chapter 1

I was pumping gas when she walked up.

"Can you give me a ride?"

"I don't know. Where are you going?"

"Fairchance."

"I'm headed that way. How do I know you're not some kind of serial killer or something? You're not supposed to pick up hitchhikers..."

"Maybe I should ask you the same thing..."

"I'm not too dangerous, and you're the one that's asking for the ride."

She was about five foot seven, easy to look at, and her clothes were tight enough that I couldn't see a gun.

"Ok."

She lifted the lower part of her shirt to show an empty waistband, and a very slight roll over her belt like she had just gained some weight and hadn't updated her wardrobe.

I shut off the pump, opened the door, "Ok, get in. There are donuts on the seat."

She was halfway through the first donut when I got in.

After donut number 4, she said, "I probably shouldn't eat these, but they do taste good."

"Go ahead and finish them if you want, I'm going to stop at McDonalds in the next town and get something."

"McDondalds? Maybe I should get something to balance out this sugar..."

"If you finish off that last donut, I'll get something."

She put her hand to her stomach, and tried to pull her shirt back down, but it slid back up.

I ordered a couple biscuits and an apple pie for me. I ordered her a couple biscuits, two hash browns, two breakfast burritos, and a large tea.

After the first biscuit, she asked if I had a rubber band so she could put it around the button on her shorts to make some room.

Twenty minutes later, she had finished the food and reached to her belly.

"I feel like I'm going to explode", she said.

Her shorts were gapped open at the waist. Her shirt may as well have been a halter top.

Fifteen minutes later, we arrived in Fairchance.

"Thanks for the ride. You can let me out by the Library."

I pulled up to the curb beside the Library. She opened the door, and struggled to get out. She shut the door, and slowly made her way down the sidewalk.

I wondered if our paths would cross again.