Fanfiction: Safe and Sound Part 5

Casts: Jenna McDougall, Whakaio Taahi, Jeff Todd, Bertrand Poncet, Cameron Adler.

Setting:

Author: Me

"Here you are. Why are you here? Let's just enjoy some drinks.," Whak says. Holding out his hand to me. 

I'm not going anywhere. I'll just stay at this corner of this room. My former schoolmates are staring at me, they must think that I'm crazy, drop out of school for music. 

"You're not happy, eh?", he says with a sorry tone. 

I sigh. "No. It's just.... I'm not feeling comfortable. Being here. While they're having prom night and I'm not part of them. They think I'm weird."

"I'm sorry, Jen. but we need this. We need to perform somewhere. And school prom nights are the best place to spread our name a bit. School kids are the best," he says. 

I'm trying to understand the situation. We've been so broke in these past 5 months. We need money, we need to play somewhere and get paid. And now we're stuck with school prom nights, and I look stupid with high heels, and cocktail dresses. 

"All right then. What do you wanna do now?", Whak sits beside me. 

I shrug. "Nothing, I guess. I'm just wondering...."

He frowns. "Wondering what?"

I look down to the floor, fiddling with my fingers. "You know. I will never experience anything normal, like this. Prom nights."

"So... you regret everything you've done? Quit school... and... be with us....?", Whak stands up and set to leave. 

"No, no. I don't regret anything," I grab his hand and stand up. "Why should I regret anything?". 

He looks at me. "Why should you? And why are you trying to fit in and be normal when you already stand out?". 

I smile lightly. "Alright. Haha. But let's do something normal tonight. Something really really normal."

He raises one of his eyebrows. "Let's dance."

I crack my self up. "Dance?"

He laughs. "Yes. Come on it's a prom night, we should dance." 

I bit my bottom lip, lurking at the crowd of kids dancing with their partners to a slow song through Whak's shoulder. "Well, if it's considered normal... let's go." 

***

I open my eyes. 

It’s a 3 days drive. So tiring and boring. All I can see is dry landscapes and concrete. I’m laying soundly in one of I Call Fives’ tour bus bunks.  I know, it’s weird. Being here is weird. I don’t know them well but they welcome me like one of their best friends. They’re just way too kind, way too kind. Especially Jeff. He was nothing to me before, but now he’s one my of my best mates. I’m going to treat him just like my other best mates. Just like how I treat Cameron, Matty, Jake… and Whak.

My eyes are still burning from a hard cry. I messed up everything with Whak. I don't know how he would treat me after this. It all would be completely different every now and then. Suddenly, Jeff pops from from behind the bunk curtain, holding a portable bus phone.

"Your tour manager is on the line. He wants to talk to you," he says, handing the phone to me.

Hesitantly I take the phone and stick the speaker to my face. I look at Jeff with scared look. Jeff nods.

"Ben?", I say to the speaker.

"No, Jenna. It's Cam," says someone from the other side of the line.

"Cam? How do you know that I'm here?", I say.

"Chris told me by twitter direct message," he answers.

I sigh. "Chris. You're a dead man," I look at Jeff. "I'm okay, Cam. You don't have to worry. How's Whak? Getting better or...?"

"He's fine. He feels bad about you. He wants you to come back," he says.

I pause for a while. "You're lying. He's mad at me. He don't even want to see my face."

"No, Jen. He's just still a little bit upset. He'll get over it in a second. Tell me where we can pick you up," he says.

"No, Cam. I'm not ready to meet Whak. Maybe we don't have to meet at all until we arrive at the next location, I'm sorry dude," I say. Nerves run down my gut. I pass the phone to Jeff. Refusing to argue with Cam and I believe he would understand.

"Tell him I'm tired," I say to Jeff. He nods.

It has been more than 24 hours since I left my band in our bus. The road is starting to get me sick. I'm thinking  too hard. The last sleep I had was really brief. But I decide to get out of "my bunk" and talk to someone. Everybody's sleeping, and I can't even find Jeff. As I walk to the pantry I can see the bus is pulling over to a gas station. Good. I think to my self. I need some fresh air. Midnight air in the summer is beautiful.

I get out of the bus, the driver told me that I don't have much time. I'm going to use my little time the best I can. First, I need to get some sweets at the food shop.

The shop is solitary placed on the corner of the gas station area. And I was right, the air is wonderful. Not cold, not too humid. Easy to breath through it. I walk carelessly to the little shop. Nobody is there, and there's no other vehicle stopping by either. I look up to the sky, it's so beautiful. For awhile, I forget my problems.

The shop looks dead.  I grab some packs of m&m's and bars of snickers. I reach for my pocket and bring my sweets to the cashier. As the cashier scanning my stuffs,  two men with a motorcycle park by the shop. They walk in and looking at me with a strange look. I smile awkwardly to ease the atmosphere. But suddenly, one of the men hold out something from his pocket. A gun. Yes. A freaking gun.

I hold my self from screaming, walking discreetly away from them. One of the shop burglars sees my move. He grabs my arm and catches me in a head lock. I scream wildly. Try to free my self from the big scary figure that can break my neck without struggle.

"Money! Or I'll shoot!", shouts one of the burglars.

"We don't have any fucking money, you moron! What do you think we are? McDonald's?", says the cashier guy boldly.

"HEEELLPP!", I scream my lungs out. Fear runs down my gut.

"Shut up! Bitch!", shouts the man that holds the gun. "Finish her. I'll get the money!" orders him to the partner.

I'm dragged to the other side of the room by the neck. The powerful hand of my "kidnapper" chokes me to death. I can't breath. My body is officially limp. Few seconds later I can hear a deafening gun shoot from the cashier table. I try to scream, but my throat's blocked. Maybe this is it. Maybe I'm "finished".

I'm dropped to the floor harshly with my head against the solid tiles. I can't make a sound. I can see my blood running down the floor. So calm, so slow. The man sits on top of me, grab my neck and starts smothering me. Things start to appear blurry. I take my last deep breath, and gone.

***

"I'll be safe and sound"

"Yes you will", Whak says.



"We have to contact her band mates. Chris, use twitter, anything," Jeff says.

I try to say something, I don't want them to call my band mates. But everything is black, and my head is throbbing in a paralyzing pain. I realize my eyes are still closed. I inhale as much air as I can take, trying to retrieve all my consciousness back. 

I open my eyes. The light in the room is blinding, shocking my eyes. I gasp. Somebody's got my hand. Holding it tight. It's Jeff. I open my eyes again slowly, trying to settle with the light. Jeff smiles and pats the back of my hand gently. 

I take a deep breath and speak. "What happened?"

"You got knocked out," he says, giggling to himself. 

If I can, I'll laugh. But I just can't. "Is the cashier guy okay?"

"He's alive. But he lost a lot of blood. He's in the room next to us," he says. 

I exhale hardly. "Good then."

Jeff smiles again, this time it calms me down. He pulls the blanket over my chest and tells me to just sleep. It's like nine in the morning already, how can I go back sleep?

"Jeff, just don't call my band. They'll freak out," I beg him. 

"They should be freaked out because they care about you, Jen," he insists.

I sigh. "You just don't understand!" I shout.

He stares at me with disbelief. "Yes, I don't understand," he says up-set-ly. 

Suddenly, a nurse walks in. She tells us that I can leave today. No serious injury, no severe concussion, I just need to rest a little bit more. Thank God today is a day off of Warped. I don't have to be worried. I'm sure I'll be ready for another show the day after tomorrow. 

I try to walk by my self to the bus, but everything starts to spin every time I try to stand straight. Eventually, Jeff has to carry me on his back to the bus. I feel sorry about what I've done to him earlier. I was acting like a bitch when all that he cared about was me. 

We go back to the I Call Fives' bus. The bus is moving again. I'm glad I'm not dead, and so grateful that I'm surrounded by these beautiful people. The rest of the band checking my condition one by one. Giving me little gifts and chocolates. They say that I'm just like their little sister, and they don't mind taking care of me and having me as a new part of the family. They order me to sleep, to not disturb me, they go back to their favorite spot of the bus, the back lounge. But Jeff decides to stay with me.

"I'm so so so sorry about what I said earlier, Jeff. I'm such a pain in the ass," I say. 

He laughs. "You were just tired, and disoriented. Haha."

"Yeah. Absolutely disoriented. My head is killing me", I say, holding my bandaged head.  

He stick out his bottom lip, giving me a pity look. "Poor Jenna. But you look so attractive wearing bandage. You should wear it more," he pats my hair. 

I chuckle. "Maybe I should, hahaha." 

Jeff holds my hand as I'm trying to sleep, but every time I close my eyes the picture from last night's bloody accident comes flashing in my head giving me anxiety and a shock wave of fear.

"Jeff, I'm afraid, " I snap suddenly.

"Afraid of what? It's all over," he says.

"I don't know. The picture from last night keeps flashing in my head," I pause to breathe. "And I miss Whak," I know I'm crazy but I can't hold my tears. I'm absolutely disoriented from the head injury.

"I'll stay here, okay?" he says. He lays beside me and puts his arm around me as I'm frantically trying to wipe my tears because I know it's not normal to suddenly cry in front of a boy without any sensible reason. 

I dive my face onto his chest, he holds me tighter. I feel safe and warm. Surprisingly, he kisses the top of my head gently, giving me butterflies in my guts. I can feel his breathe on my hair, the smell of his shirt brings me back to sanity. 

"You're a great girl. My favorite girl by far. I'd kill the fucking culprit if I was there," he says soothingly. 

I shake my head. "You'd get hurt if you were there."

"We could get knocked out together, wearing matching bandages," he says. 

"But who's gonna carry me to the bus then?", I giggle. 

He laughs on my forehead. "Chris." 

"I'm not sure he's strong and manly enough to carry me on his back. I'm a big girl," I say. 

"Ooo, so you think that I'm strong and manly?" he says. 

I lift my head and give him a weird look, "Cool, I take my words". 

"No! You can't  take back your words bandage head!" he says in his laugh and starts to tickle me. 

I laugh so hard and try to stop him. I tickle him back so we're tie. He tries to stop me, but I do the same thing he does. I won't stop, until... his lips encounter mine. 

My heart beats so fast. Everything starts to spin again. I response to his kiss. He holds me tighter, his hand's on my back. He should be still a stranger to me, but he's not. I'm still not sure about my feeling for him, but I know that it will get stronger and stronger, this kiss will happen sooner or later. And it's happening now. So light and so beautiful. There is no lust, no other intention. Just a kiss. Sweet and sincere. 

***

Jeff has made an appointment with Cam that we will meet at the rest area near the state line at 7pm. I told Jeff I'm not ready but he has promised that if Whak is still mad at me, I can spend another day in his bus. 

It's 6.45pm, the sun is still up in the sky, today is not as hot as usual. Clouds are sitting soundly above the ground with its beautiful bright white color. Trees are waving, blown by the sweet summer breeze. Me and Jeff are sitting alone in the pantry, playing with our food. I can't get over our first kiss still, I loose my breathe every time he stares at me. I try to just take it easy.

"Jeff, maybe you're right. I worry too much," I say.

He pats my hair. "Yes you are. You have no excuse to worry about anything now. You've had me," he pulls me closer to him.

I look up at his face. His eyes are starry, reflecting the sun light that comes from the window. They're bright  and blue, with little strikes of brown in the middle. I want to keep him as my Teddy, cuddle him every night, buy him cute little clothes and candies.

We arrive at the meeting point earlier. I cannot see my band's bus around yet. Jeff decides that I need some fresh air due to my mild concussion that has been coming out again. I'm getting a little bit claustrophobic and disoriented and nauseous in the last few hours.

Jeff scoops me out of the bus, knowing that it's a waste of time waiting for me to walk straight without stumbling and eventually fall.

"You're a baby," he says teasing me.

I'm surprised by how sweet the air is outside. The sun is getting tired, heavy clouds start to make its appearance. I miss my home, Australia. Summer is always be beautiful down there. It's always be like this. Sugary breeze, beautiful air and melodies inside my head.

"Jenna, I'm going to buy some stuffs at the corner shop," Jeff brings me back to reality.

I glance at the shop in front of us. I gasp and jump off of Jeff's arms to the ground. Anxiety and scary images from the last's accident choke me.

I try to control my breathe and stand wobbly on my feet. "I'm staying here," I say, locking my eyes to the ground.

"Hey! Jenna!", somebody with a distinctive thick foreign accent calls my name from behind my back.

The ground starts to shake beneath my feet. I cling to Jeff's body to stay stable. If this is what they call "mild" concussion, I can't imagine how apocalyptic the world will appear in my eyes when I have the severe one. I turn my head slowly, it's Bert from Chunk! No Captain Chunk. A wide smile is worn on his childish face as he walks approaching me and Jeff. 

"Bert!" I say, trying to draw a friendly smile on my face.

"Woahhh... you look.... stoned!", Bert says, examining my disastrous appearance. "Hey, you're from I Call Fives, right! Bonjour!" he offers Jeff a handshake. 

"Hey, dude. You sound... french," Jeff goofs, giving Bert a handshake. 

I chuckle. "Weird, huh? Actually he's Asian," I say. Jeff and Bert laugh. 

Suddenly, a thunder strikes. My ears ring badly, I'm disoriented again, and now even worse. Jeff calls my name several times, I just can't respond. Bert's confused, but he thinks I'm funny and he keeps laughing. Rain starts showering, Jeff scoops me to the corner shop. I refuse to come in, so he puts me down in front of the shop with Bert. 

I lean to the wall behind me, watching the ground starts to get drenched by the water. Bert stands next to me, he keeps asking me if I'm okay or not but I'm not answering. 

"Jenna, what happened? Are you okay? Why you're not answering me?" he says desperately. 

When the ringing in my ears has gone, I can hear him clearer. "Sorry, dude. Having a concussion right here."

He stares at me with a blank look. "What is that? Concuz... what?"

I laugh. I forgot that he's not a native English speaker. "It's what happens when you smash your head to the floor, haha." 

"Whoah! What happened, Jen?", he asks. 

"I was caught by some freaky shop burglars, they tried to shut me up by smashing my head to the floor," I say under my laugh.

He looks at me with an astonishment. "No way! That's impossible!".

"Yeah, I know. I've never imagined that before, I've never thought something like that could ever possibly happen to me in real life," I say. "Anyway, where are the other boys?"

"They're making love with each other in our bandwagon. A foursome," he says.

I'm cracked up by his statement. His English is good only when he talks about disgusting things. "Hahaha, that happens. I believe."

The ground starts shaking again. I can't believe this. I'm sick of this. I turn my body facing the wall, put my forehead on its hard cool surface. Close my eyes and breathe. Bert starts to talk again, I can't hear him. To many noises surrounding me. All of a sudden the air is chill on my skin. The rain has replaced the heat waves with wind. And Bert's voice comes back again, it disappears, getting louder, and fades. I contend my urge to scream. 

"Bert I don't know if you're still there, I'm sorry I just can't talk to you now. I'm sorry, dude. Let's hang tomorrow, whenever, anytime soon. But just don't leave me until Jeff comes back please," I say still with my eyes closed and my forehead stuck to the wall.  

I'm sure Bert is saying something, I just can't get what he says. 

Suddenly, someone touches my shoulder. I believe it's Jeff. He covers my back with a piece of clothing, a jacket, or a shirt, I don't know. He pulls my body off the wall, embrace me with his arms and pats my hair. I love the smell of his shirt, so familiar and warm. 

So familiar. Wait. It's not Jeff. 

I try to wake my self up, crawling towards sanity. I don't know if it's real or not, but happiness bursting in my gut. This familiar smell, I still can't define. Something about it brings peace in my chest. 

"Let's go home," he says. 

His voice registers my head, my brain struggles to translate. I catch and understand what he said. I nod absent-mindedly. I drown my self in his warmth.

A moment later another voice calls my name. It's Jeff, I cannot be wrong.

"You better wait until the rain is over," Jeff says.

"I think so. What happens with her? She seems half-conscious," another voice rensponses. 

"Mild concussion. It keeps coming back. Just don't let her sleep when she's having it," Jeff says. 

"That's not good. But thank you for keeping her safe for me," the guy says. He holds me tighter, keeping me from falling. 

"I failed, dude," Jeff says.

"No. Without you she'd be sitting alone on some street starving to death or even has been killed. We should hang out sometime. You're my bro now," the guy says. 

And then I'm gone. Not fully gone, I'm awake, but senseless. These guys keep talking, I focus on my breathing. Some moments later, I can feel my body is lifted from the ground and carried somewhere I don't know. 

I open my eyes. The sky is dark, the rain is over. Now I can see the face of the guy who is carrying me. Yes. It's Whak. His face is tired, his hair is damp from the previous rain. He looks down at me, sees me with my eyes opened. He smiles. He only smiles when he's ought to. 

Back at my band's bus, everybody is worried about me. They welcome me with warm hugs and light pecks on my head. All I can do is smiling. I don't know what to say, I can't think of anything, I can't even keep my balance. 

"Dude, dude, she's having concussion. She needs to sit down," Whak says. 

I'm carried to the back lounge and seated on the couch. Everybody sits around me, checking my condition. I'm home, I'm safe. All I have to do is find a way to get out of this blurry world of concussion. 

"Jenna, look at me. Can you hear me?", Whak says, scooping my face with both of his hands. 

I look at him with a blank stare, I examine his face, he's worried, he's tired, he's wet. "Emm....", I murmur.

"What's my name?" he asks.

I look deep inside his eyes. It's dark brown, like the color of cookies. "Whakikio," I say.

He smiles.

***


I'm laying on the back lounge couch, my head's on Whak's lap. He's busy with his book. My head stops spinning, everything looks so much better now. Whak hasn't left my side since I came back to this bus, his damp clothes and hair are now dry. His face shows exhaustion, but he keeps reading. Jeff told him that I'm prohibited to go to sleep when I have concussion, so every time I close my eyes he slaps my cheek. It's been  two hours we're in this position. The bus is not moving, our driver needs to rest.

"Dude," I say.

"Yes?" he responses with his eyes on the book.

"I'm sorry, again," I say suddenly.

He chuckles and puts his book down. "Okay. And for what? I'm having a concussion I can't remember what happened."

I smile. "You fob! Haha," I get up off his lap and sit straight.

He smiles back and straighten up my crooked bandage. "Hey, you're okay now. Let's just eat something. I'm starving," he says.

We go to the pantry, he holds my hand to keep me from falling in case I'm loosing my balance again. This is what I miss from him, his protective acts, his hands.

He makes two bowls of cereal with some sprinkles of chocolate chips and cold milk, he sits beside me and watch me down the whole bowl in lest than 10 minutes. All of a sudden everything tastes amazing on my tongue, maybe because the last meal I had was like 24 hours ago.

"Do you wanna taste summer evening air, Whak?", I ask him as he finishes his bowl.

He looks up with his mustache covered in milk. "What?"

I giggle. "Haha you got milk on your stache," I grab some paper napkins and wipe his mustache. 

He smiles. "Thank you."

"Your welcome," I say grabbing his hand. "Let's go to the roof." 

He frowns. "Roof? What do you mean?"

"Let's do something crazy!", I say enthusiastically.

"Like getting knocked up by some creepy shop burglars?" he says. 

I laugh. "Yes! Let's go!"

"Jenna! Can you just slow down a moment?" he says.

I look at him. "I can't slow down. Why waste the time?"

He shakes his head and laugh. "You're unbelievable."

"Just 10 minutes, outside. I promise. After that we both can go to sleep," I insists.

Whak stands up. "Alright then!"

I get out of the bus by my self, Whak offers some help but I refuse it, and I can do it. I'm over my concussion phase, now I'm feeling better.

The air outside is beautiful as always. I try to figure out a way to get to the top of out bus. Whak finds some steps to get there. We can climb the bus by using the wheel and the window pane. Well, it's clever but I'm not sure I can do it. But Whak insists that I can.

He gets to the top first, and he helps me go up. Eventually, I make it.

We're laying side by side on the top of out tour bus. The sky is pretty, I inhale as much air as I can take and try to work out a smile on my face. Everything between me and Whak has been made up by itself. Maybe because we're best friends, fights are temporary and usual. I tilt my head to check him out, he doesn't make any sound. And yes, his eyes are closed and he's already deep in his sleep. Good, I should stay on the top of the bus all night long. Thank you Whak.

I laugh. How could he fall asleep that fast?

But after all, something inside of me tells me that everything is going to be better. Starts from tonight.

And Jeff, he's the cherry on top of all of this. I'm grateful for my life.