Moments in the dust

Dan looked over at the statuesque blonde. She was tall, almost six feet, with long, slender legs that went on for days, and long hair that was currently fashioned into a French plait. She faced away from him, but he already knew she had wonderful, soft green eyes and a cute aquiline nose.

“Tessa?” Dan asked.

Dan's ex-girlfriend turned to face him. The look on her face was a mix of concern and tenderness. He noticed that she was holding a small blue towel.

“Hey, champ. I brought a towel in case you forgot yours.” Tessa greeted him.

“Where are we?”

“Arizona, I think. Are you ready to go?” She said, pointing to the bus stop.

“Where are we going?

“The place you need to be. Where else?

Before he could ask anything further, he heard the rumblings of a bus approaching them. A battered Greyhound, which had seen better days, pulled up to the stop next to them. The exterior was covered in a thick layer of grime from the desert. He stood up without thinking and joined Tessa in boarding the bus. Tessa paid for tickets for both of them. The pair of them took a seat near the back, with Dan sitting on the aisle seat. At some point, he realised he had started holding hands with Tessa.

Dan had so many things he wanted to ask her, but one look into Tessa's eyes quelled anything inside him that was troubling him. He heard her humming God Only Knows softly under her breath. He leaned against her, putting his head against her shoulder. She started to run her fingers through his hair, as she used to when she knew he needed comforting.

He watched the scenery changing as the bus carried them to their destination. He found it weirdly soothing, passing through miles of empty desert. He wanted to speak but found his voice was caught in his throat.

“I think our stop is coming up,” Tessa advised.

She pointed to what looked like a run-down gentleman's club in the distance. He could make out the flickering lights of a neon sign advertising itself as the Cazador Lounge. The signs told them there were live girls, cheap drinks and the best slots in town. The place loomed on the horizon, growing in size as they approached.

The bus pulled up outside, and they disembarked. Dan felt something brush against his leg and looked down to see the empty wrapper of a Baby Ruth. There was something about it that brought a mix of nostalgia and sadness for a moment. Tessa was striding ahead but turned around when she saw Dan was distracted and not following her.

“What's wrong?” She asked him

“I don't know.” He replied.

She hugged him. There was something about her presence that reassured him.

“I would have stood in the breach for you.” He told her, his voice sounding raw.

“I know. And you will. Just not for me,” She comforted him.

He had not even realised he had started crying. Tessa took the towel from him and used it to dab the tears from his eyes.

“I think the show's about to start.” She advised him.

Tessa started leading him towards what appeared to be an impossibly large outdoor runway stage. The dimensions and proportions of it seemed strange, like it was far larger than it should be. He saw there were multiple tables filled with male patrons. Tessa sat down at an empty table near the back, he sat down in the seat near her.

Music began to play as he saw a female figure walking up some steps. She was far taller than he expected, she towered over the crowd. Maybe it was just the angle or the desert heat, but she seemed larger than life. The woman was wearing a robe, which she soon discarded as she walked to a pole at the end of the stage. She was wearing a black bra, panties and stockings. He was not able to make out her face at first, as her long black hair was shrouding it.

They watched as the woman wrapped her legs around the pole and started to cavort on it. He was entranced by her movements as she spun herself around it. She shook her hair, and her face was clear for the first time he was watching his sister. Tessa reached over to cradle his hand in hers as she watched.

He was unable to look away, horrified that it was his sister up on stage. He could hear the crowd hollering at her and throwing money at the stage. The experience was very strange he was both aroused by the performance and repulsed by the idea of his sister having to perform in such a way for these men.

Dan saw that his sister was staring at him from up on the stage. She froze in place on the pole. A look of shame crossed her face as she knew her brother was watching her display herself in this way. Then she fled, running off the stage. The crowd's cheers turned to angry shouts.

“I think it is time we got out of here,” Tessa warned him.

They made their exit quickly before the crowd discovered they were the cause of their show ending prematurely. The pair of them ran back towards where they had exited the bus, what seemed like hours ago now.

Tessa turned to him.

“You need to save her. As she won't save herself.” She told him.

“She won't open up to me.” He replied.

“You'll find a way.” She told him enigmatically

Another Greyhound pulled up alongside them.

“I can't go with you.” She warned.

Dan watched as the figure of Tessa began to become less distinct, like she was a dream fading upon waking.

“I still love you.” He replied.

“I'm not really her. I'm the part of you that still burns for her. That still cherishes her. But thank you for saying so. You have Nicole now,” The Tessa figure told him.

He hugged her, what little remained of Tessa, as she dissolved into mist. He boarded the bus alone.

*******************************

Dan came to consciousness caked in sweat. He sat bolt upright. He could sense Donna staring at him. She handed him a glass of water. He drank it really quickly, finding it really refreshing.

“Who is Tessa?” Donna asked him.

“My ex. I must have been thinking about her.” He answered.

“Welcome back anyway,” Donna said to him.

“I need a moment,” Dan advised.

He got up and stepped out of the tent. Tabitha was sitting in a camping chair nearby. She was reading a battered looking novel with the light of a head torch. She looked up from her book, smiling at Dan.

“How did it go?” She asked.

“I learned a few things.” He answered.

“It was your journey, Dan. You don't have to share if you are uncomfortable.” Tabitha replied.

Dan was looking around for his discarded clothes. He saw them in a pile next to the box. The cool night air was refreshing after the sweltering heat of the tent. He found his phone and saw there was at least one unread message from Sarah. The message could wait. He scrolled through his contacts to find Tessa's number. He paused before calling. It wasn't that it was late, as she had always been a nightowl. They hadn't spoken in months despite parting on good terms. It rang for a good five minutes before she answered.

“Dan?” He heard Tessa say in surprise.

“I just wanted to hear your voice.” He said honestly.