Hey, I'm SAM! This is my first story in a while. I do not own LoTR, nor any of Tolkiens characters! However, I do own the three fabulous nerds, Laura, Terry, and Anna. Please review and let me know what you think! Critics welcome!

Enjoy and thanks!!

Chapter 1: Down the Yellow Brick Road

It was the Summer, 2010, and we had just graduated not even a week ago. The thought of college and the future loomed in the background, but this was our last summer and I, along with my two best friends, was determined to enjoy it.

So, we pooled all of our money together(which didn't equate to much), gathered our gear, filled up the gas tank and set out with some goodbyes to our parents.

Terry Fields, best friend of 15 years, sat in the back of my Chevy, the crown of her crimson hair visible as she slouched, pouring over a massive book on her lap. She wore that annoying black shirt with that Japanese pop singer….Gackt, I think...plastered on it and the declaration: 'MINE', printed beneath it in bold white letters.

Glancing away from my mirror to the side, I glanced at Anna Rivers, the new girl that we had befriended some odd months ago, she was a pretty, tall girl with long pale blond hair, and an elegant face; all angles and high cheekbones. At first glance, she looked like she belonged in the Playboy mansion fraternizing with Hugh Hefner, but beneath the surface she was all nerd. She wore absolutely no makeup, and she could recite the lines to all of the LoTR movies…Believe me, I've had to sit through it.

Me? Glancing again in the mirror, I immediately focused on the road, a bit disgruntled. I'm nothing special. In fact, I set the bar for normal. I'm Average Joe in the flesh. Average height, average grades, average weight, average EVERYTHING. My hair is a plain brown, which Anna politely labeled 'chestnut', and it fell Laura Croft style to my waist. It is a bit ironic, since my name is Laura Cross…yeah, that's right. You're not the first to raise that eyebrow.

The only thing I thought unique to myself, were my blue eyes. They are a bright crystalline blue…reminiscent of the sparkling Hawaiian ocean during mid-day…

"Dude, I'm HUNGRY!"

Starting, I whipped my head to stare at Terry in disbelief. "You ate your packed sandwich only twenty minutes ago." I told her, turning back to the road to swerve around yet another pothole.

"That was BEFORE I saw that sign saying IHOP, 2 miles."

Anna chuckled, and I huffed in exasperation. "You're IMPOSSIBLE, Irish."

"Hey, don't be hating, racist sister." Terry drawled in response.

Rolling my eyes, I glanced at the clock. "Really, Terry, is this a MUST? Cant you preoccupy yourself with that book you bought from a yard sale?"

At this, Anna turned around to study it with renewed interest. "Yeah, you never told us what it was about, now that I think of it…"

Protectively, Terry hugged it to her chest, and grinned mischievously, her pale grey eyes glinting. "It's a secret."

Passing by another car, I ignored Anna's pout, and sighed when she continued to look at me expectantly. "Hey, I don't control her."

Terry blew a raspberry at Anna to back this up.

Crossing her arms, Anna lifted her nose and glanced out the window, defiantly declaring, "Well, I don't care to know, anyway!"

Yeah, right.

They continued to bicker, sending little barbs back and forth, and I was starting to seriously contemplate pulling over and committing murder. Eyes squinting, I tried to ignore the build up of that looming headache that was just starting to rear its ugly little troll head.

"GO KISS AN ORC!" Anna yelled at Terry in Elvish.

In answer, Terry stuck out her tongue, and retorted, "Legolas' fanatic."

"Damn proud!"

Gripping the wheel, I whirled towards them both and screamed, "SHUT UP OR I SWEAR TO ABBA THAT I WILL RIP YOUR ENTRAILS OUT AND SKIP ROPE WITH THEM!!!"

Silence…blessed silence.

Thoroughly satisfied, I faced forward again, and we traveled along, the car thankfully silent save for the dim hum of the melody on the radio. And I was even relaxing until…

"IHOP!!!!"

Jerking, I almost rammed into the car next to us and swerved back into our lane. "WHAT THE HELL, TERRY?!"

Anna glanced at me nervously, holding on to the edges of her seat. However, Terry didn't seem to notice the near death experience we just had, because she was still bouncing on her seat excitedly and repeatedly jabbing her finger towards something.

"IHOP! NOW! GO! EAT! PANCAKES!"

Snarling, I indicated and sped up, moving through the lanes in rapid speed towards the IHOP. Car horns blared, but I was through with it. She wanted Ihop and their stupid panckaes? Well, I was going to ram all the pancakes they could make down her annoying throat!

With murderous intent, I squealed into the parking lot and slipped into the first available space.

"YAY!" Terry clapped her hands, grinning so wide it threatened to split her face. Unfortunately, it didn't…

Anna touched my shoulder in sympathy, though a bit cautiously…I didn't blame her, right now I was sure that I looked like I belonged in an R rated horror film. Peering out the window, I watched Terry run towards the building, her red braids flying behind her.

"Gods preserve us…" I groaned, closing my eyes.

Thank you! Let me know what you think! Review! :D

Should I continue?