Still unfortunately do not own the Four Brothers characters etc...

Jack pulled the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He still wasn't sure about this girl, but she'd been right, he had enjoyed himself. Having grabbed his cigarette he was about to put the pack away when it was snatched from his hand.

"Since when do you smoke?"

"Since when do you know me all that well?" She smiled and put a cigarette in her mouth before tossing the pack back to him.

They got in the car with nearly identical maneuvers and she reached into her pocket for the keys. At least that's what Jack assumed she was after, until she pulled out a lighter first. He laughed at her, "You carry a lighter around at school?"

"School pisses me off a lot. I only smoke when I'm pissed."

"Damn, you really are a sore loser."

"I didn't lose!" She said sternly, almost glaring at him as she rolled down her window to let the smoke out. "And if I had lost I still wouldn't be pissed off at losing. I'd be pissed off that I let you beat me."

"Ok, now you're insulting my ability and I won't stand for that."

She laughed, "So I shouldn't claim that your tying the game was just luck then?"

"If you were anyone else I'd be really pissed off at that comment."

"Aw, gee, I'm special?"

"Only because I don't really know you."

"Hey, whatever saves my ass," she smiled and finally turned on the car. Something on the panel in front of her caught her eye. "Shit, I need gas." She flicked her ashes out the window and looked around for the closest station. There was one just across the street. With one hand still holding the cigarette half out the window she shifted into gear and pulled out.

At first the on handed driving didn't seem like a big deal. They were only pulling out of a parking lot after all. But then she decided not to have the patience with crossing the road. Cars on either side honked as she darted between them.

"Jesus woman! Are you trying to kill us or something?"

"If I'd wanted to kill you I'd have slammed on the brakes in the middle of the intersection." She smiled, presumably at his expression which was somewhere between 'what the fuck!' and 'holy shit I'm still alive!'

Squishing her cigarette into the ashtray she reached under her seat and pulled out a wallet. Jack was left alone in the car. Awkward. Too awkward. He reached for the door before he even really thought about what he was doing.

She glanced over at him once but returned her stare to the meter on the gas pump. There was nothing really left to do except meander around inside the convenience store. He was buying himself a new pack of smokes and a soda when Cal came through the door. To his shock she tossed the keys on the counter in front of him.

"Start the car, I'll be out in a sec." She said over her shoulder as she disappeared into the restroom.

She trusted him with her car? She had no fear that he would drive away and leave her there? There was something wrong with that picture. This was bad news. If she was this trusting now then… wait… where the hell was that thought going? What the fuck? Was he seriously that interested in this girl?

Snatching up his stuff he stormed off to the car. He had to stop thinking before she came back. Car equals radio, radio equals music, music equals blank mind…

After a song and a half, and half a cigarette, he heard the door open and felt the old car shift as she sat down. He opened his eyes to look over at her. She'd braided her hair. Ever the snappy-minded fellow, Jack muttered just loud enough for her to hear "Maybe if you'd done that before the game you woulda seen me coming."

She sighed, but smiled. "Careful Jack, remember I'm the one driving you home."

"You pull any more stunts like back there and I'm walking home."

"I'd probably follow you anyway. I really have no desire to go home early."

"So you're gonna waste your gas in order to waste time…"

"Dad pays for the gas, I use as much of it as possible."

"Not spoiled my ass." He was muttering again but she just continued driving. Awkward silence! How were they going to end this day? What was the plan for them? Was there a plan? Ugh, he hated his own mind so much…

………………………………………………………………………………..

Damn radios with their commercials. Cal reached up under her visor and pulled out her Ipod with its handy dandy little adapter tape. She didn't even have to look down to find the music she wanted. Jack looked a little freaked out that she knew the little computer so well. But he was even more shocked by what came out of the speakers (that crackled a little as she turned up the volume).

"Little rich girl is an old-school Aerosmith fan?"

She smiled and glanced over, not really willing to keep her eyes off the road. (Although she had to admit there could be worse ways to die than staring at Jack Mercer.)

"You won't be as impressed with everything else that's on there. There's a lot of pop shit."

"Yeah well that's more what I expected from you." He picked up the Ipod to scan the playlist. It was all a little more mainstream than he listened to, except for the classics of course. And she had quite a few of those, not always good ones though. "Brown-eyed girl?"

"It's catchy," she defended.

Something boy-band-ish had started playing, Jack instinctively hit the skip button. It went to a Creed song, not that he would recognize the band right off. Lullaby. A song of great sentimental value to Cal. But when Jack picked a different song she didn't say anything. The picky musician had settled on Lightning Crashes, but it was obvious he was thinking about what better music he'd have if he had an Ipod.

Feeling a little guilty about her musical torture she turned it down so she could drown it out with talking. "So, whose turn is it to ask a question?"

"Yours," he concluded after a bit of thought that made him look away from the playlist.

"Right, umm…Damn, I'm totally unprepared for this… Well just to get it started, what's your favorite color?" He looked at her awkwardly but she was already laughing. "Yes I know that's a lame question, answer it."

"Black," she chuckled but he was prepared for that. "You ask a lame question you get a lame answer. My turn, first boyfriend, what was he like and how old were you?"

"First of all, where the fuck did that come from, and second, that's two question."

"You answer them both and I'll answer two."

"Alex was my first boyfriend, we dated from the time I was 13 until I was almost 16."

"Alex? You poor kid…"

"You have no idea."

"Oh god, regretting my questions now. Your turn."

"Why'd you hide from your brother at the deli?"

"Haha, because I outed him and his girlfriend a few years ago, and he's been looking for revenge."

"Ah, so Jack can't keep his mouth shut, huh?"

"Jack can keep his mouth shut most of the time. He was pissed off and let it slip in front of Mom."

"Nice." She laughed. "Right, next question. How many girlfriends have you had?"

"Actual girlfriends, maybe two." She was shaking her head. "You ask these questions, you're not allowed to criticize the answers."

"I didn't say a damn thing, Jack. It's your turn."

Before he could stop himself the words slipped out. "Why did you do all of this?"

"Honestly?"

"No I want you to lie. Yes honestly."

"Because I was bored and it sounded like fun." Without skipping a beat she asked "Did you finish high school?"

"Just barely, and only because Evelyn Mercer is the most persuasive person in the world. Where are you going to college next fall?"

"Oooh, skip right over the "are you actually going" part. Very tricky. I'm going to the community college on the other side of town." She hadn't thought of another question yet so she had to pause.

"Turn here," Jack said suddenly, "It's the fifth house on the left."

"Damn, no more questions." She joked.

"You've got time for one more if you hurry."

"Yeah but I don't have one, so it's gonna have to wait."

Wait… wait for what? Jack had the door open as soon as she stopped. A quick exit was the key to not making this more awkward than it already was.

"Thanks for the ride," he waved to her.

"Thanks for getting me out of school," she replied.

He rolled his eyes and headed up the stairs without looking back. Ma was in the kitchen, he could smell it as soon as he opened the door. He'd passed Angel and Sofie making out onthe porch. He'd returned to normalcy. He was home. Slightly relieved he flopped down on the couch, announcing his arrival to Evelyn. She greeted him, and then asked him to set the table. Ah, normal, normal was soothing.

That had definitely been the weirdest fucking day of his life.