Free Euphoria-Z by Luke Ahearn Page B

help.”
    “Did you see who shot at me?”
    “Nah, but whoever it was has been at it all day. We saw a few people get hit, and we’ve been laying low until this shit blows over.”
    “Do you know who I hit?”
    Ben chuckled. “Some bitch. We waved her down, but she refused to give us a ride. Said we were too dirty. Can you believe that? End of the fucking world and she’s worried about her interior.”
    Willow just nodded. “Where were you headed?”
    “North, to San Jose.” Cooper answered but was wondering why they flagged the woman down for a ride when they had a van.
    “You won’t make it. Everything is blocked for miles.” She was digging in her dreads with one finger. “We tried to ride out a few times and almost got killed. We’re trying to get up to Washington.”
    Ben lay on the floor of the van. He looked like he had fallen asleep, but then he spoke. “You’re welcome to hang with us for as long as you like.”
    “Thanks, but I need to get moving. Did you ever see who was shooting people?” Cooper asked again as he was worried about avoiding them.
    “No, but he’s been on that overpass for at least a day,” Ben said as Willow closed her eyes.
    “At least,” she added, “I think we are going to crash.” They both seemed to fall asleep.
    Weird druggies, Cooper thought. He wasn’t comfortable with them, but he was hurting, and almost as if she could read his mind Willow opened her eyes.
    “You look like you’re in pain from the wreck. Do you want something?”
    “You have a painkiller?” Even as he asked the question he realized how stupid it was because there was no way in hell he was going to take some shit these two gave him.
    “Oh yeah.” Her eyes were twinkling.
    “Oh yeah,” Ben echoed.
    She stood and grabbed a backpack from the front seat of the van. She pulled a large plastic storage bag out that looked like it was filled with candy. There must have been a few thousand pills in the bag. She started digging through them.
    “I was thinking more like Tylenol or Advil.”
    She wrinkled her nose, “that stuff’s bad for you. I’ve got oxy, percs, deads…”
    “I’m fine, thanks.”
    “Half a codie will just mellow you out, let you sleep.”
    “I’m good.” He tried to be gracious, but she wasn’t giving up.
    “I can see you need it. Why would you suffer like that?”
    “Really, I’m fine.” He tried to change the subject. “So where are you guys from?”
    “C’mon, pussy.” Ben decided to open his eyes. “Don’t be such a fag.”
    “Stop it, Ben. Don’t mind him; he’s just cranky.” Willow scooted over closer to Cooper. She put her arm around him and pushed her breast against his arm. She could have been really hot if she were clean, but she was so ripe and skanky it was beyond a turnoff, it was aggravating. “C’mon sweetie, just half. Don’t you want to party with me?”
    She held a pill pinched between her fingers up to Cooper’s face. “C’mon,” and she was waiting for him to open his mouth.
    Her breath was foul. He could see all the whiteheads across her face. Ben was lying back as he had been, but now he was watching what was happening intently, like a predator. Red flags were going up by the dozens, and Cooper wanted to bolt but thought they might try to overpower him and pull him back into the van. She was clearly trying to be seductive, and neither one had been more than three feet away from him since he awoke.
    He smiled, relaxed, and said, “Let me go piss first. If I get too relaxed, it’s going all over your van.” And just for good measure he put his hand out. “What the hell, half. I am hurting and wouldn’t mind getting fucked up right now.”
    “Good idea.” She smiled and rubbed his shoulder. She broke the pill in half and held it up to his mouth. He smiled and let her put it on his tongue, making a mental note to scrub his tongue later where her bitter-tasting fingertips touched him.
    He turned away and was amazed because