Maya's pov204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡForIb2vAOv
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKckzPqb4C
The RV was parked in front of Chase’s driveway, the morning sunlight bouncing off its shiny sides. Riley stood proudly beside it, sunglasses on even though it was barely 7 a.m.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F0mDwYjCK
“Well,” she spread her arms wide. “Behold, our chariot. What do you guys think?”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgya85xKXyg
“It’s perfect!” Emma squealed.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVqaESc1mY
“All hail Riley, queen of the rich,” Tyler clapped dramatically.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsmd3hJ2Gu
Riley rolled her eyes but a smirk tugged at her mouth. “Please. I passed my midterms with an A. Dad promised me anything I wanted. I simply picked….. an RV.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIMjFcU9rd
“Most kids ask for a new laptop,” Lila muttered, dragging her suitcase toward the trunk. “You ask for a road trip tank.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSmRhk1sfq
“It’s fuel efficient,” Riley said, flicking her hair. “Plus, it gives us vibes.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjtD605LPX
We started prepping to leave. Tyler and Chase were already arguing about playlists. Logan walked around the RV doing a weird safety inspection while Jay lifted my bags into the RV storage compartment.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLDMEMUtnh
“You sure about this?” he whispered.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNQxKUUeCe
“Yes,” I whispered back. “I need this story, Jay.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBOMPJWpzu
He sighed. “Come on, let’s go.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the RV.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvL8ZxKZqG
“Chase, drive carefully! If you scratch this thing, I’m making you sell your liver,” Riley warned, sliding into the passenger seat.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf4Ujn6MJ1
“Relax,” Chase said, adjusting his seat height. “I’m a pro.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIigBXFUiV
“Dude, you failed your license test twice,” Logan reminded him, wrapping an arm around Emma’s waist, pulling her beside him.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqPEb9BeF3
“Details,” Chase shrugged, turning the key. The RV hummed, vibrating beneath our feet.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8NgU13VBm
“Okay, I brought essentials,” Tyler announced, tossing a giant bag of snacks onto the middle table. “Ten packs of chips, five Oreos, gummy worms, beef jerky, pretzels and to spice things up…..hot sauce.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0TbikAZov
Emma’s face scrunched. “Hot sauce for what?”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSBZkJolAD
“Everything,” Jay and Tyler chorused.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMq72pNqWE
“I have something even better,” Chase grinned, pulling out three bottles of vodka.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTshUFN1oI
“Sweeeeet,” Riley chuckled, grabbing a bottle.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvIB92hkfi
“Nooooo, guys no drinking,” I frowned. “At least not until we get to our destination.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoA4nCDfEm
“Killjoy,” Riley huffed putting the bottle away.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Iq31x5lNE
“What’s in the cooler?” I asked Jay, noticing it tucked near the back.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8oOPVUC9K
“Ice, soda, energy drinks, bottled water… and some stuff for Logan’s disgusting smoothies.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69bcttcWzv
“Oh,” I chuckled, leaning in closer to him.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUGjDzQimp
We pulled out of the neighborhood and headed toward the highway.
“Road trip game!” Tyler yelled, climbing over the couches. “Would You Rather…. I'll go first!”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cNwwLPmCk
“No,” Emma groaned.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PAOWHmbK1
“Would you rather sleep in a haunted cabin alone for one night or drink Logan’s healthy smoothie every day for an entire week?”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4ANCFI7Vk
Logan threw a chip at him, offended. “My smoothies are fine.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DSfzj0ZXB
“They taste like sadness, bro” Tyler replied.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNZ32sfrW0
As we drove further from town, buildings faded into farmlands, tall pine trees lining the road. A highway sign flashed by: NORTH CAROLINA — 132 miles.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoFOGFYbsi
“Three hours to Blackwater Lake.
Three hours until we reached the infamous Love Island.” I said inwardly.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXURGKk7zth
“Here,” Jay said, handing me a granola bar. “I packed some for you.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGkxKpDwfM
I smiled “ Thanks”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugMyyPHMkI
-------
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRHTGUTPlh
It had only been two hours, yet the RV already looked like we’d been living in it for a week. Chips crumbs everywhere….
thanks to Tyler. Jay’s hoodie hung from a cabinet handle. Empty granola wrappers littered the table. Okay, that might've been me.
“New rule,” Emma announced, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Do not open the chips unless you know you won’t spill them.” She added, staring directly at Tyler.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHoigjho0a
“What? Why are you looking at me?”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3VKt9bMZO
“Tyler, there are literally crumbs on my shoe,” she snapped.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrYqy9RGkk
He looked down. “Oh.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP8EvW6t0w
I stood up with my camera. I’m filming this mess for memories.
“Road trip, day one!” I angled the camera toward everyone. “We’re halfway to Blackwater Lake. Emma looks stressed, Tyler is being Tyler, Riley is busy on her phone..” Riley flipped her hair and blew a kiss at the camera.
“Logan and Lila are playing cards” I continued. “And Chase, he's pretending he can drive.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZFKZTSutR
“Pretending?” He scoffed. “I’m the master of ….” The Rv swerved slightly, cutting him off.
“What the hell, Chase?!” Lila yelled.
I shut the camera off.“Chase, focus before you drive us into a tree!”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs9JsCdR1S
The highway stretched endlessly ahead of us, bothered by thick forest on both sides.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeXnNWiSbt
“HEY!” Ty suddenly shouted. “Let’s play Guess the Song! It's a road trip classic!”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s6PJUIVJw
Lilla glared at him. “Absolutely not. You know I’m a bad singer.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQbcc5ZuR9
“Nah, I love your voice,” He leaned in placing a peck on her nose.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4KUHLDlqw
“That’s actually a good idea,” Riley perked up.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOnlHFfJVx
“No, it’s not” Lilla argued.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk1hVDzsTy
“We need something to keep us awake. Chase already almost killed us,” Riley reasoned.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatcvbLXl5D
“It was a pothole!” Chase yelled.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO71VoyToVy
“So the game,” Tyler announced, “first person to guess the title wins.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmwijPvxkl
“The club isn’t the best place to find a lover…..” Tyler started.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCA55vZFcM
“Shape of You by Ed Sheeran!” Jay shouted.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf36XWU9DL7
“Correct! One point,” Tyler snapped his fingers.
“My turn.” Jay jumped in, singing loudly. “Dance with me now, take the lead now..”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolLMdHmTxk
“Bro, what?” Riley laughed. “You sure that’s a song?”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKKXNtvJBK
I squinted. “Calm down, guys that’s Calm Down by Rema featuring Selena Gomez.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3jzxNSwiv
“God, Jay, you're a terrible singer,” Emma said, popping a gummy bear.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpFRBYoIG1
“Make me sweat, make me hotter…..” I sang.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4baE5QGeG
“Water by Tyla obviously” Lila guessed first.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sY3G92rXM
“If you wanna run away with me, I know a galaxy, I can take you for a ride…” We all stared at Lila, trying to figure out what she was singing.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpOjmwSqHG
“Glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes, shining just a little bright..”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc5Whoji5H
“Dude, what song is that?” Jay laughed. “Did you just freestyle?” Ty added.
“ She's really terrible at singing” Riley mocked, turning to Tyler.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoYA1H86GD
Lila threw her hands up “Seriously guys, it's a popular song.”
“Name it then” Riley said
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOthpR48PH
“Levitating by Dua Lipa,” Lila huffed.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdei55lNdn
“There’s NO WAY that was Levitating,” I said.
“Not even close.” Emma added.
“You want me, I want you baby, my sugarboo…” We broke into the chorus together:
“Am levitating, the milky way, we're getting there yh yh yh” We screamed.
Layla danced around Ty, he grabbed her waist laughing.
I pulled Jay up, and we jumped around the small aisle of the RV, singing loudly “ I got you moonlight, your my starlight. I need you all night. Come and dance with me.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5IGDsOy4C
------
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfzbVSFc72
The RV finally calmed down after our levitating karoke performance. Everyone was breathless except Chase because he didn't dance.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyku1QTUtd
Riley quickly tied her hair back, still smiling. “That was actually fun,” she admitted.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H6YmdiPC4
“Yeah,” Emma said, leaning her head against Logan’s shoulder. “Until Chase crashes us because he can't multitask.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0HVkNJRbK
Chase scoffed. “Emma, please… I can sing, drive and navigate.”
We all laughed until Emma suddenly froze. She leaned forward in her seat, her smile dropping.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7skZicDx0
“Chase,” she whispered.
“Yeah?” Chase replied, eyes forward.
“Why…” she gulped, “why is the blue dot on Google Maps moving away from the road?”
“What?” Chase leaned closer to his phone but Emma snatched it out of his hand. “CHASE!” she screeched.
“THIS IS NOT THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS SOME RANDOM BACKROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5UAjs2rnP
Chase blinked. “No, no, no. We’re still on the route, I know how to use maps.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9GqlaPzwe
Emma zoomed out on the map. “We were not even close.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXTqj2JbuW
Riley slapped her forehead. “Oh my God. We trusted a man who failed his license test twice.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuesRtcKOt
“Hey!” Chase protested. “Okay, maybe I… clicked the walking route option by accident.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOVY8O2zrT
“God?!” Jay exclaimed.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaWtcn654F
Logan turned around in his seat “Chase. Pull Over.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWahTjLyoy9
“Everyone calm down, No need for drama,” Chase mumbled.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9ceM92d4b
“PULL. OVER.” everyone yelled in unison.
Chase swerved slightly and stopped by the side of the empty road, a long stretch of cracked pavement surrounded by thick pine trees.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAAsTzLFOY
Emma opened the map again. “We’re forty minutes off-track.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hdc5xPbUS
“FORTY?” Riley shouted.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY40tBynjk
I bit my lip “How didn't we none notice?”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhhK5MDdOc
Emma zoomed into the map. “Okay. We need to turn around, get back onto Route 47, then reconnect to the main interstate.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0V3Oz6cPu
Riley groaned loudly. “Broooo. We wasted forty minutes because my boyfriend doesn’t know how to read a map.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEWxEN8EKP
“I know how to read a map!” Chase argued.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnuKQ11rZI
“Then what happened?” I asked.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8kIOagGs3
Chase stared at the GPS. “It don't know.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW8jcXvlSP
“Guys,” Emma said, pointing out the window. “Let’s go back before a serial killer pops out of these trees.”
Everyone immediately quieted, glanced at the forest, then agreed.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQJG05DOPT
Chase turned the RV around, way too fast, making us all grab the nearest thing.
“CHASE!” we yelled.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6AyExrf8A
“I GOT IT, I GOT IT!” he insisted.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLBO8Fovfj
Emma kept giving directions, “No…..Chase….left! LEFT! Your other left!”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2TyMDv7iQ
Finally, we reconnected to the real road, the actual highway. Everyone exhaled at the same time in relief.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitjwRW57bb
“Okay,” Tyler said, patting Chase’s shoulder. “From now on, Cha
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcKkTUwaW7
se never touches the map again.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qd5to952N
“Agreed,” Logan said.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0fQHmWOZN
I leaned back in my seat, calming my nerves “At least we’re back on track now.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SlwP8t9ry
Chase rolled his eyes, muttering, “You guys act like we almost died.”
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA8rUVVFAi
and then Add to home screen.