Melancholy

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

"I'll call you by eight." Jay said as soon as we ended the conference call with Enn for supper.

The two are still eager to continue the "investigating Ms. Dawson" mission. They decided that we will go to the junkshop, for the second time, to see if she'll do the cult-thing again.

I doubt whether to go or not especially now that Lizzy is kind of almost-there-to-know I sneak out last night. She suspected the dead smell of my pajamas and hoodie. I'm afraid that if she caught me on act, she might ground me.

When I got here an hour ago, dad was home from his business trip in Alaska. He said mom wanted him to follow me up before his next flight—which is tonight—in Ireland. They have an Ice Fishing business in Alaska and they as well take part of Salmon Deliveries that's why they travel a lot.

I ate supper with dad and minute by minute he would ask me about school and my living with Lizzy more or less. I told him my good experiences at school, skipping those bad ones especially the sleeping-in-Bio, and I told him updates about me and the girls.

My girls and I were childhood neighbors so it's a big deal for mom and dad too if I don't talk about Enn and Jay with them. Mom says the girls are my sisters-from-another-mother, which I strongly agree to.

"That's very good to hear, Maxinne. Your mom would love to hear that." Dad says.

See? I was right for not telling the whole truth about school. I know mom is very busy with her job which is for my future blah, blah, blah and as the good daughter I can be, I should give her good feedbacks about me.

"When will she be home?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, sweets." He took a fork of steak, "but she'll be home before school ends."

Ha. If I didn't know better, Christmas and New Year had come and go but she was never home. It's February, summer is fast approaching. I don't think she can make it, she might be double-busy the next few months. That's why I have trust issues.

"Oh." Then an idea came to my mind. "Can I go with you to the airport?"

So I could sneak out without getting caught by Lizzy.

"Let me see. Sure."

At the airport, dad gave me twenty as a departure-gift before his flight number is announced. When he was called, he kissed me good-bye and told me to get home as soon as possible, which is unlikely to happen, then he was gone.

Outside, I was waiting for a ride home. Unfortunately, there was none.

The odds were never in my favor. I thought.

Then an Avanza came to a stop in front of me.

"Need a ride?" the driver asked.

It took me moments to realize who it was. "Jack?"

"Yep." He chuckled. "Come in,"

He actually invited me for a ride! He did, didn't he?

"Okay." Of course I'd let him drive me home.

He went out of the driver's seat and circled the car, then opened the car door for me. How romantic! And once we're both settled, he asked, "Where to, miss?"

Gosh! He sounds very gentle. And hot.

"To my house," but I didn't sound sure.

Butterflies fluttered inside me. I'm in a car with Jack. If this was a movie, he probably had started a conversation. Too bad it isn't, so whole drive was silent.