Julia -16
Jaime-15
Dlyan-16
tracking
Track
track
jiwoon park — seventeen years old
jasper larocque — fourteen years old
imma just start
also im typing lapslock!! if you want me to do proper capitalization, i can do that, too
Track!
Track! i'm assuming they're all boarding separate buses?
Jasper Collins- 16
June Jordanson- 24
Aleksander Jordanson- 18
Jasper Collins
He could hear the oven beeping from the other room. Jasper was rushing around his bedroom, which was conveniently very close to the downstairs kitchen. Never had he been organized for trips, and has always procrastinated in packing until the last second. This wasn't any different. The teen was shoving clothes into his suitcase and rummaging for random objects he lost such as a flashlight and his favorite pair of shoes. Unfortunately, they weren't hiking shoes so he wouldn't be able to wear them a lot during the camp from what he assumed. But then again, they wouldn't be easily ruined either.
Growing with annoyance, Jasper Collins ran across the glossy wooden floor with his socks, turning off the timer and oven before taking out a batch of brownies his little sister helped him bake. He never really enjoyed baking, instead favored cooking. But it was close enough. His father was still sleeping on the couch, and May was probably sitting on the stairs and staring at her phone. Jasper had really raised her more than his parents since they had been away for so long. However, the only benefit from his father getting fired was that he had time to babysit May. The only person he would miss would be May. She was barely even a teenager, and what Jasper did best was worry. Even if their father stayed behind with her, the teen still bit his nails in paranoia.
The bus would arrive in less than 20 minutes. But it didn't feel like enough time. He took his school backpack, throwing out his binders and notebooks onto his bed, and shoving in stuff like snacks and candy and books. The only time he read was when he was bored.
He held onto the suitcase's extended handle with one hand, the other hand swinging the backpack over his back by the strap. His drowsy father stood up, walked over, pat his back with a brief farewell and went back to napping. But his sister greeted him by the front door, putting in the small effort to opening it for him. "Bye." she sounded, her voice quiet as usual.
"I'll see you in a couple of months," he smiled while tying his hair back into a bun so it wouldn't bother him on the long drive. "Remember- don't bother with the frosting, we don't have enough powdered sugar. Just sprinkle the brownies with it instead if you prefer a topping." His sister only smiled a very small smile then went on her tiptoes to embrace him.
Struggling to keep the backpack on his back and not swing back to hit either of them, he hugged her back. All was left was a, "I'll miss you" then the click of a door locking behind him.
Once Jasper stepped onto the bus, he looked around. Maybe there weren't very many, but unfamiliar faces were scattered far apart along the rows. He walked through the isle, dealing with his luggage and sitting near the back of the public transporter. He liked the window seat better. If his peers from school sat next to him in middle school field trips, then he would probably have memories of playing "sweet or sour" on the highway. But now he busied himself with reading license plates from strangers' cars and identifying the ones that came from other states.
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Aleksander Jordanson
Aleksander Dean Jordanson was sitting on the mattress, scrolling through his phone before it was left behind for the majority of the summer. His duffle bag was sitting at the foot of his bed, closed and containing neatly folded clothes and the general needs for surviving. Such as 3 months worth of wheat thins, prescriptions, face wash, concealer, and other needs for perfect hygiene. His sister was already at the camp, preparing. He was aware of the humiliating events that could occur from her being his counselor. Rarely were the siblings seen in public, but in their own homes she would tease and embarrass him constantly. Now if he could imagine it happening before the eyes of the fellow peers. The teen, who was basically an adult, thought the coming year of college would be the first time he had spent more than a week away from home. The only reason he was accepted was because he was forced to attend the correctional camp.
He could hear the clanging of pots and pans from downstairs, assuming his mother was in the kitchen. Which was rare- Aleksander was 98% of the time the one cooking for everyone. He just hoped with him gone that she wouldn't just put a Costco pizza into the oven or stir up some bought mac&cheese, but would eat a decently cooked dinner each night. That she wouldn't spend the entire time watching sad romance movies and drinking cheap wine. Without his supervision, Alek didn't know what would happen.
Throughout the time he awaited for the bus to arrive, he reflected on the past year. He had no regrets. Other than letting himself be caught. He'd be fine without his phone, without alcohol... but what he couldn't stand would be that they would be outside. In the sun. The burning sun. Or in the lake of bacteria. Sure, nature was pretty. But the pessimistic teen would not let that bloody burning sun give him any sunburns. He vowed to himself that he would avoid every chance of his pristine, pale complexion being tanned in the slightest.
Then again... hope wasn't completely lost. He wouldn't be alone in the process. No, he wasn't talking about his sister... But Kurtis. He'd be there too. They were made sure of it on the day in the police station. That's what he looked forward to. Oh, he was also allowed to bring his pet tarantula and python...
Aleksander gathered his bags, turning his phone off all the way and dropping it on the bed. He fixed the collar of his dark gray jean jacket which had white stars on it: it was of course his favorite piece of clothing. His sock-less feet slipped into a black pair of Vans on his way out the door of his bedroom. Downstairs he went, the aroma of cooked vegetables and shredded chicken spreading throughout the first floor of the house. His mother stood over the stove, her black yet graying hair tied back into a messy bun while in lazy clothes.
"I'm on my way out." he informed her, his deep and tired voice resonating. His mother turned off the stove and walked over. Her slim and frail hands found their way to either side of his cheeks. She leaned up and kissed his forehead.
"Don't worry, you'll have fun." she said with a slightly wrinkled smile.
"That's not what I'm necessarily concerned about..." he muttered honestly. She was silent for a moment.
"I'll be fine too." Alek's lips moved to the side in doubt.
"I'll see you in like 3 months." he kissed his mother's cheek once she embraced him and walked him to the door. She probably waved to him when he was looking away.
Soon enough, Aleksander Jordanson was boarding the bus, walking with one foot in front of the other to the very back seat next to the window. When he sat down, he felt the cold and metallic glass and looked through it to only find the front door to his broken house closed. He looked back to his folded hands in his lap, keeping to himself throughout the portion of the ride he'd sit alone.