Spirits (Spirits Series Book 1) (7 page)

     “What are we doing?” Drew asks
with a grin as we pull into a car dealership on the way back home.

Dad smiles, “I talked your M
om into trading in this monster.”

Drew
looks a bit crestfallen but says nothing.

“You two fee
l free to look around.” Mom says squeezing Dad’s hand.

“Yeah,” Drew says as we climb
out and I follow behind him trying not to laugh. It’s like taking a kid in a candy store and telling them they can’t have anything. I’m waiting for him to throw a fit.

“This sucks.” He scowls
as we walk around looking at the cars.

“Cheer up
, maybe mom will let you drive hers.”

“Sure, cause
she’s so good at sharing. Remember when I asked to borrow the Suburban a few months ago?”

I giggle recalli
ng the look on mom’s face. I think she would’ve been less mortified if he had painted his nails black, wore eyeliner and said he was joining an occult. “Yes, it didn’t go over well.”

“I
just want my own car. I don’t want to have to ask for a ride somewhere like a child.”

“Yeah it sucks.” I agree.

He looks longingly at a new Mustang.

“Y
ou can hang that up,” I shake my head, “I have a feeling it will be used cars for us.”

“I’m cool with that, are you?”

Wait a minute did I hear that right? Not too long ago he’d have died at the thought of getting something second hand, now he’s all right with it? Maybe he is maturing. “Totally fine with me.”

We wa
nder off towards the used-car section and he’s instantly drawn towards an old Chevelle. “Look at this baby.” He runs his hand along the blue hood, “She’s a beauty.”

I don’t like it, not that it isn’t
a good-looking car but it creeps me out. “Maybe you should look at something else.” I glanced around to find something to take his attention off of the Chevelle. “That Scion is newer and I bet it’s a lot better on gas.”

“Journey this i
s a classic, they don’t make cars like this anymore.”

Okay…
Let me try a different angle, “This one will get you more female attention.”

He chuckles, “I don’t need a car to get girls.”

“I like your style.” Dad says walking up. “I’m surprised though, I assumed you’d be all over the newer cars.”

Drew nods, “I was but this is awesome, it’s got my name all o
ver it.”

“Are you sure?” Mom asks, “Y
ou’re only getting one car from us.”

“
Really? I can have it?” He asks excitedly.

“As long as y
ou hold up your end of the deal, good grades and you drive responsibly.” Dad says.

“Yes si
r, you have my word.” Drew all but jumps for joy.

“How about you, did you find anything you like?” Mom asks.

“Umm…” I look around.

“Maybe you should get the Scion.” Drew says
leaning against the Chevelle.

“It’s really cute and I like the pearl shimmer
paint on it.” Mom says.

“S
ee, I told you it’s a girl magnet.” I say in one last-ditch effort.

Drew
shakes his head quickly. He isn’t going to budge.

“Stick w
ith the muscle car son, girls appreciate a guy with taste.” Dad pats his shoulder grinning.

“H
ow about the Jeep Wrangler? You could take the top off when it’s nice outside, put a couple of surfboards in the back. Girls dig a convertible.” I smile.

“Why do
n’t you get it and I’ll borrow it.” Drew says.

S
hrugging, looking at the Jeep, I know he’s not going to change his mind. They could probably offer him a new sports car and he’d turned them down. “Fine, I’ll take it.” The little car is too cool for me. I like the Jeep it’s a formidable vehicle, it says I’m not a dainty little girl that will be pushed around, it says I have no boundaries, plus it’s black, my favorite color and it’s big enough that I don’t have to worry about other vehicles running me over.

“This is so exciting Joe, our babies are growing
up, getting their first cars, soon they’ll be going off to college, then they’ll be getting married and having their own babies.” Mom gets misty eyed.

“Susan I think you are jumpin
g ahead just a little bit.” Dad consoles her as she digs through her purse for a tissue.

“What about you M
om? Did you find a smaller car?” I ask.

“I’m not getting rid of min
e honey it was just a ploy,” she sniffles, “Dad wanted to see if you too would behave like adults or children.”

“I expecte
d one of you to behave like a… brat.” He glances at Drew, “however you were both very mature, I am impressed.”

“S
o I passed the test?” Drew asks.

“With flying
colors.” Mom smiles looking like she’s going to start crying again.

“A
wesome? When can I drive it?” Drew beams.

“Let’s get a couple of salesmen for a test
drive, if you still like them we’ll come back and do the paperwork. Then it’s all yours.” Dad nods.

“C
ool, I’ll go get them.” Drew says rushing off towards the building.

“Sweetie are you sure you wouldn’t rather
have the girlie car?” Dad points to the Scion.

“No, this would fit me better.”

Dad chuckles, “What is it with you and your mom liking bigger automobiles?”

“Hey, at
least I won’t look lost in mine.”

“You have a point.” He laughs looking down at M
om.

“I can’t help
I inherited the short gene.” She smiles at him playfully.

Drew all but
runs back jingling a set of keys as the salesman try to keep up with him.

“You’re
coming with me.” He drags Dad towards his car.

“Guess
you’re stuck with me.” I tell Mom, as I hold out my hand for the keys to freedom feeling a little giddy.

The guy instantly starts his sales pitch
as we pull out of the parking lot. Mom sits in the backseat quietly listening but he’s really starting to get on my nerves.

“Dude
, unless it falls apart in the road it’s sold okay?” I say following close to Drew. “What can you tell me about my brothers car?”

He looks
at me confused for a second. “Well it’s a 1969 Chevelle, everything is original, runs great, overall it’s an amazing piece of machinery.”

“I’m no car expert b
ut if it’s so great why’s it so cheap and still on your lot? Don’t they usually cost about the same as a new car in that condition?”

He shrugs and looks out the window, “W
e got an excellent deal on it, just passing along the savings.”

Freaking liar! Since when do car lots
try to save the public money? “Sure.” I roll my eyes. Something about it is not kosher.

“Do you like it?” Mom asks
leaning forward.

“Not really.”

“You want to test drive something smaller?” The guy asks.

“Oh, no, I thought you meant Drew
’s new obsession. I like this one just fine.” I say heading back.

     “What
do you think?” Drew asks hanging back as Mom and Dad follow the men in to do the paperwork, “I look good driving it, huh?”

I’m not sure what my aversion is to the car but clearly he’s in love with it and I don’t want to
burst his bubble. “Yeah you do.”

“Do you think Kay
will like it?”

I giggle, “Since when do
you care what she thinks?”

He looks at m
e seriously, “I’ve always cared, you have to promise not to tell her that okay?”

I nod my head, “Al
right.”

“She was my first crush. I wanted to be more than just friends but every time
I said something about being serious she pushed me away so I finally quit and took whatever attention she gave me.”

“I had no i
dea, I’m sorry.”

He shrugs, “M
e too, I wonder if things would have ended differently had she been my girl friend. I could have stopped her Journey. I would’ve made her happy, made her not want to,” he turns away silent for a moment and wipes his eyes. “How could she do that to us? She knew we both loved her. I was so mad at her for a long time. It killed me to go to school knowing she wasn’t going to be there smiling when I walked in. That there would be no more notes passed asking if I’d sneak over afterwards. How could she be so stupid and selfish? Things would have gotten better, they always do.”

Holy crap! I had no clue! This whole time I thought they were ju
st being typical teenagers when actually Drew was head over heels for her and she was playing him like a used set of drums. Now I really want to choke her out! “Is that why you’ve been even more of a jerk to me and other girls? Doing stupid crap like smoking pot and barely passing your classes? You’ve been depressed?”

“Please don’t tell her or Mom and Dad.
”

“I’m not, but promise me you’ll do better in school and no more weed,
drugs are for losers.” Wow, I sound like an afterschool special.

He chuckles
, probably thinking the same thing. “I will sis.”

“You know I’ll always be here for you, even when you’re being a butt head.”

“Yeah and I can talk to Kadence.” He says happily.

Great… Maybe I shouldn’t have told him she was still hanging around. What if he refuses to move on? Then again it could be a good th
ing, she’ll be her old self plus she’s dead, he’ll see nothing serious would have ever come of them and find a new girl to crush on. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully Kay made some new friends today. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it.

     “It will be dark soon, we want you two to follow us home
. Tomorrow you can drive wherever you like.” Mom says walking up to us.

“Fine with me.” Drew climbs
in his car with a cheesy grin.

I don’t have to be a mind reader to know he
can’t wait to show it off to Kadence. I promised I wouldn’t tell her how he felt about her but you better believe I’ll be letting her know she better be nice to him.

Fumbling with the radio I find a decent station and carefully follow in line behind
Drew who looks to be singing along with the radio a bit over animated. He can be such a dork at times then again so can I. Yeah we are definitely related.

     “Journey did you
leave your lights on?” Dad asks as I get out of my car. My car, it feels great to think it. “I didn’t think so… But I guess I did, sorry.” I know without a doubt I didn’t. I didn’t even have the light on this morning I had the curtains open letting the sunshine in.

“Conservation fro
m now on, all right?”

“Y
es sir.”

A couple
of years ago he started this kick of conserving energy, recycling and doing what is best for the environment. Not that it’s a bad thing. I think he had a mild stroke when Mom got her Suburban, he ranted for a week about how inefficient it was before he gave up on her taking it back. I’m surprised he didn’t push for electric cars or at least hybrids.

“Whenever possible I
’d like for you guys to ride together, no sense in taking separate vehicles to the same place.” Dad said as we walked to the porch.

Ah, I knew there was a catch.

“You’ll be riding with me.” Drew says quickly.

“
You can take turns.” Mom says before I have a chance to protest.

“Alright.” Drew sighs
knowing it’s pointless to argue.

“Good, I hope you stick with it.” Dad pat
s his back as we enter.

Drew h
eads straight to the stairs then stops and turns around, “Thanks a lot, I really appreciate the car. I’m going to take good care of it.”

“You are very welcom
e.” Dad smiles. It’s easy to see that he’s happy Drew has turned over a new leaf.

“Good night.” Mom calls out as he rushes up the steps
.

“Night!” H
e hollers already out of sight.

Good night my butt! He’ll be talking to K
adence all night. I shouldn’t care, I should be relieved not to share my bed, not that she took up space before, I could’ve rolled on her and never known but I didn’t, that would’ve been weird and now that we’ve moved things are changing.  I’m not sure if I like it.

“Are you hungry?” Mom asked stopping at the kitchen entrance watching me stare up the stairs.