Light as a Feather

Chapter Nineteen

        Annabelle did not want to be in the car with Tyler, but she knew that it was an easy way for him to get her to where she needed to go. 

        "So, why do you need to find your uncle?" he asked, turning on his blinker to switch lanes. 

        Crap. "Oh, I just need to... well, I just have to talk to him." 

        He gave her wayward eyes, but he didn't say anything. "Well, at this rate we should be there in about... six hours." Annabelle groaned at this. 

        "Aw, come on. I'm not that bad, am I?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear.

        Annabelle stared straight ahead without smiling. "Actually, yes you are. And since we're going to take six hours to get there, why don't we stop and get food?" she said. Food would probably be a good idea. 

        Tyler said, "I'm down for that. But I only have enough money for gas, so you'll have to buy." 

        Annabelle shrugged. "Yeah, whatever. Drop me off here," she said. She pointed to a 7-Eleven and Tyler pulled into it and parked in a spot. 

        "Dang, you're so bossy," he said, seeming hurt. 

        "You'll get over it. Don't be a pansy. You're riding with me for six hours, just remember that."

        He frowned and she got out of the car. She was actually in a really cute and flowy red dress with heeled ankle boots. She put on her sunglasses and got out of the car. Tyler let out a low whistle in appreciation, so Annabelle reached over and smacked him. "Ow!" he whined. 

        "None of the flirting, please." 

        "You're no fun," he said, sticking out his tongue. Annabelle rolled her eyes and walked in the store. She walked up and down the aisles, and eventually came out with a bag of beef jerky, a couple of candy bars, a large bag of Doritos, a smaller bag of trail mix, four bottles of water, and a pack of Orange Rain gum. She got in the car with her food, and shut the door. Tyler was staring at her like she was a goddess of junk food (except for the water and trail mix) or something. He took the bag from her and examined the contents. When he was done, his face fell. 

        "That's it?" he asked.

        "We're driving for six hours, not six years," she answered, annoyed. Was he going to whine this much the whole way there? Because if he was, she wasn't sure how long she could take it. 

        "I eat like a lion!" he exclaimed. "And why did you get gum?"

        "That stinks. This can be your version of a diet, then. And I bought it because I like gum, and I bought it with my money." 

        "You're mean," he said. He switched gears and pulled out of the parking lot. He switched the radio station to heavy metal, and Annabelle turned it off. He turned it on again. She turned it off again. He turned it on and then turned up the volume a few notches. She gave him one of her best death stares, but he didn't budge. He bopped his head to the music, mouthing the unintelligible noises until Annabelle turned the stupid radio off again. Then he hung his head and mock-pouted.

        "Do we have to listen to that crap?" she asked. 

        "No, we don't, because it's not crap," Tyler answered as he pressed the on button again. 

        Annabelle sat there feeling aggravated. He was really annoying. How the heck did his parents put up with him? It couldn't have been more than ten minutes in that car, and she was already starting to be bothered.