Disclaimer: I still don't own it, nor the song 'Day Tripper' by the Beatles, But I do own Menchendo, and I really wish I didn't.
Detour
Chapter 5 (Already wow)
Policy Free- Fantasy Wheels
Just to Seattle, the words rang in this head like some sort of sick mantra. He couldn't understand why she just wouldn't let him in; he could help her, do whatever he could to help her anyways. But for some reason unknown to him, she always had to keep her real thoughts and feelings bottled inside of her.
He sighed and splashed some water across his face; his eyes still stung with the few hours of sleep he had, almost like it had been a torture. He looked to the towels left on the counter and decided it was better for him to use the sleeve of his shirt that he'd changed out of.
Staring at his wayworn reflection in the mirror, he realized he was procrastinating. The more time he took in the bathroom, the less would be spent in the awkward, incensing silence between himself and Kate. He didn't want to leave her in Seattle, he didn't want to drive there knowing that when she left him, at the base of some skyscraper, that she wouldn't look back with a second glance, like she knew what she was doing, and it was what she wanted.
Maybe she didn't love him? Maybe she didn't want to start anything because in her eyes there was no unused feelings between them. Friendship, comradery, someone to enjoy a cool drink with on a warm night, but nothing else. No future together, not even a present, no second glances, no longing look sent over her shoulder. Just a grateful smile and a handshake if he was lucky.
His own head shook in disagreement as his hand came up to his temple massaging the pain from it. She had to feel something for him, the way she caught his eyes, the looks he gave and received from her. The indecision evident when her lips closed over his, her eyes fluttered closed and her body skimmed against his lightly. He pushed all arrogance aside and the answer was still clear.
Her iron grip on her past was now clenched tighter then it was on the island. She had let him in then, though it really wasn't her choice. The Marshal had warned him about her, not to trust her, and perhaps this was why.
His dad must be having a field day, laughing at him from wherever he was now. He had always warned him to stay with Sarah. She's good for you Jack, he could still hear his father's voice pressuring in his ear, that part of a relationship was forgiveness, he promised to stay with her until death do them part, and he did. She was the one to file the divorce papers.
The logical part of him thought about what would happen if Kate hadn't broken the kiss, what could've developed in his moment of passion. He'd never been that straightforward before, and now he remembered why, because he ended up looking foolish. He could try to convince her not to go to Seattle. But then what?
He imagined bringing her home to his mother, who would look at him shamefully, pull him aside and tell him that he wasn't stuck on a island anymore, there were more then twenty girls to chose from and he should send Kate packing because she didn't like nor understand every quirky thing Kate had going for her. All the things he loved about her, the way her nose slightly wrinkled when she was deep in thought, the way she rolled her eyes at his dim attempts to be funny, and the way her face grew red in color when she grew peeved at the hotel manager.
Turning away sadly from the mirror, he collected his clothing and threw them in a separate compartment in his suitcase, which was beginning to become cluttered. They'd need to stop for food soon enough, perhaps in a small mall so laundry could be done, though he didn't know how much Kate could carry in the miniscule bag she'd brought.
The loose doorknob of the bathroom door shook as the hinges creeked loudly, the paint and finish looked as though it had be beaten off. He was suddenly glad that the walls couldn't talk, or scream for that matter. The thought of the broken down room, the light purple paint peeling in the afternoon sunlight, the gaudy, plaid arm chair that badly needed to be reupholstered, or the dank smell that never seemed to leave didn't bug him as much as the fact that Kate seemed at home in the environment, when she deserved so much better.
He opened the door, expecting her to be sitting on the bed, in silence as her mind sorted through different events, staring at the wall like she had the ocean on the island, but to his surprise she was no where in sight.
His eyes scanned the room more carefully, why would she leave? He could handle her not loving him, not liking him, or not admitting to either. But the thought of her hitchhiking with some dangerous, homicidal stranger just because of an argument with him began to frighten him.
Red. She hated the color, and had hoped it never escalated that far. But it had, a long time ago probably. It was either red, or switch continents. Europe had been fun for awhile, but Italy, France and Greece grow old quickly when you don't speak the language and you don't have anyone to share the romantic atmosphere with.
England was useless, everything was too expensive and her money proved to be useless. Refusing to go to Ireland, not the best ambiance, Australia was her last choice before hitting the small islands where she had a better chance of being captured.
And now, now she was back to step one. A red step one, she now held a big red scarlet 'a' stained onto her locks. She was only going to stay in America long enough to earn enough money to fly to one of the tropical islands. Bali, Tahiti, Fiji, one of them where they've never heard of all the crimes and sins she's committed. Being in that kind of environment might change her, it had with the island.
She pulled a piece of her twisted hair around before her eyes and watched the crimson glow in the sunlight. Her eyebrows fell as she watched it, she liked her natural hair, and her mom had told her that brunettes had the best hair color, no stupid jokes or stereotypes to go along with it. It was probably the last thing her mom had left to like about her, and now that was gone too, dyed to many times to return.
Jack had liked it; she grinned inwardly while still flipping the piece of her hair between her fingers indolently. She had been complaining about it sometime back, the rat's nest of tangles it had become. Too hard and dangerous to comb through, but she wouldn't give up.
She sat away from everyone for most of the day, mumbling low curses as she frantically and angrily ripped a brush she found through it. He came looking for her eventually, always concerned for her safety, not knowing how she could care for herself in the real world, but as long as she remained on that island, she was under his supervision.
He chuckled wholeheartedly when he found the position she was in, stating that the last thing he thought she would be doing would be worrying over her hair. After a few moments he laughed and added that it was getting out of control.
Before she had a chance to pummel him with the brush and pent up rage half an hour of knot brushing will build up, he added that it suited her. The curls were wild and untamed and the color was mysterious.
That was the first time they'd ever kissed, out in a secluded part of the beach, so far away from the others that the fires strewn along the beach looked like fireflies. He'd stayed with her until the last clinging knot was torn from her hair, stating it wasn't safe for her to be this far from camp after dark.
They both knew it was for the company and Kate couldn't let sleeping dogs lie. She never did take it lightly when people lied to her, feeling how it was to be on the receiving end made her feel incredibly guilty for the fleet of lies she'd woven in the years that had passed. She playfully pressured him to admit the real reason he was always stalking her, following her out into the jungle like a second shadow, like she had about him checking out, which she had yet to get him to confess to. Until he grabbed her by the forearms and swiftly whipped her around, so her eyes, reflecting the moon that hung so close, were staring directly into his.
Without thinking, she met him halfway in the expected kiss. It was light, gentle, soothing even, but it felt empty. No hefty amounts of passion, love, not even lust. "Kate!" A relieved voice called from behind her. She turned, her blood red hair swayed in the sticky afternoon wind. Jack stood in the doorway of their shared room for the past six hours, his face passed a quick, happy look of relief before turning back indifferent and cold, "I thought you'd left."
"I promised you to Seattle," she stated coldly as she rose from the edge of the wooden porch she sat on, dusting off the faded blue jeans she still had.
He turned silently and walked to the main office, his feet slamming on the boards, making them creek and spew out years of dust. He swung the door open, barely holding it for Kate and traveled quickly into the smoky atmosphere.
The man turned around from behind his desk, where a little black and white television stood. The smoke was so condensed in the room that the light illuminating from the small television set was seen filtering through the clouds.
"You kids have fun?" The man asked with a wide, smile planted on his face. Taking the stubby stogie of his cigar, he mashed it out against the desk, and threw it over his back to the filthy, rubbish covered ground behind him.
"Yes," Kate replied sarcastically, "Loads and loads. We never wanted to leave," she informed, trying to keep her eyes from watering, the stinging smell of the cigars getting to her.
Jack sent her a glare, telling her she was being childish, then turned and handed the key to the man. Kate used her build up of willpower to not stick her tongue out at Jack while his back was turned.
"You've got quite the mouth on you, you know that girly?" he questioned as he leaned over and pulled out another cigar from the desk drawer.
"And you've got quite and addiction, you know that?" Kate queried bitterly as she raised an eyebrow, daring him to challenge her further.
"You've got your hands full," The man told Jack as he ushered her to the door.
"Don't I know it," Jack mumbled as he pushed her along, until they had reached outside.
"What was all that about?" she huffed angrily as they started walking to Jack's SUV. It was still gleaming in the unkind sunlight, not a speck of dirt or scratch across the paint, even after all the fiascos.
"Me? You were the one who blew up at the guy," Jack explained as he pressed the button on his key chain and the doors unbolted, "He was just making an observation."
Kate sighed and pulled the seatbelt across her lap once again, "I just don't like when guys talk to me like that," she muttered quietly as Jack started the engine.
"Talk to you like what?" Jack questioned as the vehicle hit the road again.
"Like they know what kind of girl I am," she shook her head, "I'm not talking about this anymore." Reaching over she turned on the radio and let song fill the car instead of her emptying her guts to Jack, whom she was still mad at.
After a few moments of commercials, and the drone of the wheels spinning on the road, he chanced a glance at her, only to find she was looking at him. His cheeks began to heat up as he became embarrassed, but Kate merely gave him a comforting smile.
Got a good reason for taking the easy way outGot a good reason for taking the easy way out now
"Argh," Kate moaned as the radio spoke up over both of them, "I hate this song," she disclosed with a disgusted look on her face.
"I love it," Jack commented, "The beat, the music, the words, they flow together," he smiled.
"I'm changing it," She declared as she reached forward, intent on turning the radio station.
She was a day tripper, one way ticket yeahIt took me so long to find out, and I found out
"No," Jack argued as he reached out and batted her hand away. She grinned at him, and dived for the radio once again. With one hand on the wheel and one hand furiously battling hers for the control of the radio, ultimately winning.
"When you drive, you can pick the station," he disclosed as she sat back in her chair, arms crossed, mouth pouting.
She's a big teaser, she took me half the way thereShe's a big teaser, she took me half the way there now
"It's just a stupid song," she mumbled in defeat a she looked away from Jack and out the window. Watching the scenery flash by as the speedometer slowly crept higher and higher.
She was a day tripper, one way ticket yeahIt took me so long to find out, and I found out
Glancing at her a final time, their eyes met, and they both couldn't help but break out into a fit of laughter and giggles, "That had to be the most childish thing I've ever done," Jack sighed after the laughed had died down.
"What about the time you asked Sawyer if he'd been with a prostitute?" She reminded with a reserved smile gracing her lips.
Tried to please her, she only played one night standsTried to please her, she only played one night stands now
"Okay so one of the most childish things I've ever done," he corrected with a smile.
As the song came to an end, an uncomfortable silence once again enveloped them. Both thinking about what if felt like to wake up in the other's embrace, knowing that it wouldn't work out.
"Kate," He began, feeling the need to apologize as he always did. His dad had taught him a long time a go that most things that happen are often his fault.
"It's okay Jack," she disclosed, slipping her hand into his that lay idle, "It's fine."
A grin crossed over his face as he grasp her cool, delicate hand in his as the car sped towards Seattle in the late afternoon sun.
A/N: I hoped y'all liked it, and that it wasn't too fluffy at the end, because for me it was too fluffy. Everything is too fluffy for me.