Chapter 20: Getting back on track

As Callie and Marie headed back to the bus from shopping Marie decided to drive this time, finding the controls of the Outrunner not that different from a normal car. Callie was in the secondary seat, her face full of fries from a Char Burgers.

"Marie…" Callie said with a mouth full of fries.

"Hm?" Marie put the Outrunner in park and looked up, "Yeah?"

"You want to try writing a new song when we get back to the bus?" Callie swallowed and stuck her hand in the fast food bag.

"So you mean now?" Marie motioned to the bus with her head, "Do you have an idea for one?"

"Oh, yeah!" She nodded and pulled a burger out of the bag. "Yay!" She took a bite and hopped out. "Let's get started?"

"Heh, okay. I'll eat mine at the table. Let's go" She got out of the outrunner and locked it for Adstrum.

"Yay!" Callie shouted with a mouth full of burger. She smiled brightly with stuffed cheeks.


Cici started struggling and having a nightmare again. Arisara sat there not knowing what to do.

"What's wrong with her?" Jack asked concerned as he placed his hand on the small squid.

"She seems to be having a nightmare… it happens every time you go somewhere else…." Arisara watched Cici curl into a ball.

"Me?" Jack asked as he petted the small squid.

Cici calmed down and peacefully slept again.

"Huh, interesting…. Jack can you go to the door, like, just pass the door frame?"

"Um...okay?" He stood up and walked through the door.

Cici whimpered and seemed to be restless as she squirmed around her side of the bed.

"Hmmm… that's very interesting…" Arisara watched her curl into a ball again.

"What now?" Jack asked from the door.

"Just wait a second… If I just take your pillow…" She put the pillow next to Cici. She hugged the pillow and became calm and peaceful again, "There we go, all fixed"

"Okay…" Jack kicked his foot a bit. "So now what?"

"Oh, sorry Jack. You can come back now. I found out she reacts to your scent. So if you go far enough away she will have nightmares. But since your pillow has your smell on it and is squishy she will be okay."

"My scent?" He raised an eyebrow as he walked back to the bed.

"Remember how Cici doesn't need her vision because she's always sleeping? Well, she identifies people based on their voice and scent. She did mention you smelled like someone, so… um yeah…. Just a theory… Sorry, got carried away…."

"I thought she was just psychic or something…" Jack shrugged. "That's...interesting."

"Yeah…"

Cici snuggled the pillow.

"Should we make her some cookies or something?" He asked as he looked at the tiny squid.

"Can she even eat like this? I guess we can try." Arisara shrugged.

"You want to make them? I can watch over her." He suggested.

"Of course! Maybe I can put some vitamins too?" She walked to the kitchen.

Jack looked down and petted Cici. "Don't worry, Cici. We'll help you feel better."

Cici smiled in her sleep and nuzzled into his pillow.


As Arisara walked down the stairs she noticed Callie and Marie walk onto the bus.

"Hi Ari!" Callie waved with fries sticking out of her mouth and a half eaten burger in her hand.

"Oh Arisara! You are still hanging out here?" Marie seemed surprised.

"Yeah, I was just helping Jack. I was about to make some cookies. Since Cici hasn't eaten yet."

"Oh, thank you for helping."

"Oh it's no big dea-" She was cut off by a phone ring.

"I'll get it!" Adstrum came in and grabbed the phone. "Hello?"

Arisara smiled and got started on making the cookies. Marie sat down with Callie at the booth.

"Really? I won?" Adstrum said through the phone. "By .1 percent?"

Marie and Callie applauded for him.

He smiled at them. "Um...it was an even score and you gave me the victory, huh?" He thought for a moment. "Don't give me the win." A voice of confusion came through the phone. "Because she fought hard and...I just think she deserves it more, okay?"

"But then wouldn't they have to contact her? How would she answer?" Marie whispered to Callie.

"I dunno." Callie shrugged as she handed Marie some fries.

"Maybe Jack wins because he's third place?" Marie shrugged and nibbled on the fries.

"No need to contact her." Adstrum replied over the phone. "Let it be a surprise." He nodded as the person on the other end talked. "Yeah, hang on." He covered the phone up with his hand. "Does this bus have a mailing address?"

Everyone shrugged.

"Shit...um…" He thought a moment. "You guys have an address they can mail it to?"

"Umm…" Marie looked around, "You think Nana or Gramps would mind?"

Callie shrugged. "I don't think so. Do you?"

"Can we ship it to Cici's house? I think I can find her ID somewhere… Wait, did everyone fill that out on the form?"

"Cici has a house?" Callie looked confused as she put ketchup on a second burger. "I thought she lived in that clothing chest she has."

"I remember seeing an address on her ID…"

"Should we use it?" Adstrum asked.

"Sure? Should we ask her? Wait, can she even answer us?"

"Can someone tell me the address?"

"Um…" Marie ran upstairs and grabbed a card from her box.

She ran back downstairs and handed it to Adstrum. It had a personal mail deliverer with a PO box address. Adstrum read the address into the phone.

"Okay. Thank you." He nodded and hung up. "Well, hopefully Cici will be happy whenever it arrives."

` "When exactly will they ship it?"

"As soon as they put the inscription into the trophy." He replied. "And get a few other things, like a year supply of something or other." He shrugged.

"I read it was two tickets to Wahoo World" Arisara put the cookies into the oven.

"Well, lucky her and some other person." Adstrum smiled and watched Callie run down the hall. "Where's she going?" He got his answer when she ran back with some paper and pencils.

"Marie and I are gonna write a new song!" Callie exclaimed excitedly.

"Really? That's exciting" Arisara smiled as she set the timer.

"Oh, well...good luck you two." Adstrum smiled and walked down the hall.

"So…" Callie threw a fry into her mouth. "How should it open?"

"What should it be about?" Marie asked opening her bag of food.

"Maybe...a song of a new start or something?" Callie suggested.

"Why?"

"Well, the Squid Sisters have reunited and are now living in a different city...we're restarting our career? I don't know…" She shrugged.

"I see. I think it really fits."

"Yay!" Callie shouted excitedly.

"We'll be leaving in a few minutes. Is everyone ready?" Jim asked.

"WAIT!" Adstrum ran out the bus. Everyone stood confused until they heard the sound of an engine start up and then turn off after a moment, followed by the sound of chains being dragged. A few minutes later he came back inside. "Got it. Ready."

"But… I am still here…" Arisara rubbed her arm, "Um, I guess just take out the cookies when the timer goes off?"

"I could chain your bike to the bus and you could ride with us if you want." Adstrum suggested.

"Eh? Oh, no. It's fine. I don't wanna be a bother," Arisara rubbed her head.

"Okay. Will we see you at the Water Palace?" Callie asked.

"Oh…. Um….I think the queen has banned me from going there…" Arisara nervously chuckled, "It's… a long story…"

"Oh...okay…" Callie looked sad. "Maybe we can talk to the queen about getting her unbanned." She whispered to Marie.

"Why? I thought Inklings were allowed on the island too" Marie asked.

"Oh… um… uh…" Arisara fidgetted with her fingers, "Um… well… They are… but that's not it….I don't really wanna talk about it..."

"Hm...interesting…" Adstrum raised an eyebrow at her.

"We're leaving right now. You staying, miss Ari?" The middle-aged urchin driver asked.

"I'm going, sorry!" She quickly left.

"I...I didn't mean to upset her." He rubbed his arm.

"Huh, what has Arisara even done to the queen?" Marie asked

"You can ask when we get there." Jim replied as he hopped into the driver seat. "We're heading out!" He started the bus and it began to move.

"I'll take these cookies up to Cici, I guess." Adstrum said.

"No need." Jack replied as he went back up the stairs with the tray, having come downstairs to get them earlier.

"Oh...okay." Adstrum shrugged and walked back to his and Callie's room.

"So, shall we start writing?" Callie asked her cousin.

"Yeah, let's start by brainstorming then."

"Okay!" Callie smiled widely as she and Marie got to work, the city of Pencilvania being left behind as the bus drove toward its next destination.

Author's Note: Well, here I am again! Another chapter! YAY!

Thank you The Bowser Monster, Devil Dude 42, and Gajesteel for leaving reviews. Thank you so much!

You review didn't show up until around Wednesday or Friday, Devil Dude.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter. See you next week with the next one!