One national holiday

Chapter 1

Texas sat impatiently at the airport, California's plane was supposed to arrive a half hour ago; Texas sighed pulled out his phone and started another game of Tetris still keeping an ear out for when they announced the airplane's arrival. The state snuggled into his thick cowboy duster trying to keep warm, he wasn't used to these cold Colorado winters, heck, any winter was cold compared to the weather in his state.

He had to be the one volunteered to pick up California, everyone knew that he didn't like her, now he'd have to stomach her bellyaching all the way back to Colorado's house.

Texas heard a thunk and saw someone had put a bag on the ground in front of him, he looked up and lo and behold, there was California standing in front of him holding several bags and looking very upset. Texas shut off his phone and put it in his coat pocket; He wasn't sure exactly how to great her, she had sort of caught him off guard, so he decided to say the most obvious thing

"Hi."

California still looked mad "Hi," she said pursing her lips, her amber eyes glaring down at him "Is that all you have to say to me?"

Texas shifted in his seat uneasily "Yeah?" he said a little confused at her hostility.

California dropped her five or so bags on the floor "I have been wandering around this airport for thirty minutes looking for you!" she fumed "and you were just sitting here like nothing's wrong!"

Texas cringed slightly, it had never occurred to him that the plane had arrived before he got there. He looked up sheepishly at California.

"Oops?" he said hoping to lighten the mood.

"Unbelievable," California growled angrily. She grabbed one of her bags and shoved it into Texas' chest. "You can at least help carry my bags," she said and picked up the smallest package and started towards the airport exit "Be careful with those," she snapped "some of those have Christmas presents in them."

Texas sighed, yep, it was going to be one of those days.

Texas shoved the last of the bags into the back of his pickup truck and practically ran to the driver's seat to escape the snow, he grabbed his keys out of his pocket and started the engine; California was already in the passenger seat buckled in. Texas turned up the heat full blast and commenced to rub his hands together to try to warm up. California looked cold too, and those sharp glares she kept throwing his way were a clear indication that she just wanted to get to Colorado's place as soon as possible.

"Well," she said presently "Get a move on!"

"Hold your horses," Texas said annoyed as he took off his hat and put it on the dash board.

"For Goodness Sake!" she cried.

"I'm going, I'm going!" Texas said exasperated, Texas put his truck in gear and started to pull slowly out of the parking lot. He turned to California "Are you happy now?" he asked sarcastically.

"Real funny Cowboy," she spat "Just be sure not to get lost on the way there."

Three hours later….

"We're lost aren't we," California said her arms crossed.

Texas put down the map to glare at her "Just because we don't know where we're going doesn't mean we're lost."

California scoffed "It's not bad enough to be stuck on the side of a deserted road, in a snowstorm, with no idea where we are; no, I have to be stuck with you."

"Thanks," Texas grumbled, "I can feel the love."

Then, California erupted. "Oh would you shut up!" she yelled "This is all your fault! If anyone else had been at the airport but you this wouldn't be happening!"

Texas threw the map on the dashboard, and turned toward California anger clearly showing in his brown eyes "you're still upset about what happened at the airport!"

"Maybe I am!" California shouted at him.

"Well, I'm sorry!" Texas yelled back at her, "I didn't know you were there yet! You could have called you know-."

"No, I couldn't! My phone ran out of battery on the plane-!"

"Wait a minute," Texas said.

"No, you wait a minute you insufferable-."

"Stop, wait a minute!" Texas said a little more forcefully "we can call for directions, why didn't I think of it sooner!"

"Gee, I don't know," California fumed "maybe because you're an idiot!"

Texas just looked at her "You didn't think of it either." He said flatly.

California didn't seem to have an answer to that, so she just pushed her blond hair out of her eyes and glared out the window.

Texas shook his head and grabbed his phone out of his coat pocket and started to dial the number; He didn't have Colorado's number so he decided to call his good friend Arkansas, he could always count on Arkansas. He pressed the call button and waited for him to pick up the phone.

End of chapter one