Chapter 19: Drive Along
As the Squid Sisters finished performing 'Ink Me Up' and the curtains fell Callie and Marie signed a few things for the fans as Adstrum got himself ready to go back to the bus.
"Wow I feel like a celebrity… I never thought you would actually let me in back here" Arisara was fascinated by everything in the back. She seemed very interested in the controls and the music equipment.
"You never asked Marie if you could hang out backstage?" Adstrum raised an eyebrow.
"Um…. no… I thought it would be… um, too much trouble" She answered honestly.
"They didn't seem to mind letting you backstage this time. I think Marie thinks of you as a good friend." He shrugged.
"Of course I wouldn't mind" Marie smiled at her friend.
"I still think it's too much trouble…" Arisara rubbed her head.
"That was so much fun, wasn't it Marie?!" Callie placed her hands on her cousin's shoulders and bounced up and down.
"Yeah, this place was really bouncing just like you are right now" Marie giggled.
"Oh, just wait til the next place. We'll be going to a Water Palace!" Callie smiled widely and screamed a bit.
"Say, did Jack ever make it?" Arisara asked.
"He stayed on the bus with Cici." Adstrum answered.
"Oh… I wonder if Cici is okay? She did collapse after all"
"Well, we aren't leaving until later tonight." Callie spoke up. "You could go take a look at her if you want."
"Oh I hope Jack doesn't mind. Thanks guys" Arisara walked ahead.
"Well, I should go and get ready. Addie's going to help me learn to drive better again!" Callie ran toward the bus. Adstrum laughed and started walking to the bus.
"Ummm… That reminds me." Arisara stopped for a bit, "I've been think Marie should spend more time with you two"
Marie froze looking at Arisara.
"Hm?" Adstrum raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you guys did have problems with each other."
Marie hugged Arisara's head to shut her up.
"Well, Callie wanted me to teach her to drive better and the Outrunner is only a two seater." Adstrum pointed out.
"Sorry, it's nothing. Let's go Arisara." Marie slowly pulled her away.
"I could let Marie teach Callie and I could stay behind." He suggested. "How's that sound?"
"Nah, I don't wanna be a bother. I don't really know how your car works to be fair" Marie held Arisara's head tighter as she struggled a bit.
"But Callie does. And besides, it works the same as any other car. And you won't be a bother." He looked at Arisara. "I'm kind of hoping to talk to you a bit, actually."
Arisara was turning blue as she squirmed.
"Marie, you might want to let go. Ari's not looking too good."
"Oh my god!" Marie quickly let her go.
"Wow the stars are dazzling…" Arisara looked dazed.
"Heh, you okay?" Adstrum asked as they reached the bus. He went to the back and unchained his car from the back of it.
"Yeah, just a bit light headed." Arisara went inside the bus.
Marie stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
Callie stepped off the bus in her casual clothing. "I'm ready, Addie!"
"Actually, Marie will be going with you, beautiful." He said to her.
"Really?" Callie looked at her cousin. "That would be fun."
"Errrr…. Is this really okay?" She seemed very nervous.
"Yeah. You and Callie have a good time." Adstrum gave a thumbs up.
"Yay!" Callie hugged Marie and gently pulled her over to the Outrunner. "Let's go! I want to learn to drive better!"
"You can drive this thing? Well, that sounds more difficult than normal driving so I'm impressed."
"It's nearly the same as a normal car. Just more...interesting." Callie hopped into the driver seat. "Hop into the top."
Marie looked up and was still trying to comprehend.
"There's a seatbelt up there." Callie hopped out and grabbed her cousin by the waist, tossing her up into the seat.
"AAH!" Marie flailed and gripped the seat.
"Buckle up, Marie!" Callie hopped into the driver seat.
She quickly did as she was told.
"See you guys in an hour or so." Callie waved and gripped the steering wheel before stepping on the gas, driving off very quickly. "Oops! My bad." She slowed down a bit and turned down the next corner.
Arisara walked back out, "Cici is legitly in deep sleep. She isn't moving everywhere like she usually does when asleep."
"Hope that means she's okay." Adstrum walked onto the bus, seeing Jack gently petting the sleeping squid.
She shrugged, "Oh, what did you wanna chat about?"
"It's about Marie. Look, I know I don't treat her very kindly, and I feel like shit for it. I just...have a problem…" He sighed.
"With her? I guess that was pretty obvious"
"Well, while her sass did piss me off she hasn't really been like that anymore. And I can handle sass. But...it's not really her that's the problem." He rubbed his arm.
"It was that 'sass' that ruined her life for two years. She was tormented by what it caused. So she changed into an obedient and quiet idol. She let everyone walk all over her now. She let them hurt her."
"That's what scares me. I don't want her to be like that. She'll be in a lot of trouble in Carti Ridge if she let's people push her around."
"She gave all that she was away so she can no longer hurt people. It was all for Callie. I don't think Marie will risk anything right now."
"And I want to apologise for how I treated her. I see that she's changed and I want to help her. But I don't know how to." He placed a hand to his forehead.
"Are you happy with Marie the way she is now?"
"Not really. Being more kind is one thing, but being a doormat is another. It upsets me seeing her so...what's the word?"
"Timid?"
"That's it." Adstrum nodded. "I want to help her, but I don't know how. Can you help?"
"Well, she's afraid of losing Callie again. She will lose a lot more if it happens again she told me. I don't like the way she told me that…"
"Well, is there anything we can do? I want to help."
"Maybe talking to her or spending more time with Callie and you would help her bond with you. She is distant from you and Callie because she's very scared of you two."
"I can talk to her and hang out with her." Adstrum nodded.
"Another thing is maybe… find someone for her? I mean you and Callie are happy together. So maybe that will help?" She shrugged, "It could be stupid…"
"I don't know how I can help with that. But I can start with hanging with her more." He sat down in a booth.
"I think that will help you understand her more and her, you."
"Hopefully." He nodded. "Just wish I could remember why I used to hate her."
Cici shifted in her sleep when she was resting by herself. She seemed to be having a nightmare.
Jack noticed and ran back over to her from the kitchen. "You okay, Cici?" He rubbed her head.
She kept struggling and moving, not hearing him. She calmed down a bit when she got a hold of his hand.
"Ari, help!" He panicked. "I don't know what's wrong." He noticed her calm down. "Oh...um…" He sighed in relief.
She rubbed her cheek in his palm and rested normally again.
"Nevermind." Jack smiled.
Meanwhile Callie and Marie, who luckily found an empty parking lot to practice in, were driving around slowly as Marie told Callie what to do.
Marie seemed very happy and impressed with Callie's driving.
"So, how ya feeling?" Callie asked.
"You have gotten so much better. You can totally pass the test now" Marie beamed.
"Gee, thanks!" Callie smiled widely and lost focus for a moment before narrowly missing a curb. "Oops! Focus, Callie…" She shook her head.
"That's okay. It's a work in progress, but you gotten a lot better"
"Thanks." She made a slight turn. "So, anything on your mind?"
"Nothing much. Maybe just Gramps and Nana" She looked to the side biting her tongue.
"I hope they are doing good." Callie bit her lip. "Can I be truthful with you?"
"Um, y-yeah. What's up?"
"It's about Adstrum. He told me not to tell you, but I think you need to know. He told me the reason for him bullying you is to toughen you up. I think it's a stupid reason though." Callie sighed.
"Toughen me…?" Marie rubbed her arm.
"He wants you to be ready for Carti Ridge. He says people need to stand up for themselves there. I don't like his reason. And he even said that he feels guilty for doing it."
"There isn't a need. I won't stay in Carti Ridge all the time if that was the case."
"I won't let anyone hurt you." Callie replied. "I'll talk with Adstrum when we get back to the bus."
"No, it's fine. It's really nothing. I'm happy that he is concerned. I'll deal with it whenever it happens." She tried to reassure Callie.
"Oh...okay…" Callie slowed the Outrunner down before fully stopping. "By not staying in Carti Ridge all the time...do you mean that you'll travel a lot? Or visit family more?"
"Maybe or just go back to Inkopolis. I can get a new place"
"Well, if you do move back...will you visit me a lot? And we can still play concerts, right?"
"Of course. That won't change until it kills me"
"Please don't say it like that." Callie turned around and looked up at her cousin after putting the car in Park. "I'm sure we'll retire before we die."
"Y-yeah. You are probably right, heh" Marie smiled at her cousin.
Callie smiled and jumped up to hug her cousin. "I love hanging out with you."
Marie smiled brightly and hugged her back.
"Anything else you want to do before we go back to the bus?"
"Nothing I can really think of… unless you wanna get swimsuits for the Water palace"
"Good idea." Callie nodded and put the car in drive. "Let's go shopping!"
"Wait, it's super late… Would the store be open now? Maybe Cici?"
"Oh, true. Cici could make something. But will she feel better before we get there?"
"Oh jeez. Now that I think of it…. Did Cici ever contact the ferry? Or the Queen?"
"Let's ask her when we get back. If she's awake." Callie started driving slowly. "Should we check if any stores are open now anyway?"
"Eh, sure. Why not?"
"Yay! Shopping!" Callie sped up slightly and exited the parking lot, looking around for a store.
Author's note: Well, I aimed for Monday and ended up updating Tuesday morning. Well, still quicker than last week.
Thank you The Bowser Monster for leaving a review. I appreciate it a lot.
Well, got really nothing else to say. If you have questions Apikachua and I each have a CuriuosCat account, so go ask us questions there if you wish. Please leave a review if you would like, but if you have to criticize please follow the rule I made.
