sophie » cars and perfume.

Never had the road looked so long and his foot so heavy on the pedal. The numbers on Kingsley's watch weren't moving fast enough - same for the car - he thought, pushing for gas a little more.

Three more exits, he told himself. No, he couldn't make it that long, it had to be two. Two exits and they would stop - They had to. Electric car, he'd say. They need to be recharged very often, he'd lie. His almost-never-used-almost-brand-new Tesla was very unreliable, after all. It needed a break.

God.

He needed a break.

He needed not to be in a smelly car with his smelly assistant - His editor and agent could make all the decisions on his next book, the movie deal, they could do whatever with his in-the-works sex stuff line and choose the flavors of lube themselves, King really didn't need to be there, he didn't care at all anymore. He could even get himself not to care about going to help at his investment firm. They'd done well without seeing his face for months - they could carry on, nevermind the piles of papers to sign stacking up on his desk. He just couldn't go all the way to New York with her. Especially smelling like that.

It was a nasal aggression, plain in simple. impossible to breathe. impossible to think either, because of the headache her odors brought on.

During the first few kilometers, King had blamed the new freshener he'd use when cleaning the car, but it was way too pungent for that. He tried opening his window, but god had something against him, and it started raining...

And it didn't stop.

It hadn't stopped when they passed the state's border, nor when King realized it came from her. Even during their first break (Of two, as of yet) he couldn't escape it.

Too late, the idea to go back home popped into his mind. He was already half way there. He would have to live a week with her, probably even longer with her smell, since it would tattoo itself onto his skin too.

Sorry, Jesus. Not very religious Kiki started praying, and was answered before his Amen.

One exit.

Just one more.

And it was just there.

I need to take a shit. It wasn't the excuse he had planned, but he could see a 7/11 in the distance. They had toilets. Gross, toilets. Toilets that King had vowed to avoid until his death - but it was his last resort. He needed time alone. He didn't want to be followed. He wanted to wash his nostrils from her.

When the car finally stopped, he dared to look at her, while reajusting his mask (he hadn't removed it in hours, preferring smelling his own breath rather than having more contact with the emanations in the vehicule) Get whatever you want inside, (a shower, better detergent, shampoo, even vinegar if it could kill that perfume) my treat. With a masked smile, he handed her his credit card before FINALLY getting out, and doing his best "guy that really has to poop" walk to the washroom, clenching his butt and all.

Sophie had been stuck in a city she doesn’t know, in a rbnb since the pandemic. She got out a little, but not much. Which didn’t really help her staying sane if she ever was. Working from her computer, losing her time on social medias… King’s medias. And his friends’. And his family’s. And his girlfriend’s. And her friends’, and her family’s.
She finally had the opportunity to get out. Her boss called her saying she’d have to go back to Manhattan with her crush actually. He told her a week ahead and time never passed slower. Worse than she couldn’t even get out for groceries. Counting down days to a little road trip with King was hell. Going through her closet over and over again, needing to find the perfect outfit. In one of his books, a character wore a red dress and she almost left the house in one, but nerves got the best of her and she changed into jeans.
Secret obsessions by Calvin Klein on, she was ready to be stuck with him in a car for many hours. And never in her life did she wish for traffic before. But she also never was alone with the man ever before. She dreamt of it. She thought about it a lot. But never did it happen. She also had a lot to say. More than she wanted to get out, but King or not, she hadn’t seen lots of people in months. Having a human being around made her mouth go wild. Their masks bothers her because she couldn’t read his face expression.
Anyhow, time for a stop came and he needed to poop. And he was comfortable enough around her to tell her the truth.  He couldn’t see, but she was blushing under that piece of cloth. He also gave her his credit card and her heart was pumping blood pretty fast because you know, he is basically getting her a gift, right? Laughing at his silly walk because he was always making everyone laugh, she followed into the 7/11 to get something. She was hungry, but she wanted something meaningful you know. It was the first thing he would get her.
Jerkies were tempting but she was looking around for a little something to keep and remember that first day with him. They were close to NYC so lots of trinkets linked to the city were on sale. So she picked up a keychain of the Empire State Building with a little heart next to it that she will cherish for a long time and some spicy chips to offer King.
Cleaning her hands again when she left the store, holding her little treasure in her left hand. Smiling for King waiting even though he couldn’t see it. I got you chips. She didn’t think far or fast. In the car, he could not eat them because of their masks, but they had time. They could take a break and he could eat outside. Im gonna tell daddy we are almost halfway there. Getting her phone out to text her father/boss after throwing him his snack.
Are you ready for the meeting? She had spoken enough in the car, it was his turn now and really she wanted to know how he felt. What he ate that morning to get him that rushed to go take a shit. If he slept well. Anything really, she wanted to know anything about him she didn’t learn online.
@Kingsley Delarosa