Chapter 6:

"Zoey," The ride has been going on for hours. Every time they thought they'd seen a hotel, it was just some poorly built restaurant. It was night now and it seemed like every single street light was just the cause for a headache. "You okay." The question only evoked a sigh from the other.

"I don't know, Ami. I just." She wanted to shove her face into the wheel, but wanting to live denied her of doing so. "I just don't know."

"Don't know about what?" Zoey at first wanted to shut down, she wanted to take her time to process what she was feeling, alone. But she couldn't. She couldn't process this feeling, nor understand why she was feeling this way. Usually she would say she's fine, but they both knew that wasn't true.

"About mom." She at first left it there, but continued it after a while. "I don't know how I feel about her. I'm supposed to miss her, right? I'm supposed to. I miss the good times. Sitting in her lap as she braided my hair. I miss talking to her about my day."

"Yeah and,"

"But she left, well supposedly." She refused to look at Amire's. She could bear the thought of seeing her face, not now. Zoey grazed her sleeve across her face as droplets of water began to form in the duct of her eyes. "She probably didn't care. That's what I'm saying." The ride after those words fell into a harsh silence. Out of the corner of Zoey's eyes she could still see Amire looking directly at her. What was she thinking? Was she mad? Did she feel like I wasted her time? Anticipation was killing her. Instead of asking she tried to focus on the road. Her eyes moved to the trees that went fast past her. She focused on the car's license plate that sat in front of her, anything that took her mind of their recent conversation.

"So where does this leave us?" Amire's mumble was barely heard due to the sea of cars they were surrounded by. "Do you want to find your mom or..."

"Yes. Yes, I do." Her grip on the wheel tightened more. "I want to ask her why... and that's all. I no longer want to sit around and make up for lost time. I just want to know why."

"Okay." Amire only patted her on the back as the cars finally made way for them to continue on. The GPS for a while had been repeating the same directions over and over, so Zoey was happy it was the end of that. Hotel, here we come. I can finally get some sleep. Zoey sighed. Since this morning, the day seemed to go further and further down hill. From having a nice shower, to really needing one from the sweat that glued her to her seat. She was really not feeling today. How do you think Ami feels? She went with you and she knows nothing. She looks over to see the other looking out the window. She was silent, but the face that reflected back said everything. Amire was tired. She wanted to go home. She wanted to talk to her family, even though they were pricks. She wanted to go back home, where she could horseplay around with her brother. She wanted to go home, where she could pretend like nothing ever happened. It's not about you. You hurt other people. This obsession is killing not only us, but her.

"Ami, I" Zoey looked to formally say an apology. It's not her fault I'm so messed up. I just need help. SHE needs to go home. There was silence at first, but only for a moment. Amire slowly turned to meet her girlfriend's gaze. I need to apologize. It feels weird not to. She deserves a- is that? Something in the distance caught Zoey's attention.

"Is that the house behind you?"

"What house?" Amire looked disappointed, but I guess that was to be expected. Her tone was obvious, but still noticeable to Zoey.

"That's the house. That's the house she showed me!" Feeling a rush of happiness, Zoey hastily swerves the car to the right to head down the road that leads to it.