Different

Different-Chapter 11

11: Joshua- Landon

"Of course I can drive! I'm old enough to in both senses," I replied, looking at Josh strangely. Why did he want to know?

"Good. First I need to find something," Josh replied, looking ahead of us at the wall. He stepped towards it, examining the stones and running his fingers against each of them. He recolied as a sharp stone stabbed him.

He mumbled something in what sounded like Japanese, then wiped a small spot of blood on his jeans and continued searching. "No," he muttered, looking back at me and frowning. He checked over the spot again and again, then helplessly backed away, shaking his head.

"I knew I should have moved it," he grumbled to himself, looking back at me. "Ok, change of plans. Do you have a car?"

"No."

He sighed, but didn't seem surprised. "Younglings... What am I going to do with you? We can take my car." He started walking back towards the school.

"Wait! You have a car? But you're what, like, twelve years old?" I asked, catching up to him.

"I'm thirteen. Kind of."

"Right. But why do I have to drive?"

"When people weren't busy fighting, people used to take these things called Sunday drives. You just drive into the country side and thank God for the beautiful day and the luck you have to be alive." Jsoshua laughed bitterly. It sounded similar to the spiteful words he had used to question me during what felt like a lifetime ago.

"The last time I went on one of those, it was in a horse drawn carriage two days after the Titanic went down. Turns out not even Sophia could save that sinking ship..." he shook his head regretfully. "But I didn't stay to watch it go down. I was smart enough then to know when and when not to magically fly away.

"Sophia on the other hand, had to stay and try and play hero as always. She's always been so naive, too self obsessed. I see why Teagan and her are friends."

"You were on the Titanic? And you just flew away and nobody knew?" It seemed a tad bit amazing to be talking to one of the survivors of the tragic ship- even though he should be dead, or in a retirement home.

"Nobody really notices a tiny British kid jumping off the side of the boat and coincidentally not hitting the water," he said flatly.

"Oh."

By now, we had arrived at the parking lot outside of the school, which boasted a grand total of fifteen cars. He pointed to an old Pontiac and pulled out a pair of jangling keys, handing them to me. I couldn't help but stare at the newly painted blue sports car. A thirteen year old owned this?!

"Should I even ask how you got this? It's amazing! This isn't stick shift is it?" I asked, over excited as he hopped into the passenger's seat.

"Sophia got it for me a few years back on my..." He pretended to count on his fingers. "93rd birthday."

I shook my head, turning the key in the ignition and starting to back out of the parking space. "I won't ask."

"Good, because I don't think I could name all the presents she's given me and I've given her. We just find whatever crap the other might want and gift it. Ta da! Amazing." Josh's voice lacks most any emotion. He clearly isn't amused, which makes me wonder even more what the heck happened to the kid to make him this way.

We left the parking lot silently, driving in the opposite direction of town and heading along the line of woods near the school. "Can he hear us?" I asked, thinking about Travis.