The Heart of Cars

Chapter 11

We drive to the military headquarters and walk inside. The queen, of course, gets a lot of attention as we walk to the front desk, which has Jake, an 18 year old solider who is part of my dad's company. But I get a lot of attention too, since I'm the commander's/ sergeant major of the army's daughter. "Hi Jake, I'm looking for my dad. Is he here?"

"Yeah, he's here, but you aren't allowed out of that hotel and certainly not allowed near Colton."

"Everyone seems to know him but I've never met him before that party. And I realize that I'm not allowed out of the hotel but I need to talk to my dad."

"You can't. He is with Colton."

"Then call him down here! I don't care about Colton right now Jake!"

"Well that's harsh." I groan and turn around to face Colton, my dad, and the rest of the sergeants. "The truth hurts," I shrug "I came here to see my dad, not you."

"Ashley, what are you and my daughter doing here? You know you shouldn't be breaking his rules this week." my dad asks the queen and she is smiling at me mischievously. "I need my car worked on and J wouldn't help me unless she got permission."

"She isn't allowed out of the hotel, and she can't work on a car with Sam right now." The queen sighs "How the Hell do you do that? I'm queen, I get to say who works on my car or not. I want Jolene to work on my car, if she needs Sam's help to fix, then that's what will happen! And that is final Dustin, so tell her she can work on my car and we will get out of here." Dad gets that look in his eye he gets when he is about to challenge someone. "Or, Dad, we can just stay here while you argue with Ashley and I'll just hang out with Colton since he is here." I shrug nonchalantly and go stand by Colton who backed up a few feet with the other sergeants while the queen was telling my dad what he was going to do. "Don't test me Jo." My dad says as the queen looks proud of me since I hardly ever talk back to my dad. "I'm not Dad, I'm just concerned about Ashley, the queen, I wouldn't want her car to break down and leave her stranded or hurt her or someone else if the engine gets too hot or a piston goes out or the breaks stop working or.."

"Enough Jo! I get it, but you still can't." I sigh and look at my dad and see his is looking smug since he knows I can't do anything about it. "Fine." I shrug and grab Colton's arm and pull him over to the lounge area where people wait for recruiting officers and such. I sit on the couch and he sits in the chair next to me. "That wasn't smart J." I lean back into the couch and watch my dad and the queen talk "I know, but he was challenging me! How could I back down?"

"Easily. Just don't do anything stupid, like you just did. Just because you know the queen that doesn't give you a free pass. You should know better then to disobey the king, especially this week."

"What is so important about this week for the king? You and my dad keep saying that me and the queen shouldn't go against the king's orders this week. Why this week in particular?"

"Doesn't matter, you just shouldn't. You shouldn't try to piss off the king ever. Do you realize how badly he can punish you? I bet the queen has taken a lot of hits for you, just so you can sass back and pretend you're friends with the royal family." I sit there for a second shocked before I get up suddenly. "Fine, then you can tell the queen that I'll be outside when she is done, Sergeant Wolfe." I get up and walk out, ignoring everything and everyone for the moment.

*edited*