Highway Part 23

Highway Chapter 15(continued)

I sensed Julian before we even got into town, and I could feel he was in the local tavern. Thicksville was a large town, more like a city than anything else. So many different people came here, it was the perfect place for a drifter to get in and out without anyone even batting an eye. Unless you stayed there. For a long time. And you are the strangest, loudest, most irritating but lovable person on the planet. Like Julian.

Veronica was looking around at the new and tall building with wonder, probably never having seen and actual city before. Cars crowded the city streets, the sounds of honking and revving engines a creating a cacophony. The sidewalks were filled with people strolling about. A mom, soothing her crying kids. A street performer, playing a rendition of a song I didn’t know. A lady with 8 dogs being pulled along by their leashes. We were not the most interesting people in this city, that was for sure. I couldn’t decide whether to wait for Julian to come find us, for I knew he sense me outside of the town. But he didn’t seem to be moving, and I wondered if he was too lazy to come greet an old friend.

Sighing, I decided to seek him out. Veronica stayed close as I weaved in and of the crowds, and managed to keep up so I didn’t have to slow down. I was glad to have a street smart companion with me, for this city would have been a disaster with someone who didn’t know how to navigate. As we approached the bar, I told Veronica that Julian was inside. She hesitated strangely, drawing closer to me. I suppose her caution was understandable, as she had never met another drifter before, and Julian was an odd one indeed.

We pushed open the door to the tavern, proceeding to take seats near the bar.

I spotted Julian sitting there, and I said, “Not even going to say anything, you crazy coot? Have you gotten so lazy, old man, you can’t greet a friend?”

He rose from his seat, an indignant look on his face.

“If I remember something about you, kid, it’s that you never put your effort into anything! You couldn’t even finish lighting your fire! And yet you call me lazy.”

He crossed his arms, looking surly, and murmuring, “Old man! I’m only 15 years older than you! Have someone tell you you’re old at 40 and let me know how it feels.”

I smiled, and opened my arms for a hug.

“Come here, you.” I said affectionately.

We embraced, patting each other on the back. He ruffled my hair like I was a child, and I brushed away his hand. Veronica was sitting in the booth, watching the exchange with awkward interest. I gestured for her to come over, and she hesitantly did so.

“This is Veronica,” I said, introducing her, “she’s traveling with me. She wants to find The Way.”

He studied her, and then started laughing. Veronica looked to me, confused. I put up my hands in a helpless gesture. I didn’t understand the man anymore than I did when we first met.

“Look at you!” he exclaimed loudly, pulling me into another hug, “Teaching people things. Now you’re just like me!”

I untangled myself from his bear hug, playfully saying, “I will never be like you, Julian. Nobody is like you.”

He chuckled. He turned to Veronica, suddenly enveloping her into a hug as well. She made a startled squeak, and pushed herself away from Julian, surprised by his behavior. He was quite the interesting person.

“Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to scare you, silly girl. Victoria, was it?”

I sighed, correcting him.

“Veronica,” I stressed, “Say it with me. Ver-ron-ick-cuh.”

He gave me a wry look, and told me I was a smartass. Veronica stifled a laugh. This was going to be a long day. I told Julian we needed to check into a hotel first, and then we could chat. He insisted on staying at his house, but I talked him out of it.

“Sorry, Julian. I already promised Veronica she could take a real shower. Not whatever that thing that spouts freezing water of yours is called.”

He looked offended, saying real showers were for sissies.

“Julian lives on the very edge of town , in a secluded little cabin.” I explained to Veronica, “And he’s very defensive about it.”

We checked into the nearest hotel, Julian scoffing the whole way and saying something about “no appreciation for the wild. I call my shower and shower.”

I smirked. He was exactly as he had been a few years ago. Veronica was trailing off to the side, obviously confused. She was on my side, but was far enough Julian couldn’t reach her. I think she was worried he was going to hug her again. I remember I thought him a raving lunatic the first time I met him.

Veronica seemed at a loss, unsure of what to be doing right now. I wanted her to learn a few things from him, but she would have plenty of time to do that tomorrow. For now, I thought I would release her from the nightmare that was Julian.

“Hey Veronica,” I called.

She looked up, not sure if she should be relived she was in the conversation or concerned because she was.

“Do you want to do some sight-seeing?”

She nodded, elated to have a reason to be gone.

“Here’s a map of the city. Now remember-“

She cut me off quickly.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t draw attention, be safe, be nice to people. Use the walkie talkie if someone is late or something happens.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, and she suddenly looked even more awkward.

“Uh, I mean, I understand. Thank you for teaching me the rules?” she asked innocently, trying to make me smile.

I gave her a little one, and sighed playfully.

“Okay, well I’m off!” she said, ready to bolt.

“Not quite.” I called, forcing her to come back. “I think there’s something you’re forgetting about?”

She looked at me oddly, bewildered.

She thought a moment and said, “We are meeting back…”

“At the tavern we came to when we got here.”

I pointed it out on the map.

“And when?” she asked.

“How about six?”

She agreed, and ran off hastily. I couldn’t tell if she was excited to see the city, or if she was just glad to get away. Probably a bit of both.  I turned back to Julian, who was observing me with a questioning look.

“What?” I asked.

“Since when do you have that voice?” he asked me back.

I gave him a dubious look, not understanding. He sighed.

“The voice you just used. Since when do you have the ‘listen to me’ voice?”

I shrugged, telling him I didn’t know what he was talking about. He sighed in exasperation, throwing his hands up in the air. We snuggled into a booth, and caught up on lost time. He asked me of my travels, and I asked him of his life here. We laughed for a long time.

“I’ve missed you, my old friend. “I said, wiping the tears of laughter away from my eyes.

He agreed, then looked at me seriously for a moment.

“Tell me how you met your companion.”

I did, and he listened intently. I didn’t want to intrude on Veronica’s privacy though, so I only told him the basics. When I was finished, he leaned back.

“She seems attached to you, especially considering she’s only been with you for five days.”

I shrugged off the comment, saying simply, “I’m just the first person she has met who is relatively kind. As you can imagine, like many she wasn’t very accepted in her town.”

He nodded, but looked as if had had more to say.

“Hey, Julian,” I said, “How would you like to hang out with Veronica and I tomorrow? She thinks you are strange, but I think she can learn something from you. Preferably it something about life, not about how to  drink 4 shots under a minute or how to pick a lock with only a bobby pin.”

I gave him a look pointedly, and  he laughed.

“Actually, I’m feeling like I need to stretch my legs a little bit. What would you say about me traveling with you until you reach Townston. Its only about two days travel.”

I paused, worried about how Veronica would feel. I also didn’t think she wanted it shared with anyone else she had nightmares, which would be pretty hard to conceal. Still, Julian was a sensitive guy, and I was sure that the two would be able to coexist.

“Sounds great.” I replied.

We exchanged more stories, and then Julian had to leave for some errands. We parted ways, where I was heading for the tavern to wait for Veronica. It was about 5:45, so she still had time.

Julian’s statement had bothered me. Was she attached to me? I never really noticed. I noticed that she liked me more than others, sure, but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. I told myself I was thinking too hard.

I sat in the crowded tavern, and waited. I wasn’t kept there for long though, for Veronica showed up about 5 minutes early.

“Did you have fun?” I asked.

She told me she did, and then proceeded to tell me about all the things she saw. We ate dinner, and walked back to the hotel.

Veronica took a shower first, and I had to listen to make sure she didn’t pass out from fatigue. Fortunately there were no loud noises of anything falling, and she came out unscathed. I took mine and got dressed, settling in for the night. Veronica knocked on my door.

“It’s open,” I called.

She complained of the heat, and went to stand on the balcony just outside of our rooms.

“Hey,” I said, “I told Julian he could go with us when we travel, so he’ll be with us for about two days until we reach the next town."

She poked her head back in, a look of dismay upon her face.

“Do we have to? He’s just so weird.” She complained.

“Be nice,” I gently admonished, “He’s a really great guy. He’s helped me in more ways than I can count. Sure, he’s a little eccentric, but that’s just how it is.”

She looked at me doubtfully, thinking herself tortured.

“You have to learn to be open-minded with people. If you start disliking him just because he’s different, you become the same as everyone who shunned you because you were different.”

She looked at the ground, suddenly finding her slippers the most interesting thing in the world.

“I’m not like them.” She whispered, angry but sad.

I sighed and sat up, closing the book in my lap.

“I know you’re not, Veronica,” I commented softly, “And that’s why I’m telling you this. I don’t want anyone to think you are like that, because you aren’t.”

She went back out to the balcony without another word. After about half an hour, she came back inside, shutting the door.

“He isn’t going to hug me again, right?” she asked, partially serious but also part frivolous.

I laughed, saying, “I don’t know. Probably not. Just bear with him if he does. He is quite strange, but it grows on you after a while.”

She rolled her eyes, but accepted the statement. She yawned, and I thought of her sleeping tonight. The nightmares couldn’t have gone, but she napped soundly this morning. She didn’t seem too worried about it, and I wondered if something had changed. After discussing her favorite attractions of the city, she bid me goodnight.

“Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite. Literally," i joked.

She looked at me in horror, before realizing I was just kiddimg. She told me I was a snot. She seemed content today, if a little bit off. Sleep deprivation does things to people.

I felt myself falling asleep, so I turned off my light and burrowed under the covers. Thinking of my old friend and Veronica, it reminded me of my situation. I reacted the same way when I first met him, except I was more angry. Hoping they didn’t get into as much trouble as we did. I smiled at the thought.

This was going to be an adventure, one I might regret arranging. Still, it was peaceful tonight, and I was grateful. I hoped the calm and tranquility would last.

I had no idea what was about to happen.