Journey Home

Chapter Ten

"Okay," he says quietly. "You ready?"

"If you're the professional thief, why aren't you stealing it?" I demand in a whisper.

"Because you owe me," he whispers back.

"Owe you?! Owe you for-"

"Just shush," Austin says, rolling his eyes. "Fine, I'll go get the gas. You go watch the car."

I hesitate, and he smiles at me. "Think I'm going somewhere, princess?"

"Stop with the princess thing," I mumble, embarrassed, but I turn around and go wait at the car. I hop on the hood and wait for him to come back. Unfortunately, being alone gives me time to think. I purposefully put the thought of The Kiss out of my mind.

Two minutes later, Austin comes back, holding two gallons of gas. Not saying anything, he starts filling up the tank.

"How'd you get two gallons of gas in two minutes?" I ask incredulously, hopping off the hood.

He fixes me with a look. "Don't ask."

"Did you not just hear me ask?" I tease, watching him.

Austin rolls his eyes and doesn't answer. "Get in the car," he tells me, not unkindly.

I hop in the driver's seat and grin at him, flexing my hands on the wheel. "I'm in!"

"Get out of my seat," he says, opening the door and waiting.

"You're no fun." I get out of the seat and climb into shotgun, buckling and stealing looks at Austin. "It's not your seat," I tell him once we get going. "You stole it."

"Which makes it mine."

"Oh."

Austin chuckles and eventually pulls into the driveway of a grand house. I gape and mechanically get out, following Austin up to the door.

"Austin," I snap, "I am not stealing a house! Chips, I can deal with. Gas, I can deal with. Cars I can even deal with! But houses-"

The door opens and an older man is standing on the other side. "I'm sorry, sir," I say quickly, tugging at Austin's arm. "Must be the, er, wrong house. Come on, Austin!" I hiss.

Austin doesn't budge. He nods at the old man, looking slightly nervous. "Hi, Dad."

"Dad?!" I yell, staring at Austin. "That's it."

I race out to the car and hop in, locking the door. Austin's gone ABSOLUTELY MAD. I'll just steal his car, he won't need it in the psych ward.

Austin follows after me, knocking on the car window. "Zoey," he pleads in a muffled tone, "get out of the car."

"I don't listen to lunatics!" I yell, not budging.

"Zoey... Please?"

I can't help it, but I get out of the car. He's got the most adorable pleading look! He smiles warmly at me and gently pulls me up to the house.