Will, after taking a look at the engine trouble of his friend's car, came back around 1 p.m. and had lunch after which the mysterious woman, who met him on the highway, said she wanted to sleep and went to her room and closed the door.
Will lay down on the couch and thought of her lascivious idea of sitting stark nude on a bike and wondered about the possible erotic positions in which they could have sex and soon dozed off.
When he woke up at 4 p.m., he found the door locked and assumed she was still sleeping. After some time, she came out and smiled at him.
"I'm sorry. I slept well. It's been a long time since I slept like that."
She looked pretty with her loose hair framing her face and her smile added to her natural charm.
"That's fine. I will make tea." he said and went to the kitchen. She followed him and watched him as he went about making tea.
"What shall we do till midnight"? she asked.
"I thought we could just go out and meet some friends," he said offering her a cup of tea and taking one for himself.
"No. I don't want to meet your friends... as yet. Maybe later. Sorry..." she looked like she was genuinely apologetic.
"That's fine," he said reminding himself that she hardly stayed in any place for more than two days; today was the second day. Hence, it was of no use getting her acquainted with his friends.
"But I would like to know about your friends. Tell me about them," she said as if to make amends for not wanting to meet them.
"Hmm. I have lots of them. Most grew up with me here. I have four with whom I hangout regularly. Freddy, a chubby, bearded drunkard, whom we call Captain Haddock. Nice guy, but his wife had a different opinion. Now he lives with his dog. Then we have Ann and her husband Joe. They have two boys. Nice family. Then we have lots of others who drop in for a drink now and then.'
"Good, but I am a rolling stone and want neither memories nor friends," she said in a tone which betrayed an underlying melancholy.
"So, what shall we do till midnight? You wanna practice?" He said in an effort to cheer her up.
"I'm not horny right now. Shall we go out somewhere?" she asked nervously.
"What do you prefer? A walk or a ride?" he asked trying to understand her mood swings.
"Let's go for a drive, so we can avoid people. I hope it's okay with you?" she asked.
He nodded and got out his car and they took the highway which was empty, save for a few speeding trucks now and then.
"I love long drives which go on and on with no end in sight. The road looks like a huge friendly serpent lying in front of us, swallowing time and memories as we travel. I think if there are no memories, human race would be different. What do you say?" she said trying to keep her hair in place as the evening wind played with it.
Suddenly, she sounded philosophical, detached and distant, making him feel as if he was trying to figure out a movie he had begun watching from the middle. He came to the conclusion she was trying to forget the past and was making an effort to run away from it.
"Yeah. I too wish I could forget half of my life," he said to make her feel comfortable. He had no regrets, not even over his live-in relationship, because all his friends had rightly predicted the break-up.
"Look at the sunset! It's lovely. I always love to see a setting sun and the rising moon. Nature is so pure, pristine and innocent. Oh! Am I boring you with my description of scenery? Park the car, let's watch the sunset," she said, perking up a bit.