"Those guys sound like assholes, don't worry, we'll get you somewhere safe." You tell her, giving her a smile smile which she returns somewhat shakily.
"Okay...thank you." she said softly.
On the long ride you exchange introductions, her name was Asenath, Asenath Wately. It was hard to get details of her trip and research. She either responded vaguely or she apologized, "Sorry, it's probably better if I don't talk too much about that..." she would say, glancing at you sideways out of her bright gold eyes. Most of the ride passed in silence, except for the radio, which frightened her when you turned it on. She spent a good deal of time afterwards examining it, which was a little funny to watch. You at least bought her explanation that she was researching something or another, she struck you as an academic, everything she saw she seemed to treat like an experiment or something.
You laugh as she touches the volume knob, clapping her hands to her ears in shock, when the volume jumped from 15 to 65, "You're kind of cute you know..." you blurt out after you'd turned the volume down.
"What do you mean?" she asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice as her pale cheeks flushed pink.
"I just mean...you know, you're small, and cute, and you seem really interested in everything." you attempt to explain.
"Oh..." she sank back into her seat seeming to sulk, you suspect you might've crossed a line pointing out her size.
In an effort to smooth things over you pat her on her narrow shoulder, "It's not a bad thing." you reassure her, "You're a lot of cute wrapped in a small package." you give her your best smile. She doesn't seem very impressed with your flattery but she did relax a bit.
After the sun went down you begin looking for signs for an inn, preferably one with the company you worked for so you could use your employee discount. Finally, around midnight you pulled into a hotel, luckily your employee card fast-tracked the check in process. You thought about springing for a double queen economy room, but slyly, you realized she'd almost certainly believe you if you told her they only had the single king room available, not only was it cheaper on you but maybe you'd get to share a bed with the cute strange girl.
Actually, she was thrilled that the bed was so large, not even questioning the single room. She sat her satchel on the desk, yawning and stretching, "Those metal carriages are really nice, a little cramped though." She begins unbuttoning her vest and shirt pulling both off to reveal a powder blue sleeveless top and for the first time you saw her wiry sinewy arms, "Hey, are you only a researcher?" you asked. Watching as she slides out of her brown canvas pants revealing tight short trunks as underwear. If you'd had your way she'd have been wearing something more revealing, but it suited her bookish personality.
She looks up seeing you looking at her arms and blushed again, "Oh, well, I like to exercise..." she said shyly, "it helps when I'm traveling."
"So, which side of the bed do you want?" you tried, seeing if she would go for it.
"I'd like to sleep by the door if it's all the same to you." she replied without even pausing. You could barely believe your ears and didn't even question her odd request to be by the door, though you knew from action movies that should've been a red flag.
"We should be in New York tomorrow." you reassure her as you slide under the covers. She's sitting at the desk taking notes in a little leather bound journal, "What are you writing?" you ask curiously from the bed.
"Just writing about what I've seen so far." she explains simply, getting up and coming to the bed, sliding under the covers with you. You feel a small thrill as her warmth enters the bed, even though it was large enough for her to be able to lie on one side without touching you.
The full weight of what you were doing settles over you in the middle of the night, you feel daring and capable, like the star of an action movie. You'd just picked everything up and left your hometown, actually, fuck, you hadn't picked up anything. You'd just left. Maybe not the smartest thing, but tomorrow your paycheck would be deposited in your account, you could get new clothes...
You look over, the girl had been asleep for a bit, but she was turning in her sleep, rolling towards you, the strap of her undershirt falling down over her shoulder as her mouth fell slightly open, her white hair almost glowing in the outside light filtering through the curtain. She seemed to be out cold, exhausted from the drive. You find yourself wondering what her smooth pale skin feels like, how warm was it? How smooth? You wonder if she'd wake if you were to...
