Test Subjects 5

We pulled onto his street, and he slammed the breaks. There were police cars. The old kind you saw in black and white movies. The kind that held a bunch of people in the back. They lined the street on both sides.
But what was more frightening . . .
Hundreds of policemen ran up and down the streets, some help fighting children in their arms. The large police cars held their back doors open wide, and the children were shoved violently inside with children from other neighborhoods.
I noticed, with alarm, that no parents stood crying on their door step. There was no tears and violent protests from any adults. Just the kids.
Before I could tear my eyes away from the scene, Andy gunned the engine and sped in a u turn, squealing back the road where we had come.
Suddenly, I was sure that he had not been wise. I waited for the police cars so follow us and track us down, shooting us like it said I all the stories.
They didn’t follow. I was very confused.
“We have to pick up Eric.” I realized.
“That’s where I’m headed.”
He sped down the road.
“Andy, slow down. You’re making us look suspicious. Try to look calm please.” I ordered in a shockingly normal voice.
Surprised, he slowed to the speed limit.
Stopping at a stop sing, there was a tap on my window. I screamed in terror, knowing it was the stupid police and we were going to get locked up, or shot for trying to run away.
It was Eric. He smiled ruefully at my reaction, and jumped into the back seat the moment Andy unlocked the door.
“Hey guys. How are ya? I was hopin you would see the police before they saw you.”
“Or heard us.” I mumbled. Eric laughed.
“So.” Andy was all business.
“Where are we headed?”
Eric shrugged. “East.”
“East?”
“East.”
“What’s East?”
“Hopefully, the help we need.”

Andy wasn’t happy. That much was easy to see. His forehead was wrinkled together and his lips pursed into a line. We drove East on various highways for hours, and it was starting to get dark.
Thanks to the police collecting kids ahead of our schedule, a couple things had been interrupted. One of those things was something that Andy happened to want very, very badly. Me.
“So,” I interrupted the long silence. “Where are we staying tonight?”
“No where.” Eric and Andy answered at the same time.
“We can’t stay anywhere. People will know we aren’t nineteen. They’ll call the cops on us.”
“So what do we do? Sleep in the car?” I asked incredulously.
“Yup.” I sighed. That was not how I had planned on spending my night.
“But guys,” I asked again. “What do you guys do about clothes? I already have some packed, but you guys don’t have anything. We can’t go buy you some because, well, we’d get caught. What will you guys do?”
“There really isn’t anything we can do, hon.” Andy mumbled.
“The only major towns we will hit along the way out of Utah are Duchesne and Vernal. And we can avoid both of them. We might stop in the outskirts of Duchesne for gas and some other necessities.”
“But you just said we can’t!” I pointed out.
“I’m eighteen Alice.” Eric said quietly. “I can pass for a nineteen year old in a convenience store.”
“You’re eighteen?” He was older than Andy.
“Yes.”
“When is your birthday?”
“August 12th.”
My head spun. He was almost four years older than me.” I frowned.
“What?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
Andy scowled. He really didn’t like Eric much. I wished he would.

It was very dark by the time we reached Duchesne. Even though I knew he would be safe, my heart was beating very fast the entire time Eric was gone.
Andy and I were in the backseat underneath a blanket. And of course, he was taking advantage of our alone time.
“Do you think he’ll be ok?” I asked, worry making it hard to think.
“He’ll be fine. Now stop worrying. We’re finally alone and I’m going to make the most of it.” He smiled beautifully. My heart started pounding again.
Under the blanket was hot, and his mouth was warm and soft against mine. He kissed me softly at first, then with more enthusiasm.
I melted against him and his tongue once again coaxed mine into his mouth. His breath filled my head and I noticed we were both gasping for breath.
His hands wound around the small of my back, pulling me to him. I felt his tongue traced patterns on the roof of my mouth, tickling me.
The car door opened, and Eric jumped inside the front seat.
“Knock if off.” He groaned.
We waited till Eric gave the okay to come out from underneath the blanket. The air was cold against my warm skin, even inside the car. I shivered and Andy pulled me against him and put the blanket over us both.
I saw Eric roll his eyes at me in the rear view mirror. I didn’t want him to be annoyed with me, but I was cold. And Andy was warm.
“How old are you Alice?” He asked, frustrated for some reason.
“I’m sixteen.” I admitted with a frown. So much younger than both of them. Especially Eric. I was still a child compared to him.

I didn’t want to look out the windows. I was still afraid, though I knew we were probably driving through the dessert.
Eric kept himself occupied listening to the radio. He flipped station often and sang along quietly to every song that played. As it grew later, he turned it down till it was background music, finally settling on a Rock station that played all the latest music. I knew a couple of the songs myself.
Andy kept busy playing with my hair. He would twirl it around his fingers then watch it unwind slowly. And he was endlessly stroking my face.
I guess I was watching Eric the whole time. It was just, he was so interesting! He would make faces as he thought about things. Subtle changes in the set of his jaw or his eyebrows. Little emotions in his eyes. It was like a puzzle. I wondered what he was thinking about.
When he looked at Andy in the mirror and I saw his eyebrows pull together, and his jaw set stubbornly, I thought I could guess what he was thinking. He didn’t like Andy. That made me sad. I wanted them to like each other. I wanted them both to be friends so I could be friends with both of them.
I froze. Andy felt it.
Was that what I really wanted? Or was it that I wanted them both? I looked at Eric, he was so very handsome. All he had wanted was to save my life. Me, some random girl who was so much younger. He cared about me. I knew it. He had to.
But I loved Andy. I love his big strong arms and his shaggy brown hair that went everywhere. He was mine. He loved me. He wanted me.
But Eric wanted me too.
For a moment, my mind pictured Eric kissing me the way Andy had.
“No!” I growled at myself.
Eric and Andy both looked at me.
“Was that out loud?” I blushed. They nodded. “Sorry.” I whispered.
“What were you thinking about?” Eric asked me. I could tell by his eyes that he was serious.
“Both of you.” I admitted with a sigh. Not planning on telling them the whole truth. “I’m afraid.” I whispered.
“It’s alright.” Andy crooned. “We’re both here to protect you.” And I did feel protected. At least, for the moment.
Eric turned off the radio and slowed the car to a stop.
I peeked out the window to see where we were, but it was pitch black outside.
“Time to go to sleep.” Eric laughed and made himself comfortable.
“Night night.” I mumbled and drifted to sleep, warm in Andy’s arms.