Hey, ya'll! So, previously, I've pretty much stuck to the canon storyline in my fanfiction, or I've just woven my original stuff in between scenes. NO MORE!

Flashback

"Swarthmore, Northwestern, UCLA…" Clare flipped through the stacks of official looking papers. "All these schools mailed you early admission applications?"

Eli looked smug. "I'm a hot commodity; nobody can resist this charm."

She still looked doubtful. "How in… how on Earth did a skipper/slacker like you get this sort of attention from all these prestigious American schools? You've even gotten the Ivy League's attention." She pulled up a viewbook from Columbia as proof. "I mean, really?"

He smirked as scooted closer to her. "Are you trying to insinuate that I'm not smart enough for these guys?"

"No!" She said hastily, and looked down, embarrassed. "I'm just envious, I guess."

He chuckled, and ruffled her curly auburn hair. "Don't worry, Blue Eyes. Your time will come."

She bit her lip. "And when it does, you'll be far, far away at some high-ranking schools, angering professors, and being fawned over by American girls who think you look like what's-his-name from that TV show."

He pulled another packet out. "Or I could be at the University of Toronto. And really Clare, I can't believe you'd think I'd just leave and forget about you."

"It's just…." She glanced at his transcript and score reports. "I want to follow, but I'm not sure I can."

"Please. You're a freaking Super Genius." He rolled his eyes.

"So everybody says! But you're the one who has award-winning poems and an almost perfect SAT score! If you remember correctly, you're the best writer in the school; I'm just the one that gets the attention."

He placed his forehead on top of hers. "And that's the way I like it." Then, pulling away, he looked at her seriously. "You know, I think before we have to separate, we're going to take America by storm."

"Huh?"

He gestured to the pile. "If all these places want me, they'll surely do the same for you. And most are pretty far away. When I move down, you could look at some of the others en route."

She wrinkled her nose. "You mean a college search?"

"Why not? It'd just be an excuse to take a road trip together before I leave. Heck, Adam's a junior too; we can even take him so your mom feels better about it. And like… Alli. Maybe Sav could go as a chaperone."

She bit her lip. "You know, I'd think that'd actually work."

And here they were, half a year later, loading up into the rented car: a battered van with crazy gas mileage and an utterly unremarkable white paint job. Everything was packed, and all systems should have been go, but the parents were being difficult.

"Watch them like a hawk." Mrs. Bhandari warned Sav. "And you've better be a good influence. Screw up, and you can kiss financial support goodbye."

Sav sighed. He hadn't even really wanted to go, but after finding out that the van was scheduled to go to both LA and New England, he couldn't refuse. Seeing all his old friends was too good of an opportunity to turn down, even if it meant he had to babysit his little sister for almost the whole summer. That, and because he was getting paid just the right amount of money to buy that stereo system he wanted for his dorm room.

Mrs. Torres just glared at the Bhandaris, and wished she hadn't come. There was still bad feeling between them from when she'd called Alli a whore, and she'd been loathe to let her precious d… son go on a trip with this bunch of misfits. But he'd begged and begged, and her husband had finally said yes against her will.

Finally, the surprisingly normal, cookie cutter mold lawyer that was Eli's father cleared his throat. "Shall we let them go?"

Mrs. Edwards sighed. "I suppose so." She pulled Clare into a hug, "Be good. Be careful. And call me every night."

Clare raised an eyebrow amidst the other, murmured goodbyes., "Mom?"

"Every other night, then. And be sure to visit Grandma."

"I will."

"And don't… we… you know. Eli's a good boy, and his parents are wonderful, but I still-"

"It's not happening, Mom. Don't worry about it." Clare tried to smile reassuringly. This was not a conversation she wanted to have.

"Okay, okay, I trust you. Bye, honey."

As the fives teens finally were allowed to step into the van, Eli leaned over to whisper in Clare's ear. "Did your mom just ask you what I think she asked you?"

Clare turned bright red. "Um…. Yeah."

He laughed, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I'm honored she likes me so much."

Sav eyed them through the rearview mirror. "Keep the PDA to a minimum guys; we're not out of sight yet."

Alli sighed. "So I guess this means I'll be putting up with their nasty flirting for two months?"

"Don't be sore, Alli." Sav warned her. Think of this as a trip to better yourself, so you can have more fun in college. Stop focusing on the boys, and study for that SAT retake of yours in September. It's another chance for a perfect score."

"Right." Alli grimaced, and Adam laughed. "Don't worry, we're grossed out too." The two of them had been forced into becoming friends partly by accident. Alli, in her shameless scheming, had hoped befriending Drew's unpopular little brother might earn her some points with their mom. It hadn't worked, but she had realized what a very good person Adam was, and that she had an ally whenever she wanted tease the disgustingly adorable couple their best friends made.

Sav smiled. "Next stop, New York!"

If you have any requests for a stop, just say so! Reviews are wonderful encouragement anyway. :)

Anyway, so far the ideas that I'm toying with include...

a.) an anime con, since Eli and Adam are comic books fanatics. That and because they're just fun.

b.) a music fest. Think Woodstock wannabe.

c.) colleges, of course! Sorry if anybody dislikes that idea, but the whole applying and touring thing is kind of on my mind right now. Thought i'd channel it, a bit. XP

d.) some OCs that are doing the same thing. For general fun and plot further-ment, as well as possible romantic interests. Maybe.

e.) a theme park

f.) other stuff! But I'm intending to make this a modern day EPIC, so feel free to input suggestions!