Lavender Blu

Chapter ten

We ran to the van which was nearly at the bottom of the drive when we got to it we all climbed into the three front seats, Rupert behind the wheel. Not sure how (probably an extra small power or something) but as soon as he put his foot down the engine sprung to life and we were off.
"I need to get something from my house before we do anything." Justin yelled.
"And I need to say something to my mum, like why I won't be at home in a week, any suggestions?" I asked
"Um, Katrina's house?" Offered Justin
"No, done that one too many times."
"How about school trip?" Rupert said.
"No that wouldn't......" Then after further thought I changed it to "Actually that might work"
"Thanks I thought it was a brilliant idea." Rupert grinned at me.
"So how long will we be gone? A week?" I asked.
"Just say two, just I case. Will your mum ask for a letter? Or does she trust you?"
"I guess we'll have to wait and see." I looked over my shoulder as we drove out the gate. I could see people running out of Justin's family estate and one of them pointed in our direction so I turned and faced the front.

"Rupert you wait outside while me and Lav just run in, anyone suspicious, shoot them."
I spun around "WHAT!? Shoot them?" I watched as Justin handed Rupert a small gun, I'm not very good with guns but I think it was a revolver.
"Thanks." Rupert said as he took the gun and weighed it in his hands. "How many bullets?" He pushed the cylinder out and checked. "Humm. Pretty good. So anyone suspicious?"
Justin nodded.
"Okay then" he pointed the gun at me. "You really thought I was going to let you take her?" He laughed Justin jumped in front of me "What the heck!? Put the gun down Rupert."
"Get out of the way Justin." He edged closer until he was close enough to yank Justin out of the way aiming the gun at me. My eyes widened as he tightened his finger on the trigger. I threw my hands over my head but all I heard was a small click as Rupert pulled the trigger then the sound of laughter. Confused that I wasn't injured or dead and that there was laughter I gently lowered my hands to find Justin on the floor in hysterics and Rupert with a face of not sure whether to laugh or feel sorry for me, in the end he laughed.
"Your face Lavender!" He said. Realizing it was all a joke I glared spun on my heel and was trying to unlock my door when Rupert stepped forward.
"Allow me." He said and opened the door.
"Thanks" I muttered and walked in.
'You're so immature!'
'And you're cute when you're mad'
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Justin wink, I glared and turned back to the hall, I glanced up at the hall clock as I walked through, 8:06, yea I could make it to the school bus, making my story about the school trip more believable. I don't like lying to my mum but it really can't be helped in this situation. As I walked towards the lounge I heard my mums voice.
"Come on Stace, arm through." I walked in to find my mum getting Stacey dressed.
"Hey mum."
"Lavender?" My mum glanced up at me, "where have you been? You didn't even call, that's not like you."
"Sorry I was at Kat's," and without waiting for a response I hurried to get the rest out "But I had a bit of a dizzy spell this morning and wanted to come home." I paused for effect "oh, and I forgot to tell you that there's a school trip today, I think it's about ten days long, I know it's a long time mum, but I really want to go."
Without looking up she asked where.
"Wales," I said without missing a beat, aren't I good, thinking it all through, not that I thought of where in Wales, but thankfully she didn't ask. When my mum didn't answer I asked, "Is that okay?"
"Yes, it's fine." My mum looked distant for a minute. "Stacey darling run and get your shoes and socks." Stacey scampered off and my mum stood up and looked at me, "you're growing up so fast."
Not really knowing what to say I just smiled, yes a little awkwardly, as you do when your parents say stuff like that.
She walked towards me and hugged me tightly, slightly taken aback because I wasn't use to my mum showing any affection to me, I didn't hug back for a few seconds, which seemed like a long time.
"I do love you Lavender." She said gently.
"Um, thanks."
"I know I haven't been very fair or paid as much attention to you as you must want, but I am here for you." I know it sounds like a typical story line but she really said that!
I poked her "who are you?"
She laughed "now go and get ready you'll miss the bus." Oh, yea.... I started waking to the door then turned back. "Um, mum, when was the last time you heard from dad?"
She stood still for a second unsure what to say she swallowed. "Um why do you ask?". When my mum saw that I wasn't going to give in that easily she swallowed again and said "about two months ago." My eyes widened and she must have noticed because she added "He called and asked to see you, and I didn't want him to because you were happy and I couldn't predict how he'd act." She paused, "I'm sorry if I was wrong, but I was worried about you."
"Where was he calling from?"
"Oh, I don't know, I think somewhere in northern France, why?"
"No reason, What did he want to see me for?"
"I don't know, he was mumbling, he told me he had to see you because you were changing and it's time or something like that. He was acting weird so I said no."
"Um thanks." I glanced at my wrist remembered then said "thanks gotta go." I blew her a kiss then ran up to my room. As she called out "remember to take your phone, I'll be checking up on you every now and again."
'Justin? My mum said he phoned about two months ago she thinks from northern France'
'Okay, princess, man, we don't have much to work with. Do we. At least we know he's not dead or anything.'
'Yea, see you outside in ten'
'You got it,'

"She buy it?" Rupert asked when I walked out of my house with a backpack and clean clothes.
I smiled "of course"
"Great."
"Awesome. Okay princess in the car. Quick." Justin said
I clambered in and buckled my seat belt. Once they were in I asked, "so where to? To airport? You know I don't have a passport, right?"
Rupert and Justin both looked at each other. Then Rupert smiled a knowing smile. "I know just the place."

An hour later we arrived at, um, I actually have no idea.
"Here we are"
"Um where's here?"
Rupert hopped out of the car/van and wandered over to an old shack. Directly in front of us. Behind the shack was a pretty large forest. Me and Justin lazily got out of the van and followed Rupert into the shack. The door was ajar and I could just hear Rupert talking about someone owing him a favor. We followed the voices, not very far as the shack was small, to a room which was evidently the lounge. In front of us was a middle age man about Rupert's height.
"Fine." The man threw his hands in the air, "one trip" he waggled one of his fingers in the air. "You find your own way back."
"Thank you so much Sam, you won't regret it." He turned to me and Justin. "Come on guys I just got us a ride to Paris!" He looked excited, 'Sam' looked sulky, Justin looked nervous and I bet I looked confused. Really confused.
We all followed Sam out of the door and into the forest. We walked for about three minutes before we came to a large clearing and right in the middle of it was a plane. An actual airplane, granted it was small but and airplane!?
'Yea, my thoughts exactly' Justin 'said' as his hand found mine.
I smiled anxiously up at him. Then one step at a time I neared the plane. It was quite a picturesque plane in my opinion. It was old but beautiful, I stroked the pealing paint which revealed shiny metal beneath it. I looked around and saw that Rupert and Sam were already climbing into the plane. Still clutching Justin's hand I pulled him towards the door. I had never flown before and my heart was pounding.

This is day one.