I kidnapped Josh Hutcherson

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Her car was where she left it two days ago when she went to Jenni's house with the Caramel Chew-Chew ice-cream tub. Paige realized that Jenni had no reason to move it. They had sleep overs all the time, why would anyone get suspicious over her car being parked by the curb for forty eight hours? Unless they were extremely paranoid, they'd just think they were having one of their usual whole week stay overs.

They sat crouched behind the gate of the house three doors down from Jenni's. Her best friend's house seemed empty. Maybe she had already went out searching for them? "I can feel the grass juices seeping into my jeans," she muttered, her eyes scanning the area over the top of the wall meticulously.

Josh, who was also peering over the wall, looked at her and scoffed. "Something tells me you'll be fine," he answered. "I didn't even know grass had juices."

"What do you think gives you grass stains?" Paige asked.

"I can't believe we're actually discussing this." He turned his head back so he was looking out at the streets again. "Which one is your car?" 

"The green Volkswagen beetle," Paige whispered.

"That's your car? I thought that was a piece of junk someone was throwing out!"

"Hey, don't be a dick just because you ride a motorcycle," Paige hissed. "The beetle gets me where I need to go." She stuck her hand in her pocket, feeling around for the keys. "Plus, it's a convertible." She could see Josh grin at her out of her eye. They hadn't fallen out. "Okay, I think the road is as clear as it's going to get. I think we need to go. Now or never, as they say."

Josh nodded. "Okay," he said.

They both leaped over the wall at the same time, Paige tripping as usual. She grabbed Josh's arm for support and almost knocked him over as well. As he caught his balance and went straight for the car, Paige yanked the shoe off her foot and threw it away. She had plenty shoes at home anyway. Gravel dug and scraped her feet through her socks as she hopped across the road and scrambled to stick her key into the lock on the car door.

"Paige!" 

Paige froze, knowing for a fact that that wasn't Josh who had screamed her name. He was at the other side of the car, his head turned to the right, his face a picture of horror. She looked that way too, her heart skipping a thousand beats at the sight of Jenni running towards them from the other end of the street.

"Unlock the car!" Josh exclaimed.

"I'm trying!" Paige turned back to the door, her hands trembling. The tip of the key scraped the metal every time she missed. Finally, when she was sure that Jenni was moments from being right on top of them, the key went into the lock and she jerked it open. Josh threw his door open and scrambled inside immediately. Paige took a fleeting glance at Jenni, who was barrelling down the road faster and faster. "I'm sorry Jenni!" she yelled.

"Paige!" Jenni screamed back.

Ignoring her, Paige climbed into the driver's seat of the car, sticking the key into the ignition and revved the engine. She backed the car out as fast as she could, accidentally knocking over some of the neighbour's bins. Paige roared down the road and almost crashed as she veered around the corner out of Jenni's street. She hadn't realized her beetle could go so fast. Her little ancient car still had some life in it.

"Put your belt on," she told Josh as they came out onto the main road.

"Right," Josh replied, as if it was something on his list of priorities that he had forgotten. He quickly jammed his belt into the buckle and Paige did the same, not liking how restricted it made her feel but having to deal with it anyway.