Jordan reached into the takeout box and popped a fry into his mouth then swore when it burnt his tongue. He quickly opened his mouth and started huffing out air like a fire breathing dragon as he tried to cool his tongue. He waited a few more minutes, well more like seconds before reaching for more. He was really too hungry to wait for the food to cool.

“Jerusalem crickets!”

The truck hit a pothole before he had time to swing sway from it. His hands immediately tightened around the steering wheel. He hadn't expected business to hold him over so long in town. When he got the call this morning he just couldn't pass on it. So he dropped everything and headed across town.

He could feel his eyes getting heavy as he fought against the exhaustion so he popped another fry into his mouth then reached for a piece of fried chicken, at least eating would distract him from sleep. One of his favorite songs came on from the night radio channel he was listening to and he found himself humming and gently tapping his hands against the steering to the rhythm of the beat.

Light rain began to fall on the windshield as he drove along. It created a peaceful atmosphere for him. The rain came heavier the further he drove and then lighting and thunder struck. He paused and slowed down when he thought he heard a scream but as he listened all he heard was the rain falling against the roof of the truck. The lighting brightened the night sky again and he waited for the thunder to clap. When it did he had no doubt about the scream he heard this time. He immediately pulled the truck to the side of the road and looked up at his rearview mirror. All he saw was the empty road he left behind. He reached for his flashlight and climbed out of the truck swearing grumpily when the cold rain greeted him. He looked around quickly as he shined the light any and everywhere. Deciding it was simply exhaustion making him hear things he move to go back into the truck but then he heard the sound of his farm tools in the back move. He quickly turned the flashlight and caught movement coming from under the large green tarp he had used to cover the equipments.

“Now what in the sam hill is that!” He exclaimed

I'm not in the mood for a rabies shot so that darn sure better not be a blasted raccoon.

He stepped to the side and grabbed hold of the tarp and pulled. Another ear splitting scream ran through the air.

“What in the world are you doing in my truck!?” He shouted over the rain.

“Don't shoot, please don't shoot!” She yelled

“Lady this is a flashlight. Unless these things have been seriously upgraded over the years the only thing it will be shooting is light!” He snapped

“You're blinding me with that thing!” She yelled covering her eyes.

“You want to tell me why you're in my truck?” he asked

“Not really” she replied

“Let's try this again. You have three seconds to tell me why you're in my truck or I'll pull you out and leave you here” he warned her

“You wouldn't dare!” She shrieked in panic

“One…”

“What kind of uncivilized bastard are you?” She asked

“Two…”

“What if some bear eats me out here in the middle of the night?” She tried again

“Three, times up.” He made a grab for her and caught her hand, giving him enough leverage to swing her over his shoulder before lowering her kicking form to the ground. Her foot caught his side on her way down.

“Son of a …”

He glared at her before stomping back to the front of his truck. When he felt her grab hold of his hand he turned around to shake her off but she was holding on for dear life.

“Lady let me go!” He said forcefully wiggling his hand.

He climbed into his truck just as she burst into tears.

“I have nowhere to go. Please don't leave me here” she sobbed

Ah hell I hate it when they turn on the water works.

He sighed and looked back at her. She had Her arms wrapped around herself in a protective stance as she shivered uncontrollably from the cold and the rain.

“Get in” he told her.

“Are you serious” she asked

“Sweetheart you better get in now before I really show you what an uncivilized bastard I can be and leave you here” he replied throwing her earlier words back at her.

He watched as she ran past him and went to the other side of the truck and climbed in. She sat there shaking with her teeth clattering he wouldn't be surprised if they started falling out right before his eyes. He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out his blanket ignored the fact that she moved away out of his reach. He shook it open and reach over to try to drape it around her but she gasp and moved away. It was a skittish move indicating that this woman didn't trust easily. A little late for that considering the position they were in. He tossed her the blanket making sure not to touch her.

“Do you always drive around with a blanket?” She asked

“You're welcome” he mumbled as he started the truck and pulled back onto the road.

“Thank you” she whispered sounding like she actually meant it. He wasn't sure why but he got the feeling manners wasn't one of her strong suits.

They drove in silence for a few minutes. She dried off while he tried to figured what he had gotten himself into. What was he suppose to do with a complete stranger claiming she had nowhere to go? For all he knows this woman could be crazy. That would certainly why she had decided to keep the tools company in the back of his truck.

“What's your name?” She suddenly asked him, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“What's yours?” He asked

“Do you always answer a question with another question?” She asked

“Is that what I do?” He asked

“You're doing it again” she complained

“Am I now?” He responded

He smirked to himself when she huffed in annoyance and turned away from him.

“Its Jordan. Now care to explain why you were trying to hijack my truck?” He asked

“I would hardly call it hijacking” she replied

“Call it whatever you want. Why are you in my truck!?” He asked more forcefully.

“I told you, I don't have anywhere else to go” she mumbled

“The back of my truck is hardly a five star hotel so you can't live there. By the way you're dressed though I don't get why you're claiming you have nowhere to go. So answer my question, with the truth this time” he said

“I'm not lying!” She snapped brushing her wet hair away from her face.

He glanced at her and did a double take. He immediately jammed his foot on the break when he got a good look at her face.

“You!” He exclaimed “I know you!” He said “Get out!” He ordered her.

“No please you don't understand” she replied shaking her head.

“Oh I understand plenty. You're back trying to ruin my sister's life. How long has it been? I think it's time to give up they're engaged for Christ's sake” he said

“I don't give a damn about Javier. I hate that betraying ass, dip shit. My condolences to your sister” she replied heatedly

“Do you kiss your grandmother with that mouth?” He asked

“I'm just saying” she said shrugging her shoulder

“What happened?” He asked her. He found that he genuinely wanted to know.

“I lost everything when he chose her OK? My house, money, car, everything got repossessed.” She told him

Damn.

“Well what about your friends and family. Why aren't you staying with them?” He asked

Her eyes clouded over with fresh tears causing him to swear and look away.

“Turns out I don't really have any of those either. When word got out that I lost everything everyone had an excuse for why I couldn't stay with them. I barely remember my father and my mother is busy with her new family. I wasn't joking when I said I have no one” came her bitter reply

“Obviously. So when exactly did you manage to climb into the back of my truck?”

“At the restaurant” she said looking away from him.

“What possessed you to do that!?” He asked

“As much as you're a complete stranger, I've seen you before, it was as close to familiar as I had so I snuck out the restaurant while you waited for your food and climbed in.” She explain

“How did you know this was my truck?” He asked

“It's the only one in the parking lot that fit”

Well how exactly am I suppose to respond to that?

“What's your name anyway?” He asked instead

“Bethany Thomas”

“Well Bethany, I can give you a place to stay for the night, I guess we'll figure something out when it's daylight and we're less wet and grumpy” said Jordan

“Daylight and less wet I can understand but less grumpy? I doubt you can pull that off” came her sassy come back

“Are you trying to get left in the rain?” He said knowing darn well he wouldn't do that at this point, but she didn't have to know that.

A few minutes later after complete silence he pulled into the driveway. He turned to find her staring at him. He shivered and it wasn't from the cold. Her stare just looked so haunted.

“We'll have to run for it. This rain won't hold up anytime soon.” He told her.

She nodded and he turned and ran across the front yard and up the steps, he heard her light footsteps following closely behind.

He unlocked the door and lead her up the stairs to the spare bedroom a crossed from his.

“You can stay in here” he told her

She nodded but said nothing.

“Bathroom is down the hall to the left, white door” he instructed

Again she said nothing, he sighed and turned to walk out but her soft voice stopped him by the door.

“I have nothing to sleep in. We left my bag outside”

“You left it” he replied throwing the accusation back at her but immediately regretted it when she raised her head to look at him and he saw that look again except this time he didn't shiver.

“I'll get you one of my shirt” he walked to his room and took a shirt from his closet and walked back to the room and handed it to her.

“Its plaid!” She complained

“Its dry” he replied

Instead of waiting for her reply he walked out and closed the door behind him.

So they've officially met! Let's see what these two crazy kids have in store for us! I'm having fun writing this just as much as you guys enjoy reading. Thanks!
Remember to comment and votes as you read along.