Wanted (32 page)

He pulls off the highway at the next exit, and a quarter-mile of roadside farmland later, we drive into the gas station. “We ain't got any time to spare. How about you pump gas and fill the tires this time while I relieve myself indoors?”

“Me?” Wish I hadn't been so gung-ho about equal rights. “I guess.” I glance over at him and shrug. “It's just that I never worked an air pump before.”

He busts out laughing. “I'm just having fun with you, Twinkle. Let's do it like last time. Hurry inside and let out your water and bring some more food if you can.”

“Ha ha. Press
Pay Inside
,” I say, realizing I can't risk paying at all. “I'll be back in two minutes and then I'll drive so you can nap.” I dash out of the car before he can argue with me.

You're making a mistake. Clyde'll get us there faster.

Mind your own business.

Racing through the store, I head toward the restroom sign. My mouth waters as I dash past hot coffee dispensers touting delicious- sounding flavors, rows of juicy hot dogs spiraling in uniform precision on steel rollers, followed by rows of chips and candy bars. My stomach growls, letting me know I need food. Badly. But I can't use credit and I don't have any more cash. I lock myself in the tiny disgusting bathroom, trying to pee as fast as I can.

When I finish and wash my hands, I'm stunned at the sight of the disheveled bag lady staring back at me in the mirror. Self-pity floods into my chest, along with an ocean of guilt and a wave of sadness. Four and a half hours before I know whether I'll live, die, or share a body with Bonnie Parker forever. Hopefully the ritual at the memorial in the last few seconds will resolve everything the way I want.

Ha! I know Clyde has a different plan for us. One that don't involve you.

“We'll see,” I say aloud to the mirror, wishing I could flip a switch and turn her off. As I dry my hands on my skirt, I spy a green disposable lighter on the floor and immediately brighten. Bob from the Half-Dead Society said the woman who claimed to successfully get rid of her spirit, burnt the poem along the Seine River. Yeah, Dad will be mad that I'm burning up seven grand, but compared to the alternative, I know he'll agree. Sliding open the zipper on the inside pocket, I deposit the lighter alongside the slugs and the poem so that everything I need is all in one spot. When there's no telltale
clink!
of plastic against metal, I gasp. Did Clyde take them from me when I was asleep? In a rush of panic, I dig inside. The moment my fingers hit the metal chunks, a blurry picture of Clyde's 1930s face comes roaring into view.

He lies on his side on a wool army blanket facing me. I look down and see a huge scar on my calf—the gnarled yet smooth skin of an intense burn. He hands me a clear bottle of vodka. “Go on, beautiful. Suck down some of that and let's get busy. We got to get back on the road right quick.” I reach out and accept the bottle. The sun makes me squint as I tilt the bottle toward the sky and take a sip. Bonnie's annoying giggle-laugh slips from my lips. “Do you love me, Clydehopper?” Clyde nods. “You know I do. Now get over here.”

I don't have time to watch any more of this. I fight Bonnie for use of my hand and win.

How'd you like that moving picture?
I tole you that Clyde loves me. If you keep flirting with him, maybe I'll kill us both.

Me
flirting with
him
? Hardly. But chill out, Bonnie. He'll be all yours very soon.

After witnessing Clyde pledge his love to Bonnie in person, I now know that he either really loved her, or he's a total conniving liar who will say and do anything to get what he wants. Although something about the way he acted with her bothers me, I can't quite put my finger on it.

On the way out of the store, I stuff two cherry Hostess pies into my pocket without paying for them. I hope God, or Fate, or Karma knows I'm only doing it for survival and will forgive me. I hurry to the car, ready to fight with Clyde about driving. As I approach, Clyde hangs the gas hose on the hook and calls out, “Time to prove yourself, Twinkle. Get in the driver's seat and start the engine.”

“Yes!” I do a fist-pump in the air before leaping into the driver's seat.

The second I start the car, Clyde hops in and slams the door. “Go, go, go!” He slaps his knees while turning to look out the back window.

I floor it, a little too quickly, sending us both jerking backward. It's been a while since I've driven, but it's quickly coming back to me. As I fly through the gas station, I glance at the rearview mirror and see the old clerk hobble outside, waving his fists. I grimace, wondering if he saw me steal those pies. I roll my eyes, wondering why I even care at this point. My list of crimes is growing by the minute. “I hope he didn't catch our plate number.”

“Not to worry.” Clyde holds up a license plate. “I took care of that. I switched plates with another car sitting there. Luckily the bolts wasn't rusty like they was on the pickup.”

“That's brilliant!” I grin at him admiringly, gliding back onto the highway.

Seconds later, my conscience points out that I'm complimenting the illegal acts of one of the top gangsters who ever lived. I'm really in deep now. Looks like I'm part of the historic Barrow gang now too, I realize with dread. Compared to the guilt I felt after committing my first crime, the rest have been so much easier. Anxiety starts to rear its ugly face, so I push those thoughts out of my mind. I'll have plenty of time in prison to mull over my sins.

Clyde laughs. “I think of everything, Twinkle. Like I tole you, I'm a planner.”

“Well, I'm glad you changed your plan and let me drive.”

He waves off my concerns. “Eh, that was easy, soon as I heard you promising God that you'd turn yourself in after the deadline. But now that you're driving this stolen buggy, you can add grand theft auto to your rap sheet. You might not want to run so fast to the fuzz now.”

My heart sinks. I shoot him a dirty look. “Thanks a lot.”

“Hey, you was the one who said you wanted equal rights.” He smiles at me but I don't smile back. His tone softens. “Come on now, woman. Don't be sore. I was hoping maybe you'd want to stick around with me after it's all over instead of running to the laws. Maybe we can go hide in a little cabin in the woods until this whole thing blows over. What do you think of that?” He reaches toward me, resting his hand on the seat between us. “Sure wish I could touch you right now. Convincing you might be easier if I could hold your hand and look you in the eye.”

“Don't,” I warn, looking away from the road a second to eye him sideways.

He reaches up and strokes my thigh for a split-second. My heart skips a beat—his touch sending sparks flying through my body. “Whoops,” he says, grinning. “My hand did that all by itself. My apologies, Twinkle.”

This time I throw him a look of bemused annoyance. “Not funny, Clyde.”

“Okay, okay. But let me ask you this… if I
could
touch you without nothing bad happening, would you want me to? Or are you just pretending, hoping to bring Jack Daniel back at the deadline?” He gazes at me with such intensity it takes my breath away. That's when I figure out what was wrong with the last mind movie. Clyde's eyes were hollow, emotionless, even bored, when he declared his love for Bonnie. The opposite of what I see in his eyes now.

My mind reels, wondering what to say to that. “Why are you asking me this?”

“You know why. I'm dizzy over you, Twinkle. You're pretty and smart, and hell, I even like how you're as bossy and demanding as I am. When those gorgeous green eyes of yours look my way, I want to know that they're all mine. Tell me you felt it when we kissed as much as I did. I need to know the truth. Do you like me too?”

I breathe in sharply, not expecting such an honest response. My heart races, remembering our kiss—the way he looked at me, the things he whispered, how kind and loving his touch felt. But I can't tell him that what he guessed is the truth—that when the time comes, I need it to be Jack at the end. I decide to talk about my feelings, but not about my plans. “The truth is, Clyde, I really—” Suddenly, I can't breathe. A soft whimper escapes my lips.

If you say you like him back, I'll choke you. Make you swerve off the road and we'll end it for us both right here and now. I'm letting go now, but I'm listening, so mind what you say.

Her words shatter my thoughts as I breathe deeply, trying to bring air back into my lungs. The anger in her voice makes me believe she'll go through with her threat. Not that I was going to tell him that his kiss sent tingles down my spine, made my knees weak. That he completely intrigues me in some crazy way that I can't even explain to myself, even though in my heart, I know it's true.

“You really what?” he presses.

“I really didn't feel a thing before.” I bite the inside of my cheeks to keep from saying anything more. To tell him that Bonnie's threatening to choke me if I tell him my feelings.

“Is that so?”

I hear him unbuckle his seat belt, making my anxiety soar. “What are you doing?”

“I'm gonna see what happens when I come over and kiss that pretty heart birthmark of yours again. Then I'll know for sure. Your pulse, your eyes, your whole body can't lie.”

I know exactly what'll happen if he kisses my neck again. Either Bonnie will take my body over or she'll kill us out of jealousy. “No don't, Clyde! It's not the right time.” I floor it, bringing the car up to ninety instantly. “You said yourself we only have a few minutes to spare.”

“A few minutes is all I need to prove how I feel about you, Twinkle.” He gently slides one fingertip down my arm from wrist to elbow. An immense jolt of passion makes me jerk my arm away instinctively.

“Clydehopper!” Bonnie manages to squeal in the few seconds his skin touches mine.

If he touches me again, things are going to go south real fast. She's either going to tell him my plan, close off my air supply, or pull this car over and prove her love for him by getting it on with him on the side of the road.

Part of me—the impulsive, “you only live once!” part, considers letting her do exactly that. The rational part screams, “Think before you act for once in your life!”

He chuckles. “Sounds like Bonnie's raring to go. You sure
you
ain't?” In one quick motion, he leans toward me, so close I can feel the warmth exuding from his chest.

I force anger into my voice. “No, Clyde! Move back. You're making me nervous.”

“Nervous I'm going to find out what you really think of me?” Before I know what's happening, he plants a soft kiss on the curve of my neck, his breath warm. I shiver.

“Don't,” I plead, my voice softer now.

“Come on. Just one kiss. I'm so mixed up, I don't know which girl to take with me.”

He's just toying with you to make you feel good. I know it's me.

His words and hers make me grip the wheel tighter. Fear pricks my heart, eats away at my throat. I keep forgetting that I'm not running the show here, Fate is. I swallow hard. “In the end, if you are the one who gets to choose who to keep, then who are you—” I shrug, not able to finish my sentence. Hell if I'll ever become whiny like Bonnie, pleading for Clyde to choose me.

“I want it to be you, Twinkle. The thought of never hearing your headstrong stories makes my heart hurt. But there ain't no sense in taking you along with me if you don't feel the same way about me.” The way he says it, so softly and with conviction, makes me want to believe that somehow, he knows how to control who stays and who goes. My heart races and palms sweat, making me dry them on my skirt.

Take it back, Clyde! Take it all back right now or we're through!
Bonnie screams, her words coming in tearful spurts.

I feel horrible for her but can't help enjoying my slight victory. Seems like all I need to do is tell Clyde he's the guy for me and he'll choose me in the end. But telling Clyde I'm falling for him seems wrong, immoral to the core. I adjust my seat belt, waiting for a white SUV to pass me.

I stare straight ahead, trying to concentrate on driving, but I can see my fingers faintly trembling on the steering wheel. “My heart tells me one thing, Clyde, but my head another.”

“I ain't thinking with my head right now, Twinkle. I'm going with how I feel. Maybe you should take my advice for once and do the same.” Before I can process what is happening, Clyde leans in and softly, sweetly kisses my neck. “See how nice that is?”

While his lips linger a moment, Bonnie cries out, “I hate you, you two-timing bastard!”

“I'm going to block her out for a few seconds, so bear with me.” Clyde smiles at me before making a slow circle with his fingertip on my thigh. An alarming warmth spreads through me like a wildfire, heating up sensitive regions of my body I didn't even know existed. I shift in my seat, trying to keep the car on the road. He grins at me with half-lidded eyes, but he's so close I can see the golden flecks reflecting off the dashboard lights. “You're something special, Twinkle. There's a bond between us and you feel it too.”

The protective shield around my heart breaks into pieces, as if Clyde wields some sort of magic power. A few more seconds of this and I'll be blurting out how much I like him. But I can't—won't—let myself be swept away by a guy who, if everything works out the way it should, will be gone come daylight. I gently push his hand off my thigh, but Bonnie clamps on and digs my nails into the soft skin on the back of his hand.

Clyde squints at me. “What're you doing, doll?”

“I'm teaching you a lesson,” Bonnie wails, but this time, her voice sounds faint, quieter. Like she's whispering. Only I can tell from her tone that she wasn't.