Summer in Cali (c. d.)

〰Chapter 2〰

    I skimmed through the aisles of the gas station looking for something non expired to eat. We had been driving for nearly 8 hours and I was famished, carsick, and dizzy. "Tess, what did you say you wanted again?!"

"Spicy Cheetos!!"

"Ugh, that's all the way on the other side!!"

"HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIIIIIIDE!!!" People began turning their heads towards her and giving her weird looks.

Gosh, she just never shuts up, does she? And that song is so old now.

   I rolled my eyes, (something I do a lot) and reluctantly began dragging myself to the "other side". 

I picked up the stupid bag and picked some snacks for myself: airheads, Pringles, 3 musketeers, a muffin, and a bottle of water. Tess thinks that because of how much I LOVE sugar I'm going to be fat in a matter of a couple years. Maybe I would be now if I didn't play the sports I do, or workout once in a while (despite how I hate running outdoors sometimes). 

  I trudged my way back to the cashier. "$9.50, ma'am." Ugh, gas station prices.

I pulled out a 10 dollar bill when I surprisingly felt a tug at my leg. "Excuse me ma'am, I lost my bruda."

My heart tore in half at the sight of a lost looking, adorable, 6 year old boy asking me for help. "Well...um...where did you see him last and what does he look like?"

"Right outside."

"Well what does he look like and how old is he?" I tried to get as much info from him as possible but that's kinda hard considering he's like 6.

"He's taaaaaall, and, and he has brown hair, and, and brown eyes. Oh! And he's 18 I think, I keep losing track..." He blushed as if he were embarrassed at the fact. "And his name is Cam!!"

Wow, that narrowed it down to, like, nothing. There could be a million 'Cam's' with brown eyes and hair out there in the world. "Okay, well let me pay for my stuff and we can start looking."

He nodded, and I gave my money to the poor cashier who was waiting the entire time. By the looks of her face, she about wanted to rip that 10 dollar bill in half. I took the little boy's hand and made my way over to Tess, who was now leaning on the car, drinking Cola and talking on the phone. "Okay, yeah!! That's what I—Awwwww, who's this lil cutie!!!" She pointed to the boy.

"Tess, this is really important, he lost his "bruda" and we need to go find him. Basically, all I got from him is that he's brown eyes and hair, and his name is Cam."

"Mar, I ain't a babysitter so just hand him to the authorities or something." She said hanging up the phone.

Rude.

I glared at her, "What authorities? The cashier? We can't trust him with a freaking cashier!!" I huffed.
"You know what, you're not getting your Cheetos unless you help me."

That obviously got her attention, "Noooooo not my Cheetos!! I hate you Marina."

I rolled my eyes, "Come on then, we can't waste time were only on a limited break before we have to hit the roads again."

We both began looking around, helplessly calling the name 'Cam' but it didn't work. I would sneak a glance towards the boy.

Oh, gosh, I'm stupid, I forgot to ask what his name was.

"Hey what's your name?"

"Umm Jackson..." He trailed off, lost in thought.

He looked awfully scared.
Poor guy, I'm horrible when it comes to dealing with kids.

"Well, Jackson, what's your favorite thing to do?" Small talk will suffice, right?

He paused as if he was giving this question actual thought: it was just a simple question that I was expecting a normal answer out of. "Spending time with my bruda!!" He exclaimed, obviously he felt strongly about this.

"Oh really, why is that so?"

"Well...I BARELY ever get to spend time with him, he's always off doing his, his.....work. And he spends so much time off with it, that I don't even get to celebrate birtdays wit him!!!"

Awww, whoever this guy was, you'd have to be a big enough jerk to miss birthdays–especially for an adorable kid like this one. "Awh, well at least you always get cake for birthdays. Cake tastes way better than brothers right?" I nudged him.

I know, I know, cheesy much? But I had nothing else to do to cheer him up, he looked so glum, and tired....so basically an accurate representation of me at school.

He chuckled at my cheesy joke. Wow, I didn't think I was that funny. "You know what, let's play a game; lets play 5 questions, you get to ask 5, and only 5 questions to me and I, to you."

"Okay, I can start: what's your faaaaavorite color in the whole wide world?"

"Mint green." He gave me a puzzled look. "Here it's this color." I showed him my phone case, and laughed.

"Okay, what's your name?"

"Marina."

He kept asking me simple questions like that until he got to the last one: "Do you like watching YouTube videos?"

"Yes, why?"

"Ooooooh!! I LOOOVE watching YouTube videos too!! And love how my bruda always gives me special back stage passes at his behind the screens thingies on his Magcon thingy tour!!"

He covered his mouth as soon as he said the last part...and I think I might have a clue as to why he did that.

"Hey Jackson...Where does your brother work?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you but–" He leaned up to my ear to whisper something and I bent down, being the tall self I am. "He works as a—"

Suddenly, a red, brand new looking Porsche came riding its beautiful self in the lot and a teen came out darting his eyes around as if looking for something.

His eyes stopped by at something.

No, someone.

And that someone was Jackson.