Erica continued with, “Your father never mentioned you ever having a dog. Or even a cat. That surprised me.”
“Why?”
“It seems the norm in a household to have a pet,” Erica replied with a shrug.
Jaz looked at her aunt. “I don’t really… like dogs.”
Her aunt and uncle exchanged looks. Jaz felt like she’d missed something. She gazed at Erica, searching for any signs she’d offended her. Her aunt looked almost amused by her remark. So did her uncle for that matter. It confused Jaz but she apologized anyway. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong.”
“No, I’m sure it came out exactly right.” Aunt Erica grinned.
“Well, I mean, I don’t hate them or have anything against them. I just wouldn’t want one as a pet.”
“Why is that?”
Her uncle swung round when Erica asked what they were all curious to hear.
She tried to pick her words carefully as she responded. “Well... when I was about ten I was out in the park with my dad and was attacked by a dog. It managed to yank free from its owner and jumped on me, knocking me over and then tried to bite chunks out of my face.”
Jaz noticed her aunt and uncle were stock-still. She continued, “My dad tried to pull it off. Even with the owner pulling at the lead the dog wouldn’t budge, it just went berserk. It was so heavy and really strong, I don't know how I managed to hold it off for as long as I did. It then gave up trying to bite my face and during the struggle it got a grip on my arm. Luckily, I had a lot of layers on so the worst of its bite was on my coat.” Jaz hunched her shoulders. “After that, I just kept well away from dogs. Even the little ones. He was a pretty big bugger. One of those police dogs.”
“Alsatians,” her uncle offered.
She nodded once. “I guess dogs just don't like me.”
The air had become so tense from her story; she didn’t like the attention. She smiled lightly and shrugged as if to say, ‘Oh well, shit happens.’
“Good enough reason,” her aunt remarked.
Jaz caught the end of a purposeful look from Aunt Erica, to Driver in the mirror. She didn’t see his response in time, because she’d have had to lean in to see. When she tried to catch Erica's reaction, her aunt saw her studying her and flashed Jaz a warm smile.
“Interesting,” Erica then murmured, mostly to herself.
Jaz wondered if maybe she was just being paranoid and once again overthinking things. It was an annoying habit of hers that she couldn't seem to shake off.
She ignored her niggling thoughts and leaned back in her seat, squishing her right shoulder against her door. She then stared in front, boring her searching eyes into the back of Driver’s shaven head.
~Chapter 6 - Whack~
Saturday May 7th, 12:46 p.m.
Petrol station
“Pit stop. We’ve got about two more hours driving so now’s the time for toilet breaks,” Aunt Erica said, as she climbed out of the car.
Jaz pulled on her door handle, leaning her weight against it, but it didn’t budge. She nearly smacked her face against the glass from sitting too close. She yanked it again and frowned when she realized the door was locked. The lock popped open, making her jump.
Jaz blinked, adjusting to the sudden change in light as someone’s shadow loomed over her. She snapped her head up – a lot higher than she’d expected to- at Driver's tall figure. She didn’t think he could look any taller than when she’d first seen him but she was mistaken. His height made her nervous. And he wasn’t a slight man either.
He had a faint smile on his lips and watched her for a short moment before cocking his head back in one quick motion: a signal for her to get out of the car. That irritated her. She didn’t like the way it seemed like he was giving her permission, and she didn’t like how her startled reaction had amused him.
She pushed the door open with more force than was necessary and slammed it equally as forceful, giving him a look that was almost a scowl: if she wasn't trying to be well-mannered it would have been blatant. He was quick to see what annoyance she did reveal however, and his smile vanished as fast as switching off a light. This made her feel victorious to a point she was tempted to stick her tongue out at him.
Seeing a bathroom sign up ahead, she swung round to look back at her aunt. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Driver began filling up the car.
“Okay, darling,” her aunt replied. “We’ll be here. Oh, Jaz?”
Jaz turned around.
“Do you want something to eat or drink?”
Jaz hesitated. “Thanks but, I’ll get my own food when I come back.”
“Oh now, don’t be silly. You’re in my care now. I can’t be having that.”
Jaz knew she’d say that but it still made her uncomfortable. She didn’t like anyone else but her parents spending money on her. No matter how small. It felt rude to take money from people, even if offered.