Roads Of Passage, Part 2

Roads Of Passage
by Blackbladder
Part 2

Thirty minutes had passed into the road journey and the early small talk had
simmered down.  The only noise booming from the car was the cd player
blasting out a Will Smith song - Rose's favourite artist.  Pandora removed
her jacket and placed the item across her lap as the sun was now out fully
exposing its rays.  Daisy stared blankly out of the back-seat window,
tracking every tree and field they passed by. 


"What has Mark done this time, Rose?"  Maxine said aloud, breaking the
silence within.  

Pondering for a moment, Rose readjusted her grip on the wheel and silenced
Will Smith.  

"Your Ex can be so fuckin possessive at times."  Rose barked
unapologetically.  She felt Maxine carried a flame for Mark, despite the
events which led to their breakup.  However, Rose reasoned with herself that
being friends with your boyfriend's ex was always gonna be a
little...uncomfortable.  

"Mark didn't want me to go away this weekend - he is racing today and wanted
me by his side."  Rose explained whilst keeping her main focus on the road
ahead.  Her cheeks flustered with redness, whilst her eyes tried to conceal
the rage from within as they peered out of the windscreen onto the road
ahead.  

Daisy began rambling through the contents of the bag on her lap as Rose and
Max continued their faceless conversation.

"I do love him, Max.  Very much.  But we have so many different
tastes....different interests."  Rose reasoned, her words hopefully putting
out the flame Max still carried for Mark. 

"Maybe you should both try new things.  I think the main thing is that you
try to be together more often." Maxine appeased, brushing back her red hair
nervously.  Mark's name always seemed to send a shiver up and down my spine
with excitement, Max pondered.

"Who wants some chips?"  Daisy asked out loud, holding up a pack of crisps.

Pandora came to life at the sound of the packet, her hands acting like a
radar and taking the crisps from her backseat buddy.

"I really shouldn't..." Pandora muttered as she crammed a handful of crisps
into her mouth.  Everyone laughed, as Pandora's much publisized diet was now
in jeopardy...again.

"Hey don't try and fool us, Pandora.......we know you can't resist a bit of
food!" Daisy smiled, whilst opening a bottle of soda.

"Maybe I should get you and your boyfriend some application forms to work
beside me in the store!" Maxine offered sarcastically, basking in the
lightened mood that seemed to sink the tension prior. 

"Oh..." Daisy mumbled as she peered inside the groceries bag.  Everyone fell
silent as she removed a pack of cigarettes from the groceries bag.

Shit, Maxine mumbled as she took the pack of cigarettes from Daisy and placed
them in her jacket pocket.

"You see, Max, that's the biggest culprit against our relationship!"  Rose
exclaimed, returning her stare to the road.

The atmosphere had slipped back into one of tension.  Daisy took another gulp
from her soda bottle before resting her head against the window.  Pandora
peered out the window looking at the people and cars passing by.  Will Smith
could be heard from the car interior once more...

Pandora opened her eyes slowly and adjusted them to the blinding rays of the
sun penetrating the windscreen.  Whilst readjusting herself in the
passenger's seat, she could still sense the car moving on the road.  Will
Smith had retired and the only sound that could be heard were the constant
purring motion of the engine and the rumbling sound of the tires turning.
Sitting up in the seat, she could also detect a smell permuting from inside
the car.  

Looking round in the seat, she was met by a blue haze of smoke seeping from a
smouldering cigarette between Rose's finger, resting on the steering wheel.
Slowly, Pandora watched as the hand containing the cigarette was raised from
the steering wheel and rested against Rose's lips, almost waiting for an
invitation.  Without delay, the lips parted and the cork-tip butt entered
into the abyss.  Pandora watched in disbelief as Rose's lips sealed
themselves around the cigarette butt and her cheeks collapse inwards.  The
cigarette crackling added to the sound of the engine and tires - almost
acting in unison with Rose's relaxed motion whilst she continued to stare out
of the windscreen onto the road ahead.  The cigarette end turned violently
red and the smoke dissipated for three seconds.  Then, the cigarette departed
the lips, with smoke seeping from the butt, and the hand returned to its
position on the wheel.  Rose slowly extended her head upwards, and a cone of
smoke began exiting her mouth and lips, parted..the smoke forming a harpoon
against the car ceiling.  

Looking into the back seat, she witnessed Maxine and Daisy also holding and
smoking cigarettes.  The blinding sun's rays radiating  the blue haze
floating within the car.  

What is going on?,  Pandora muttered to herself whilst watching in horror as
Maxine raised the cigarette up for another timeless inhale, her eyes watching
as the cigarette came to life between her lips.  Daisy also raised the
cigarette to her lips and inhaled deeply on the cigarette.  Almost in
synchronization, the two backseat passengers pursed their lips and exhaled
smoke into Pandora's face.  Pandora began coughing whilst returning to her
position in the seat, looking out the windscreen for answers.  She continued
to violently cough as the smoke quantity increased.

"Want a puff?"  Pandora heard as Rose extended her cigarette towards the
bemused passenger.  

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