A/N: Yay! A new story!

I'm having a lot of fun writing this story, mainly because the characters are so fun to work with! This is a short chapter and not much happens. I was just wanting to set-up the story and test the idea. I don't have much of a plot planned for this story, but I think that's the fun of it. Typically, I map out every single detail of my story before I even begin writing. With this one, it'll be exciting just to see what happens!

What I loved about writing this is that I've basically been, quite literally, mapping out their entire trip. Google Maps is a handy tool, my friends. I'm from the South (U.S.) and it will be interesting discovering more about the places I've yet to visit.

Thanks for reading!
(And, as sad as it may be, I don't own the Darkest Powers series.)

"Another bathroom stop? Really, Tori?"

Tori flipped Simon the finger as Derek pulled the car into the parking lot of a gas station. Tori threw open the door, the car not even at a complete stop, and hopped off inside the building.

"Ridiculous." Simon shook his head. "Would someone please explain to me why we invited her in the first place?"

Liz spoke up from beside me. "She's my friend. I couldn't not invite her."

"Um, yeah, you could have."

"Not if I wanted to keep her as my friend."

Simon sighed. "Still. It's-" He checked his watch. "- nearly five o'clock and we're still in Pittsburgh. At this rate, we won't get to Charleston until after our summer break ends. "

"Don't be such a baby. Getting there is half the fun."

Simon fake gagged. Liz retorted with another defensive comment. Rinse, wash, repeat.

I had to sit on my hands in order to resist the urge to just get out of the car, flash them a sarcastic grin, and say, "Hey! See you back in Buffalo! I'm walking home!". I couldn't do that, of course. I had to smile and act like I was enjoying it for Liz's sake. She was the reason I had agreed to the trip, anyway.

"You can't just hole up in your room and watch movies all day," she had said. "Come on! Live a little! Go on the trip with us!"

I told her that it just wasn't my thing, that I wasn't going. It wasn't until she got down on her hands and knees and begged me to come that I had realized she was serious. Once it got to that point, once I saw how much it meant to her, I couldn't say no.

If it was just a trip with Liz, I would've jumped at the offer. She had quickly become my best friend this past year and I was really grateful for her companionship. The added guests was what made me detest the idea.

I didn't really know any of them prior to the arrangement. Simon was Liz's longest friend and I had said hello and made small chat whenever he was around, but we had never spoken beyond that. Simon's brother, Derek, was one grade above me so we hadn't had many opportunities to talk. Not that I was jumping at the chance to do so. If Simon was super friendly, then Derek was the complete opposite. Sullen. Standoffish. His behavior didn't make me believe any less in the rumors that spread about him at school. As for Tori... well, it was hard to not know Tori. She was the most popular girl at school. The Queen Bee. She fit the stereotype perfectly. Flawless hair and skin, expensive clothing. The package was complete with an ego so large I was surprised it fit into the car.

As if on cue, Tori knocked on the door. Derek grumbled as he unlocked it. Tori leaped inside, fastened her seat belt, straightened her skirt, and said, "Well, what's everyone waiting for? Let's go."

All four of us peered at her.

Tori sunk back into her seat. "What? Do we want to stay at a smelly gas station all night or get to Charleston?"

"I'm going to kill her," Simon muttered.

"What's that? You're madly in love with me? Oh Simon, you're so sweet."

"Yeah, don't flatter yourself."

"Hey," Tori snapped. "You'd be lucky to go out with me, Simon Bae. Don't even think that I-"

"Can we all try to get there in one piece?" Derek roared from the front seat, agitation seeping into his voice.

Tori and Simon both shut up. Liz looked around nervously, her eyes flitting back-and-forth between us. I stared out the window, pretending to be highly interested in a crow perched on a telephone pole. After a moment, Derek sighed and started the car. We lurched forward and slowly but surely continued on our journey.

I awoke to a small shake of my shoulder. I lifted my head from the cool glass of the window to find Liz hovering by my side.

"Sorry to wake you," she whispered. "But we're trying to decide on where to rest tonight and we didn't want to make the decision without you."

"Rest?" I groggily asked, shaking off the last wisps of slumber. "Where are we?"

"Still in Pennsylvania, I'm afraid. We caught the traffic right at rush hour."

I'm suddenly thankful that I fell asleep and missed the stress of angry drivers and five-second green lights.

"Yeah, Chloe got her beauty sleep while the rest of us had to deal with the tension of the highway," Tori said sarcastically from the other side of Liz.

"Hey," Liz said. "We'd all be asleep if we could."

"Speaking of sleep..." Tori drawed out. "What are we going to do about tonight?"

The three of us looked to the two guys up front.

"I still say that we just hole up somewhere and sleep here," Derek grumbled. "It saves us the money of buying a room."

Tori's mouth dropped. "Um, no. Think again, big guy. There's no way I'm sleeping in the car."

Simon's head lolled back. "Could you just be practical for once? We're sleeping out here. It's final."

"Tough guys," Tori muttered and crossed her arms.

I looked to Liz and saw her frown deepening, her face showing exactly what we were all thinking.

"Uh," I spoke up for the first time. "I actually would feel more comfortable in a room, if that's okay. I understand we're tight on money, but if we're all feeling unsafe about it..."

Derek stared at me in the rear view mirror, green eyes piercing mine. I shrunk back in my seat, suddenly wanting to disappear from everyone's scrutinizing glares.

The silence hung in the air as Simon and Derek whispered over their decision. I caught a few curses, mostly from Derek. A slight eye-roll courtesy of Derek, then he cleared his throat.

"Alright," his voice rumbled. "We stay in a room."

Liz squealed and flashed me a thumbs-up. I didn't even try to suppress my grin, a giddy feeling of belonging washing over me. Tori didn't provide the same thrilled reaction. She glowered at me, her lips pursed out, her shoulders hunched back. I made a mental note to never be left alone in a room with her.

"But," Derek struggled to say, as if it killed him to agree with us. "This is the only time we splurge on a room. And we split the price evenly."

We all nodded our heads.

Simon whipped out his phone and began to search for a cheap motel.

"Uhhh..." His eyes scanned the screen. "There's one a few miles down the road. Looks like a dump, but we can afford it." He twisted in our direction. "That okay?"

The girls nodded.

"As long as it's not Bate's, I'm fine," I said.

Simon shot me a smile and turned back in his seat. Tori scoffed and rolled her eyes.

Simon relayed the directions to Derek. I watched the world whirl past, a mixture of industrial buildings and perfectly-shaped evergreens, as Derek navigated his way to the motel. In just a few short minutes, we were pulling up in the bumpy parking lot and tumbling out of the car. The cool air nipped at my skin and I absently rubbed the goosebumps forming on my arms.

Derek popped the trunk and heaved out the bags we'd need for tonight. For Simon, Derek, Liz, and I, it was one tiny bag each. For Tori? Two big carry ons.

"What?" she asked after noticing our stares. "I don't just wake up looking like this."

Simon scoffed. Liz chuckled and playfully hit Tori in the arm. Derek groaned and we took that as a sign that his happiness level was dangerously low, moreso than usual, and made our way inside.

If I was thinking the motel was going to look any more desirable on the inside, I was wrong. The dull green wallpaper was peeling off, revealing a tarnished slab of wall behind it. The floor creaked beneath my footsteps, threatening to cave at any second. The musty stench that filled the room choked my throat and made my eyes water. You definitely got what you paid for here.

"Waynesburg's finest," Simon whispered as we inched to the front desk.

The desk clerk's eyes widened when he saw us. He quickly yanked his feet off the table and hid the newspaper that he had been reading. He tried to present himself as a studious and accomplished worker, but he already gave off the impression that no one really stayed here often.

"We'd like two of your finest rooms," Derek said and slapped down a few bills on the desk.

The man eyed Derek, sizing him up, and then carefully took his bills, counting. After a moment, he shook his head.

"Sorry," he gruffly muttered. "This ain't enough."

"Your website said-"

"I don't care what the damn website said. Not my problem. We're $60 per room here."

"Sir." Derek struggled to keep his voice calm. "We specifically came here because this motel was the cheapest in town. We just need to stay one night. Now if you'll please accept the $90 that was stated-"

"No deal." The man crossed his arms.

Tori squeezed her way past Derek to the front of the desk. "Excuse me. Yeah, we really need a room tonight. I don't care if you hate your job, or your life, or whatever, but if you could just please help us out-"

"Sorry, cutie. No can do." He flashed her a twisted smile. Tori shivered and joined Liz and I at the back.

"Just pay him the extra $30, Derek," Simon muttered.

Derek's jaw set. He glared at the man, eyes fiery with rage, and then snatched the bills from the desk.

"No way. I'm not giving him our money. He's just going to pocket the extra $30 and keep it for himself, anyway."

The man narrowed his eyes. "Don't you go accusing me, boy. A little respect would get you far in life and-"

"And it goes both ways. Now come on, we're leaving." Derek headed for the door. The rest of us stayed behind.

The man chuckled. "Ain't so big and mighty, now are you?"

Derek growled and stormed out of the building. Tori, Simon, and Liz glanced around uncomfortably. They lingered there, lost, and I realized what had to be done.

"I'll go get him," I announced and shouldered my way past them and out the door.

I scanned the parking lot, searching for Derek, until I spotted his dark figure under the shadow of a tree. I ran over.

"Hey," I said as I approached him. "I know you're upset-"

"I'm not giving him my money," Derek declared coldly and turned away from me.

I sighed. "You don't want to be on this trip, I get that. But for everyone else? It means a lot and a little effort would be appreciated."

Derek twisted my way so fast that I stumbled back. "Like you have any right to say that about me. What about you, sulking in the back the entire way here?"

I looked away.

Derek sneered. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"I'm trying," I whispered, but I knew it was no use. He wouldn't sacrifice his ego for this. And if I was being honest with myself, I knew he was right. On the drive here all I could think about was when the trip was ending. It didn't matter that I shot Liz a few happy smiles and said everything was fine and dandy. If I wasn't truly letting myself enjoy it, there was no point in pretending like I was.

"Well, try harder. You can start by joining in on conversations and not acting like we have fleas."

"I'm shy, " I snapped. "I can't help that."

"That's an excuse."

My guilt switched to boiling anger. I was quiet. Always had been. It was as much a part of me as my blonde hair. Every time someone made a condescending comment, every time someone put me down for being shy, I grew less and less sure of myself, pushing me further back into my shell. I wish I wasn't so sensitive, but Derek's ignorant remark rooted in my brain, poisoning the few ounces of confidence I had.

I stared at him coldly, biting back the vicious jabs I could blurt out, namely ones concerning his sickening arrogance and his complete lack of respect. I swallowed the words, shot him one last fixed glare, and marched back inside.

Simon perked up from the chair he was lounging in. "Chloe?"

I reached into my bag, scrounged up $120, and slammed it on the desk. Everyone stared at me in disbelief.

The clerk smiled. "I knew someone would understand that business makes exceptions for no one." He slid two keys across the counter. "First two doors on your right. Enjoy."

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and strode to the door. "You guys coming?"

Simon laughed. Liz hesitantly grabbed her things. Tori's jaw nearly hit the floor. I smiled to myself and walked out the door.

Liz flipped on the bed. "Okay, you have to tell me what just happened."

I laughed, basking in the attention. "Derek was too stubborn to buy a room. We were desperate. End of story."

Tori scoffed. "Oh, please. You act like you just saved mankind. So you paid for the rooms. No big deal."

The light buzz diminished. I opened my mouth only to shut it again.

Liz hurried to my rescue. "I wouldn't have done it. Chloe, that's pretty much all of your money."

I shrugged. "I have a few dollars left."

"I have a few dollars left," Tori mimicked. "Stop trying to show everyone up."

"I-I wasn't-"

Tori snickered, the sound cutting through me. "First, you completely ignore everyone on the way here, like you are too good for us or something. And then you pipe up and suddenly have the boys tripping over their feet for you."

"I didn't-"

"And then you act like some big hero who just swooped down and saved us all. Newsflash, Chloe Saunders: you're not all that great."

Liz gasped. "Tori!"

My heart sunk. I felt the tears well up in my eyes, threatening to fall at any second. I rushed out of the room before I could give Tori the satisfaction, and it wasn't until I was crouched on the sidewalk, knees pressed into my face, that I let the tears stream down.

Stupid. It was stupid to agree to go on this trip. It was stupid to think that I'd have fun. And, most of all, it was stupid to think that I'd make some new friends. These people weren't my friends. Never would be.

"Chloe?" Simon's voice came from somewhere behind me.

I quickly wiped the tears from my face and stood up. "I-I'm sorry. I was just... I'm going in. I'm sorry."

I tried to brush past him, but he steered me back to the curb and sat down beside me. "You've been crying. What's up?"

I considered lying, telling him that it was nothing, but some part of me decided against it. "This trip. I don't think it was right coming. I feel like I'm just making it worse for everyone."

Simon lightly shook my shoulder. "Not for me. It's been great having you." The corners of his lips twisted into a huge grin. "And I definitely think we should keep you around for Derek's sake, if nothing else."

"Derek?"

"Oh yeah. It's about time someone put him into his place."

"About that... I didn't mean... I shouldn't have done it. Derek was right anyway. It was stupid and-"

"Don't." Simon noticed my somber expression and chuckled. "Don't apologize! You did good."

I saw the amber dancing in his almond eyes and his lopsided, but confident, grin and that was all of the reassurance that I needed.

"Give it another day," he said.

I nodded and smiled and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder in a friendly embrace.

The door behind us swung open. Tori sauntered out. "Okay, Chloe. Liz says I need to apologize so let's get this ov-"

Her gaze became fixated on Simon beside me. It was like a switch was flipped and her eyes darkened, her mouth drooped. If a glare could kill, I'd already be done and over with.

Simon stared at her blankly. "Chloe and I were just having a chat."

"Oh, I'm sure you were." Her tone was dripping with irritation.

I slid out from underneath Simon's arm. I muttered a weak "goodnight" and hurried back inside my room. Liz stood anxiously by the bathroom. When she saw me, she raced over and asked, "Is everything okay?"

I flashed her a fake smile. "Everything's fine."

"Good."

I didn't even have to fight to keep down the complaints, the truth that wanted to spill out. If I had to sacrifice my happiness in order for this trip to run smoothly, then it would have to be exactly what I did.

I crawled into bed, letting the scratchy sheets swallow me whole. I could hear Simon and Tori arguing outside the door, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. I was already slipping into a long, uncomfortable sleep.