'JOEY, GET YOUR ARSE OUT OF MY FACE!' Meredith screamed as she was pushed into the already cramped minibus. Walker and Jaime were sitting in the front two seats, Joe having bagsied driving earlier that week and Jaime having called shot gun on the least crowded space to avoid the pot of crazy that always went on in the back on this sort of trip.
Tyler, Brolden and Nick were sitting at the back, having a fairly normal discussion and ignoring their crazy friends who were squishing into the middle of the van. JoMo was sitting at the far side, heaving Joey through the door as Meredith was pushed by Lauren, who was surprisingly strong for such a small person. Joey collapsed on top of Joe Moses as Meredith regained her composure and climbed in, sitting at the other side and leaving a space for Lauren to squeeze through into the middle.
'You're so awkward Mer! Can't you just get over this and sit next to Joey, it would make life a lot easier!' Lauren pleaded as she swung one toned leg over Meredith, clambering over the taller girl to sit between her two friends. Brolden grinned at Lauren over the seats, before winking and stretching out in the more spacious back seats. Tyler giggled at Laurens disgruntled face, which became a full on laugh when Meredith and Joey began to squabble over her.
Joe yelled from the front. 'GUYS! I'm trying to drive here, SHUT UP!'
'The vans not even moving yet!' Moses replied loudly over Joey and Merediths bickering that Jaime was trying to put a stop to. Lauren had given up and climbed over the backseat to lie across Brolden, Tyler and Nick, none of whom seemed to mind because of the tiny amount of weight she carried.
Jaime gave up on Joey and Meredith and plugged herself into her iPod. Sometimes she wondered how she still had her sanity after working with this lot. Even a holiday was stressful! Walker started the minibus and as it pulled away from the drive, Nick burst into song.
'We're all going on a, SUMMER HOLIDAY!'
'No more working for a, week or two!' Lauren and Brolden burst out on the next line.
The song continued, and when it finished the StarKids settled back into their usual activities for such a journey. Tyler and Jaime having a somewhat loud debate about their favourite Broadway productions from different ends of the bus, Lauren doing hilarious impressions of their friends and each other, causing Brian to have a nosebleed when he laughed so forcefully that he smacked his head on the door frame. Joey and Meredith were being civil to each other, they had placed the huge cool-box in Lauren's vacated seat. Joe Moses was looking out the window, somewhat bored with his friends behaviour. He suggested they play the guessing game, where you describe something and the others have to guess it, which on reflection wasn't the best idea he'd ever had.
'OOOH, I'LL GO FIRST!' Walker squealed from the front seat, only half paying attention to where he was going. 'Okay, it's small, annoying and extremely noisy for its size.'
'It's Lauren' said Brolden without skipping a beat, which earned him a scathing look and friendly punch from the girl herself.
'Correct! Your turn Bri!' Joe said, causing Lauren to choke indignantly, which made everyone present laugh hysterically.
The game continued, everyone was able to guess Joey's before he even started describing it.
'Okay, mine-'
'RED VINE' Said the whole bus in unison, even Nick looked up from his book to laugh at the dumbfounded expression on Joey's crooked face.
'It's a little obvious, Joey honey' Said Jaime half kindly, half amused.
Lauren was bouncing up and down, she had got more and more agitated the further they had gone.
'Lo, do you need the loo AGAIN?' Walker asked exasperated.
'Um…' Lauren mumbled self-consciously.
'Awh, leave her alone! She's only ickle!' Brian said, ruffling her hair. Tyler yelled as the shoe that had been aimed at Brian almost hit him in the face. She scream woke up JoMo who had been asleep ever since he suggested the game, and roused Jaime from her music. Meredith had jumped with shock and ended up on Joeys lap, everyone held their breath, unsure if a renewed fight would break out, but to everyone's delight, Joey simply kissed her on the nose, and cuddled her.
'I'm sorry for shouting earlier Mer, I didn't mean it.' He said, looking at her warily, unsure of what her reaction would be.
'I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have taken your Red Vines, I won't do it again.' She clambered off Joeys lap after giving him an overenthusiastic kiss on the cheek, smacking her lips.
Lauren began chanting 'Are we there yet?' over and over again until every single person was screaming at her, and they eventually smothered her with pillows. Only Tyler and Jaime were sympathetic and pulled the cushions off her before he could suffocate.
Walker looked out the window, this was already a great holiday, and it hadn't even started yet.