Chapter 9 JJ
NINE
JJ
Being stuck out in the middle of the outback at midnight was not the plan.
This was exactly like the movie. Broken down car. Trapped in bloody woop woop. No moonlight. Nothing to see past the shining headlights, the very definition of pitch black. Trust Remi to make her watch that movie right before she went away. She’d be hearing from JJ as soon as they had reception!
JJ took a breath, the cold seeping in.
It was just a movie. It’s fake. It’s not even real.
No—it was based on a true story.
A shiver ran up her spine.
She stopped pacing. There were no sounds of life, only the scuffing of her shoes against gravel, the car clicking and groaning as the engine cooled and the steam from the radiator dissipated.
Brooke grabbed JJ’s arms, a freakishly big smile on full display. “Come on JJ. We’re not in a horror movie. We’re not going to be abducted.”
Brooke held firm, forcing JJ to hold eye contact with her.
Blue eyes, glinting off the headlights. Such bright blue, like the head of her favourite fairywrens.
JJ cleared her throat. “Says you who thought I was an intruder in your own home.”
Brooke glared and dropped her arms. “That’s not the same thing.
We’ll be fine. I have a plan, so no need to stress.
” She put her hands on her hips. “Here's what's going to happen: we’re gonna pull out the camping mattress, and our sleeping bags, and make a bed in the back of the car. We’ll sleep here tonight, and first thing in the morning, we'll catch a ride back to town and get ourselves sorted. All right?”
JJ gave a small nod. What choice did she have?
The staycation idea was looking mighty fine right now… but she had a point to prove. She had to see this through. South Australia was worth it.
“It’s really not a big deal.” Brooke shrugged and moved to the boot.
JJ laughed. It bubbled out of nowhere. No big deal? She laughed harder. This was not the start to the trip she’d imagined, not the trip she’d planned for.
JJ took a deep breath. “How are you so okay with this?”
“This is travelling. It’s just a hiccup.
” She opened up the boot and started shuffling their gear around.
“We’ll get it fixed and we’re both fine.
Sometimes things don’t go to plan, so you pivot.
” She shoved JJ’s suitcase and grunted. “We’re pivoting.
We’re going to sleep in the car and sort this out in the morning.
So, come on. It’s sleepover time!” Brooke strode back to JJ, took her by the hand and pulled her down the side of the car. “Open up your rooftop cargo.”
JJ responded on autopilot. Within ten minutes, the back seats were folded down and they had makeshift beds for each of them stretching from the boot to the front seats.
They currently sat crosslegged on their sleeping bags.
Both were still dressed, having opted to not crank out the PJs in case they needed to get up for any reason.
JJ had switched off the car’s headlights and turned on a battery-powered camping lamp instead.
It gave them some light and was able to charge their phones at the same time.
The usual fresh, clean car scent had been replaced with the strong aroma of things that had been in storage for a long time—aka the mattress.
Brooke was right, it did feel like a sleepover with a friend.
All they needed were some fairy lights strung up on the roof, and it’d look like a post from one of those van influencers JJ followed online.
They were basically just free camping for the night.
No big deal. Her knee bounced as she checked her phone for coverage for the tenth time.
Brooke snatched the device and tossed it aside.
“Hey!” JJ reached for it.
Brooke blocked her, leaning in front of JJ. “You’re not going to magically get reception tonight. Let it go. Distract yourself. I’d play I Spy with you, but we can’t see shit out there.”
When JJ relented, Brooke leaned against a suitcase with a soft smile.
JJ needed to absorb some of Brooke’s chill energy. To sit back, relax, and try to enjoy this night instead. Because right now? JJ wanted to be anywhere but here. Take her back home to her comfy couch or set her up on a tropical beach somewhere. She didn’t care.
No… she did care. She wanted to explore SA and give the holiday a chance. Anyway, Brooke was right. They’d be fine. They’d get back on track in no time.
JJ let out a slow exhale. “Feels like I’ve got one hand tied behind my back with no phone.
Makes you realise how much we’ve come to rely on them.
” Such tiny things that had become an addictive part of their lives.
To help with so many situations… until they couldn’t.
Maybe no reception was a good thing, forcing them to enjoy the moment.
No need to message anyone, or reply to all of Mum’s check ins—of which there’d already been several on the drive up alone.
“I get that. It’s weird to think we didn’t grow up with them.” Brooke nudged her own phone with her toe.
JJ shuffled back and leaned against the window. “I say we’re lucky.”
“Agreed.” Brooke met her eyes.
“So, world traveller, ever found yourself in this situation before?” JJ asked.
Brooke spun the bracelets on her arm. “This specific one? No. But travel as long as I have and this is nothing. I’ve found myself in more than a few bad situations.
It’s just the nature of doing what I do.
Travelling is fun, but it can be unpredictable and you can definitely end up in crazy situations very quickly. ”
Brooke shifted to lay down, propping herself up on an elbow, her golden hair falling over her shoulder in waves.
“Tonight? This is just unlucky. But at least we don't have to worry about watching our backs like I had to in Cambodia. One night I tried to get a ride home in a tuk tuk from a restaurant, and two men on a scooter zoomed past, ripping my bag straight off me. Luckily, it snapped against my neck or I would’ve been dragged along the street.”
JJ gasped. “What! Were you okay?”
“I was lucky. I walked away with only a bruise and a stiff neck. But with no phone, no cash and a driver who didn’t speak English, I ended up walking back to my accommodation alone in the middle of the night.
That was one of my scariest moments—coming home along the streets and alleyways feeling so defenceless.
Thank god my key had been in my pocket at the time. ”
“Wow. Look at this. I have goosebumps on my arm from that story!” JJ shivered and held out her arm, hairs standing on end. She hugged her knees to her chest. “I can’t even imagine. That does put things in perspective.”
Brooke’s life sounded so colourful. In comparison, JJ’s was so black and white.
Go to work, come home, repeat. It was truly inspiring just how much Brooke must’ve seen and done in her time overseas—the good, the bad and the ugly.
Her stomach settled knowing she had this person with her as a travelling companion.
“Sorry I freaked out earlier.” JJ interlaced her hands, fiddling with her thumbs.
“You don’t need to apologise for getting in your feels. Feel your emotions, it’s only natural. But you can trust me when I say we can just have fun tonight and it'll be sorted in the morning.”
“I like the sound of that.” JJ smiled and rested her chin on her knees. “Did you ever get lonely travelling?”
Even though they'd spent the last five hours talking, apparently JJ had more questions. It had nothing to do with the fact she was avoiding going to sleep.
“Not really,” Brooke said. “I like the space from others, doing my own thing. And I’m usually around people one way or another. Like this.” She waved her hand between them.
“That's true. Oh my god, if I hadn't brought you along, I’d be in this situation by myself.” JJ shuddered. “How could you feel safe being alone?”
“You get used to it.”
“I don't think I could do it.”
Tonight was bad enough, even with Brooke.
“Sure you could.” Brooke flicked at the zip on JJ’s suitcase. “If you want something badly enough, you make it happen. Like running your business.”
“I guess,” JJ said through a yawn, her eyes starting to water. “If I want the morning to come badly enough, can I make it happen?”
“Depends, how fast can you fall asleep?”
At Brooke’s word, JJ’s bladder made itself known.
Her gaze slid outside. Complete darkness.