Chapter 2: Hitting the Road
"So you're going on a tour with the Squid Sisters?" A dark-orange tentacled, dark tan inkling asked Adstrum as they stood outside the tour bus.
"Yeah Chase. I told you this how many times?" Adstrum said as he tossed another one of Callie's bags into the side compartment.
"And you need to take the Outrunner?" He pointed to the vehicle haphazardly chained to the back of the bus.
"Yeah. Callie needs more driving lessons." Adstrum replied.
"Okay. Well, do you really need your tools for weapon modifying?" He asked as he pointed at the bag in Adstrum's hands.
"Inspiration can happen anywhere, my friend."
"Whatever. Good luck. I'll bet you're happy to be going around with Callie."
"She and I live together. This won't be much different."
"Well, closer quarters." Chase gave him a thumbs up.
"Yeah. And we do have to share the same bedroom." Adstrum muttered.
"OH! You lucky bastard!" Chase gave him a pat on the back.
"Shut up." Adstrum rolled his eyes as he shaked his friend's hand. "See ya later, Chase."
"See ya, buddy." Chase shook back before walking off.
"Good luck out there… I need a new job…" Clair smiled.
"You sure you don't want to come with?" Callie asked as she helped Adstrum.
"I gotta make money before the landlord decides to kick my ass out onto the streets."
"I understand. I just hope you guys can make it to some of our shows." Callie smiled at the purple tentacled female and a shorter, pink tentacled one.
"I'll keep you posted… Renay has that weird look on her face lately… I don't think I like it….She even invited me to dinner today."
"Well, she might be annoyed about Biolumin-Essence closing down." Callie pointed out.
"We are nothing without Cici."
The tiny green squid perked up and waved to them from inside the bus.
"Take care okay?" Annabelle waved back.
"Thanks Annabelle." Callie crouched down and hugged the younger squid. "Good luck to both of you in your job hunts."
They waved as the bus started up.
"Time to go, everyone!" Jim poked his head out the window. "Don't leave anything behind!"
"I'm… going to sleep… in the … tub now…" Cici swam to the bathroom
"She says that and next thing you know we find her sleeping in the cereal." Adstrum shook his head and laughed. He threw a few more bags into the side compartment before picking up the rest and walking inside.
"Where are we going first?" Callie asked aloud. "Anyone know?"
Marie shrugged from her seat as she looked at her phone.
"Alright, a few bags wouldn't fit in the side compartment." Adstrum said as he walked into the kitchen area. "Callie, here are some of yours." He handed her a few bags. "Here you go, Jack." He gave a backpack to said squid. "Here's one of Cici's. I think it's full of clothes." He placed said bag in an empty booth seat. "And here you go, Marie." He threw the last few bags at the white tentacled squid, her having an annoyed face from getting bags thrown at her face.
"..." Marie sighed and took her bags to her room.
Adstrum smirked and sat down in an empty booth.
"That was uncalled for, Adstrum." Jack said as he opened the mini-freezer.
"Eh." Adstrum shrugged and put his hands behind his head.
Jack rolled his eyes as he took out a box of popsicles. "I know you don't like her, but try to be nicer to her, okay?"
"Nah." Adstrum shook his head.
Jack sighed and handed Callie a popsicle before taking one out himself. When Marie walked out of her room he handed one to her as well.
"Thanks…" She muttered.
"So…" Callie took a bite of her popsicle. "What city are we going to first?"
"Quildin is first…." Cici swam out wrapped in toilet paper.
"Aw, cute! A little mummy." Callie bent down and picked up the toilet paper wrapped squid. "Don't curse me, Cici."
"Okay… I'll try not to…." Cici replied.
"Heh, so Quilden is first. What's that place like?"
"I don't know, I only passed through that place once. On my way to Carti Ridge after moving out of Inkopolis." Adstrum replied.
"I heard it's a quiet little town." Jack spoke up.
"It has its charms. It's a bit too cold for my taste" Marie muttered, "If that matters to anyone"
"Cold?" Adstrum asked.
"I went in the winter… When I was looking for Callie. It was snowing. I guess it was pretty peaceful..."
"Well, it's summer right now. Hope it's not cold." Adstrum zipped up his heavy jacket.
"I guess it won't be too long now…" Marie rested her head on her hand.
Around ten minutes passed and no one said a word. Callie had gotten up and walked to the front of the bus to hang with Jim while Jack had gone upstairs. Cici laid on the table still wrapped in toilet paper while Marie had gotten up and gone to her room, leaving Adstrum and Cici alone.
"Welp...this was an eventful first day on the bus, huh?" He looked down at the sleeping squid.
"I guess… But you know if you keep pushing Marie… like that she'll want to quit again…"
Adstrum shrugged. "Okay. Well, as long as I barely see her. Or if my mind is occupied by something else. OH! That reminds me. Is there wifi on this bus?"
"Yeah…"
"Awesome! Thanks Cici!" He petted the small squid and gently picked her up.
"Heh, everyone likes the internet so I had it installed."
"Thanks." He placed Cici on his head before pulling his laptop out of his jacket and turning it on.
Cici fell asleep on his head.
Author's note: I'm so sorry about the long wait, guys. I'm just...not doing very well lately. Procrastinating too much on homework, drama on social sites like twitter, and the hell of being a package handler are stressing me out and I can't focus. I'm also having trouble with this fic. I want to try and start something with multiple authors but I need to get in contact with them first. If you are curious about what I want to do then pm me. Or don't.
Thank you The Bowser Monster and boogfish72 for reviewing. I greatly appreciate it.
Leave a review if you want to, just remember that if you want to criticize my fic or say something you don't like about it, say at least one thing you do like about it first. See you all next update...I'll try not to take so long this time.
