag of clothes on the bed. "Okay." He went in the bathroom. He returned after his shower. He opened the door and saw her laying on the bed watching TV. She glanced up and saw his bare chest then a white towel around his waist. She stared for a few minutes.

"I forgot my clothes. They were in the bag with yours."

"I know."

"Mmm."

"I saw them in there when I got mine out."

"Oh." He grabbed the clothes and returned to the bathroom. "What are you watching?" He stepped around the corner with a jeans on but no shirt.

"Mmm." She couldn't help but watch what was standing in front of her instead of the noise that he was talking about.

"The TV. What's on?"

"Oh. Nothing really. I'm hungry. What do you say we get something to eat?"

"Good idea." Jarod slipped the shirt on and they headed out before either of them acted on what was going on in their minds.

******

An hour later, they returned to the little room they were staying in.

"I'm tried. Let's get some rest." Jarod informed her.

"Fine with me." Parker crawled into one bed and left the other one for Jarod.

Jarod laid there a few minutes staring up at the ceiling. "Parker?"

"Mmm."

"Nothing. Sleep tight."

She curled up in the blanket and watched him. "Jarod."

"Yeah."

"I can't seem to sleep."

"Me either. Want to watch TV."

"Sure."

Jarod grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Parker took hold of the guide that was sitting next to the bed. As he flipped through the channels, Parker called out was on. After a going through them three times, Jarod turned it off. "We could finish our conversation."

"What was that?"

"We talked about our first. Who was your worst?"

"Maybe we should move onto something else."

"Scared!"

"No. I just don't want to bore you."

"Come on. We can't stop there. Who was your worst?"

"Okay, he was brought in from Raines and I didn't know it. We had known each other a while back. He was also married."

"Parker!"

"I know. I'm going to hell. How do you know that I'm not going already?"

"I was going to say how could you. He had a family."

"He brought it on."

"Oh really."

"Well, he shouldn't tell me something that I know is true."

"And what was that?"

"He excused me of not being able to go that far that many times."

"Uh?"

"Orgasm Jarod. Have you ever reached that point?"

"I'm not sure."

"If you don't know then you probably haven't. Anyway, he was the worst. I lied to him and told him he was great. I got him in the end."

"I'm sure you did."

"Your turn."

"I'm not sure if I had a worst time."

"Come on Jarod. Oh I forgot. You have only had three people."

"I can't help it if I'm not as experienced as you. I was trapped in the Centre all my life."

"To tell you the truth. I wish I wasn't."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. All I wanted was to feel loved." A tear fell down her face. She turned toward Jarod. "I'm sleepy now. I think I can go to sleep. Do you mind if we finish this later."

"Sure. I'm ready for bed too. Sleep tight." Jarod turned the light off as Parker rolled over.

******

Part 2

The next morning Jarod woke to find her gone. He threw on his clothes and opened the door. He ran right into her.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" She asked.

"No where." His heart clamed down.

"You thought I was gone, didn't you?"

"The thought did cross my mind."

"Relax. I went for breakfast." They headed back in the room. Jarod sat down on the bed as Parker pulled out some donuts. "I got you some coffee." She handed him the cup in her hand.

"Thanks." He took the cup from her and opened the donuts. He glanced over at her. "Where's yours?" He replied with his mouth full.

"Oh, I wasn't hungry."

After he downed the food and coffee, "I guess we better get going."

"Yeah."

Parker walked over the driver's side. Jarod gazed up at her. "I'll drive. Unless you think I might drive you back to Delaware." She laughed.

He handed her the keys.

"I thought you might be tried of driving." She opened the door and hopped in. "Buckle up." The engine started and they were off again.

******

Hours later, they entered Texas. "Where to first?" She asked her half a wake passenger.

"Restroom." He answered.

Parker pulled over to the next rest stop. Jarod ran in. Parker went into the visitors center while waiting on him. He came in shortly.

"What are you looking at?"

"Maps." She grabbed a few things and off they went again.

"Let's ride horses."

"Horses?" Parker asked.

"Yep. That sounds like fun. I never got to ride when I was a kid."

"Okay. Horses it is." They found a riding stable nearby.

******

It was late and they needed a place to stay. "Look for a motel."

"Okay, genius. Give me time."

Jarod pulled the car in a motel after Parker pointed several out. They got in their room.

"I'm tried. We have done everything that a person can do in one day." Parker sunk down on the bed. She pulled off her shoes.

"Me too." Jarod sat down next to her. He laid back on the bed. "What do we do tomorrow?"

"What have we not done today?" She fell back on the bed. She rolled over on her side, staring at the Pretender. "I think we forgot to eat something." Her stomach was making noises.

"What you do want? There are several places to choose from." He grabbed the phone book.

"Something that delivers."

"Come on. We are on a road trip."

"I know that is why I want to save some of my energy for tomorrow."

"Pizza it is."

"Fine with me."

******

After a couple of days in Texas they moved on.

"I think we should try Memphis."

"Why?"

"It's a nice town. Besides, Elvis is from there."

"Jarod, I hate to tell you but the King is dead."

"No." He joked. Then he turned toward her and smiled. "Let's go anyway."

"You're driving."

******

After a few stops on the side of the road to pee and get gas. They made it to Memphis.

"Bye, Arkansas." Jarod replied as they crossed the line. He saw a bill board for Beale Street. "Hey, let's check out Beale street."

"Have you ever heard the blues?"

"Yep." They headed that way since it was the first stop.

They left Beale Street, Graceland, and Memphis Zoo. Jarod looked over at his partner in crime.

"I keep seeing bill boards for Tunica."

"Tunica? Jarod we have to rest sometime."

"We can cross the line over to Mississippi play a few slots, maybe eat a bite and headed back over here for the night. What do you say?"

"Sounds like a plan." Parker kicked her feet up on the dash board.

******

Late in the night, Jarod and Parker made it back to Memphis. Found a room and called it quits for the night.

"What do you want to do tomorrow?"

"I don't care but you know I have to make my way home soon."

"I thought we were having fun."

"We are but Jarod you know that I can't stay on this road trip forever. I have to go back to reality."

"Why? This is so much more fun."

"Jarod."

"Okay. Let's get cleaned up."

After they showered they kicked back on the bed to watch the TV. Jarod stared over at her, his hunter. "Parker."

"Mmm." She stared at the TV.

"Remember when you said that you could go far many times."

Her head quickly turned toward him. "Jarod....?"

"I was wondering how a person can reach that climax and how long they stay at that point?"

"Jarod, I don't think...."

"Parker, I not saying we have to do anything. I was just asking."

"I don't know how to explain it. Can we move on to something else?"

"There's a movie on channel 11." He decided on a different subject.

After a while of silence he decided on sleep. "I'm going to turn in." He yawned.

"Do you mind if I finishing watching this?"

"No. Go ahead." He rolled over.

As the movie came to the end Jarod raised up.

"Did I wake you?"

"No. Bathroom." He stumbled up and went across the way to the restroom. When he exited back out the lights were out and crawled back in bed. Parker felt the bed go down on the other side.

"Jarod?"

"Mmm." He answered.

"What are you doing in my bed?"

"Your bed. I'm in mine."

"No. Yours is over there." She pointed. It wasn't long until she heard snoring. "Forget it." She climbed out of hers and went to his.

The next morning, Parker rolled over and felt warm air hitting her neck. Her eyes popped opened. Jarod's face was just inches from hers.

"Jarod!" She yelled.

He jumped up. "What?"

"Would you quit following me?"

"I'm not following you. You are in my bed."

"Yeah. You were in mine last night. Get out!"

"You."

"I'm not leaving my bed."

"Fine. Let's just get up. What time is?"

Jarod looked at the clock. "3:00 am."

"It can't be. It seems later than that."

"Well, it is. Now lay back down. You're warm." He grabbed her pushing her back down next to him.

"I'm not sharing a bed with you."

"Are you scared something might happen?"

"Yes."

Jarod raised up. "You are."

"After listening to you last night."

"You think I can't keep my hands off of you or something? I should be the one that is worried."

Parker laughed loudly.

"What is funny?"

"You."

"Let's don't fight. Go back to sleep." He laid back down.

Parker fumed for a while then before long she was asleep. The next thing she knew the light was coming through the cracks of the curtains. She tired to raise up to see the time but she had a heavy body laying across her. She hit his arm hoping to wake sleeping beauty but all she got was a grunt.

"Jarod!" She said several times before he opened one eye and looked her straight in hers.

"What you doing under me?"

"That is a good question." Her blues eyes focused on his brown ones.

Then as he started to raise up his lips came closer to hers.

"Jarod."

"Shh." His fingertips brushed her soft lips. "We both want to know what it is like to sleep with the other." He whispered.

"But can you walk away from this?"

"Can you?"

"It's easier said than done." She began to relax under the Pretender.

"I guess we will find out." His lips took hers at full force. She wrapped her arms around his neck as their tongues fought control of the kiss. He moved slowly and gently down her neck. He pulled her shirt over her head. He kissed the curve of her soft shoulder as he moved to one breast before moving to the valley between her breast. His fingers massaged her nipple causing her to get excited as he took the other breast into his mouth and sucked lightly. She moved her body to met his as he continued to move south. He had the rest of her clothes off in a matter of minutes. He ran his hand down her leg and back up stopping at her inner thigh. He kissed the inside of her thigh then to the top of the black hair. He glanced up into her eyes as she watched him. He then ran his fingertips down and inserted them into her wetness between her legs. She let out a groan as she flipped him over and played the same trick on him. She ran her pointer finger over his hardness as a grinned escaped her lips. She raised back up to met his lips. She took her tongue and licked his neck. She freed him from his boxer and took him. He met her every thrust. His fingers rubbed her as she moved faster on him almost sliding out and then back in. His hands reached up and pulled her back down to him. She kissed his chest as he rolled her over. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on tight as he kissed her from the neck to her breast. Her fingers ran down his back to his ass. Then moved to the front of him and massaging his balls. He let out a scream as she touched him in the right spot. He moved faster and harder causing her to moan as loud. He found her lips one last time before falling exhausting onto her hot sweaty body.

"Parker."

"Shh. Don't say a word."

He looked up at her. Her eyes spoke, 'Hold me'. He took her into his muscular arms and held her tight. He kissed the top of her head as he brushed her wet hair from her face.

They fell asleep.

******

Hours later, Parker woke still laying in his arms. She moved, hoping to wake him.

"Morning." He kissed her.

"Jarod, about earlier...."

"I know. It was earlier. Nothing more."

"I'm sorry. We both know it won't work."

He sat on the edge of the bed. "At least we will remember what we had." He glanced over at her.

"Always." She whispered. She got up taking nothing to cover her naked body. She headed in the bathroom. Jarod heard the bath water running. He tapped on the door.

"Can we at least shower together?" He asked.

Parker stared into the mirror, trying to look past what had just happened in the next room.

"Parker?"

The door opened. "I don't know if that is a good idea."

"Come on. The book says what happens on the road stays between us."

She couldn't resist those big brown eyes.

******

An hour later, they left the bathroom. They had towels wrapped around them.

"I think I missed a spot." Jarod touched her bare shoulder and kissed it.

"I don't know how. You washed every spot at least twice maybe more."

"I couldn't help it. I wanted you to be clean." He grinned.

He grabbed her and they fell onto the bed. He kissed her neck. As he was making his way down she stopped him.

"Jarod."

"Mmm." He kissed her shoulder again.

"I think I should take a plane home."

"What? Why?" He looked into those icy blue eyes.

"Because it would be better on both of us."

"I don't know about that."

"I do. I think I should take the afternoon flight."

"You were already planning this, weren't you?"

"I just checked into it, just in case."

He got up from the bed and paced in front of her. "Well, I guess the closer you are to Blue Cove without me is better." He stopped and looked down at her. "What time does the flight leave?"

"5:00."

He glanced down at the clock by the bed. "We have six hours to get ready. I know what we can do to pass the time." He grinned from on ear to the other.

"Jarod!"

"What? I was talking about finishing seeing the sights."

"Oh."

"What did you have think I was talking about?"

"Same thing." She quickly got up and dressed.

******

Jarod stood at the airport with her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Flight 403 to Delaware is now boarding." The announcer said.

Jarod pulled her close to him one more time.

"I have to go."

He didn't let go of her.

"Jarod?"

"I know." He kissed her for the last time.

She walked toward her gate and glanced back at him. She ran back into his arms. "It's not like it is goodbye. I will see you again."

"I know." His voice sadden.

"Final call."

"Go." He pulled away.

"No regrets." She whispered in his ear as she backed away.

"Me either!" He shouted as he watched her disappear. He stood at the window until the plane disappeared into the clouds.

******

Broots and Sydney walked into her office carrying a small package.

"Your back. I see." Sydney smiled at the beautiful woman seating behind the desk.

"This came for you." Broots handed her the small box. She opened it and saw many different kinds of chocolate staring back at her.

"Chocolate!" Broots got excited.

"Puddin Hill?" Sydney asked.

"It's a small place on the out skirts of Texas." She replied with a smile.

"Oh. I see." The older man turned to leave. "Broots."

"Oh yeah." He followed him out.

******

When Parker got home she found a box sitting on her coffee table. She sat her things down and quickly opened the box. She found ticket stubs to all the places that her and Jarod had visited, along with her little treasures. As she went through the box her phone rang.

"What?"

"Did you get my stuff?"

"Jarod." A smile crossed her lips. "Yes."

"I thought you might want some souvenirs from our road trip."

"Thanks." She whispered.

"You're welcome." He hung up the phone and walked away from her house.

The End!