Disclaimer: I don't own Dead Like Me; in fact all my information about the show comes from echidnite so if you're going to sue anyone sue her. Just kidding.
Thanks as always to echidnite, my fantastic though slightly weird Beta.
Snaps and claps to Phifa and Debwy the wonderful reviewers.
Onward…
"Ahh, here we are. Welcome to Orange County."
"Really?" asked George bouncing out of her seat like a giant well…. Bouncy ball
"Nope," Mason replied, "just screwing with yah Georgie. We haven't even left the city."
The look George gave could freeze water in February, a look that could boil Mercury despite its boiling temperature of 356.58°C, a look that would make small children recoil in fright. Leaning down George picked up a rock stashed for this special purpose and threw it at the back of Rube's head.
"Oww, what the hell did I do to deserve that?"
"I dunno," replied George shrugging her shoulders in resignation "You didn't exactly warn me that Mason was just messing about."
"I thought it was obvious, we haven't even left the city."
George glared, sulked and began searching the floor of the bus for more rocks. Her search was interrupted by a crazy spin of the car that threw her and everyone else onto the floor of the bus.
"What the" yelled Roxy followed by a string of profanities.
Daisy flicked her hair over her shoulder from her position, namely where she'd landed, in Masons lap.
"Masons started drinking again," turning to Roxy and flicking her hair for the fourth consecutive time.
"Fire indeed hot."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
"Roxy sweetie you know I love you right but sometimes you're really weird." "Weird even for a dead person." Daisy replied
"And that's quite odd," affirmed Bob
"Hey shut up, did I ask you Bob?"
"Wait," said Rube "Who the hell are you?"
"I am Bob, at you service."
"Like duh," replied Daisy
At her comment Rube finally let go of the pent up angst and burst into tears. George patted his back awkwardly and wondered what everyone had been smoking today. For some reason everyone was irritable or wimpy. She idly twirled a rock on her finger; sadly there were no small children about to throw it at. She aimed at Rube then paused, maybe she'd throw it at him later he seemed to be having a rough day.
Meanwhile Roxy was wondering why the hell she was going on a car trip with these dead beat morons who quite frankly smelt horrible.
"Rube, stop being such a girl and stop crying," said Mason irritably staring at Daisy who was snogging the Bob guy.
Roxy smacked Mason on the shoulder "Sometimes you really can be an insensitive jerk"
"Everybody's a jerk. You, me, this jerk" Mason pointed at Bob.
"Look," Bob replied "I'd hate to tread on any toes so if you have some prior claim on the young lady we should settle this like gentlemen"
In response Mason leant over punched Bob square in the face. "Get out"
"Daisy my love"
"Sorry, you should have punched him back"
"You lot are really weird" Bob fumed retreating from the violently orange minibus
Pulling Daisy back into his lap Mason smirked.
"Amen to that sister" he replied and slammed the door.
Sometime later
"Are we there yet?"
"No"
"Are we there yet?"
"No"
"Are we dead yet?"
"No… actually yes"
"Hey, did you hear that?" Roxy said suddenly.
"The 'kerthunka a plunk' coughing sound accompanied by a screeching of tyres, a loud thunk like sound, squealing brakes and Mason swearing."
"Yeah, exactly that" Roxy replied.
"Nope didn't hear a thing."
Roxy began smacking her head on the bus window.
"That my dear chums was the sound of this piece of …"
"Toast" Rube supplied.
"I was going to say junk or another four letter word but yes toast will do nicely. AS I was saying…"
"That my dear chums" Daisy interjected.
"Was the sound" Roxy continued.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP AND LET ME FINISH" Mason yelled, his handsome face turning an odd puce-like shade.
"But Mason" said Daisy rubbing her thumb seductively along Mason's cheekbone "I thought the sound of my voice was music to your ears"
"I can't believe I'm hearing this" said Roxy
"Can I ask a question?"
"You just did George" Mason replied
George gave the entire bus a glare that spoke volumes, it portrayed her message loud and clear. It was a look that said "I have rocks." The bus fell silent.
"May I continue now? Good. Why have we stopped moving?"
"The bus is dead"
"Ding dong the bus is dead" George began singing
Rube put his hand on her shoulder "Now is not the time"
"Look" said Mason "the way I see it we have two options, we either steal another bus or get out and start walking to a gas station.
Roxy looked along the deserted road in the middle of some sort of wilderness. Daisy looked at the slightly squished interior of the bus. Mason looked at Daisy. George looked at Zoidberg. Zoidberg hugged Rube. For their own, various reasons they all descended from the bus and started off into the deep dark wilderness.
A shiver went up George's spine and she unconsciously shifted so she was closer to Roxy. The silence hung thickly in the air like some impenetrable barrier of inconceivable fear.
It was broken by Daisy's whiny voice. "I can't walk any further in these shoes. I'm an actress not a marathon runner"
George sighed
Heaving slightly Mason swung Daisy around and lifted her off her feet, literally.
"Thanks Mason" Daisy simpered
Roxy turned George around.
"You don't want to see this kid"
"I'm eighteen"
"But you look so young"
"Whatever"
"Did you hear that" asked Rube
"Hear Daisy and Mason making out, unfortunately"
"No, that other sound"
"Which Sound?"
"That sound"
"Oh" replied George turning towards the distinct sound of heavy footsteps. "That sound."
"Bugger" Thought George.
Something was coming.
