Run Away With Me

Chapter 6: Jamaica, a Caribbean island.

I step inside and force a smile on, laughing as I try to find the situation funny, because it is. Who knew that Nao would be good with kids? But this portrayal of innocence reminds me of my own lost one, making me iffy about it all.

"Holla," I say, dropping my bag on the nightstand. Nao notices me and throws Jamaica onto the bed, the kid laughing as he rolls on the mattress. I take in his dirty body and scrunch my nose up when he bounces on the white bed.

"No," I call, irritated now for a whole other reason. "No, no, no, no, no. Jamaica, shower, now." The boy scowls at me, his favorite person already decided. I look at Nao then back at the Caribbean island.

"I don't wanna," he mutters, sliding off the bed and hiding behind it. I leave them for less than an hours and his caution has already dropped. I wonder if it wasn't us who picked him up, what kind of disaster he would've been in.

Maybe Nao has a trusting bone in him that attracts people, in either case Jamaica is taking a shower.

"Nao, come here." I barely notice the flits of irritation that pass his eyes, but before I can even think about it, it's gone. The thought slips to the back of my mind for later use.

"Here's some money." I unwrap some bills from the cookie dough packet and hand them over to Nao. "I'm sorry, but can you run out and buy some food, I didn't manage to eat enough at the diner." I speak loud enough for the pig between the beds to hear. "Thank you." Nao doesn't say anything but complies, moving past me to go get what I want.

"Jamaica!" I call and he imitates Nao, remaining silent. "Nao went out to buy some food for me; do you want a bit of it?" When you've starved, it takes more than average to fill you up. The bush of brown hair peeks out from under the covers. "Now, it's either you go take a shower or..."

"I can attack you and take the food from you..." his voice is muffled.

"Think you can get it from Nao?"

He glares at me and shuffles into the bathroom, a smirk on my face as I hear the shower turn on. Not a second later however, he comes out, wet and dirtier than before.

"At least take off your clothes!"

"You told me to take a shower, I did!"

"That's not what I call taking a shower!"

"This is what I call taking a shower!"

I swear this kid... I stalk towards him and drag him by the wrist into the bathroom. He struggles against me, but it's no use, stubbornness is one of my qualities. I push him into the tub and take off his clothes against his will.

I feel like a damn pervert.

"Don't fight me, my definition of shower or no food, you choose." From his eyes I can tell that he isn't going to do it if I leave him to it. I take the shower hose and turn on the water, letting it warm up before spraying him with it.

"Hey!" He shouts, shielding his face from the attack.

"This'll be over before you know, sit down for now." We have a staring contest that ends in my victory. He huffs and turns his back to me, leaning against the inside of the tub.

I shut the head off and stand up, scanning the small bottles of soap on the rack. I find the three bottles I'm looking for and I go back to my knees.

I turn on the water again and let it wet his hair, closing it as I rub shampoo in my hands.

"Close your eyes or it'll sting." It comes as a surprise he's obedient now, crossing his arms and closing his eyes, allowing me to clean his hair. I don't dislike this lack of stubbornness, but doesn't he trust people too easily?