Chapter 5: Onward!

As the Squid Sisters Tour Bus drove out of Quilden everyone was sitting in the dining area celebrating a successful first concert.

"You two did amazing!" Jack said as he passed around some popsicles. Callie took two and handed one to Marie.

"It was so fun! I've never been to this place and it made a nice first impression." She smiled widely as she licked the frozen treat.

"It was a cute little town" Marie smiled.

"The only problem that I noticed was the introduction. I don't think Cici should do the announcement at the beginning...unless we find a way to keep her awake during it." Adstrum pointed out as he bit a part of his popsicle.

"...You can't though… So there." Cici muttered.

"You wake up for half a second when we pinch your side." Adstrum smirked, making a pinch with his fingers.

"Hmmm I can jump out and leave you all stranded too" Cici puffed her mantle.

"Wouldn't you be the one stranded?" Jack wondered. "Jim's driving..."

"Please. I walked from Inkopolis to Carti Ridge. I doubt this will be a problem."

"Whatever, shleepy." Adstrum replied finishing his popsicle. "So what now?" He looked out the window at the night sky. "Anyone have a flashlight?"

"No" Marie replied, "Why?"

"Oh…" He pulled out his phone and flipped the light switch before turning his phone flashlight on. He then shone it towards Marie. "Doctor, I think we need to operate."

"Huh?"

He held his hand in front of the light. "Hold still, Salty." He then pinched the head of Marie's shadow with his hand's shadow. "Boink."

Callie snickered. "What are you doing?"

"I'm bored out of my mind." He replied.

"..." Marie narrowed her eyes and sighed.

"Boink. Haha!"

"I'm just a joke to all of you aren't I? I'm gonna go now." She started walking away.

"Not to me, Marie." Callie replied. "Please don't go."

"C'mon, Marie. Don't be a party pooper." Jack said.

"Even you traded sides. Whatever… I guess I'll get used to it… eventually."

"What? No. I didn't choose sides...did I?" Jack seemed confused.

"It's always me. It's always me. There isn't one else you pick on."

"Adstrum's the only one that picks on you, cousin." Callie walked up and took the light from Adstrum's hands.

"Sure and everyone just doesn't do anything. Only my fan had the nerves to say something"

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Adstrum facepalmed and shook his head. "I want to hurt her."

"Okay, will this cheer you up?" Callie shined the light on Adstrum and started pinching his shadow.

"Is it weird that I feel that?" He rubbed his head.

"...I'm going to bed" Marie walked away.

"What a mood killer…" Adstrum muttered.

"She isn't wrong…" Cici muttered.

"Go to bed." Adstrum replied to the green inkling. He got up and walked toward his and Callie's room.

"..." Cici quietly swam up to her room.

"And the concert went so well. I really hope the bus rides aren't going to all be like this." Jack muttered as he followed Cici up the stairs.

Callie walked down the hall and knocked on her cousin's door. "Marie? You wanna talk?"

"It probably won't change a thing… this is my life now…"

"Marie, come on. Don't be like that." Callie opened the door and walked in.

Marie was texting someone as she looked up at her.

"Adstrum will get used to you. I promise. He'll stop being so mean."

"Sure, maybe when he kills me"

"He wouldn't do that...not anymore, at least." Callie rubbed her arm.

"Sure, only because of our career."

"No, he won't because you and I are cousins and I love you. He won't hurt you because he will hurt me as well." She sat down next to Marie.

"Didn't stop him before." Marie sighed and put her phone down.

"Well, that was when I was mad at you. But I forgive you now. And I don't think I said it before, but sorry for 'quitting.' I didn't realize all I needed was a break." She patted Marie's back.

"... Okay…"

"I promise tomorrow you and I will hang out. Adstrum will not bother you at all. I'll find a way to keep him out of our tentacles." Callie smiled and hugged her cousin.

Marie smiled and hugged her back.

"Guess we should get to bed now, huh? You want first dibs on the bathroom?" Callie asked.

"No you can go ahead I'll go after."

"Okay." Callie smiled and stood up before walking out the room. She stopped by her room to grab some pajamas, noticing Adstrum on his laptop with headphones on, before walking to the bathroom.

After about 20 minutes Callie walked out after a quick shower and having gotten ready for bed. She knocked on Marie's door to let her know it was her turn before heading to her room.

Marie made her way into the bathroom and got ready for bed. She finished and walked back to her room.

While that was going on Callie sat down on the bed and tapped Adstrum's shoulder to get his attention. "It's time for bed."

"Oh, okay. Um...I will go out to the dining area and sleep in one of the booths, I guess." He stood up and grabbed his laptop along with his charger.

"You don't wanna sleep in here?" She asked curiously before realizing what she said and blushed.

"Maybe another night...I guess…" He blushed as well and walked into the hall. He passed Marie on the way, but was too distracted by his laptop to notice.

Marie seemed to be in a better mood as she texted on her phone.

"Okay, well, good night Adstrum! Good night Marie!" Callie yelled before pulling the sheets over herself.

"Night Callie!" Marie called back and went into her room.


The next morning Callie awoke early and hopped out of bed. She snuck down the hall, being careful not to disturb Marie, and headed into the bathroom. She quickly tied her tentacles up and sighed. "I miss when Marie did this for me. It's a bit difficult doing it myself." She shrugged and walked out into the dining area. She gasped when she saw Adstrum staring at his laptop. "Good morning, Adstrum. Were you...watching that all night?"

"Huh?" He blinked and looked at her. "Oh, hi Callie." He rubbed his eyes.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"Hahaha! Nope." He shook his head. "Not a wink."

"What?! That's not healthy!" Callie covered her mouth.

"So? I hate sleep." His eye twitched. "Woohoo! I'm insane!"

"... geez you know that without sleep your body will kill itself?…"

"I've pulled all nighters before. I make up the sleep the next night." He replied. His head fell out of his hand and hit the table, making him sit up and shake his head. "Hahaha."

"Sure… You should sleep or at least rest now then" Callie sighed.

"I don't wanna…" He replied, but Callie grabbed his arm and pulled him down the hall. "Where are we going?"

"Bed."

"But I don't wanna." He replied as he was pushed into his and Callie's room.

"Bed. Now." She gently nudged him into bed.

"But-" He was pushed down into the bed. "Callie, I don't need-" He sat up but was pushed down again. "*yawn* No…"

Callie laid on top of him to prevent him from getting up, "Sleep."

"What are you doing?" He blushed before his eyelids got heavy.

"Shhh… Sleep." She covered his mouth with her finger.

A few seconds later and Adstrum was out like a light.

"Hehe nighty night crazy" Callie kissed his head and tucked him in.

"I'm not crazy…" He muttered in his sleep. "I-I'm delirious, outta my mind…" He quickly fell silent.

Callie giggled and quietly left the room. As she walked out she wound up bumping into her cousin. "Oh, good morning, Marie."

"Oh Callie sorry about that. I was so into my phone. Sorry about that"

"It's okay. I'll have you know that I got us time to hang out today without you needing to fear Adstrum." Callie smiled. "He's sleeping right now. I found him still awake this morning. He pulled an all-nighter."

"Huh? That's interesting. I can't stay up that late, but I like sleep"

"He needs to learn to turn that laptop off." Callie giggled. "And I know. You can't even stay up past 12:00, not even on new years." She smiled widely.

"Nope."

"Well, except during Splatfests where we both had to sleep all day to stay up. Or at least you did." She shrugged. "So, what shall we do today?" Callie looked out the window. "We're still driving, so hopefully we stop soon. Any ideas while we're still on the bus?"

"I guess talking always passed the time very well. Like when we waited for work to be over."

"Exactly!" Callie smiled widely. "Just like back in Inkopolis."

"I would love that" Marie smiled.

Author's Note: Hey guys. Classes are officially done...for now...or permanently. I don't know. Sorry this took so long, but LET IT DIE is still all I can focus on. I need help... Also, I am moving back to my home on the other side of the country...again. So I will be offline for a few days. But I will reply to reviews as soon as I can. So please review but remember the rule. If you want to criticize the fic say something you like about the chapter first, then say whatever you want.

Thank you The Bowser Monster, boogfish72, and SpikedFruitPunch for leaving reviews. I greatly appreciate them!

Thank you all for reading and I will try to get another chapter out sooner than this time, but no promises. Games are distracting. Have a great day, everyone! Please enjoy the chapter.

P.S. Whoever gets the flashlight reference gets five bucks.