Chapter 10
TEN
JJ
Brooke peered out the black windows. “You locked the car?”
JJ nodded, swallowing. She squirmed on the spot as her bladder screamed louder.
“What’s wrong?” Brooke asked.
JJ closed her eyes, face heating. “I need to pee.”
“Off you go then.” Brooke gestured outside.
JJ didn’t move. She played with the sleeping bag material instead. How could she ask… her eyes flicked to the ceiling and back to Brooke. She felt like a child.
Brooke rolled her eyes, biting down on a smile. “Would you like some company? Still scared of psychos out there?”
“Not funny.” JJ flattened the sleeping bag. “Do you mind? Just to keep an eye out.”
“In the pitch black. No problem.” She smirked. “Got any paper?”
JJ leaned down, sliding an arm under the driver's seat and pulling out a fresh roll of toilet paper. “Dad always taught me to keep a roll in the car. For emergencies.”
“He’s not wrong,” Brooke said. “You learn very quickly that toilet paper is a precious commodity while travelling. Never go anywhere without a spare!”
JJ unlocked the car, opened the boot and hopped out.
Brooke followed suit, the portable lamp swinging at her side and making all sorts of shadows that JJ avoided looking at.
They puffed white with each breath as they stepped over rocks and scraggly shrubs.
She should’ve put a hoodie on to come out here.
They came across a waist-high bush. “This’ll do,” JJ said and walked around the other side. “You can shut off the torch and turn around while I… go.”
Darkness enveloped them, the only sound a quiet snigger and gravel crunching under foot as Brooke turned on her heel as requested.
“Bloody hell it’s dark, I can’t even see the toilet paper next to me.
” JJ had propped it carefully onto the bush.
She blinked a few times, willing her eyes to adjust. Nothing.
It was so disorienting. Then she became aware of the stillness.
It was like all sound had been sucked away except for the two of them.
Their breaths, rustling clothes and her too-loud heartbeat.
You know what? Maybe she didn’t have to pee after all. She could hold it until they got back into town.
Pain clenched in her bladder. She winced.
Shit.
She shuffled on the spot, face heating. “Um, can you like, hum something?”
This was mortifying.
“Got pee fright?” Brooke chuckled.
JJ swallowed and pulled down her pants and hoped to god she could go.
At first, it sounded like Brooke had started talking to herself. Then JJ realised Brooke was singing. Well, talk-singing—the entirety of One Week by Barenaked Ladies.
It was all fine, entertaining even. Brooke crescendoed into the chorus. It blasted out across the ranges as JJ stood to pull up her pants. Her foot twisted on a loose rock and she skidded, flailing to try to grab onto the bush. She missed, tripping backwards into the thick brush instead.
Her screech echoed into the night. Brooke’s singing cut off.
The lamp clicked back on, light crossing JJ’s vision as her backside throbbed.
“Fuck! Something’s bit me on the bloody arse!” JJ cried. She flung an arm out for Brooke to help pull her up. JJ yelped, the pain searing as she stood. She twisted around, scrambling at her backside. What had bitten her?
Please don’t be a snake. Please don’t be a—
“Will you just stop a second and let me look!” Brooke grabbed JJ by the hips, steadying her. JJ was trying to be strong, she really was. But this was… this was—argh. Why had she talked Brooke into travelling through SA again?
The lamp lowered to her backside. JJ’s face burned like a Christmas cracker. She would not think about the fact her pants were only up to her knees right now and Brooke was currently looking right at her—
“Found the culprits.”
There were multiple? JJ squeezed her eyes shut.
This wasn’t happening.
“What is it—fucking, OW!”
It felt like Brooke had stabbed her in the butt cheek. Twice.
Brooke straightened, holding up two thick spikes in front of the light.
“Yeah, so it turns out this bush is spiky as hell. Hang on.” She turned away again before JJ had a chance to respond. “Here.” She’d torn off a few sheets of toilet paper. “Your, um, butt is bleeding a bit.” She bit her lip, handing JJ the sheets.
Of course. Just when this night had started to turn around.
“Hold those on there. I’ll run to the car and grab some Band-Aids. Where are they? Glovebox?”
“I can come with you,” she said, already knowing Brooke’s answer.
“And let you trip over again? Just wait there and give me your keys.”
“Fine. Yes, they’re in the glovebox.” Her butt ached as she did what she was told and held the paper there.
Bloody hell. JJ had not expected her first night on holiday to win awards for Most Horrifying and Most Embarrassing. She awkwardly wrangled her pants up as far as she could to give herself a little more modesty.
She gave the bush daggers while she waited. This holiday plan was going down the toilet, fast.
Brooke was back in minutes, plasters in hand.
“I can do it,” JJ said, hand outstretched.
“Don’t be stupid. It’ll take me two seconds, and it’s not like I haven’t seen your butt already.”
JJ groaned. Still not thinking about that fact.
“Here, hold the lamp a sec.”
JJ took the light and held her breath.
Brooke was gentle, one warm hand on her hip, the other brushing her backside as she stuck on the Band-Aids. Once again, JJ was thankful to have Brooke with her.
“There. All patched up.”
Face still on fire, JJ inched her pants over her behind. “Thanks,” she said, avoiding Brooke’s eyes. Did she always have to embarrass herself in front of the pretty blonde?
“Need a hand getting back?” Brooke asked.
“No, I should be fine.”
Brooke eyed JJ up and down with furrowed brows.
“I’m fine. Really. Thank you, though.”
Shuffling back, they made it to the car. JJ could barely keep her eyes open now the adrenaline had worn off. She wriggled into her sleeping bag and settled on her side to avoid any pressure on her backside.
What a start. JJ had pictured a slow beginning, easing into the holiday with a well-deserved break from work. Hopefully JJ had made the right decision bringing them out here. Surely tomorrow they’d get things back on track. It was too tiring to think about it anymore.
She shifted, hip bone digging straight through the thin mattress and onto the hard floor of the car. She shuffled again. It was only slightly better.
Brooke reached an arm out of her own sleeping bag. “You okay if I switch off the light?”
“Please.” JJ yawned. “Good night. Thanks for your help today.”
“Night. We’ll have a better day tomorrow, yeah?”
“We better,” JJ mumbled through another yawn.
She curled up on her side—just comfortable enough—and began to drift…
Her eyes fluttered open, back aching and butt smarting.
There was crunching on the gravel outside.
She stilled, holding her breath, heart picking up speed.
More shuffling. More crunching. Footsteps?
Please, no.
BANG.
Thump.
BANG!
JJ bolted upright, straight onto her tender backside and winced. “Ow.”
Brooke moved beside her. “What was that?”
“I don’t know. Grab the lamp.”
It was still dark, the dawn only just beginning to outline the horizon.
She fumbled around, grabbing her phone and keys.
Not that they’d help much. JJ clutched Brooke’s arm as Brooke’s hand gripped her knee.
JJ squinted and rubbed at her eyes, searching outside.
Nothing. She leaned over to look out the window.
Something dark loomed up—BANG! It hit the car, disappearing like a ghost.
“The fuck was that?” JJ screeched, fumbling back into Brooke.
“Wait, I see something.” Brooke flicked on the light, holding it up to the window.
JJ’s head swivelled to the other side of the car, then to the back. She couldn’t see shit.
Thump. Thump. THUMP.
Something jumped onto the roof. If JJ’s heart beat any faster, it was going to leap right out of her chest. A shadow moved to the left.
Brooke held the lamp higher.
Two sets of eyes glowed back.