Summary – Don't you hate car rides?
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Chaotic Car Ride
Tommy
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(Saturday 7:03 a.m.)
Shifting uncomfortably beside Jason, I look at Alan as he climbs into the backseat of the jeep. See, this is why I shouldn't talk to people before I'm fully awake. I say stupid things and go into stuff I shouldn't go into. I don't want to talk about home. I don't want to tell Jason, the one person who actually seems to want to be my friend, about all the stupid stuff I did back home. I just need to be quiet and keep my mouth shut, at least until I'm more awake and aware of what I'm saying.
"So, do you want to sit in the middle?" Huh? Looking at the Red Ranger in confusion, he gestures to the backseat. "The middle, do you want to sit in the middle or by the window?" Oh.
"I'll sit in the middle." Climbing in and sliding over so Jase can hop in, we scrunch together, each seeming to be trying not to touch the other. Or perhaps it's just me trying not to touch Jase or Alan. Both for different reasons, of course.
Hopping into the passenger's seat as John gets into the driver's side, Jen glances back at us. "Everyone situated?" Not really. Giving her nods, we all remain quiet as John pulls out of the driveway and onto the road. Now what am I going to do all this time?
"You're in my space." Pushing me away from him, Alan isn't helping in this no touching Jason thing. If he shoves me over anymore I'll practically be on the Red Ranger's lap. Oh man, that isn't a thought I should be having right now in a confined space, with two people on either side of me.
"You have plenty of room, stop shoving." Nudging him back hard, I try to focus on anything other than the new idea of sitting on Jason's lap. Though it would be more comfortable than sitting here like this- okay stop it. Think monsters, yep monsters, big ugly scary monsters, and Rita. There we go.
Doing alright, I just about let myself believe I'll be fine when we hit a pothole and I accidentally fall against Jason, dropping my hand on his thigh and my head on his chest. Turning as red as his shirt when he cocks an eyebrow at me and smiles, I move back quickly and wrap my arms back around myself. Damn this is gonna be a long ride.
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(10:45 a.m.)
"Tommy. Hey bro, come on wake up." Haven't I already heard this speech? Didn't it entail me telling him to bite me and me getting soaked? When I'm shaken gently, I force my eyes open to realize I've apparently dozed off at some point. How on Earth did I do that sitting up in a car?
Eyes clearing, I move to stretch only to become aware of the fact that I'm not actually sitting up. In actuality I'm half lying on the object of my affection, my arm wrapped around his waist and oh yeah, yep I was drooling a little on his shoulder. Excuse me while I go throw myself in traffic now.
"You awake there?" Helping me sit up, he surprisingly doesn't seem the least bit mad at my inconvenient nap. "We stopped to get something to eat." Pushing a bang behind my ear, he unbuckles himself and me, giving me a bit of time to wake fully. Eat? Didn't we just eat?
"Oh." Rubbing my eyes and not really wanting to get up or out of the car, I glance at Jase as he looks at his wet shoulder and pulls his red T-shirt off. "Sorry about that."
Smiling and turning around to get at his duffel bag, he shakes his head. "Don't worry about it, you looked like you needed a little more rest, especially after last night." Grabbing his leather jacket from the back, he slips it on over his red muscle shirt looking a bit rougher and more stylish than before with just the blue jeans and T-shirt.
"Yeah." Noticing the car is empty, I look out the window to see we're at McDonalds. "Is everyone else already inside?"
"Mhm, Alan said he was starving and I think John made a dash for the bathroom. You feel a little better?" Better than what? Opening the door and hopping out, he waits for me to follow.
"Yeah, I guess I was just really wrecked after last night's battle. It's not fair, just because Rita's an insomniac we have go fight some cockroach monsters at two in the morning." That was one disgusting monster. Slipping out of the jeep and moving as Jase slams the door shut, I stretch a bit working the kinks out of my back.
Laughing and moving toward the building he nods. "Yep. Which if you noticed that's why the others dress in workout pants and T-shirts for sleep-wear. After the first time that happened and Kim showed up in a lace nightgown, Trini in just a T-shirt, Zack and Billy in just boxers, and me naked, yeah we dress a little more conservative nowadays before bedtime." You showed up naked? I miss all the good stuff.
"You still showed up in just boxers."
Having the decency to look at least a little embarrassed, he only offers a shrug in way of explanation. S'fine, not like I didn't enjoy the view or anything. Not to mention Kim and Trini certainly cast a few glances your way. "What do you want?" Huh?
"What?" Looking at him lost, I'm sorry I'm a little too busy thinking naughty things right now to focus on reality.
"Food. What would you like to eat?" Oh food. Right how did we get inside and up to the counter so fast?
"Um, I don't know, uh sausage and cheese McGriddle and a Coke?" Man he looks slick in that jacket.
"K." Turning to the girl behind the counter, he offers her a smile. "Hi, we'll have a sausage and cheese McGriddle, two hashbrowns, a cup of coffee, a medium Coke, and a biscuit."
Flipping her long red hair in a clearly flirtatious way, she gives him a wide and too perky smile back. "That all for you, cutie?" How lame, what is she thirteen?
"That'll do it." When she tells him seven fifty, he beats me too it and hands her the cash. Okay, well, I guess I shouldn't be upset considering he just paid for me without even thinking on it. Though it is a little odd.
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(12:25 p.m.)
"So then she insists that she can fix my hair like that one Backstreet boy and of course me being ten I believed her. Let's just say I ended up wearing a hat for the next year." Oh my god, I can't believe he let Kim cut his hair!
"Sounds like that time Tommy tried to dye his hair red." Oh shut up Alan. Grinning and giving me a look, the blonde ignores my death glare. "Remember that, Tom? It was when we were visiting you and Aunt Joyce and you thought it'd be cool to have hair like Eric's?" My god did I have a crush on Eric.
"You dyed your hair red?" Grinning and looking like he's trying not to laugh, Jase don't even go there.
"No see he tried to dye it red. Of course, he didn't know anything about dying and neither did his friend, Bess, so in the end it turned hot pink." I'm just going to jump out the window now, right after I throw Alan through it, of course.
"Oh lord I remember that. Your mom had a conniption when you came slinking into the apartment with your hair spiked and hot pink." Thanks Uncle John, so needed your help there.
Sliding down in the seat and trying not to blush, I really didn't want to think about Eric or Bess or my stupid mistakes or just anything at all from then, thank you all so much. I was stupid, I know it, I did many many stupid things there, but I'm doing better here and trying not repeat those mistakes so I really don't think it's fair to drag them back up. "Like none of you ever made any mistakes."
Perhaps being the only one seeing just how upset this is making me, Jase immediately stops laughing and wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Aw, you're right, after all, all you had do was dye your hair back, me, I couldn't go out in public without head wear for a year, and even then it was a nightmare at school picture time."
Snickering and leaning into him a bit, it suddenly doesn't matter so much what the others are talking about as Jase begins chatting it up with me about other fabulous things Kim and Trini convinced him to do in their childhood years.
To be continued….
