“Hi.”

Jake looked up from the cash register to see a girl standing in front of the counter. Kat something. Wilson...that was it, Kat Wilson. Pretty girl, if practically on the side of jailbait.

He looked at the empty counter and raised an eyebrow at her. His confusion continued as she bit her lip nervously, drawing a tiny bit of blood, which she wiped away when she noticed him staring at her mouth.

“So here’s the thing, Jake.”

His eyebrow went up again at her familiar use of his name.

“I’m going on a little trip.”

He waited for her to continue, but she seemed to be having some kind of internal conversation that he wasn’t allowed in on. Finally, he sighed, losing interest in whatever game she was playing.

“You need food or something?” he asked, glancing around the convenience store at the racks of chips and jerky.

The girl shook her head slightly. She took a deep breath and held out her hand.

“Kate Wilson.” she said, as he just stared at her attempt at a handshake.

Kate, not Kat. Huh.

He looked up at her face, noticing that now she didn’t seem nervous so much as scared out of her wits.

“Are you okay?” he heard himself asking, before he remembered that he didn’t care.

“I’m fine,” she replied, staring past his face before suddenly shaking her head, “um, no.”

Jake just looked at her, resisting the temptation to sigh.