Chapter 12
"Where are they?" questioned an impatient businessman irritably to his younger brother. He tapped his foot anxiously as the two Princetons waited for the Rhodes to meet them at their private jet. He looked over at the apathetic Jagger who wasn't even paying attention. Slade sighed in disbelief wondering, how can my brother keep so calm about this? But then again, the siblings had very different relationships with the girl.
"Huh?" asked a confused Jagger. Did Slade just say something? What does it matter? Jagger looked at his watch and noticed it was at least fifteen minutes before the two girls needed to arrive. He wondered why his brother was always more than punctual.
"I asked," growled Slade lowly, "where are they? Don't you ever pay attention?" Stupid brother he said to himself as a metallic green prius and a white prius drove up.
Jagger replied smoothly, "I would say right in front of us." He couldn't help but smirk at his snappy remark with impeccable timing from the Rhodes sisters.
"Well bravo to you for being able to notice the obvious," Slade said sarcastically as Amber exited the green prius and opened the trunk to get her luggage and a doggy and kitty kennel and then her dog jumped out of the car. What the hell is she doing? Slade wondered as she neared them. Ally was close behind with fewer luggages and one pet carrier.
"What the hell is all of this?" inquired the nervous oldest Princeton.
Amber grinned and replied, "Well, obviously I have Graduation gifts and suitcases filled with things needed for trips. Slade, isn't that obvious?" He rolled his eyes as she boarded the plane along with her sister.
"Why is your mutt here?" he demanded.
"Because he loves trips and rides, hence his name," Amber replied as her dog ran up to meet his master. "He's trained and already…well, you should be able to figure that out. He'll sit by me, relax."
Slade yelled, "How does that fit in with the pet cages if Rider won't go in those damn things?" As soon as Amber put her bags in the overhead compartment, she turned fiercely around.
"Did you not hear me? It's called giving Graduation gifts, and it's something…never mind, you wouldn't understand," she responded quietly. The very words made her think of her father before he died.
Flashback
"Dad, seriously I need to go. We have to meet in our homeroom for more lame instructions for the graduation. I especially have to be there. Besides, Slade is picking me up, and you know he likes to be a half hour early for everything," she called her father who smiled sweetly.
"Come here," her father instructed. Amber did as she was told and walked over to her ill father who had a dorky smile on his face.
"Okay, what's up?" she asked her father kneeling beside the sick man who was lying on the couch. She felt tears form in her eyes as if she knew that it would be one of the last life-changing moments that she would have with her father.
A small puppy came from behind the couch. Amber scooped him up in her arms as her father said, "I don't know how much left I'll see of your life, but with this puppy, you'll have a friend with you no matter which road you take. I hope, if I don't live to see Atticus, Alexis, and Allison graduate, that you'll do the same for them." Amber smiled weakly with tears forming in her eyes.
"Of course I will," she replied weakly as she hugged her father. Her head jumped up when she heard Slade's car beep. As she went to leave to graduate her dog wanted to jump in the car, but he failed because he was so small.
"No, baby," sighed Amber with a giggle. "I think I'll call you Rider." Slade allowed her to escort her puppy back into the house before leaving.
End of Flashback
The plane was now in flight, and the passengers were all comfortable in the first class jet. "I can't believe you brought your dog," muttered Slade trying to comprehend his ex-girlfriend's actions. He knew that she loved that dog, but why she practically took him everywhere was beyond her. She had two dogs and a kitten, but why was she having more animals with her and why did Ally have an animal?
"I can't believe you expected me not to bring my dog," Amber scoffed, "At least the other two animals aren't here." She knew that when they arrived home, the animals would follow them as if the girls were gravity.
"Where are they, anyways?" inquired a curious Jagger. He loved seeing the energetic creatures that were often rescued.
"At an…old friend's house," Amber said carefully choosing her words. Yes, somehow I count Tristan Taylor as an old friend, but he agreed to help me so I guess that's what matters she thought as she sipped her Sprite. She looked down and watched her dog sleep on one of the seats. Slade is going to flip if he sees this she noted.
"Oh," replied Jagger, "So, Ally, I see you have a car. That's pretty awesome." He always found a way to break the tension by talking to the eighteen year old. He watched her glance at him and then he saw how she meekly brushed the blonde hair from her eyes. She pushed aside her book that she was reading.
"I used the money from my birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and from working for Amber after school and on weekends to buy it for myself. Well, Amber is going to help me pay off the car payments," she said excitedly. Apparently, having her own car was a big deal to her. She went back to reading her book.
"I'm sure you're a great driver," he chirped making both the Rhodes girls smiles. "You learned from the best," he said looking at Amber's soft grey eyes. A blush filled her cheeks making Ally giggle.
"Thanks Jagger," Amber said weakly. She looked over at Slade who seemed to be more in an upset mood than he was fifteen minutes earlier. What's with him? He always seems to be depressed she observed. She shrugged her shoulders and thought I don't feel like being on a plane with a basket-case so I might as well attempt to cheer him up.
"Are you okay, Slade?" asked Amber watching the man with long hair across the section of chair running along the sides of the interior of the plane. Jagger's and Ally's jaws dropped in amazement as the words echoed throughout the plane.
"I'm fine," he lied sharply. He couldn't explain even to himself why he felt the way he did, but that was life's curse.
Amber retorted, "Don't lie to me, Princeton. I know you way better than that. Tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help." She knew that he would ungratefully decline her offer of assistance, but it was worth a shot. His cold dark grey eyes met hers making her entranced in his gaze.
"It's nothing," he responded harshly. He couldn't tell and he refused to tell her what really went through his brain. She probably thinks Jagger is a godsend. Who would think that? I mean, I do hate her, but I don't ever want to see them together. I can't ever bare them being friends. I was okay with it when I was with her. Why aren't I now? Oh, oh damn, Jagger was right. I still do love her.
"So," concluded Amber logically, "You do know, but you refuse to tell me. I can understand that, but if you need to talk, I'm right here?" She nearly gagged her words. I sound like a crappy romance movie that dates go see to sob their hearts out. Slade and I never did that she rambled to her mind.
"You wouldn't understand," Slade grumbled. Why does she care? Who knows with that girl? Jagger shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he glanced at Ally who could sense the awkward vibe.
"You'd be surprised," the eldest Rhodes responded. She reclined in her seat as she looked out the small window to see the clouds pass them by.
"We are now descending so please stay seated," the pilot announced, "We shall arrive at Duel Academy Island in fifteen minutes."
Mew Kazurinu: I hoped you liked the chapter. By the way, Jagger and Ally's relationship is an unbiological brother-sister thing just to clarify that. So please stay tuned for the next chapter.