The Fall

Chapter Eight

Two cars arrived the next day, as Peter stood outside the house.

"Lance," he greeted his friend with a grin. "What's the plan?"

Lance waved as he approached. "You and the girl will ride with me. Why did you request another car?"

"I have a package to deliver to my mom," Peter informed him. "One second."

Janet was inside, finishing her packing. When Peter walked in, she was putting in one last thing: something small wrapped up in some clothes. She stuffed it in her bag when she saw Peter. "They're here?"

"Yup." Peter heloed her zip up the bag then carried it for her. "Get your cat."

Moments later, Janet approached the second driver and handed him the crate with her bekived cat in it. "See here, sir, this cat better make it safely to Peter's mother's house... or else!"

The man gulped and nodded quickly before retreating into his car.

Lance raised an eyebrow and Peter, then turned to look at Janet. "Nice to meet you, ma'am,  I am Lance, I'll be driving us down-"

"Yeah, thanks," she cut him off and ignored the hand he put out to shake. "I call shotgun."

The backseat was tiny, cramped, and uncomforable, even for just one person. Peter wondered why Lance had chosen the smallest car. Probably the gas mileage or something.

Lance, as he drove, kept both hands on the wheel. His eyes would sometimes dart over to Janet then quickly retreat, but his hand noticable tightened on the wheel.

"Let's turn on the radio," Janet suggested, reaching over and hitting the FM button. The trio were quickly listening to some pop song, and Janet started singjng loudly along. Lance reached over and hit the off button.

"Let's not."

~

Lance soon grew  very tired and switched places with Peter so he could curl up in the backseat. Janet let Peter have shotgun and took the wheel herself.

"Haha! Is he asleep?"

Peter looked into the backseat, excited. Was she going to tell him something she didn't want Lance to hear??

"Ya, now he is."

Janet grinned and turned up the radio. "Whoo! I love this song!"

Peter's face fell. Oh well. But now he had to deal with her singing. "Janet, please-"

"Sing along, doofus! Just a city boy- You know the words!"

Peter shook his head no. Janet sighed, smirking. "I'll have you singin' the next time they cut back to us, you'll see."

~

"Look, Travis, it's you!"

Travis ignored Rita as she undoubtedly pointed at the ugliest fish in the market. "Come on, we need to get back to the hotel."

They were in San Fransisco, where they'd checked into a hotel for the night before the ship left. Rita had wanted to go see some of the fish markets by the marina and had dragged Travis along with her.

Rita stuck her tongue out at him but quickly fell in step next to him. "Any word?"

"Lance texted me. They left a few hours ago and will drive overnight so they get here on time."

"Peter... he really did it."

"She must like him," Travis agreed. "Lance must be feeling very awkward right now!"