Chapter 9: Come Out Fighting

"You don't know much about cars," Sean asked Craig.

"Why do you say that," Craig replied while moving closer to Sean.

"Because," Sean moved back and showed Craig a big puddle on the ground. "The tank was nearly full when we got here. We didn't even need to stop for gas." Sean put the pump back on the stand. He noticed Craig was moving closer to him."Oh, the keys," Sean dug in his pants pocket for the keys." Here you go." Sean handed them to Craig before taking them back. "Unless you want me to drive?"

"No that's OK."Craig took the keys abruptly. He looked for signs of Ellie or Alex.

Sean looked at Craig strangely."Umm,I'm gonna sit in the front if that's OK with you. Jimmy's kind of irking me, I don't think he's too happy with me tagging along."

"What are you talking about without you we wouldn't even be going on this trip. I'm glad you came along for a while now it's been just the two of us, me and Jimmy since Marco went overseas, I'm use to three of us you're taking Marco's place." Craig laughed nervously while still looking for signs of Ellie, Alex or both.

"Umm, yeah" Sean walked past Craig who was standing ridiculously close to him. He tried to open up the passenger door."The doors locked."

"I'll open it." Craig nervously fumbled with his car keys.

"Just open it from the inside," Sean replied

Craig slowly walked to the drivers side. "Whatever you were going to do Ellie and Alex it's too late now," Craig thought. He opened his door and just as we going to lean over and open the passengers side for Sean he heard something.

Hey, there Pretty Boy," Alex replied.

Craig looked in the back. "Alex, Ellie, what are you doing here and where's Jimmy?"

"I'm right here."Jimmy waved. "It's not like I can go anywhere," Jimmy joked.

"I'm just glad he didn't scream and make a big fuss like you're doing." Alex replied while listing to Sean banging on the door. "Maybe you should open up the door for him."

Craig glanced at Ellie. "It's OK, open it," Ellie answered.

Craig opened up the door for Sean. "Craig, what took you so long all you had to do was open the latch." Sean uttered. He looked at Craig who seemed to be looking in his rear-view mirror. "Craig, did you hear me man."

"Umm," Craig fumbled nervously with his car keys before putting it into the ignition.

"Craig, you're sure you don't want me to drive," Sean asked.

"He's sure," Ellie answered.

Sean turned around and saw Ellie and Alex sitting in the back with Jimmy."Ellie?"

"Hey Sean, long time no see," Ellie replied.

"Paige, you're nuts theirs no way you're talking me into this." Hazel exclaimed while walking to her house.

"C'mon Haze," Paige replied. You want to see Jimmy, right?"

"Yeah, but."

"Then it's settled," Paige reached into her purse for her cell phone. "This is the only way we can see Jimmy without waiting for two weeks and just think how excited he'll be when you show up and surprise him."

"I guess but this plan won't work my mom's not going to go for this and neither is my dad."

"Leave it up to me, you'll see," Paige dialed on her cell phone. "Hello, hello," Paige turned her phone off. "Great, bad connection," Paige walked to a nearby park and looked at the system notches on her cell."This is better," She dialed on her phone. "Hello, can you hear me...good, because I need your help."

"Emma why are we here," Manny asked while swinging on a swing.

"I don't know I just felt like it," Emma answered."This place always helps me clear my mind."

"Hey, remember when we use to come here as kids?"

"Yeah, those were simple times back then."

"When I use to take Jack here I sometimes which I could go back to those days."

"Jack's pretty young I was talking more of when we were twelve not two," Manny joked.

"I know," Emma laughed. "I wouldn't mind being two again either no responsibilities."

"No guys making your life a living hell."

"Tell me about it, not to mention other girls as well what was with Paige today?"

"Emma if you haven't noticed Paige always has a stick up her butt."

"No to mention you kicked her in the same place a few months ago and she fell on it when you, Darcy and Chante went through with that plan."

"Don't remind me it was stupid Paige broke her leg and has to wear a stupid caste which she dressed up rather nicely in pick lace at the salon." Manny and Emma both giggled. "See I like this, the park is the best place to go to.., Manny paused. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what," Emma asked.

"That,"Manny pointed out.

"Great, bad connection,"

"Sounds like.. oh great," Manny uttered before jumping off the swing and pulling Emma into a nearby bush.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Shh," Manny whispered. "Listen."

"Ellie what are you doing here," Sean asked.

"You know what, she was going to ask you the same thing," Alex replied.

"Alex," Ellie exclaimed.

"Hey I was just trying to help out," Alex replied.

"This is all my fault," Craig uttered.

"Ellie you still haven't told me why you're here," Sean asked.

"Well, if you give me a chance I will," Ellie answered.

"She's here to see you, you jerk," Alex exclaimed.

"Sean, Jimmy don't be mad at me," Craig begged while the others rambled on.

"Shut up," Jimmy shouted."This is suppose to be my vacation you all know what a vacation is it's something you're suppose to enjoy and right now I'm not enjoying it. I got Craig over here driving like a nearsighted grandma, Craig I want to get to New York sometime this week. And Sean hitching a ride, no offense Sean I'm grateful you fixed the van and I'm glad you decided to tag along but could you please keep your hands off my Gameboy, dang I can't move like the rest of you this Gameboy is the only thing keeping me sane well it was until now. And Ellie, Alex why the hell are you here and Craig how is this your fault?" All the guys in the car in the stared at Jimmy too scared and surprised to speak. "OK, I get the point you're waiting for me to give you the go ahead OK let's start with Ellie why are you and Alex here?"

"Umm, I...," Ellie stuttered. "I came here to see Sean well."

"It's all my fault," Craig interrupted "I should've never went through with this plan. You see it was this bet we had last year with me and Ellie she wanted me to pick her up at this gas station and that's why I was driving so slow."

"Craig, Ellie was suppose to talk," Alex chimed in. "But it wasn't your fault it was mine I take full responsibility for how this day is going. You see I wanted Ellie to tell Sean off for being such a colossal jerk not telling her that he was here and all and then he goes to see Emma."

"I was going to tell her when I got a new apartment," Sean exclaimed. "And you were suppose to keep your mouth close about Emma."

"Well at least someone told me you were in town," Ellie replied. "It's seems like everyone knew but me who else knows beside me that you're here, my mom."

"I don't know I'll go ask her," Sean said before cracking up. Everyone in the car started to crack up as well. "Jimmy I haven't seen you get this mad since our fight."

"Which one, we're always fighting," Jimmy asked while laughing hysterically.

"Yeah, I never seen Ellie get this mad well ever." Alex replied.

"Alex you're always mad." Ellie chuckled.

"Jimmy I haven't seen you get this mad since Spinn.."Craig replied before pausing. The laughter in the van grew quite. "Oh great I always manage to mess things up, Jimmy I'm"

"It's cool," Jimmy replied. "Ellie so why are you're here?"

"Like Alex said I was going to tell Sean off but I had a change of heart," Ellie looked at Craig. "I really just want to go home."

"Home that's an hour back," Jimmy replied. "That means that's going to take two hours out of our schedules." Jimmy looked at his watch. "I don't know about you Ellie but I want to get to my uncle's place before it gets dark and the way Craig drives were running on borrowed time."

"I can't go with you guys," Ellie replied.

"Then just take a cab back." Jimmy stated.

"I wish it was that easy but we're broke," Alex uttered.

"I don't have that much only for gas and that's on credit but I can give you a ten dollar bill." Jimmy suggested.

"That's sweet but I can't take your money and were going to need more then a ten to get back unless all three of you have a ten."

Craig and Sean looked at each other. "I have a five on me I spent the rest on gas," Craig replied.

"I'm broke," Sean said.

"How were you guys going to make it to the Hampton's without any cash," Alex asked

"Most of our food is already here," Jimmy pointed to a cooler. "Like I told you the rest I have to save for gas on credit until my dad wires me some cash when I make it,if I make it to the Hampton's. I know I'm going to hate myself in the morning but we don't have time to talk I only have a week and a couple of days to enjoy myself and you girls can tag along if you like.

"That's settled it," Craig turned on the vans ignition and drove off quickly. "You girls are coming to Hampton's with us."

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Gameboy and in no way is it endorsed by me it's just a minor part of the story.