For you, Lucy. (On Hold)

Chapter 5. On The Way To The First Item.

Robbie Albert knocked on Janis's door. He half expected her to be asleep, tired after the episode yesterday; which was the reason he didn't feel impatient or annoyed. But, the door swung open and a fresh-faced Janis stared at him, her clear green eyes shining like emeralds in the light.
"Good morning Robbie Albert!" she said and Robbie returned the greeting.
"Now that we're ready, let's go." said the man, relieved that Janis was wide awake and ready to go.
"But what about breakfast?" asked Janis.
"The motel gives a complimentary buffet breakfast!" she continued and Robbie shook his head but chuckled inwardly.
"Fine, kid. But let's be quick."
                               ~~~

"Those scrambled eggs are pretty great, right?" said the waitress as she poured them both a cup of coffee.
Janis smiled politely and Robbie just nodded casually. All three of them were well aware that the eggs were tasteless and cold. The fat-rich, salty bacon made up for the eggs though. They ate in silence, Robbie sipping his slightly milky coffee. Janis had hers black with half a tablespoon of sugar.
Just the way Lucy liked it. Thought Robbie as he watched the black haired girl eat. He didn't comment.

They tipped the waitress and went out to the reception where Robbie payed the rest of the amount for the two rooms while Janis grabbed as many tourist brochures as she could. Little did Robbie know that Janis had noted the amount he paid for her room. Like she said, she never went back on her word and she would repay every penny he spent on her.

"How long do you think it's gonna take to get there?" Janis asked as they sped down the lonely highway.
"About four hours but we need a tent first." replied Robbie and Janis stared at him.
"You don't have a tent yet?"
"No but there's gonna be plenty of stores where I can buy one, I'm sure."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm sure."
"But how?"
"Because I'm sure and that's it." said Robbie with finality and that signified the end of the conversation for a while. Janis shrugged and went back to staring at the huge map on her lap. She had decided to sit in the back seat, leaving Lucy with the freedom of the passenger seat. Robbie didn't mind her decision and anyway, Janis preferred the spacious back seat of the car, more.
"Hey kid?" said Robbie breaking the silence.
"Yeah Albie?" Janis enquired back.
"Albie?" Robbie asked.
"Kid?" Janis said sarcastically.
"Ugh. Janis?"
"Yes Robbie Albert?"
"How far is the next town?"
"Hmm...." Robbie heard the sound of paper folding and unfolding till Janis gave an exclamation.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"There has been a...a uh..." she sounded sheepish.
"A what, kid?" he enunciated.
"Mis...calculation." she said, haltingly.
"Whadya mean?"
"We've kinda been going in the wrong direction."
The brakes screeched as Robbie swung around to face an embarrassed and sorry looking Janis.
"What?!" he yelled.
"What? I'm sorry! I've never used a map! I just didn't realise I was holding it upside down!" she cried.
"You said that I could leave the directions to you. Observant, my foot! We've been driving for 4 HOURS!" he argued and Janis's eyes widened then narrowed.
"Hey! Unfair! Who uses maps in the first place! Heard of Google maps before?! Get with the times Grandpa!" she argued and they glared daggers at each other for a minute, till Janis burst out laughing. Robbie stared at her, appalled.
"Ohmigosh." she wheezed and laughed again and before he could do anything, a laugh escaped his mouth too.

There they sat, roaring their hearts out, in a place they didn't know at all, with each other, people they hardly knew.
                             ~~~

Backtracking took another four hours. Robbie insisted that the map come to him and Janis didn't object. Not long after, Janis decided that it was time for lunch.
"McDonald's?" she asked hopefully and Robbie agreed. It had been ages since he had had a burger and any type of fast food was warmly welcome.

Stopping at the first McDonald's they found, they jumped out and made their way to the glass doors bearing the 'M' that warmed their hearts.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am! What would you like to order?" asked the perky blonde behind the counter and Janis ordered the biggest burger she could see on the menu. Robbie, who couldn't make up his mind, told Janis to order him the same with extra cheese and a large fries.

"How much longer to reach?" asked Janis slurping her coke noisily.
"A couple of hours more. But we're gonna have to stop for a tent." he replied and Janis nodded.
20 minutes and about 10 dollars later, they were back on the road, keeping their eyes wide open for a store that would sell camping supplies.

"There!" yelled Janis making Robbie almost jump out of his skin as she pointed to a store. 'Into An Adventure' said the board on the roof of the store.
They strolled in through the double doors, a bell tinkling to indicate the arrival of a customer.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" came a deep voice and a lean but muscular man with a bushy red beard appeared from behind shelves holding whistles, bottles and other such odds and ends.
"Um..hello." said Janis who was quite taken aback by the man's loud greeting.
"How may I help you?" asked the man in a softer tone and Janis looked visibly relieved.
Robbie cleared his throat.
"We'll be needing a camping tent and two sleeping bags." he said and the bearded man just disappeared back to where he came from without another word.
Robbie looked at Janis who made the cuckoo sign and then pointed to where the man had gone. He came back a few minutes later, his arms full with 3 bags.
"There...you...GO!" he said, handing them the bags.
"The green one's are the sleeping bags and the yellow one is the tent. Foldable will do, yeah?" he said and Robbie nodded. He handed Janis the bags and went to settle the expenses.

"That guy was weird." said Janis, once they were back on the road.
"Mm hmm." replied Robbie and drove on.
Janis looked outside the window. It amused her, how at home she felt with this old man she had never met before. Her personality made her wary of people, and not very social. But Robbie, she felt like she knew him, and like she was supposed to know who he was. She couldn't place him, and that troubled her. She pushed these thoughts out of her mind and let herself get lost among the bright green scenery outside her window. Tree after tree passed by, zooming, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

Note
Thank you for reading the fifth chapter of my nook! PLEASE vote, comment and give your opinions about this book! Again, all places in this book are fictional!
New chapters ever Friday!
Thank you once again!