Chapter 11

I stayed underwater for as long as I could, just to give them a little scare. Then I came to the surface, shook my hair out of my eyes and swam away towards the opposite bank.
Over my shoulder, I heard Eric say, "You gotta be freakin' kidding me."
I grinned to myself as I reached the edge and pulled myself up out of the water. James was standing there.
"Idiot," he said smiling.
I grinned and stretched my legs. "Right. Airport?"
The mission was completed, the criminals were arrested but what exactly Eric was up to was still unclear. But I was too tired to worry about that when the plane touched down at precisely 5am in London. James dragged along with our suitcases while I staggered across the arrivals lounge, a miscellaneous celebrity who was on the same flight as us walked straight by, crowded by fans and photographers. James put down our suitcases as we reached the car park.
"What time is it?" He mumbled.
"Uh... 6." I said, after squinting at my phone.
He groaned.
No limos or taxis this time. We had to make our own way back. I fumbled in my handbag for my car keys and pulled them out.
It took us quite a while to find my little red convertible. James put suitcases in the boot and collapsed into the passenger seat. I sat down and started the car. To stop myself from falling asleep, more thant
anything, I put on the radio.
This song came on, ironically as usual.

"Passenger Seat"

It's 3 AM, I'm outside your window Jump the fence, Dad will never know Fell in love with you in my passenger seat

And then you took control of the radio And turned up all the songs I know I'm risking everything And that's alright with me

Roll down the window Never get caught Baby, no one will know

Just sweep me off my feet again My new addiction I'll be waiting I've been addicted To this story of a girl Who can help this boy meet world And sweep me off my feet again

Backseat down, fog on the windows The sun came out about an hour ago Then I kissed your head Just like I always did

And let you take control of the radio I've gotta get you home I swear your parents won't know Me and you've got something special Perfectly dysfunctional

Just sweep me off my feet again My new addiction I'll be waiting I've been addicted To this story of a girl Who can help this boy meet world And sweep me off my feet again

And I'm wasted on you girl And I've never been so sure Don't wanna say goodnight You and I could take another ride

We can go the long way home So we can be alone Oh baby, no one will now

Just sweep me off my feet again My new addiction I'll be waiting I've been addicted To this story of a girl Who can help this boy meet world And sweep me off my feet again

Just sweep me off my feet again My new addiction I'll be waiting I've been addicted To this story of a girl Who can help this boy meet world And sweep me off my feet again Again

I didn't even look at James. He was asleep anyway. Thank God.
I stopped on the road to get a triple espresso. More like quintuple. I put in a bucket of sugar so it didn't taste like crap, and returned to James who was still asleep.
I pulled up outside my house and carted the suitcases inside without waking James. I went back out to the car where he was STILL asleep. I opened the car door.
I tapped his shoulder.
Nothing.
I hit his shoulder.
Still nothing.
Damn him for being such a heavy sleeper! Well, I couldn't blame him really, we had only got about 4 hours sleep in the past 2 days. If that.
I shook him. No.
I shook him harder. Nothing.
In my sugar-driven hyper frustrated state, I dived on top of James and straddled him. He woke up with a start, "What the f...?!"
I burst out in a fit of the giggles, trying to explain. James looked very embarrassed and lifted me off, standing up and walking inside a little shakily.