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Dew still clung to every surface when they got up.
Stagger how long they stayed anywhere, hours to days. That was the strategy. Shitty 24 hour motels were their best friends.
Tim leaned back against a support pole outside their room, a cigarette on his lips.
Just one smoke before they got to circling the city limit for hours on end. Jay stood close by, awkwardly leaning back towards Tim's car without really touching it.
They were both afraid to be alone, lately.
Even if it meant Jay was left shivering in the dawn chill.
"You could still borrow my jacket, you know." He offered for what was probably the fifth time. And for the fifth time, Jay shook his head.
Stubborn for the sake of pride.
That still had a way of getting on his nerves. Never accepting help but always begging people to ruin their lives for him.
And Tim would ruin his life ten times over if Jay would just take the damn jacket, at this point.
He took a long drag and watched the smoke cover the horizon line, like walls around the city keeping them trapped.
"What if we just left?" He asked suddenly as the smoke dissipated.
Jay looked at him like he was insane.
"Cross the country." He explained. "We could even leave, if we wanted. Mexico, or Canada, or some shit."
He liked the idea of somewhere hot. He wouldn't have to watch Jay shake like a leaf in a light breeze.
"That's not gonna work." Jay's voice was quiet, almost conspiratorial. Afraid of eavesdroppers.
He didn't look at Tim as he shut him down, hunched into his hoodie and staring at the concrete. A chill wracked his body and for a second it seemed like he was going to fall back onto the hood of the car.
He still hadn't really recovered from getting sick.
If they didn't leave, Tim was afraid he may never.
"It worked fine for me and I barely even left. Just going a city over helped Alex." Jay grimaced at his name. "We both got drug back into this but before that we were each doing fine."
"Thats- It's not going to work." He insisted, hissing and looking around with tired eyes. "They'll just get you again."
Tim took another drag and turned to face him.
"I said 'we'. You and I could just leave, Jay. Really." He stepped closer and Jay inched back. "Dump all the equipment, the footage, burn our IDs if we have to. No more filming, only use cash, fake names, how are they gonna know? How're they even gonna follow us?"
They could do it if he could just convince him. They could build a real life, in a house, or an apartment, or a tent in the woods for gods sake.
Jay hesitated for a second before shaking his head like he had to get the idea off him.
"It's not just them, that thing, it'll follow us. We have to stay. We need to figure everything out."
Stubborn for his pride.
Tim's mouth was already moving before he could even think what to say.
"It's already 'figured out'. Didn't bother you till you started watching these stupid tapes," He dropped the cigarette, stepping on it as he got closer, leaning into his face, "didn't bother Alex till she found that camera, didn't even bother me till you stormed into my life." He jabbed his finger into Jay's chest, regretting it as he saw him flinch.
He took a step back, muttering out an apology and looking away from him. He wouldn't really want to run away with himself either, now.
The apology went unheard, Jay staring him in the face for once in his life. Glassy and dark, deep bruises accentuating his big eyes and thin nose. As much as he glared he just looked frightened.
Tim wondered what he'd look like if he could get him to California. Tan and healthy.
"You do whatever the hell you want, man," Raw anger shook in his voice as he tried to keep it down, "I'm stayinghere and solving your shitty mystery. Just, gimme my stuff and get me back to my car and- fuck off if you want."
He wanted to stuff him in the trunk and drag him out kicking and screaming.
He could save the both of them, right now. Never worry about getting stalked and hunted again. He wouldn't even mind living out of the car with Jay if he had to.
Instead he just sighed.
"I'm not leaving you to die here. Calm down."
Some tension left the other man's jaw, even if he didn't really relax.
"Come on, let's go check out."