Chapter 6 –

"Mr. America? Mr. America?"

Alfred blinked and sluggishly looked over at Jinx. She was whacking him with her laptop even though the only effect it was having was wearing her out. Alfred figured he must have fallen asleep because this was Jinx' usual method at waking him up. Once he fell asleep, a fire could start and he wouldn't wake up. He almost wanted to pretend to sleep more just to make Jinx worry and to see what she might go for next if the hitting didn't work but figured he didn't have the patience for it.

"Hey little J, what's the matter?"

"AH! Geez, don't scare me when I'm trying to help you! Plus I've already asked you a million times not to call me that. I'm not little, I'm vertically challenged. You were really starting to scare me too. I thought I was going to have to ask the people at the airport to carry you out to the truck! Anyway, I had Zack drive up the Silverado so he's waiting for us at the luggage. You can eat whatever the flight attendants are serving for dinner but I can grab anything else you want on the way down. We could've arranged a flight but it's easier and faster to get our destination by driving that way we don't miss the party."

"Awesome. Did Zack bring what I asked for?"

"Yeah, he managed to find it. Are you sure you don't want me to something newer or at least a little cleaner? Zack said it looked like it was about to fall apart."

"Nah, this will mean more. Plus I already know he likes it."

Alfred squirmed impatiently and looked out the window until they landed a half hour later. When they had the bags and got in the truck, Alfred leaned back in his seat and tried to remember what it was that he had been dreaming about on the plane. Something really depressing and cold. He knew that it was important to what was going on too. However, the more he thought about it, the more it started slipping away. So, he started thinking about his brother again.

He didn't understand what had made him so upset. Usually when he messed up people just rolled their eyes and said it was childish ignorance. So Mattie must've known that I didn't mean to upset him right? Matthew was always so quiet and went along with what his brother said even if he didn't like it. Now he was throwing the fault back in his face and showing that he had expected something from him and that he had trusted him to remember it. Alfred couldn't remember the last time anyone had treated him like that. Like an adult. Whatever was going to happen, it must be important. He had to get to Matthew NOW and ask him what was going on before it drove him insane.

When they crossed the border and started driving into Canadian territory, Jinx shifted around and tapped on her door anxiously. Alfred smiled and silently thanked himself for asking for this particular driver. Zack was Jinx' best friend from college and they had been friends since elementary school. He was also the most reckless driver on the east coast. He knew it was killing her to see him driving like this carelessly on Matthew's land. This wasn't the first time that he had put her on pins and needles either.

One time she had had the unfortunate situation of having to rely on him to drive some furniture up to where she worked from her parent's house. She had been jumping out of her seat all day and when she finally got home it was to find the truck crashed into the trees outside of her apartment building. Ever since then Alfred had gone out of his way to ask for Zack to drive whenever he went anywhere. Instant enroute entertainment.

They drove on for a while along back roads and dirt paths. The trees started getting thicker and even with the head lights it was impossible to see ahead. Jinx started worrying that they were lost but Alfred said they were going the right way. Soon they were driving through bumps in the old roads and branches that had grown long and jagged into the paths. Zack just plowed through them and kept going forty miles dodging the occasional animal that got in the way.

"Do you think you could slow down? We still have more than half an hour to get there and we're already close. This is dangerous."

"And what would be the fun in that?"

"I don't know. How about, living?"

"Hey what's that up there?"

"It looks like party lights. I think this is it. Zack, slow. down."

"Wait! Now's the best part! Our grand entrance."

"No, NO! Zack don't you DARE!"

Alfred laughed as Zack took the massive trunk down the hill ahead at the steepest part and floored it. Jinx screamed and clutched the seat as they screeched to a halt right at the base of the hill and almost flipped forward. People came and looked in disbelieve at the scene as the three occupants stumbled out. Zack and Alfred were giggling like five year olds on a sugar high and Jinx was cursing Zack and clinging to a tree.

A crowd gathered around the three and the older men came forward and demanded to know what they were doing and why they had come. All of the people had deeply tanned skin and dark hair and were watching them with bright, intelligent eyes. Little kids surrounded the truck and started playing on it, climbing in the trunk and pretend driving the steering wheel. One person made his way to the front and the people focused on him, waiting for him to decide what to do with them. Alfred smiled at the tangled blonde mop and finally relaxed for the first time since he had made the mad dash to get there.

"ALFRED!"

XP Okay, I'm sorry but I had to do the Alven and the Chipmunks ending. It's so perfect for how annoyed Canada is at America. This chapter is based on a friend of Yunie's.

(Hacked by YUNIE! OMG Y IS HE IN THERE! Out of everyone HIM!)