The Simple Life 2: Road Trip Novels & Stories

Bailey's POV Inside the cramped, sweltering room, which reeked of grease and sweat, I could still hear the crude, filthy language of the workers outside loud and clear. Mom’s arms shook violently as she held me close. I covered my ears, nodding frantically. "I only want you, Mom. Wherever you go, I go." "Okay. Then we leave tomorrow." Mom began packing our things. In reality, our luggage was incredibly simple. Everything we owned could fit into a worn duffel bag.

~Arthur Callaghan There were a lot of things one had to go through in life. One had to face the struggle of growing up, one had to face the struggle of the process of growing up, one had to struggle to do every damn thing and it was frustrating. Life was supposed to be easy for the rich, like wasn't that why they made the money? But for fuck’s sake, why the hell did rich people have to have a money-hungry self-obsessed villain of a relative that just causes problems?

I’ve decided on Oklahoma City and I'm using mom’s laptop to try to find a cheap place to stay. I might already have a job. The black escalade was gone when we left the funeral home and I haven’t seen it since. There hasn’t been any strangeness going on with Brodie and Wyatt, so it must have been my anxiety causing me to be suspicious. They had no idea about Rob or Wyatt would be in my face about it. I still haven’t contacted Rob. I don’t have it in me to deal with him and I want to enjoy my time away from him and not have him ruining it.

He held the door of the truck open, waited for me to climb up, and then made his way to the driver’s side. The drive home was excruciating. He said nothing. Nada, zip, nuttin’ honey. Just focused on the road. I originally thought I might have hit a nerve on the boat, but now I was spiraling into all manner of offenses… only stopping with the possibly I’d killed his pet in a past life. See? Crazy.

I lay beside her that night, yet I barely slept. After returning to the city, life quickly fell back into its usual rhythm. Work, home, meals, sleep... Everything seemed unchanged, as if that trip had been nothing more than an ordinary getaway. However, something had quietly shifted. Shanine seemed to like Phoebe even more after the trip. She brought up the vacation from time to time, praising how considerate Phoebe had been and how thoughtful she was. She even started enthusiastically planning where the three of us should travel next.

My grandmother patted my shoulder, soothing me. "Nightmares always end." I nodded. Not everyone gets a second chance at life. But everyone has the chance to wake up from a nightmare. If you ever feel trapped in one, you must wake up and save yourself—no matter how many times it takes.

And the fact that her father also owns a tech company. Then the lights dimmed a little, signaling the end of the launch. Nora lifted her clutch bag. “I don’t know if this sounds strange, but would you like to grab a drink and do some karaoke after this? Nothing crazy though. I could use company, and you seem like someone I’d get along with.” I hesitated for half a second. Not because I didn’t want to go, but because I wasn’t used to letting people in anymore. Still… something told me it was fine especially because she had saved my life seven years ago.

The more you pester me, the more disgusted I feel," I shouted angrily, cutting off his pretentious sentimentality. He froze completely, as if he couldn't accept the truth. His mouth opened but no words came out. I continued, "You kept saying that we had no money, yet you turned around and gave Heidi 200 thousand dollars. I worked hard to earn money, yet you secretly squandered it lavishly on her. You kept saying you had no money, but you were only poor when it came to me. "In the past life, all I had for you was disappointment and pain. In this life, I have no hopes for you anymore. Don't ever bother me again."

“Good idea. It would look beautiful next to the roses.” We drove home in our old pickup truck, with the morning sun shining through the windshield and Jason's favorite song playing on the radio. I watched the hills, vineyards, and farmhouses rolling past the window. This was my life now. It was simple, peaceful, and real. There was no need for awards or recognition; nothing to prove to anyone. I would wake up to the rooster's crow every day and pick apples with Jason. Then, we would go on a livestream for people who liked our content before cooking dinner with Grandpa.

she deserved respect. "Thank you for taking me here, Scar..." Lani said as she kissed his cheek softly, "Sometimes the only way out of a shitty situation is hopping on a bike and driving to the end of the world," he said as he lifted her up and began to walk back to his bike beside her in peaceful silence.