AROUND THE HEART IN 80 DAYS

Two

It was quiet. It was that exhaustion. Both tired individuals kept quiet through the dark drive home.

"They dropped off some souvenirs at the back. And I got some wonderful sleep. I dunno about you though. We have to be at work in two days time. Pity you." Jacob chuckled.

"I'm too boned out to even think. I'm beat tired. Tomorrow, I'll have to skip church and crash all through." Jacqueline faced her friend, reluctant about turning away from the moonlit trees they'd passed.

"Will Amanda let that?"

"Screw Amanda."

Jacob's shoulders vibrated as he chuckled. "Say it to her face."

"Wanna bet?" Her cheeks puckered out as she sent him a wide smile. Swearing was never nice. But her excuse was that Amanda brought out the absolute worst.

"Careful. She might lock you in again."

Ha ha. It was a joke now.
She turned back again to face the window which allowed the warm breeze to bless her face then inhaled.

"Thanks for agreeing to do this, Jake. Helping me with your van and everything. Late night delays and all. I'm happy that at least, you got fed."

"Zara would have killed me if I didn't accept. You know we've all been rooting for this big jig."

"You know it! Fat bucks! Monday noon, pizza for everyone."

"Oooh, pizza." He rolled his eyes, earning a playful punch from her.

"That is, once the money drops."

Jackie liked to savour the moments she had that didn't involve a voice over her head. And she was pleased her friends shared in her woes.
They often teased her about her 'Cinderella' scenario. And had she heard her story in the mouths of another, she would have laughed her head off in disbelief.

The typical. Dead father, good-for-nothing stepmother, silly step-sister, a perverse step-brother (who, by the way had moved out from their tired little bungalow -- Hallelujah) and, what were the odds, she turned out to be the one who could withstand the BS. With Amanda being lousy and darn right irritating, and Fiona with her new megabucks fiancè Ben, Jacquie seemed like the best choice to keep the house still standing.

What was she to do?

If she rebelled, she'd have no place to go (cause Amanda was very capable of doing that), and more important than freedom, she very well needed a roof over her head. She could never stress on that point enough.

With her 'condition' and everything.

"You're sure you can make it to work on Monday, you look beat."

"I'm always beat, Jacob. Thanks for caring. But I have to go. No way I'm staying with SalAmanda nine to five. I'd rather vomit."

"So sad, you know. Your case. And you shouldn't be stressing your body out. You know that."

"My body is used to what it can probably take. And my medicines have never failed." She flashed her teeth wide at him, hating to trespass on the whole illness gist.
"I'm here being worried about whether Chinonso is going to be angry at you for being out by 10pm."

Jacob shrugged. Always shrugging everything off. "She's probably asleep. She does not joke with her ten hours of extreme rest."

"Lucky her." Jackie eyed the familiar sharp bend the van took. She made a tired mock groaning sound that came out as frustrated rather than the 'mock' in it.
"Man, I wish I didn't have to be here now. That ride was dead short."