The NEWBIE

Chapter 17

***17***

JACK

I felt awkward when I said it. It's as though my lips had dried after that. I looked at her and I think she felt the same way. She clutched her neck with her left hand for some reason. I bit my lip and then brought my focus back to the view. She was still wearing that costume Jamie made her wear.I hate to admit it but she does look a little like a princess. But she should really change back in to her real clothes.

"You should take that dress off." I said, keeping my voice deep.

I don't know how she took what I said but she seemed shock. "W-what? B-but I'm not wearing my shirt on." She said as she moved farther away from me. What the heck is this girl talking about?

"What are you talking about?" I said, a little confused. "I said, you should take that dress off and change in to your own clothes. Do you wanna' wear that until you sleep?"

Her mouth dropped open and then a hint of pink was covering her face. "I thought you telling me to take this dress off in front of you."

"Come again?" I didn't really hear what she said because she was already whispering.

"I-I said nothing. You're right. I should really change. This dress is getting really itchy and irritating." She said as she began scratching her body. I still don't get it. She quickly ran inside like someone was chasing her.

After she fled, I went back inside too. Coincidentally, the door creaked open. Dad arrived, looking a little anxious.

"Good! You're back." I said, keeping the sarcasm in my voice. "I can finally go home."

"I came back as soon as possible." He replied, avoiding my statement. He always avoids what I say to him, answering me with a different response.

"Hey, Jack. Is your Dad-?" Elsa called, as she ran down the stairs, already back in to her regular clothes. "Hi, sir." She greeted, formally.

I didn't want Dad to start any conversation with me or Elsa so I grabbed her hand and took her to the hallway.

"What the heck is your problem?" Elsa began to shout when we stopped right in front of the door. "You could've just told me instead of grabbing my arm like a broken doll."

"You talk too much, you know that?" I said, frustratingly. "Just a friendly reminder that we still have to travel for about three hours and it's already close to midnight."

"I know. But you're just being rude." She said, crossing her arms.

I shook my head, exasperatingly, taking the helmet from a table. "Shut up and wear this." I said, handing the helmet to her.

I opened the door, approaching to the motorbike, parked along the sidewalk. "C'mere. Saddle up." I told Elsa who was slowly walking. Can't she be a little quicker?

She rolled her eyes at me and quickened her paces, a little. She finally sat in the back and held on to my hips. I thought there was a sudden jolt coming from my chest. Where did that came from? I asked myself as I turned on the engine. The smell of smoke was blocking the good old fresh air. I snapped my neck and off we go.

***

We were finally back in Indiana after a while. I already made a couple of turns when Elsa spoke, her voice cracking tensely in to my ears.

"I think I just saw Dad's car." She said. "You need to speed up so we can get there before they do."

"Well then, hold on tight, missy." I grinned. She gripped on to my hips tighter almost like my shirt would get ripped off any minute. I felt her head, butting in to my back. For some reason, I began breathing deeply. But I quickly ignored it and sped off.