A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter 23

After stepping off the plane, I could feel the jet lag hit like a train.  I stumbled around the airport, slowly making my way to the baggage claim.  I trudged across the airport, stumbling on my feet every once in a while before I got to the doors and hailed a taxi.  I vaguely remember getting in at telling the cabbie where I needed to go before quickly drifting off to sleep.  Not long afterwards, I felt a hand shaking my knee, and I bolted upright.

"We are here, Miss," the cabbie told me, pointing out the window to my house.  I paid him and slowly made my way out of the taxi, bidding him goodbye.  It was close to 4:00 AM, and I wearily unlocked the front door, knowing that Nora and James weren't home.  During Christmas, they spend time at a beach house about an hour away that a friend of theirs has.  He doesn't use it over Christmas but instead spends the entire winter in his mansion in Barbados.  Must be nice.

I closed the door behind me, locking it again.  I didn't even have the energy to make it up the stairs, so I simply plopped down on the couch face-first and slept.  

Waking around 12:30 PM, I decided I needed something to eat.  Well, I didn't decide that.  My stomach did when it let out the excessive dying whale sound that echoed through the living room.  I figured that eggs would be delicious to have for my breakfast with some buttered toast.  I got out the frying pan and the carton of eggs, beginning to scramble them.  When they were about halfway done, I stuck two pieces of toast in the toaster, cooking the eggs until both were done.  I quickly buttered the toast, poured myself a tall glass of orange juice, and grabbed a fork.  I went in the cupboard next to the fridge, about to grab my meds, when I stopped.  Do I need these?  Are they helping me or making it worse?  Maybe I should experiment?  I put the medications back in the bottle and set it back on the shelf, slamming the cupboard door in rebellion.  I was home alone with no one to tell me to take my meds.  I was going to lavish in it.

After devouring my breakfast, I bounded up the stairs.  Deciding that I didn't want to stay in a stuffy house all day while the sun was shining and the tank was clean, I quickly undressed from yesterday’s clothes and hopped in the shower.  After rinsing off, I put on a long sleeved striped shirt and a pair of shorts.  Grabbing my hedgehog necklace from the counter and putting on my converse, I grabbed my bag from my nightstand and headed down the stairs.  Realizing that I don't want to pay for a taxi, or even get somewhere that I can hail a taxi, I decided that I would drive James's '61 black Spyder convertible.  I am seriously hoping I don't wreck it; he would kill me and sell my skin to get it back.  Not literally.  I hope.

I did have my driver's license, and when I moved to Sydney, I took a class on the laws and rules of Australian driving.  It was extremely helpful; a lot of them are different.  I took the keys down from the hook next to the garage door and made my way out to the beautiful car that awaited.  I carefully backed out of the garage, happy that I wouldn't have to put the cover down due to it already being down.  I drove in paranoia to the beach I usually go to.  I realized that this was a terrible idea, but I was going to go with it anyways.  Pulling up near the beach, I parked, putting up the cover before locking at least seven times.  I didn't bring my swimsuit, but I didn't want to go swimming.  I was just fine laying in the sand and reading my book.  Right now, I was reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  It was a little difficult to get into, but once I got about fifty pages in, I was engrossed.  Before too long, I got the idea to text one of the boys.  Ashton seemed like a fine candidate. 

Jordan:  Good evening. *Dracula voice*

Ash:  Bonjour.  *French accent*

Jordan:  How are you this fine evening?

Ash:  It's afternoon, but alright.