The truck stop was nice.  It was packed with overweight men with tired worn faces that leered at Annie Cosmic as John and Annie walked in. 

John growled as they walked into the restaurant, “God damn truckers all looking at you like they can’t wait to get themselves in their fat fingers and do some yanking.”

Annie growled back, “John for God sakes what the hell is wrong with you.  You just hate truckers and I don’t know why.  Nathan thinks you were gang raped at a truck stop while in a blackout or something.  At least the buffet looks like it has things you can eat on this idiot diet of yours.  Of course I must say, the diet is helping, you look very hot right now Gunnar.”

John barked, “Shut up Annie.  I have never looked hot in my life.

I checked the map and there is a campsite about a half an hour away.  I figure we can get some food and supplies and camp there tonight if that sounds ok with you.”

Annie smiled and said, “Gun it sounds wonderful.  Let’s eat.”

The food was relatively good and they were able to stock up on some things that they would need for the rest of the trip.  Before Annie and John knew it they were setting up camp at the state park.

John had rigged the vee wee up so that he could hook power to it that would run a fridge, air conditioner or heater and it was also set up with Wi-Fi.

Annie had one thing on her mind and that was to walk up to the showers and get clean.  John figured he would get everything set up and ready and get a fire going and when Annie got back he would then go to take a shower.

John was getting the fire going when he realized that he wasn’t alone.  John swung around quickly to see his school days best friend standing behind him.  Tom Desmond stood with his charred skin falling to the ground exposing patches of blood and bone.

John yelped, “Jesus Christ Tom!”

Tom, “Hi John, long time no see.  Sorry that I scared you.”

John was shaking as he watched Tom walk over and sit down beside him.  John could smell Tom’s flesh as if it were a side of beef being cooked over an open flame and there was another smell, something like wet rotting skin.  John spoke,  “Annie seems like a nice girl John.”

John’s voice was shaking, hell every inch of John was shaking, “What the hell are you doing here Tom?  You killed yourself.  You fucking poured gas all over yourself and sat down in the hallway at school and set yourself on fucking fire.  The last words you screamed was that you would love me forever.”

Tom didn’t seem to be interested in John’s emotional state.  “Remember the first time I kissed you.  You handled it well, letting me know you cared about me but didn’t feel “that” way about me.  We stayed best friends.”

John was trying to get a grip on what was going on.  John felt as if reality had completely left him.  The world wasn’t the world anymore.  It was something so foreign and dangerous.  “I remember Tom, and you didn’t pursue it after that either.  I was glad.”

Tom continued, “And remember that time you and Mary Beth had sex and I lay next to the two of you in the same bed touching myself watching.  You two were so beautiful.  God John I loved you.”

John felt his face break out in a cold sweat and the ice water was running down his back, “Yes I remember and Mary Beth committed suicide the next day and you set yourself on fire that next Monday.”

Tom, “You always figured I killed her didn’t you John.”

John, “I don’t’ know what I thought Tom.  It all just blew me completely out of the water.  I was dead inside for the rest of the year.”

Tom, “I know John, I know.”

John, “What are you doing here Tom?  What do you want?”

Tom, “I am here to watch over you and Annie Cosmic as the two of you continue and complete this journey.”

John could feel himself becoming agitated, “Why the fuck do I need to be watched over?”

John turned to look Tom in the face as he said this but Tom was gone.  John heard Tom’s voice though, “Maybe it Annie I’m watching over John.”

John jumped up and started running for the showers.  He didn’t know how much time had passed with Tom being there but he felt a terrible need to see Annie, to know she was ok.

John ran into the woman’s shower and there stood Annie soaking wet and covered with soap screaming, “What the fuck is wrong with you John?”

John stood almost immediately under the spell of Annie’s body, “I’m sorry babe, I just had a feeling.  I needed to see that you were ok.”

Annie giggled and grabbed John by the shirt, “Well as you can see I am fine, get in here and let’s get you nice and squeaky  clean.”

The water was hot

Steam everywhere

Flesh against flesh

Bodies connected

The taste

The touch

The climax

cool peace

hippy mike

love

  Confusion

Adventure

Something more

Awake

Message in a broken bottle

Keeping the faith even when you don't believe

Dreaming of a dark place

Atmospheric dancing  

A distance running 

Head Shot 

A silent rage

 Secrets