Chapter Five Abs: I flipped through the phone book, looking for more hotels to call. Called it, called it, called it. In the past four hours I had basically called every hotel in an hours drive from here. I sighed, exhausted. I rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. Why was I even worrying about her? I almost destroyed my friendship with Scott over her. Was it even worth it? I strummed my fingers on the table. What about Scott and Teresa? What were they doing about it? A moment of anger passed through me, but I shook myself out of it. Don't get selfish, Abs, I told myself. Well, someone has to do something, I figured. I got up, grabbed my shoes and coat, and left. I was going to do something about it. Whitney: "Oh Earl, I'll never get anough of your stories," I slowed my laugh as I lifted my cup to my lips. I had come back every night to dinner since the first night I had stopped here at the lone run down truck stop. I had made friends with the friendly yet scruffy truck drivers and was thinking of asking Darla for a part time job. I had been scoping out Apartment around here and stayed the first 2 nights in my car. Tonight I planned to stay at a local Motel, the uncomfotable seats were getting to me.    "Don't you have any friends or relatives back in London?" Darla asked, filling up my bottomless cup of coffee.    "Yeah," I sighed, thinking of the few I had.    "Well don'tcha think they'd like to hear from you?" she wondered in her classic stance, hand on her hip with coffee pot in the other. I shrugged a bit.    "I really don't think so," I shook my head.    "Well whatever makes you think that?" she asked, moving behind the counter and replacing the coffee pot. I hesitated, wondering if it would be right to share the tale with strangers.    "I had a miscarriage a month of so ago," I quietly responded. Darla's face fell.    "Oh honey, I'm so sorry. Wouldn't that bring you and your family closer?" she wondered, leaning against the counter.    "Not necissarily," I started. I told the whole story from the night in the hospital, to the arguments with Scott, to the day at Abs, and last of all, my trip here. By the time I was finished, the three truck drivers, Steve, Earl, and Joe were all listening intently as was Darla, hanging on every word I said. Darla blinked a few times and the men straightened up as I finished. "I...I never told anyone other then the people that were involved in it." I shyly admitted.    "Aw, darlin," Darla came from behind the counter and embraced me in a hug. As we were letting go the door swung open, the familiar bell announcing the arrival of someone knew. We all turned as they stepped through the door. Scott: "Are you sure you can do this?" Teresa squeezed my hand as we stood outside the door of the recording studio. "We can stay home again today, it'll be fine."    "No," I shook my head. "No, I have to do this. I have to starte getting over her." She nodded, understanding. She dropped my hand as we headed through the doors. Sean and J looked up as we came in.    "Scott, mate," J said, standing. He stuck out his hand and I shook it and he patted me on the back. "Missed ya yesterday. But...I heard, and I'm sorry mate. We all understand about Whit." I winced a bit as he mentioned her name.    "Can we just..not talk about her today?" I quietly asked.    "Oh, yeah, sorry, no problem," he said, sitting again.    "So, you ready?" Max asked, coming out of the booth. I took a breath and nodded, giving Teresa a glance and she gave me a reassuring smile. I shuffled into the booth, placed the headphones over my ears and concentrated souly on the music.    "I need some time to get my head 'round the things you said to me...thought are whirlin 'round my mind..alright. I never knew that I could feel so strong like the way I feel for you. That seemed impossible to me." I smiled as the music slowed to a stop. I raised my eyesbrows at Max's glance.    "Perfect," he smiled, giving me the thumbs up. Chapter Six...