"So watcha running from?" Tim asks after a few minutes on the road.

"Who says I'm running from anything?" Avi asks, biting on his bottom lip as he stares out of the windshield.

"Bad marriage, maybe?" Tim asks looking back to the road.

"Dang. You're good." Avi says looking over at Tim.

"Wild guess." Tim shrugs and chuckles softly. " Actually, the discoloration on your ring finger tells me you once wore a ring. Were you married long?"

"One year." Avi sighs as he looks out his side window.

"Wow, sorry to hear that." Tim says. "You a musician?"

"I wish." Avi chuckles, shaking his head. "I tried but had no luck."

"Again, sorry to hear that." Tim replies.

"What about you? What are you running from?" Avi asks.

"Nothing I don't reckon." Tim smiles. "Just wanted to see what freedom feels like."

"You married?" Avi asks.

"Naw, you might say that marriage and my life didn't go hand in hand." Tim says with a slight smile. "You hungry? There some snacks in that bag in the backseat."

"You don't mind? I am pretty hungry." Avi says.

"Help yourself. There's water and soft drinks in the cooler." Tim says.

"Bless you." Avi says as he raises up between the seats and starts digging around looking for something to eat and drink.

Avi sits back down with a bottle of water and a pack of cookies.

"That'll tide you over until we find a town to get some real food." Tim says.

"Oh, Uh. I don't have any money." Avi says sadly. "Maybe a couple of dollars."

"That's alright. I'll buy." Tim smiles.

"So where are you from?" Avi asks as he takes a bite of cookie.

"Nederland, Texas. Not too far from the coast." Tim answers.

"What did you do there?" Avi asks.

"Uh, you might say I was self-employed and decided to take an early retirement." Tim smiles.

"What were you, a hit man or something? You're being awfully secretive. Should I fear for my life?" Avi chuckles.

"No." Tim laughs. "I wasn't a hitman. It's just ..... I just don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

"Well, that's making me uncomfortable." Avi says, putting the cap back on his water.

"I was a prostitute." Tim says softly as he kept his eyes glued to the road.

"Oh." Avi says, staring at Tim showing no expression. "Men or women?"

"Both." Tim answers. "You're uncomfortable now, aren't you."

"No. No, actually I'm not." Avi smiles. "So you worked for yourself? You didn't have a pimp?"

"No pimp." Tim answers. "I've been a prostitute since I was 16, I'm 35 now. Thought it was about time to retire."

"Sixteen, wow." Avi says quietly as he looks back out the window.

"So, what happened to your marriage? If you don't mind me asking?" Tim asks, glancing over at Avi.

"Scott." He smirks.

"Scott? Who's that? Tim asks.

"My husband's lover." Avi says with a roll of his eyes.

"Ohhhh. That would definitely break up a marriage." Tim says. "I just presumed, for some reason, that you were straight. Don't know why."

"Yep, I'm gay. I really thought he was the one too. But it started falling apart about 9 months into the marriage." Avi says as he eats another cookie.

"D*mn, that really sucks." Tim says.

"You telling me. The little b*stard walked away with everything too." Avi says. "And I wasn't even off our block yet before Scott was already moving in."

"He must have had an awfully big dick." Tim mumbled.

"WHAT?!!" Avi asks, his voice showing a little anger.

"I mean, why else would your husband leave you for him. There's no way he could have been better looking." Tim says with a shrug.

"Wow, smooth move. But I can't afford you." Avi says as he turns his attention back to the passing scenery.

Tim tightens his lips as he suddenly pulls to the side of the road, slamming on the brakes.

"WHAT THE HELL!" Avi shouts as he grabs onto the dashboard.

"That wasn't a f*ucking pick-up line, jerk! That was a d*mn compliment!" Tim growls. "If it bothers you that bad that I'm a prostitute, then get the hell out of my car!"

Avi opens his mouth but was unable to say anything. He could only shake his head. He stares at Tim with frightened eyes.

"I don't need pick-up lines, Avi." Tim continues. "I was d*mn good at what I did. Out of all the whores for hire in Nederland, people would come looking for me to give them pleasure. But it came with a price, being known as a trashy whore."

"I'm sorry." Avi says softly. "I ... I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that, I've never recieved a compliment before. I didn't know how to take it."

Tim sighs, leaning his head back on the headrest, closing his eyes.

"I am truly sorry." Avi says after not getting a reply from Tim. He sighs and reaches for the door handle and opens the car door to get out.

"No." Tim says as he quickly reaches over grabbing Avi by the arm to stop him. "You don't have to go. Unless you feel you need to."

"I don't want to get out." Avi says sitting back down in the seat.

"I'm sorry that I went off on you like that." Tim says brushing his hair back. "It just gets really tiring, when people knows your a prostitute they automatically think your out to get them in bed."

"I know I might get punched in the face for this, but, wasn't that your job?" Avi asks.

"I had my working hours just like everyone else." Tim chuckles.

"You ever been arrested?" Avi asks as he buckles his seatbelt.

"Yeah, plenty of times. Austin would always come bail me out." Tim chuckles as he pulls back onto the highway.

"Austin?" Avi asks.

"Austin was another prostitute. He was my room mate." Tim smiles as he thinks of Austin's boyish face. "A room mate with benefits."

"Oh." Avi answers as he tries to ignore the sudden feel of jealous that was churning in his stomach.

*********

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