FORCES OF NATURE
starring Brian Littrell

email me

Two days until my wedding. I didn't know it then, but two days was just enough time for a hundred and fifty things to go wrong. I should have known it from the start.

I was already running late when I got to JFK. Just in time to check in, and I was pretty sure I was the last one boarding that plane. I had been finishing wrapping up last minute things in New York and was planning to be back in time to tie up all the loose ends in Atlanta.

I was the second seat away from the window and I wasn't about to look out of it. It's not that I'm afraid of flying; I've done it too much to be nervous. Well maybe just a little. I just didn't like it. The older guy next to me looked up a second, stared at me and stuck out his hand.

"Roger West, accountant."

"Brian, afraid of flying." I shook the offered hand and he chuckled.

"Nice to meet ya."

I settled into my seat and pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of my pocket. My list of stuff I had to do once I got to Atlanta. The 'if I forget to do any of this then I'm screwed' list.

"What's that?"

I glanced up. Roger the accountant was pretty nosy. "A list of stuff I gotta remember. I'm getting married in two days."

"Ah... Married. I was married once."

"Yeah?"

"Well twice actually, if you count that one time..." He shook his head and chuckled again. "Mistakes. I'd rather be single." He cleared his throat. "Well good luck to you, fella." He smiled crookedly and went back to reading his paper.

"Thanks, Roger," I muttered, going back to my list. Great, just great.

"Excuse me? Yeah, you over by the window. That's my seat."

"No, -"

"Yeah it is. Let's switch anyway."

I guess I hadn't been the last one on the plane afterall. I looked up to see a young woman about my age standing at the edge of our aisle. Her long dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail and her eyes were hidden by small rimmed sunglasses.

"Look," she told the guy next to me with an almost amused look. "I get sick if I don't sit next to the window you know, so if you want-"

"Alright already, geez lady." Roger the accountant finally got up and they both climbed all over me to switch their seats. I just sighed as the girl used me as a balance, pulling her backpack with her. The guy clapped me on the shoulder as he sat in his new seat. "Women! Huh, kid?"

I just nodded. "Yeah." I was getting married to one in two days. Want to warn me about something?

"Roger West," he was telling the girl, reaching over me and shaking her hand. "Accountant."

"Sarah. Not employed." She pulled off her sunglasses.

"This is Brian, he's afraid of flying, and he's getting married in two days."

I stared at him incredulously. "Thanks," I said dryly.

"No problem," he answered. I made a face. I was beginning to wonder if he had some sort of syndrome I should be aware of.

"Nice to meet you both," Sarah answered, nodding at him and giving me a smile. I rolled my eyes.

"So you get sick in the aisle but not by the window, huh?"

She winked. "Yeah. I think it's the better scenery."

"I see."

The seatbelt sign lit up and I fumbled with mine, making sure it was on right and snug. I wasn't taking any chances. When I looked up I found Sarah staring at me.

"Your seat cushion doubles as a safety flotation device you know. Just in case."

"Thanks ..."

"Anytime." She smiled and focussed her attention back out the window. Great. Just great.

A few minutes later, the plane started down the runway, gaining speed and slowly lifting off the ground. Things were fine until it then it came to a sudden halt, jerking us forward and hitting the ground with a bump. Everyone gasped and I caught Sarah's arm before her head smashed into the seat in front of her.

"Thanks ..." she said softly, gripping the armrest as the plane's brakes made a weird screeching noise.

"What was that?" I hissed, feeling my heart thud in my chest. I wanted off that plane then and there.

"Maybe we hit something," Sarah suggested with a laugh, calm and cool once again. Roger, of course, chuckled.

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm a little worried," I said, partly annoyed. I didn't find it the least bit amusing. Fortunately, before either could answer, an announcement started to crackle.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is your pilot speaking. We apologize for the short stop, but we just recieved notice that a tropical storm is approaching off the coast of Florida and Georgia. We're sorry, but the flight is cancelled and you will be asked to unboard as soon as your luggage and cargo are unloaded."

Super.

When we finally got off the crazy plane, the airport was swamped. I'd never seen a place so crowded. It was mobbed. Everyone was racing to get another flight, find a ride, or just to get in touch with someone. I opted for the last and dug in my bag for my cellphone. Good thing I didn't need to stand on the mile long line for the payphones.

"Hello?"

"Hey Kev? It's me." I heard a lot of voices and commotion in the background.

"Hey buddy, what's up?"

"Well there's kind of a problem ..." I tried to explain what had happened, in full detail. Okay, so maybe I exaggerated just a little. I was trying to stay calm.

"For real? Can you get another flight when the storm passes by?"

"I'm not going on another plane, are you crazy?!"

"Alright, alright." He was obviously trying not to be exasperated with me, I could tell. "Is there a car rental in the airport?"

"Um, probably," I answered, looking around. There had to be something like that around here. If I could see through all these people.

"Alright little man, so go rent yourself a car, okay?"

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, but-"

"Brian, I love you!" Sarah's loud exclamation cut me off. I turned sideways just as she wrapped her arms around me and landed a kiss on my cheek. I frowned and pulled away.

"I-"

"Rok? Who's that?" Kevin sounded confused.

"Um ... Disturbed fan. I'm okay. I gotta go, it's getting kinda hectic here." I tried to ignore Sarah's insistant tugging on my sleeve. "Okay?"

"Alright, be safe. Keep in touch, okay?"

"Sure, Kev. Bye." I clicked the phone off and shot a look at Sarah. "What's the matter with you?"

"You get a ride?"

"I-"

"No? I think I got someone, come on." She started pulling me away from the crowd.

"I was kinda gonna rent a car, Sarah, so ..."

"Yeah," she said with a laugh, shaking her head. "The first ten thousand people beat you to it. I tried. C'mon."

Against my better judgement, I shut my mouth and followed her. I could have checked out the rental place myself, but what reason did she have to lie to me? Then again, what reason do crazy people have to do anything?

"This is Carlos. Carlos, this is Brian." Sarah grinned at me proudly. I looked up at the guy. That's right, up. Far up. Big, huge guy with bloodshot eyes and a rough looking face. I swallowed.

"Um ... Where you going?" Please not Atlanta, please, please, please?

"Anywhere," he answered with a thick accent. "Anywhere you want, I go."

"Oh." I rubbed the back of my head. "That's awful generous." Awful.

"We go?"

"Um ..."

"We go," Sarah cut in, throwing an arm around my waist. "C'mon."

"In case you forgot- I don't know you," I hissed as we followed Carlos to the parking lot. I told myself to stop walking, but I couldn't.

"But I like you, Brian," she said in a tired voice. "We're both going to the same place, so why not have company?"

"Because I value my life?"

"Oh, you're funny. This your car, Carlos?"

"Ya."

"Great," she answered, inviting herself into the backseat of the beat up green Oldsmobile. Carlos motioned to the passenger seat and I said a silent prayer as I got in.

About an hour and a hundred miles later (if you saw the way Carlos drove you wouldn't doubt it), I realized what an idiot I was. It took me awhile, but the state trooper pretty much tipped me off.

"You think he's after us?" Sarah's voice was actually fighting laughter. I didn't see anything funny about a state trooper speeding after us with flashing lights and siren.

"I don't know, we're the only car on the whole road, we're going a thousand miles an hour, and he's right on our tail. Let me think about that one ..."

"Funny," Sarah answered. "You worry too much, Brian. You only live once you know."

"Exactly, which is why I'm trying to prolong it as much as- oh God."

The state trooper was now using his loudspeaker device to tell us to pull over. Carlos wasn't listening. His foot on the gas got heavier in fact. The trooper's voice got more insistant and more annoyed. I clenched my teeth.

"Pull over, Carlos, come on."

"I be arrested," came the gruff answer. I glanced back at Sarah, giving her a look. She shrugged.

"Carlos, c'mon. Brian's gonna have a stroke," she said. I rolled my eyes.

Of course, Carlos listened to the lady.

Two hours later, I was kind of wishing he hadn't.

"Drugs?! You had drugs in your car?! It wasn't even your car?!"

"I was transport drugs, yes," Carlos said with a short nod. "Yes."

"Ah!"

"Calm down," Sarah said with a laugh. "It's not a big deal."

Not a big deal? I shot her a look. She was all stretched out and relaxed on the one cot in the claustrophobic jail cell. That's right, jail cell.

"You think it's funny, don't you? You think everything is funny! Well if you were sane and getting married in two days, you would think it was a big deal too!"

Sarah stared at me a second solemnly before rolling over and facing the wall. Great.

A guard came over and knocked on the bars. "One phonecall each. Anyone interested?"

I jumped up immediately. They'd taken my cellphone from me before and I couldn't call anybody to get me out. The guard unlocked the door and let me through to get to the phone.

"We're not going to get records are we?" I asked hopefully as I started to dial. "Because I don't need a police record and I really have nothing to do with those two crazy people in there. Honest."

"Just make your call, kid."

What

What was that supposed to mean? I turned my back to him as it started to ring.

"Hello?"

"Kev! Hey, I'm checking in with you. What's up?"

"Not much," Kevin said with a laugh. There was a pause and I heard muffled voices. "Nick wants me to tell you that the rings are lost and the priest backed out." I laughed.

"He's a smartass."

"I'll send along the message," Kevin answered with a chuckle. "So where are you at now?"

"Well ..." Should I tell him? Would he freak out at me? Would he come save me? "Well you'll never guess, but I'm in jail!"

Silence.

"Kevy?"

"Are you kidding, Brian? 'Cause you better be or you're dead."

"Yeah, I'm playing," I said quickly. "I just stopped for something to eat. Everything's going fine ..." Liar, liar. Fine? How much more worse off could I be? I could hear Kevin's sigh of relief.

"Don't kid like that." He paused. "You getting nervous, huh?"

"No," I lied.

"Yeah right," he answered. I could hear the smile in his voice. "I can't believe my baby cuz is getting married."

Here we go again ...

"Stoooop."

Kevin just laughed. "You'll be fine."

"I know. You're the one making the deal."

"Right ..."

"Look, Kev, I better-"

"Your time's up," the guard barked. I swallowed.

"Who was that?" Kevin asked.

"My quarter's running out," I lied.

"I thought you had your cell."

"I do ..."

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing, I'd better go. Love you, bye." I hung up quickly. Alrighty then. So Kevin would be suspicious. No big deal. I glanced at the guard. "I seriously have nothing to do with this."

"Alright, kid. Come on."

Back to the cell. The guard locked me in with the rest of the nutcases. I sat down on the other end of the cot, leaning against the wall with a sigh.

"It shouldn't be much longer," Sarah told me.

"Oh, you've done this before?"

She just smiled.

'Not much longer' turned out to be at least a half an hour more, but I was so relieved to get out of there that I didn't care. They let Sarah and I out, but Carlos was a different story. Obviously this wasn't a first time offense. Can't say I was worried about what might happen to the guy.

"So what do you want to do now?"

I looked up from my fries. "Get to Georgia." Sarah rolled her eyes. "Aren't you gonna eat?" It looked like we were sticking together for the time being, so we had stopped at a McDonald's to eat. All she'd gotten was a soda.

"Not hungry. I mean, how do you want to get there?"

"Well, I'm not hitch-hiking or taking a ride from anyone else, thank you very much."

"How was I supposed to know that was gonna happen? Admit it, though. It was funny."

"Yeah, well."

"It was."

"We can take a train or a bus," I offered, ignoring her. "Those are safe."

"Actually, if you really wanna know, you're ten times more likely to-"

"Alright already!" I laughed, shaking my head. This girl definitely had something about her. "Train's my vote."

"Alright, train it is. Let's go, I saw a station down the street."

I stuffed down the last bite of my burger and grabbed my bag as she hopped out of her seat and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door. Everything was exciting for her. I was beginning to think it wasn't such a bad way to look at things afterall.

"Two coach seats ..." The man behind the ticketbooth scratched his beard as he typed something in his computer. "Will those be together?"

I opened my mouth to answer and then shut it, glancing at Sarah. She shrugged.

"Can you hang on a sec?" I asked the man. He nodded, stifling a yawn, and I pulled Sarah a few feet away. "Maybe this is time we went our separate ways ... What do you think?"

"Well Bri-guy, it's up to you."

"I just think ..." How was I going to put this? I was starting to realize how pretty she was and it made me nervous. I mean, I was getting married. Married. No turning back. "It's just ..." I paused and watched her tuck a strand of dark hair behind her ear. She crossed her arms, a smirk on her face.

"Yeah?"

"I just think we should go our own ways." Say why, I told myself. "When there's something between two people ... a feeling, a spark ..." I stopped. "We, um, we have our own lives, you know? I'm getting married and you're... whatever, and I just think it would be better if... - Do you get what I'm saying?"

She stared at me.

"Obviously you're not feeling ... what I'm feeling?"

She shook her head slowly, and a smile spread across her lips. Great Brian, very smooth.

"Right, okay." I gave a goofy smile. It usually got me out of stuff. "G'bye, Sarah."

"Bye, Brian," she answered nonchalantly. She uncrossed her arms and shifted her bag on her shoulder as I slowly turned back to the ticket man, wondering if I came off as much as an idiot as I thought I did.

"Those'll be separate, thanks ..."

Choo-choo. On a train. Yadda yadda. On a train.

I'm not the type of person to sit still for an extended period. Kevin thinks I'm hyperactive. I would just rather be up and doing something than sitting still, that's all. And sitting alone on a train, with nothing to do and nobody to talk to, didn't make the time pass by any quicker.

I pulled out my list again and ran over it quickly. I just wanted things to be perfect. Leigh wanted things to be perfect. I wanted her to be happy.

"Are you getting married?"

I turned to the older man next to me curiously. What?

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help but see your list. When's the lucky day?"

"Two days from now," I said with a small smile. I had two days to grow up, as everybody put it. Hey, I was ready.

"Ah ... I remember the anticipation," the balding man said with a knowing nod. The woman next to him smiled, reaching for his hand.

"Butterflies in your stomach," she added.

"You always have doubts," the man continued. "Wondering if you're doing the right thing ... If you're with the right person. Because it's the rest of your life you're deciding. Always doubts."

"Doubts?" the woman said teasingly. "You never told me that!" She squeezed his hand.

"I don't tell you everything," he countered back with an affectionate look on his face. I smiled.

"Well it looks like you two made the right decision in getting married."

"Married?" the woman repeated. "Oh, we're not married!"

"We're having an affair," the man explained. Both of them smiled. "I've never felt happier."

"Well." All the blood must have drained from my face. "That's great. Good luck. If you'll excuse me ..." I coughed and got up, climbing over them to get to the aisle. I took my bag with me. Affair? Never happier?

Well.

Not everybody makes the wrong decision. I've just met several in one day, that's all.

What a coincidence.

I stayed in the lounge car of the train for awhile, where they were serving snacks and showing a movie. Not bad. No one bothered with me at all, so I tried to relax and rest. It'd been a busy day in a short amount of time.

I met up with Sarah again by accident. The train had stopped for a couple minutes at some depot or filling station, and all I wanted to do was find a bathroom. I wound up on the opposite end of the train before I finally went down some stairs and found it. Quite a relief.

It was when I was about to go back up the stairs that I heard a familiar voice singing. I paused midstep and came back, seeing no one. I looked out the door.

"Are you crazy?"

Sarah looked up. "Oh hey, Brian."

"You're nuts," I said, looking at her position on the platform at the back of the train. "You could fall."

"We're not moving."

"We could any second."

"Live a little, man. Take a risk."

"I've had enough for one day thanks," I answered as she rolled her eyes. She smiled a little and I returned it. I liked her hair. It was long, and thick, and-

Oh Leigh! Leighanne had pretty hair too. And I loved her, so ...

"Brian? Earth to Brian."

I focussed on Sarah's face. "Hm?"

"You wanna join me out here?" She made a wide sweeping gesture with her hand, as if there was so much room out there.

I shook my head silently. That seemed to amuse her, and she laughed.

"It's pretty out here, the scenery."

"It looks pretty from here too," I countered with a smile.

"The wind feels nice."

I took a step back. "Yeah, it does, huh? Windy."

"You're such a -AH."

I caught her arm as the train jerked forward, engines starting up again and letting out a whistle. She gripped my shoulder and I pulled her back inside the train as we picked up speed. The girl had a deathwish.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks." She let me go and raised her eyebrows. "Close call, huh?" She laughed. I rolled my eyes and started for the stairs.

"You're nuts, girl."

"Thanks." She followed me up the stairs and we got to the top of the car. We started walking back to our seats, but we started to pass a lot of stuff I didn't recognize along the way. Cargo and stuff.

"Sar?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't remember passing the chicken car, do you?" I looked around at the crates of squawking birds with a worried frown. I hadn't passed through any cargo cars, only passenger.

"Me neither ..."

"Not again!" a voice boomed. I looked up as Sarah stepped back into me, seeing a middle-aged guy in a worker's uniform giving us a dirty look. What happened? What not again?

"Didn't you two hear the announcement?"

"What announcement?" I asked in a small voice. I kind of didn't think I wanted to.

"That the train was splitting after the stop! Not to go past car three!" the man continued, growing angrier. "Damn you kids!"

"I didn't hear that, did you hear that, Sarah?"

She shook her head.

"Where are we heading now?" I asked, trying not to get scared. Come on, Brian, what did you expect? Nothing was going right before, why would it start to now?

"West Virginia."

"Oh." I swallowed.

"You can get off at the next depot," the man said, annoyed. I quickly nodded.

"Okay, yeah, sure." I definitely didn't want to argue with him on it.

And got off we did. While we were moving might I add. Something that I am never going to do again. Ever. As the train continued on, I took a look around the small dinky town we were left in. Great.

Not to mention I'd lost my bags, which had my cellphone. Not good.

"So where to now?" Sarah looked at me expectantly and I frowned.

"Me? I thought you had all the great plans, huh? What happened, huh?"

"You worry too much, honey."

"Worry? I don't worry, I ..." I trailed off.

"Worry. You worry, Brian."

"I think things through rationally." I started walking.

"I don't believe in rationalism," Sarah said, matching my stride.

"I'm beginning to see that."

"You hungry?"

I shook my head. "You?"

"No ..."

"It's getting kind of late," I said, glancing at my watch. "Do you wanna-"

"A shopping center!"

"What?" I looked up at her as she grabbed my arm. "What're you-"

"C'mon, let's shop."

Shop?

And 'shop' the aisles of Wal-Mart we did. It was open 24 hours, unlike any other place around whatever town we were in, so I guess we kind of lucked out.

We grabbed some new clothes, played around in the sporting goods, hung out on the lawn furniture. The scary thing was that I was having a good time. I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.

At some point I dozed off in a lounge chair in the patio furniture display, because next thing I knew Sarah was shaking my arm and telling me we should get going.

"Huh, why?" I was still half asleep or else I wouldn't have been so dumb.

"Because one of the people working here has passed us like seven times in the past hour and I think he's gonna get security with him next time."

Oh. That was cause for leaving I would say.

"So what do you want to do now? Grab some rooms at a hotel?"

Sarah shrugged. We were walking down a sidewalked street in the town lazily, no direction in mind. It was a pretty nice little place where ever it was. Very quaint. Tree lined streets, little parks.

"Well it's getting late," I stressed. Sarah shrugged again. We were coming up to a hotel on the right, so I pointed. "You want to stop?" It was seven-thirty, and getting dark.

"I have an idea," she said suddenly. Not another one ... I followed her gaze to a bus parked in the hotel's parking lot.

" 'Sunshine Tours'?" I read the side of it skeptically. There was a peeling picture of a sun with a big smile and sunglasses.

"Yeah, it's one of those things ... You know, they take people down south to try and sell them condos and real estate. It's a free package on the way down. You know, room and board?" She elbowed me in the ribs with a smile. "What do you say, big guy?"

"I don't know ..."

"Oh, c'mon. Pretend to be my husband and we'll say we're interested in buying a condo down in Florida or something. It's easy."

Pretend to be her husband? I swallowed. Not so easy.

"Then what?"

"Then we get to Georgia you blockhead. C'mon."

I let her pull me to the group of people that were unloading from the bus. They were all older. Like very much older. In their sixties and seventies.

"Sar, maybe we-"

"Hi! I'm Sarah and this is Brian, we just got married and we were interested in joining your tour to buy a condo in Florida?" God, lying came so easy to her. A man with a green cap with the tour logo across it smiled and held out his hand.

"Bob Rusk, nice to meet you. Welcome." He held out a clipboard and a pen. "If you'll just sign your names on our list, we'd be happy to have you along."

Sarah did so, sending me a smile. She mouthed the word 'easy'. I smirked. Apparently so.

"We're staying here at this hotel tonight, so we'll just hook you up with a room. We leave tomorrow morning."

"Sounds great," Sarah answered.

Yeah, great.

"A honeymoon suite? They gave us a honeymoon suite?"

"Well we did say we were newlyweds, didn't we?" Sarah answered, sitting on the side of the waterbed to check it out. She giggled. "Never actually slept in one of these before."

"Yeah, well." I rolled my eyes. The only person in the world I knew who ever even had a waterbed was Nick.

"It's fun!"

"Mm-hm."

"What's the matter?" She gave me a look. "Don't tell me you're disappointed or something. Everything's going great."

"If everything was going 'great' then I would be in Atlanta right now, with my family, with my friends, with my fiance, getting ready for the wedding ..."

"You'd be driving them nuts worrying, like you're driving me nuts now." She rolled her eyes and bounced off the bed. "Relax, c'mon. Loosen up." She gave me a push toward the bed. "Go lay down. I'm gonna take a shower."

"But-"

"Relax."

"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled, jumping on the bed and feeling it move under me. I laughed then. "This is fun."

"Told you," Sarah said, disappearing into the bathroom. I rolled my eyes and leaned my head back on the pillows. A second later I heard the water running so I shut my eyes and tried to actually relax. My head was pounding. I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was doing everything I possibly could to get to my wedding on time.

I opened my eyes and flipped on the radio. 'Well there's a rose in the fisted glove and the eagle flies with the dove, and if you can't be with the one you love honey, love the one you're with, love the one you're with, -'

I turned it off, almost knocking it off the stand. No, no, no. That was wrong.

I grabbed the phone on the night table and dialed the number to Leigh's cell phone. I didn't care if it was late. I knew she wouldn't either.

"Hello?" She sounded tired.

"Baby, it's me ..."

"Brian! Where are you?"

"I'm on my way," I said, unable to stop the involuntary smile that crept on my face at the sound of her voice. "I miss you."

"I miss you more."

"Not possible," I playfully argued with a smile. "How are you doing?"

"I'd be better if you were here ..."

"I know, I'm sorry. I'm doing everything I can ..." I trailed off.

"I know, I just miss you that's all. Everything's getting crazy around here, you know? I couldn't sleep."

"I'll be there soon ..."

"I know, sweetie." I heard the smile in her voice. "So where are you now?"

"Um, on my way. I stopped for the night ..." I tried to think of something to change the subject. I didn't want to get her worried. I was doing enough of that for the two of us. "Hey, I have something for you."

"You do?"

"Mm-hmm. Since I'm not there ..." I shot a glance toward the bathroom and made sure I still could hear the shower running. I turned my attention back toward the phone and started singing softly, a song I wrote for her.

"Aw, Brian," she breathed.

"I love you," I said when I finished.

I noticed then that the shower had stopped running. I glanced up and my eyes widened as I saw Sarah in the room. She smiled at me.

"-you too, when do you think you'll be here?" Leigh was asking. I cleared my throat.

"Soon, baby. I've gotta go though, okay? Tell the guys to be good."

She laughed. "Alright. I love you, Bri ..."

"I love you more. I'll see you soon."

"Bye ..."

I hung up the phone quickly and stared at Sarah.

"Um, how long have you been there?"

"Not long," she said quickly, drying her hair with a towel. She was wearing jean shorts and a tank top. "That was really sweet. You have a good voice." She cleared her throat. "She's a lucky girl, what's her name?"

"Leighanne," I answered. "I'm a lucky guy."

Sarah just nodded, tossing the towel aside and pulling her hair up into a messy bun. "Yeah."

I rolled over on the bed, feeling it move under my stomach. I started to laugh again.

"You are a goof," Sarah muttered. She was laughing.

"You want the bed tonight?"

"I don't know, big guy, I don't wanna ruin your fun or anything."

"Shut up. You can have it."

"Wow, thanks."

The next day consisted of an early rise, an almost fully cooked continental breakfast, and a six hour ride on a bus full of senior citizens. By the end of it, I was about ready to kill Sarah.

"Sar, I'm gonna kill you ..." I had to make sure she was aware. I wasn't about to kill someone without them knowing.

"Look I know this isn't the most fun thing in the world, but at least we're getting somewhere, right?"

"Um ... Maybe." I tried to block out the two men sitting behind us who were comparing knee replacement surgeries. Man.

"Right. It's not the worst thing in the world."

"No, it's not." We could be unknowingly going in the wrong direction or something. "But when we finally stop and get off this bus, we're not getting back on, alright?"

Sarah just laughed.

"I'm serious."

"I know you are."

The guy behind me started up with a dry coughing spell. Cringing, I leaned my head into my arms and tried to sleep for the remainder of the bus ride. I felt Sarah's hand on my back.

"You know what we could do?"

"I don't wanna know," I moaned.

"I was just gonna say we could buy a cheap car or something. An old clunker to just get us down to Georgia."

"Okay," I mumbled.

"What? Did you just agree?"

I lifted my head. "Yeah, I'm in. As long as it's just us and a car, I think I can handle it."

"Glad to hear it."

Off the bus, thanks be to God, off the bus. I was still stretching out the kinks in my back when I signed a check for the dumpy old car we decided to invest in. We split it, fifty fifty. Actually, that's pretty much what each of us had to pay.

Dumpy old car with chipped pant, torn cushions, and a dented fender. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

I finished with the papers for the car and headed for a payphone after I got the keys. I wanted to get in touch with the guys again before I got on the road. I didn't see Sarah anywhere, but I figured she was around.

"Hello?"

"Nick!" God, I was glad he had picked up. "What's going on, man?"

"Brian, hey! What's up? Where the hell are you?"

"On my way."

"You've be 'on your way' for awhile now, haven't you?"

"Shush, boy. I'm coming as fast as I can."

"Well you better hurry up before Leigh decides she doesn't wanna wait anymore." I could hear the smile in his voice and just rolled my eyes.

"Everything's going okay over there?"

"Actually ..." Nick trailed off.

"What?" I pressed worriedly. Please don't let anything else have gone wrong. I just want to get there and have things be perfect ...

"Nothing," Nick laughed. "I was gonna kid you but you'd probably freak out on me, right?"

"You got that right." I caught a glimpse of Sarah coming around the side of the building. "Look, buddy, I gotta go. Be good, I'll see you soon."

"Alright, hurry it up, okay?"

"I'll try," I answered with a laugh. When I hung up, I turned to see Sarah coming up behind me.

But with her was someone new. I looked down at the little boy who clung to her hand. His round dark eyes stared back up at me.

"Who's this?"

"This is Max, my partner in crime," Sarah told me with a grin. "Max, this is Brian. He's a bore, but you can learn to love him." Max gave a tiny tentative smile, but he stuck close to Sarah's side.

"Max, are you with somebody? Your mom or dad?"

A shake of the curly head.

"He's coming with us," Sarah told me. Her eyes told me not to argue.

"Sarah, can I talk to you? Max, you can just sit on that bench, alright, buddy?" I pulled Sarah a couple feet away, watching the little boy out of the corner of my eye. He went to the bench, shuffling his untied sneakers in the dirt. "Sar-"

"No, Brian, he's coming with us. No but's."

"But Sarah, he's what, six-"

"Seven."

"Exactly. A seven-year-old can't make his own decisions. He's a baby. That's like ... kidnapping or something!"

"Will you calm down? You make such a deal out of everything," she muttered. I gave her an exasperated look. "I know you just wanna do the right thing, Brian. I understand that. But this is the right thing, okay? He has no place to go."

"He has to have some sort of family-"

"Maybe it's the situation no one in their right mind would want him to go back to," came the short reply. I paused and shot a glance at the kid. He was now sprawled on the ground playing in the dirt and grass. "Tell me this much, you just want to leave him?"

"No! Of course not," I objected. "I just thought maybe the police or something-"

"Do you know what happens to those kids?" There was something about the set look in her face that told me she and this kid had something more in common than just being on their own in the world.

"I just don't see how we can take care of him, Sarah. What we're gonna do when we get down there?"

"I'll take care of him."

"Sarah, no offense, but-"

"Brian." She shook her head. "I may seem a little irresponsible at times, but this is a totally different thing we're looking at. Believe me. C'mon."

"I do believe you." I raised my eyes to the sky, noticing the storm clouds quickly moving in. How in the world do I get myself into these situations? "Alright."

She smiled at me. "You're a good guy." I just shook my head. "You are."

"C'mon, it's gonna rain." I took her arm and caught back up with the little kid playing in the dirt. "Hey, buddy. You ready to go?"

"I'm coming with you?" His little voice sounded so hopeful.

"Yeah, cutie," Sarah answered, pulling him up off the ground. "You're with us now. Let's get in the car before it rains."

By the time we got to the end of the lot where our beat up car was, it was already starting to drizzle lightly. I could hear a rumble in the distance. Great. I got Max in the back first and then hopped in the driver's seat. Sarah slid into the passenger side as I forced the key into the ignition. The engine sputtered a few times before it started up.

"Cross your fingers," I told them, pulling out of the lot. The engine was making a chugging noise, but then it stopped. I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.

It really started pouring when we got out on the highway. I mean, raining cats and dogs. I could barely see the road. I was concentrating on trying to figure out how the windshield wipers in the car worked and trying to stay on the road at the same time.

"You think we should just stop soon?"

I glanced at Sarah and back at the road. The rain hadn't let up much in the two hours since we had started out. I think it was even getting heavier.

"That might be a good idea. We could stop for food or something if you're hungry. Max, you hungry?"

"He's sleeping," Sarah answered. "But he'll be hungry. I'm hungry."

"Alright, I think I saw a sign for an exit with a McDonald's coming up." Or was that awhile back? I couldn't see anything through the stupid rain.

Eventually we came to it and I took the turn slowly. Stupid, stupid rain. Even the weather was against me in this.

"We're gonna have to make a run for it," I said after I parked the car in the lot and we sat watching the heavy drops pouring down relentlessly. I guess we were hoping it would stop or something. It didn't.

"I guess so." Sarah smiled. "Do you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain?"

"Of course," I answered, returning the smile. It was contagious. "Unless I catch pneumonia afterwards . . ."

"Funny." She rolled her eyes. "Ready?"

"Yeah," I said with a nod. "Max?" I reached back and touched the sleeping boy's sneaker. He jumped about a foot, immediately awake. I frowned as he scrambled to sit up, staring at me with wide eyes. "Max?"

"Brian?" The anxious look on his face faded a little, but I was still a little worried. I'd never seen that look on a seven year old's face before.

"Yeah, Max, you hungry?" I gave him a smile.

A small nod.

"You like the rain?"

A quick shake of the head.

"Me neither." I pulled off my sweatshirt and tossed it back to him. "Put this on." I watched him struggle to pull the oversized sweatshirt over his head. It was fifty times too big for him, but it was better than the thin little t-shirt he had on. He finally managed and gave me a big smile. I laughed. "Ready?"

"Yup."

Sarah and I got out first and I pulled open the back door to get Max, feeling the rain pelt me. "Sarah, you go in and I'll get him, okay?" We didn't all need to get sick. She nodded and took off in the direction of the overhang of the restaurant. "C'mon, Max." He slid forward tentatively and I grabbed him under the arms, hoisting him up and pushing the door shut hard. Then I took off towards McDonald's in a jog.

We were soaked by the time we reached the door and got inside with Sarah. Cold too. I set Max on the floor and pushed back the wet hair sticking to my forehead. Brr . . . I rubbed my face with my sleeve.

"Hope this lets up soon."

"You and me both," Sarah answered, wringing out her long hair and flipping it over her shoulder. "You doing alright, Max?' She held out her hand and the boy grabbed on to it with a nod.

"C'mon let's get food to warm up," I said, starting toward the line. It wasn't very crowded since most people aren't out driving in storms. "What do you guys want? Max, what do you want?"

"I don't know," he said softly.

"You want a Happy Meal?"

"Really?" His eyes widened.

"Really," I said with a smile. He nodded. "Alright, one Happy Meal. Sarah, you want one too?"

"No thanks," she said with a laugh.

When I got all the food and we were heading to a table, I grabbed a map from the pile near the door. I might as well know where the heck I was going. I spread it out on the table next to us as we started to eat.

"Where are we?" I asked after a second, taking a big bite of my burger. I looked up and saw Sarah shrug.

"I don't know. Max, you know?"

"Califor-na," came his answer through a mouth of fries.

"I'll go ask."

"Just eat first, Bri," Sarah started.

"I will, lemme just ask." I needed to know where I was.

"You see, Max, there's no reason that a guy shouldn't ask directions," I heard her say as I turned. I pivoted back.

"Shut up, girl, I'm not asking directions, I'm just asking where we are."

"Same difference," she said with a smug smile.

"Argh." I couldn't win.

When I found out where we were, I came back to the table and sat down to eat, concentrating on the map again. It looked like we could stop later tonight and still get there by tomorrow morning if all went well. Not a minute too early for me. My family was going to have my hide.

"We're going to eat your fries," I heard Sarah say.

"Go for it."

"So what's the plan?"

"We'll stop at about eight tonight and we should be there by tomorrow morning."

"Where?" Max asked. "Califor-na?"

"Not California, but close," I answered. "Georgia."

"Georgia? What's in Georgia?"

"I'm getting married," I told him.

"You both?" He looked back and forth from me and Sarah. I shook my head.

"Just me."

"By yourself?"

I smiled. "No, my fiance's in Georgia waiting for me."

"But what about-"

"C'mon, sweetie, finish eating up," Sarah interrupted. I glanced at her but she wasn't looking at me. "The rain's gonna stop soon so we have to hurry."

I looked at the window. The rain was still pretty heavy.

"I'm gonna run to the bathroom. You guys can finish eating," she said, getting up before I could say another word. I glanced at Max.

"Girls," I said with a sigh.

"Girls." He mimicked the sigh and propped his chin on his hand. I gave him a smile and he giggled. He really was a cute little kid. I didn't understand how people could just leave their kids. Or do things to them. I shook my head.

"We better eat." I took another bite out of my burger. Max nodded and started on his fries again.

We only stopped once more before we finally ended for the night at a motel. We didn't get as far as I'd hoped we would have, but I figured if we got an early start in the morning I could still be on schedule. I had my fingers crossed.

I was starting to get a little worried about Sarah. For some reason, she seemed to be acting really different. She didn't seem like her usual enthusiastic, carefree self. Maybe it was me. Maybe I was just getting nervous.

Nervous.

Oh God.

"And I'm gonna fly . . ."

Max was jumping up and down on one of the motel room's beds, telling me everything he was going to do when he got to Georgia. I had shown him where it was on the map, and when I mentioned that it was right above Florida he got this odd notion in his crazy head that we were going to Disney World. Even when I told him he wasn't.

"And I'm going to ride an elephant!"

"An elephant?" I repeated. I was relieved to see the kid coming out of his shell a little more around us. Around me. He'd clicked with Sarah right away, but I noticed he was more cautious with me.

"Yes!" Max paused a second before he started jumping again. "A big purple one."

"And where are you gonna find one of those?"

"In Disney!" came the matter-of-fact answer. I should have expected it.

"We ain't going to Disney, Max, we're going to Georgia."

"I'm going, I am too going!"

I shot a glance at Sarah, who was sitting on the other bed arguing with someone on the phone. I didn't know who. Or why. Or when she even got on the phone.

"You ain't going, Maxie. We can't. Maybe some other time."

"I'm gonna ride an elephant," he told me, stopping his jumping. "A purple one."

"What if all you can find is a blue one?" I asked him, dropping down on the bed and propping a pillow under my head. I raised an eyebrow at him. "Then what are you gonna do?"

"I'll paint 'im purple!" Max decided after a second hesitation.

"What if we can't find any purple paint, Max? Then what?"

He hesitated a little more this time, chewing on his lower lip. "You can buy some!"

"But what if-"

"Bri-an . . ." came the whine. I just smiled and flipped on the TV as he started jumping up and down in front of me again.

"I told you it's not possible!" I heard Sarah exclaim over the phone. "So forget it!" She cursed under her breath and I frowned. What was going on?

"Sarah?"

She only glanced at me for a split second. "No, that's not okay! Shit!"

"Shit," Max repeated, falling to a sitting position in front of my feet and bouncing up and down. I shook my head at him.

"Don't you curse."

Sarah slammed down the phone with a bang, making me and Max jump. I looked at her with a frown, studying her expression.

"Is everything okay?"

"Does it look like everything's okay?" she replied caustically. I widened my eyes slightly at her tone. Okay, get mad at me, I was only asking ...

"What happened?"

"Look Brian, why do you even care? Tomorrow you'll finally be at your friggin' little wedding and be able to forget all about me and Max here, so don't even try and pretend you care. You don't."

I stared at her. "That's not true," I said flatly, a little angered.

"You know damn well it is! Once you get to where you want to be, you won't look back and you know it. This whole thing hasn't meant anything to you."

"I've stayed with you this long, haven't I?" I retorted.

"Don't act like it's a favor!"

"Dammit, Sarah, what's the-"

I heard a sniffle and trailed off when I glanced at Max and saw he was in tears. His knees were pulled up to his chest and he was covering his ears tightly with his hands. My heart broke in half. "Max." I reached toward him but he pulled away.

"Don't, Brian," Sarah muttered. I looked up at her in surprise as she got off the other bed and went to Max's side. "Come on, sweetie, let's go for a walk."

I watched as Sarah grabbed a room key and the two of them disappeared through the door with a blank expression. The second the door shut I felt the tears come, and I rolled over, burying my face into the bed. Where had I gone wrong? What was it that I had done to cause that? Or maybe it was something I hadn't done.?

"Brian?"

"Mm?" I sat up a little and rubbed my eyes with my hand. I stared at Sarah fuzzily, leaning against the headboard of the bed for support. She was back? The room's lights were dimmed. "Sarah?"

"Yeah." She pulled herself on the bed next to me, leaning her head back and shutting her eyes for a second. When she opened them, she was looking straight at me. "About what I said before," she started in a whisper. "I didn't mean it."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, you blockhead. You've got nothing to be sorry for." She shook her head. "Look, I'm the one who's sorry. You didn't deserve what I said, I know that. I was just upset and got to thinking and . . ."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not. I owe you a lot for putting up with me for the past couple of days. I know it hasn't been easy . . ."

"It's been a pleasure," I answered, stifling a yawn. God, I was tired. "Really."

She shook her head. "Look, Bri, I just really regret what I said before, and I'm sorry I hurt you. You didn't deserve that. I just . . ."

I noticed the shine of her eyes and I frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She wiped her eyes hastily and started off the bed but I pulled her back, wrapping an arm around her.

"What's wrong?" I repeated. She shook her head again and I heard her take a shaky breath. "Is this about your phonecall?"

"Kind of," she answered in a strained voice.

"Who was it?"

"My lawyer."

"Your lawyer?" I repeated.

"It's a long story."

"We've got all night," I answered. I saw her smile slightly.

"Well I'll make it short, no details. My ex is a bastard. He took everything we had and left." She wiped her eyes. "He's always asking for more, saying I owe him. I don't know how he finds me . . ." She trailed off.

"I'm sorry," I said softly. No wonder she was afraid I would just leave.

"Don't be. It's my fault anyway."

"How the heck is that your fault?"

She shook her head. "I knew he was gonna do something. He was always threatening to; I just never listened. He said stuff all the time that he didn't mean, so I just thought . . . God." She shook her head and covered her face with her hands.

"That's not your fault," I soothed, wrapping my arms around her. I didn't want her to cry. "It's not. You can't blame yourself. He's a jerk and it's his loss. Not all guys are like that."

"Guys like you are a dying breed, Brian," she answered with a small smile. I shook my head.

"What are you going to Georgia for?"

"My sister lives there. I was going to go stay with her awhile. But I'm not so sure anymore, I haven't seen her in awhile. She's married, she's got her own life. I don't want to screw that up too."

"You haven't screwed up anything," I answered, shaking my head.

"I screwed up your trip."

"No, you didn't-"

"Yeah, I did. Don't, Brian. It's true."

"You didn't."

She shook her head and raised her eyes to the ceiling. "God . . ."

A boom of thunder shook the room and I heard the rain start.

"It's back . . ." I whispered.

Another crack of thunder and a seven year old was scrambling into our bed, wide awake. I sat up more and pulled him to sit on my lap. He settled in and reached for Sarah's hand. A soft smile spread on her face and I thought how lucky they were to have found each other. They both needed to have someone who needed them just as much.

I yawned and rested my chin on the top of Max's head. I didn't know what I was going to do when tomorrow came. I didn't want to have to say goodbye.

The next day brought on and off rain and a late start. We all slept late and didn't get on the road until much later than when I had wanted to. By this rate I was going to be late, but it wasn't that fact that bothered me as much as the realization of having to say goodbye to Max and Sarah. I was wishing time could hold its hands still for a little while longer. Just a little while.

But that time came too soon.

Leigh and I, with our wonderful skills of planning, had organized for an outdoors reception of sorts outside the church for after the wedding , but a lot a good that was going to do now. As I parked in down the street from the back of the church, I watched as people were rushing around to salvage what was left of the decorations and food.

I was hesitating in getting out of the car. I didn't want to leave, but I wasn't giving this up either. I didn't know what to do. I loved Leigh more than the world, and I didn't have doubts. But then why was I so afraid to leave Sarah?

She needed me. How could I leave? That's what she was afraid of.

"Go."

"Huh?" I looked at Sarah and frowned.

"Go, Brian. You're not stopping now, no way." She was serious.

"But-"

"Bri, this is your life. You're not going to let me ruin this for you. Go."

"I'll be right back."

She shook her head.

"I'll be right back," I repeated. I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek quickly. "Right back."

She smiled slightly. "Get outta here."

I reached over the back seat and gave Max's head a tousle. "Later, buddy."

He grinned at me happily.

I looked at the two of them one last time before I opened my door and stepped out into the pouring rain. The wind almost knocked me over. I shut the door and started down the sidewalk to the church.

Two hours late, dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt, and soaking wet. My family was going to love this.

I was drenched when I finally made it to the church doors and pulled them open against the wind. I stepped through and took in the scene inside the church. Utter chaos.

I caught sight of the guys over near the front pews and started making my way over. Nick was the first to look up.

"Brian, where the hell have you been?!" he exclaimed loudly.

Everything in the church halted and I saw Kevin smack him lightly. I grinned.

"Got caught in the weather," I said, pushing my wet hair off my forehead. I shivered. Bet I would get sick on our honeymoon too.

"You alright?" Kev asked, studying my face. I nodded, chewing the inside of my cheek nervously.

"Where's Leigh?"

"She married somebody else two hours ago," AJ answered. I rolled my eyes. No time for joking.

"Where is she?"

"Coming behind you," Howie said, looking past me over my shoulder. I turned slowly.

She looked absolutely beautiful. Wow. Every nervous thought cluttering my mind flew away at the sight of my fiance standing there in her dress. I fell in love all over again.

"Bri?" Leighanne gave me a questioning look. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"I'm fine now . . ." I stepped closer to her and took her hand. "You look gorgeous, Leigh. I'm sorry, it's just . . . I - things just . . ."

"I'm just glad you're here." Leighanne shook her head. "Nothing else matters to me."

"Me neither."

"You ready?"

"More than ever," I answered. I looked down sheepishly. "I'd better go change."

"Good idea." Leigh wrinkled her nose at my appearance.

I changed into my tux that had been waiting for me and let everybody help me get all dried off and spruced up. I was getting all jittery and excited. And then something hit me.

Sarah.

"I'll be right back," I said to someone, I don't remember who. I rushed back out into the rain without a second thought, jogging down the sidewalk to where I had parked the car. I had to say something to her. I didn't know what, but I had to say something. I couldn't just let it go like that.

Except I didn't have a choice. She was gone.

A strange feeling of disappointment swept over me at the sight of the empty parking space, more than I had expected. I wasn't surprised really, and I wasn't sad. I didn't know how to describe it. I thought about her and Max and this strange melancholy feeling sank to the pit of my stomach. I knew I would probably never see either again.

Before I could really dwell on that though, I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Kevin with an umbrella. I stared at him blankly.

"I hate to have to beat you on your wedding day, Littrell, but if you don't get yourself inside that church . . ."

"I'm coming . . ." I glanced once more at the empty space and shook my head. Sometimes, things just aren't meant to be. I looked at the church. And sometimes, other things just are.