The future

"But I liked what you were."
Alice's words hit Kyle harder than he let show. They'd only been on the road a few days, but there were things he was already starting to miss. He could feel an uprising in his gut that rebelled against his own choices to turn his back on what he'd once been passionate about. But it was too late.

He starts to reply, but Alice has already let the conversation move on, and he has to be grateful for that. He lets the whole thing go too, not wanting to get in any deeper. He didn't like exchanging any form of harsh or tense words with Alice - it never felt right when he did.

"Mountain Dew is always on the agenda," he states flatly, pulling back out onto the road. "I think we're...." His phone rings, interrupting him. Fumbling with it for a moment, he finally answers it. "Yeah? Hi, Hunter." He turns to grin at Alice, still talking to Hunter. "No, we're fine. Chinese fire drill. We'll catch up in two shakes. Yeah, alright."

Shutting the phone, he rolls his eyes. "Can't get away with anything without someone checking up." Humor laces his voice though, proving he really wasn't annoyed. "We're headed for the future," he finally answers her. "Yes... that is the destination."


Receiving Katie's reply, Jason just looks into her eyes for several moments, searching deeper than the surface. He didn't normally probe, but today he did. There really was something there... but he couldn't describe it. It seemed to mirror something he himself felt, but yet it was unidentified. Unlabeled. Maybe Katie was right. Maybe it was just that things weren't as upbeat anymore... things had slowed down. Excitement didn't really exist at the moment. But was that circumstance's fault, or his own fault?

Dropping his gaze, he lets his fingers wrap around Katie's. Her words of love were reassuring. But at the same time, the fear had already been injected and it was hard to get rid of.

"I love you too," he replies quietly. He really didn't feel like there was anything to forgive. Ryder had said the whole kiss thing was his fault, not Katie's. But still...

"Guess maybe I thought..." He stops himself. He didn't want to sound bitter. He really wasn't. He wasn't angry. He wasn't even really irritated. Maybe a little, but nothing to be upset over. Yet the words slipped through.

Thought maybe there was something I did wrong to make your eyes wander to someone else.

His stare shoots back up again, realizing his emotions had betrayed him. Yet still, his eyes showed no malice. Only confusion and maybe a little disappointment. This time he doesn't try to stop the silent communication.

Is it me? Is it just circumstance? Did I do something to make you want someone else?

It was evident now... he knew about what had happened with Ryder.

His hand stands on Katie's, his eyes still looking into her own, waiting for reassurance... hoping that it existed.