Hey! You're reading this! I'm amazed and very grateful. Anyhow, probably shouldn't expect too many chapters per time period. This is only up so fast because I'm still trying to get the ball rolling! xD Oh, and just kidding I lied o-o Minor plot change due to circumstances. Read on.
The next few years zipped by in a happy blur. Just when the weather was beginning to turn cold, Jenna began to notice that her father was acting oddly, disappearing randomly, completely unreachable, though never more than a few hours at a time. He had also taken to glancing over his shoulder and, to her confusion, into the sky.
Jenna hadn't asked him what was wrong, though his new attitude made her jumpy and upset. She was, however, afraid that if she asked, he would get upset at her. Instead, she made secret plans to ask her uncle Mana, of whom she knew was very close to her father, when they went to visit him over Christmas.
Nea Walker, of course, had insisted that they went down to Mana's every Christmas Eve to stay for a few nights. Jenna had always gone with him before and didn't see why this year would be any different. She didn't mind, either, the trips to Uncle Mana's. He was a very nice man, if somewhat formal.
Actually, Uncle Mana looked a lot like her father, except the way he did his hair. While Nea Walker wore his hair in a scruffy, spiky cut, Mana had worn his hair in a long, sleek ponytail which Jenna secretly admired. And usually Uncle Mana looks more well groomed than dad does, Jenna giggled. Her giggle quickly died in her throat, though, as the present caught up. Something was wrong with Nea Walker, and she wanted to know what.
On December 20th, Jenna's school let out for winter break. It was only a matter of time before the traditional visit. She began to count the days until Christmas Eve with more eagerness than she had shown in previous years.
Two days before the date of the trip, Jenna was in her room making a list of things to pack when her father called her from the living room. Curious, she poked her head out, and, not able to see him from the hall, hurried into the kitchen and turned left into the living room. Her dad was sitting on the sofa, skimming the newspaper with a frown. When she walked in, he looked up and smiled, eyes crinkling.
"Come sit down. I need to talk to you," he informed her, patting the fluffy cushion next to him. Feeling nervous, she moved forward and perched at the corner, ready to bolt.
Nea Walker laughed, but it sounded a bit strained. "There's no need to look so nervous. You're not in trouble." A pause. "I just wanted to tell you that you'll need to pack more than usual this year, as we'll be staying a little longer. Also, I'll probably be away a lot…"
Why? She wanted to wail. It's not that she didn't like her uncle. It's just that things got a bit awkward when her father wasn't there to smooth over the rough patches. Instead, she replied a bit too cheerfully, "Okay. How long are we staying?"
"Err… Maybe a year," he said, suddenly very interested in an advertisement on the newspaper.
"A year?" Jenna gaped. "But… but what about school?"
Her father shifted uncomfortably. "It's for good cause," he said in a way that suggested this 'good cause' was a massive secret.
"Is it the bills? Are we in debt?" Jenna demanded, eyes bright with worry. "I could get a job. We could move somewhere cheaper—"
"It's not money, Jenna, honey."
"Then what? Are you being threatened? Do you have a stalker?" She couldn't help it. Her voice was rising with each blurted question.
"No, what—no!" he exclaimed. "It's just that I've been rather—" there was a fraction of a pause before he picked back up and finished in a rush, "—busy lately, and Mana would be able to keep an eye on you."
"But I can take care of myself!" Jenna said exasperated. This didn't make any sense. She'd been alone in the house before, and if he was back in a day or two, it's not as if she would starve or anything.
"Why are you making this a big deal?" he countered, equally exasperated. "Do you not like Mana? Just think of it as an extended vacation!"
"But I don't want—" you to leave, she almost said. Actually, she was hoping that if he knew she was alone in the house, he would hurry home. However, her unspoken words left a big gap, and Nea had misinterpreted it.
Furious, Nea snapped. "This isn't about what you want, Jennifer Walker! Your uncle has been kind enough to allow us to even stay for so long. If it weren't for the circumstances, I wouldn't want to bother him either! This is not your decision!" he finished, breathing hard.
Jenna had never seen her father look so angry before, and he never used her full name, even when she'd been particularly selfish. Stunned and hurt, Jenna felt her eyes begin to water. Before the tears spilled, she whipped around and ran to her room, slamming the door and locking it behind her.
Mind whirling, Jenna curled up on the bed, hugging the teddy bear her father had gotten her on her third birthday. All she kept thinking was how absurdly unfair her father was being. "That's not what I'd meant," she mumbled to the bear. Despite her bitterness at his outburst, she still couldn't help wishing that he were there to comfort her as he usually did, which was a little silly.
Just about when she'd cried herself out and was in the hiccupping phase, there was a hesitant knock on her door. "Jenna?" Nea Walker's voice floated through the door. "Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. Will you open the door, please?"
Still hugging her bear, Jenna rolled slowly out of bed and unlocked the door, then crawled back into bed. She heard him ease the door open. Nea poking his head in and looking around for Jenna. He spotted the big bundle of quilt she was obviously hiding under and ghosted over to sit on the edge of the bed. She felt the mattress shift under his weight, but didn't come out from under the quilt.
"Jenna?" he called quietly, gently lifting the corner of quilt above where he thought her head was. She didn't bother to move it back. Instead, she just looked accusingly at him with red, puffy eyes. "Come on," he tempted. "It must be hot under all those blankets."
Her lower lip slid out in a clear 'I don't care' way. He sighed. "I'm sorry I snapped at you." He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm just under a lot of stress."
She sniffed loudly.
"Is it really that bad to visit your uncle?"
"No," came the tiny reply.
"Then what's up, kiddo? You're not usually this… reluctant."
The blanket mountain shifted, and he felt small arms circle around his waist. He smiled and patted her head gently. "I don't like being away from you, either," he admitted. "And I wouldn't unless it was really important. You know that, right?"
"Yes," the blankets mumbled and hiccupped.
"I love you very much," he declared to the blankets. "You're my little treasure."
"Love you, too," the blankets confessed, making him smile.
"Come on, let's see that face," Nea said, moving the blankets off and revealing a messy-haired Jenna who's nose was running onto his shirt.
"Eww," he yelped dramatically, leaping back and pretending to be horrified. He was rewarded with a small giggle. He walked back over and ruffled her already disheveled hair. "Get some sleep," he said, kissing her on the forehead. "Tomorrow's going to be a crazy packing day."
Jenna nodded and flopped back on her bed, wrestling with the thick blankets to get comfortable. "Good night," he said, turning off the lights on his way out.
Uhhh, to be honest, I just realized Nea is supposed to have red hair. But… He's gonna have black hair in this fic. My bad!