Rekindled- Jake Kiszka

Chapter 34

"Sam, sit still oh my god," I mutter, straightening his head back out before going back to the braid I was working his hair into.

"It's not my fault you're yanking my head back, lighten up the grip psychopath."

Jake looks at us in the rearview mirror of Josh's truck, Josh turning the volume up on the radio, causing the peaceful voice of Bob Dylan to fill the car more it had than before.

I roll my eyes and start undoing the braid from his hair, shifting in the bench seat to face Danny, who I hold the brush up to with a smile.

"It's already brushed," he nods, sliding down in his seat so that I didn't have to reach up too far to braid his hair.

I start the braid while the twins talk up front and Sammy jumps into their conversation every once in a while.

We had been in the car for almost 7 hours now, and we still have 2 left which felt like an eternity. It was Josh's idea to drive instead of flying, claiming that he was just dying to see the nature on the way up to Michigan.

When me and Sam stop bickering, Josh turns the music back down and returns his conversation with his twin to a normal volume. All of our luggage was loaded into the back of the truck along with their mom's presents, so the back wasn't too crowded with the three of us.

While finishing up Danny's hair, I can feel Josh pull off and stop somewhere, looking out to see a gas station. I tie off the end of Danny's hair before he opens the back door and the three of us pile out, all going inside to get snacks along with Jake while Josh is in charge of getting gas. I go into the women's bathroom while Same takes up the men's, using the bathroom quickly before hearing a knock on the door.

"MJ," I hear on the other side, recognizing the voice as Jake's. I open the door and look at him, "I need to wash my hands, what's up?"

"I'm gonna piss my pants, let me pee in here," he says with a sense of urgency, coming in and closing the door behind him.

I shrug and go back to the sink, turning it on and starting to wash my hands, not daring to glance over at Jake a couple of feet away from me. It was nothing I hadn't seen before, but we still had a long time in the car with his brothers. I hear him laugh and flush before hearing the zipper of his jeans.

"I've never seen you so focused on washing your hands," he smiles, coming over and kissing my cheek as he buckles his belt.

I look at him in the mirror before grabbing some paper towels to dry my hands off with. "It's gonna be a long week."

Once we're both done we head out into the small store, each getting a drink and something to snack on along with a pack of American spirits.

We go out to the car and I open the pack, holding one out to Sam who takes it gratefully. "We'll be quick," I say, grabbing my lighter and walking over to the grass with Sam to smoke. Josh didn't mind it, but I didn't want to make his car smell like smoke.

"You know you have nothing to be nervous about, right?" He asks, lighting his cigarette, then mine.

I shrug and take a long drag, looking around at the trees surrounding us. "I know I shouldn't be, but I'm just a little worried. It feels like I'm making a first impression all over again. I have a weird feeling in my gut."

It's silent for a moment while we both exhale smoke, "once you get there it'll feel like how it used to, trust me. I'm switching seats with Jake for the rest of the ride, just take a nap or something."

The idea isn't awful, and I'm thankful he and Jake were switching, not because of Sam, but because Jake knows how to calm my nerves like no other. Once we're finished, we head back to the car where the other guys were waiting. I take my seat beside Jake in the back while Sam claims his new seat up front.