A geeky trip home for the holidays
((Disclaimer: Jack is owned by cloud 9, and the rubber ducks own themselves too))
"Hey Jack, have you seen my laptop?" Patch asked walking into the room carrying a bag down the stairs setting it down at the bottom of their house with the rest of them.
"Er no…. I remember being in front of the television last night but then you moving it when Dee showed up," he said after a second after typing on his own.
Patch shrugged sighed and then walked off in hot pursuit of his machine. Meanwhile, Dal came in walking through the front door after just loading his bags into the car.
"Jack, why aren't you packing? School is closing the campus in twelve hours- you need to get a move on," Dal told him folding his arms as he stood in the doorway.
"I know- it's on my to do list- it's just I'm trying to find a job for over the summer break," he reasoned.
"Jack, summer is half way over- and you're just looking for a job now," Dal replied shocked.
"Well yea…….."
"But we have to be back here in three weeks for finals," Dal answered, "You're going to have to wait till winter probably".
"I can't wait that long- I want to afford that trip to Disney with the guys in March before school starts at home again Dal- I need money like asap," Jack informed him as he turned to the doorway finally looking at Dal.
Patch, Jack, and Dal all went to the University of London in Great Britain but unlike Patch and Dal- he was from New Zealand where school had been out since November and it was the middle of summer. Patch and Dal were lucky- they just had to drive home for the holidays- but Jack… had to fly fifteen hours.
It would have made more sense to remain at home, but Jack wanted to close to his buddies. Patch and Dal had been online mates, and pen pals with him since they were kids. All three being major geeks had formed a friendship that thus far had lasted. The two of them had convinced him to attend Uni with them there instead of in Wellington with his best friend from home, Josh who refused to go overseas because his own mates were all Kiwi's like Jack and himself were. Jack however didn't like Ram or Jay that much and had little issues with staying behind.
Besides, he had three brothers and a sister, the last thing he needed was to hang around at home with all the yelling and screaming that went down.
"Well you won't be able to get home to make this money if you don't get packed and get to the airport because you're flight is leaving in three hours with or without you," Dal reported calmly.
Instantly Jack's eyes grew large and panic filled him, "THR-REE-EE HOURS?" he cried.
Dal nodded, "It's already 14:35," he told him.
"Oh god," Jack said paling as he slammed down his laptop and started to run from his room to go get his bags that were in storage on the second floor. Jack had chosen the floor bedroom so that he avoid listening to Patch's snoring.
He then bypassed Patch on the stairs as he heard the doorbell ring- Patch answered it right away standing there with a smile on her face was Dee his girlfriend- who also lived on campus and was from England.
"Oh babe, are you packed and ready to go?" she inquired.
Patch nodded his head eagerly, "Yes ma'am- I'm packed and ready to go," he reported pointing to the bags on the floor, "All mine".
"Good put them in the car and we can go- so that we can go play Santa," Dee told with a coy smile.
Dee was far from the hottest girl ever but one thing that could said about her and Patch- their sex games always put them in a better mood- and her dressed up drove him wild which was all that should matter. Jack wouldn't ever touch her but more power to Patch for seeing the vixen beneath the horrid skin.
Though that Santa remark, caused him to shudder as he practically tripped down the stairs carrying two bags thankfully, Dal was there to help him up.
"Careful"
"Thanks- help me pack?"
"Sure- bye Patch," Dal said briefly over his shoulder.
Patch smiled geekily at them with Dee giving a nod, "Bye boys," she replied.
"Bye guys," he squeaked as he pulled away.
"Bye," Jack called in a rush as the door slammed and he started to move to packing at the speed of light with Dal helping, "So Dal what about? What over the top geeky thing are you doing this holiday? We know Patch is roleplaying with Dee…"
He then slammed a group of clothes in not even bothering to fold them as Dal did the same to his household items that needed to go back with him as he tried to hold in his smile, "I… sort of have a cyber date again with that Ellie girl I was telling you about…" he said slowly.
"Cyber date? Dal, why don't you just go back with me- she's from Wellington right?" Jack replied.
"If I could I would but I don't have that kind of money- my parents are already paying for me to go here, not even doctors can pay that much at once," Dal informed him, "Besides I also have plans to start a new Dungeons and Dragon's game at home with some of my other geeky friends".
Jack smiled briefly, "That sounds nice- I wish I could do that but alas, most of my time we'll be sent being my mother's slave in the kitchen and entertaining my nephew and nieces," he said rolling his sadly as they looked around the living room floor filled with bags.
"Wow that went quick," Dal noted looking at the bags all done and his room empty.
"Yea… good thing we just stuffed it- now we just need to get me to the airport," he said with a shrug.
"Well then let's go- so wait then you're doing nothing else for the holiday- nothing else geeky whatsoever?" Dal said as they walked out each carrying two bags before putting them in the car and then heading back for more.
"Not really- I mean sure I'll spend hours on end on my computer like always but…. We always do that," Jack reasoned as they put the final ones in and he hopped in the left seat with Dal climbing into the drivers seat.
"That seems so wrong…."
"Maybe but hey- you never know there may be something waiting for home that I don't know about yet…"
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(Hours later- Auckland, New Zealand)
As Jack stepped off the plane, he knew he only had thirty minutes before his connector arrived for Wellington- not wanting to venture too far he headed towards the Bach café for something to eat. However, as he walked down the way he heard his cell beep with a text message.
Looking down, he moved to check it- it simply reading, 'Meet me at third table on the left by the salad bar- I'll be wearing blue'.
Jack looked down and smiled when he saw the number on his cell- it was too good to be true. As he walked some ways carrying his phone in hand he stepped into the giant food court- he then heard another beep.
'Look for a computer- I'll be behind it but don't forget to pick us up some coffee first'
Jack laughed to himself as he started over towards the line in the drink section.
"Can I help you sir?" a woman asked at the desk.
"Yea, two coffees- both with cream and sugar," he replied as he paid for it once it was rang up. The coffees were then handed to him as he went on his wild goose chase inside the café.
Finally, he saw her sitting there behind her laptop with a smile on her face as he walked over setting down their drinks, "Here you go, exactly how you like it," he replied.
She then nodded, took it, and moved to stand up as Jack just sat down.
"Wait, where are you going- I just got here," he said looking up at her.
"Well Jack, I have a plane to Wellington to catch… so that I can go stay at your family's house and have Christmas with them seeing as you seem to intend to sit here and miss the plane. Enjoy the break stuck here bye," she said teasingly as she then walked off.
"Wait," he called as she raced off into the crowd as his phone beeped again.
'Keep up Jack- to your right- head towards the terminal- catch ya at security'
With the speed of lightening Jack then went after his companion trying to catch her- they had been playing his game every year since they met. She'd leave clues for him to find her to then run off again and again and again- only to stop once she was ready to go aggressive affection on him when they reached the end of the rainbow. Josh had introduced them- her being a friend of his family. Her mother briefly caring for his father before his death.
Jack and her had hit it off early on and they remained a solid couple now for two years- in fact, they were engaged as well- they're wedding to take place once he returned to Wellington- and after she moved herself down there from her now Auckland residence.
After giving chase- he briefly saw her go through security as he was stuck in line heading back towards the terminal area.
'Terminal 5D- get a move on there already loading genius'
Jack wasted no time flying through the check point and racing down the terminal after her as he caught her boarding the plane already- he then grabbed his ticket and raced after her like a madman though he knew they were not seated anywhere near each other. Getting to his seat, he passed her briefly flashing a smile as another hit his screen.
'See you in Wellington my big geek boy- and don't worry I didn't forget the cards nor the chess set'
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(Wellington, New Zealand- short time later)
Jack finally escaped his seat turning back on his cell as he removed himself from the plane- a message already waiting.
'Baggage claim- first floor- C area- standing here with a guy with thick glasses and a dull personality'
Jack snorted- so she had already not only made it to baggage but found Josh- she really wasted no time whatsoever. Jack rolled his eyes and headed down the path calmly taking in the sights of his hometown and the busy noises around him as he got down to baggage.
"And look who decides to finally show up- not only are you late but we already found your guys bags. Stop taking forever," Josh said in a bored tone folding his arms looking at Jack as his female companion smiled at him.
"Jack- Jack- Jack whatever are we going to do with you?"
"Do with me? Do with me? First you tag me at the airport- then leave me over and over and over- find Josh- get my stuff without asking me first if I wanted it fetched- and then you say what are you going to do with me?" he said incredulous.
"Well Jack if you'd rather put it back…" she said starting to walk off with Josh starting to sneer.
"No wait- Amber don't- thank you- and Josh stop laughing," he said as Amber stopped holding out the bags and brought them back to him.
"Sorry," he said quickly, "Okay I'm going to get the car- you two meet me out front in ten minutes," he said turning and walking off.
"Okay bye," Amber called as Jack got together his carry on with her laughing lightly, "So was it a fun flight?"
"It was okay- you like it?" Jack asked as they walked towards the lift.
"It was okay but I kept thinking about how'd I rather be kissing you under the mistletoe at your parents house then on an airplane with a smelly old man sleeping next to me," she reasoned.
"Well, I think I can arrange something when we get home- but uh for now a Merry Christmas and peck on the cheek will have to do," he said as they stepped out and headed towards the pick up.
Amber shrugged and looked at him, "Works for me- Merry Christmas Jack- I missed you- and…" she said leaning in and kissing him on the cheek, "To be continued when we get your parents place… sound good to you?"
"Sounds great"
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The end.
