The Elemental Book 1: Earth (***UNDER SEVERE EDITING***)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

We Get Sword Fighting Lessons from Our Messed Up-And Slightly Damaged-English Teacher

I stared out the window, and I dozed off slightly. When I awoke, it was ten o'clock at night. I yawned and looked back at Brendon. He was half asleep, and I looked at Jake, who was still driving.

"Go back to sleep, Ari. You look exhausted," he said.

"Can't. Too cold, and Brendon's snoring is keeping me up," I said.

"I heard that," Brendon's voice said from behind me.

I smiled and looked over my shoulder. "You were meant to."

Jake chuckled, and I looked back out the window. We were quiet for a while, and I looked at the moon. It shone brightly, and I was reminded of Artemis.

I sighed, and Jake turned on the radio. All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar started playing, and I heard Jake singing. I looked at him and saw he was looking straight at me, singing.

I laughed slightly and shook my head. "You're weird."

In response, Jake sang the chorus. He sang loudly and very off-key.

I laughed, and Brendon leaned over the seat to talk to me. "I think that was a declaration of love," he whispered.

"In your dreams," I whispered back.

"Come on, Ari. He basically asked you to marry him," Brendon said.

"He was just singing along with the song. Honestly Brendon, Jake doesn't like me like that. Trust me," I said, though he didn't seem convinced. And I wasn't either.

"Come on guys, sing with me," Jake said.

I smiled and sang along too. Brendon gave me a look, but finally joined in. It was kinda fun, and we all eventually got in the spirit. The song ended, and we were all smiling.

"Next song!" Brendon said, and Cruise by Florida Georgia Line started playing.

"Turn it up!" I said excitedly, and Jake turned up the volume.

I sang loudly, and Jake and Brendon joined in. We were all laughing, and it felt like old times whenever we went camping together. We would all sit around a campfire, and Brendon would play the guitar while we sang songs.

Brendon's really good at the guitar, and I tried to get him to choose that as his career, but he's dead set on being a hotel and casino owner in Vegas. He had the quick fingers, but he'd be better as a lawyer or a secret agent.

Jake, on the other hand, wants to be a movie producer. He'd be good for the job, since he's good with machines and building stuff like Hephaestus. Like father like son.

I actually don't know what I want to be. I want to be an author, since I have a very creative imagination, but I also want to be a wedding planner since I love making up scenarios for things like that. But yet, I also want to do stuff in the ocean since I love water. Being the Elemental kind of limits things, but yet opens up doors.

The song ended and Footloose by Blake Shelton started playing.

"I love this song!" Jake said.

Brendon yawned. "Well, I'm going to sleep. Night." He closed his eyes. His head dropped and his breathing slowed, and I knew he was asleep.

"I don't know how he can fall asleep that quickly," I said, shaking my head.

"It's a guy thing," Jake said, shrugging.

"Apparently it is. I can't fall asleep so easily," I said.