And some things you just can't speak about

 Mona took another look at Rico's text. Of course, she hadn't answered him. After all, he hadn't texted anything new. She knew whose side he was on. Definitely, not hers.

She didn't make it to Rome, New York. Yeah, that was the plan. Stay with relatives. Mona sighed at the thought.

Her second plan was to go to Scottsdale, Arizona. But she got as far as Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Yeap, that was the bus prices these days. And since she only had Christmas money to spend and whatever little savings on her debit card, this was where it got her. 

She didn't want to think what might have happened to Tristan. She'd heard nothing. That made her smile. Oh, she hoped she would never hear from him again.

Yes, she was on her own now and unsure what to do at a truckstop. She'd need a job soon. She didn't want to worry about it. After all, she was so tired. She needed sleep, but she was too scared. She just couldn't.

Actually, her butt ached from being on the bus for so long. Ugh, she hoped she didn't catch something. Why didn't she remember a mask?

She went to the bathroom and was happy for hot water. She splashed some water on her face. Then took to the foamy soap and gave herself a little bit of a bath the best she could. Lord knows, how long it had been since she took a shower. 

As it was she'd turned her phone off again to save the battery. That was the next thing she needed to do was to charge her phone. But then there was worry her parents would find her, too. Just her luck they were on their way here, right now. 

Actually, they hadn't been really communicating for some time now. They never had time to have dinner together. That seemed so wrong, especially since they'd spent every waking hour together during the pandemic, but her mom wasn't working at home anymore and her dad, well they'd separated and he'd gone to Texas for a better job in Houston. Mona felt she was just an afterthought now. 

Maybe her mom wasn't worried about her after all. She seemed pleased to have Tristan around. It gave Mona the shivers. What did her mom see? Her mother would sometimes tell her that she better be better to him. Of course, she asked for what she got. 

Honestly, the world was crazy, Mona decided. She was in no hurry to go home.

She got her backpack and went to the diner. It was there she noticed the cashier right away. She took a double-take. He did not look to belong here. It was like he was a K-pop idol in disguise. Mona couldn't help but smile. Before she could really get a good look at his face..she blacked out.