Chapter 3 #2
Charlie was always talking about his photography stuff.
It was one of the things that made them friends besides having classes together.
Ryan loved nature and science, and Charlie liked taking pictures of pretty much anything outdoors.
Most days, Charlie drove them back and forth to community college, and they talked about everything from Marvel movies to environmental protests to whether waffles were better than pancakes.
He and Angus climbed into the truck, waiting for the heater to catch up.
Christmas lights blurred by outside as they drove home, almost every house in Blueberry Hill decked out for the holiday.
But all he could think about was the girl in the car.
It was still early, but the temperature was already dropping, and the forecast said it might go down into the low teens tonight.
He bit his lip, thinking about where she might end up, if she had anywhere safe or warm.
“Hey, did you notice that old Honda parked behind Spilled Milk?” He tried to sound casual, glancing over at Charlie. “Looked like someone was living in it or something.”
Charlie shrugged, focusing on the increasingly slippery road. “Nah, didn’t notice. Why?”
“Just thought it looked familiar.” Ryan stared out the window, forehead pressed to the cold glass. “There was a girl inside. Looked like... I dunno, like she was living in her car or something.”
Charlie shrugged, turning onto Sugar Creek Lane.
The gravel popped under the tires, the road was clear from where Will had run the plow yesterday.
“Probably just passing through,” he said.
“Nobody stays in their car in this kind of cold unless they have no other choice.” He shot Ryan a quick look. “You thinking about before?”
Ryan hesitated, feeling his jaw clench. Charlie knew enough about his past to get it. “Maybe,” he said finally. “Just—nobody should have to be out here in the cold. Not with nowhere to go.”
Charlie nodded, kinda serious now. “We could tell Sheriff Cooper tomorrow. He’d know what to do, who to call.”
He thought about it. That was one of the things he liked about Charlie. He didn’t get weird or act sorry for him, just said what needed saying and moved on. It made things feel normal.
The cottage came into sight, yellow light spilling out the windows and smoke curling from the chimney. Christina’s car was in the driveway. It all looked so warm, like something out of a movie.
Charlie pulled up in front, and Ryan grabbed his grocery bags. “Thanks for the ride. See you in the morning?”
“Yeah, bright and early,” Charlie said, grinning. He held up his camera. “Sunrise might be good at the lake. Wanna come? Could get some pictures for your watershed project.”
Ryan surprised himself by actually wanting to. A few months ago, getting up early on purpose would have sounded nuts. “Yeah, text me if you go. I’ll meet you out there.” He let Angus out to do his business while he went up to the apartment to put away the groceries.
By the time he came back down and called Angus in, the main house was crazy with noise.
Christmas music was playing, someone was laughing in the kitchen, and someone’s phone was ringing.
Christina was at the counter, phone to her ear, typing one-handed on her laptop.
She looked up and gave him a thumbs-up, which made him grin.
Emily was curled up on the couch, a book in her lap, her belly looking bigger than last week, under one of those giant sweaters.
Tara and Will were in the kitchen, arguing about which tree farm has the best trees.
They were all going to go and cut down a tree.
He’d never had a real tree. Growing up, they’d always had a little tabletop fake tree.
Christina finished her call and came over to the recliner where he was sitting, taking it all in. “You okay?” she asked quietly so nobody else could hear. “You seem a million miles away.”
He shrugged, not sure how to say it without sounding like he was making a big deal. “Saw someone today. A girl, maybe my age. Pretty sure she’s living in her car.”
Christina’s eyebrows went up. “In this weather? Where?”
“Behind Spilled Milk. She left when she saw me looking. I was thinking about telling Sheriff Cooper tomorrow, when I go ask about that job I heard was open.”
She squeezed his shoulder. “That’s a good idea.
Both things.” She smiled. “I know I was worried about you having a job during school, but as long as you don’t work too many hours and your grades don’t suffer, it’s fine.
” This time she grinned. “When you get your first paycheck, pizza is on you.” Then she leaned down so no-one would hear them.
“I was worried you’d hate it here, you know.
No big city, no big stores. But look at you, practically a local already. ”
He blinked, surprised at the lump in his throat. Was he? Sometimes it still didn’t feel real. “Yeah,” he said, voice quiet. “I guess I am.”
Later, after dinner and homework and the usual end-of-the-day stuff, Ryan lay in bed staring at the glow of his alarm clock: 11:42.
His room was warm, almost too warm with the thick extra blanket Christina had shoved at him, but he could still feel the cold outside.
Eighteen degrees, according to the weather app on his phone.
Ally had gotten him the phone, said if she needed something in town, it was easier for him to pick it up on his way back from school than her having to drive to town.
Christina said it was just because she said all kids needed a phone.
Whatever the reason, it was a really nice thing to do.
He listened to Angus snoring softly at the foot of his bed. The girl from the parking lot kept popping into his head—how fast she’d looked away, the way she clutched the steering wheel like she was bracing for something bad to happen. He knew that look. He’d had it, once.
Tomorrow, he promised himself. Tomorrow he’d try to find her again.
Maybe she’d tell him to get lost or just drive away, but he had to try.
If Blueberry Hill had taught him anything, it was that nobody should have to freeze out there alone when there was a warm place waiting, no matter how tough they thought they were.