By the time they're heading onto the highway, Riley relaxes enough to actually enjoy the drive. All of her nerves convert into excitement, giving her a jolt of energy that shocks away the exhaustion. Part of her still can't believe only twenty minutes ago she was lying in bed, losing sleep over what would happen to all of her friends within the next week, and now she's on the open road with them all, heading off on the next journey together.
Still, the excitement can't cancel out her organizational nature. "You sure about the scheduling? That we'll get everyone to school in time?"
"Plenty of it," Maya says smugly, leaning back in her seat and crossing her arms. Riley looks over her shoulder to lock eyes with her, watching her nod towards the dashboard. "Map is in the glove compartment, if you're so inclined to question my judgment."
"Smackle and I checked it over too," Farkle pipes up, "Since you have every right to question Maya's judgment."
"You got something to say about me? Say it to my face."
"Technically," Smackle says helpfully, "He did."
Riley ignores Maya's grumbling and reaches forward to open the glove compartment, pulling out a folded up map and the small spiral notebook underneath. She spreads out the map first, smoothing the edges against her knees crisscrossed on the seat.
In each city where one of their schools is located, a small sparkly star is stuck over the dot marking the location. Purple for Riley, starting the trail. Red for Smackle in Maryland. Orange for Zay in North Carolina. Green for Farkle in Missouri, blue for Lucas in Texas. And all the way in Los Angeles is a yellow star, indicating the last stop and Maya's final destination.
The harsh reality of just how far Maya is going washes over Riley as she stares at the black line of Sharpie connecting their travel plan. She pushes the map closed and opens the notebook instead, taking in Lucas's neat scrawl listing the tentative itinerary for each day, possible activities, driving rotation, and notes about time allotted for an emergency, should it arise.
"Figured you'd like to see it all written out rather than just in theory," he says from the driver's seat.
She nods enthusiastically. "Certainly makes it look a lot more possible."
He glances from the road to smile at her, eliciting one in return from her easily.
"Hey, hey, no googly eyes now," Zay chides from behind her, "Watch the road!"
Riley giggles in spite of herself and averts her gaze from Lucas to looking out the window. The Manhattan skyline twinkles charmingly, and it sort of feels like a friendly goodbye. Like the city is wishing her luck.
But how starkly the cityscape stands out against the dark sky reminds her just how late it is. "We're not traveling too far, are we? I mean, tonight. It's not safe for us to drive hours at a time this late at night."
"Gee, it's like you didn't even read the itinerary," Maya teases, propping her feet up on the back of Riley's armrest. "The actual journey starts tomorrow. Tonight, we just had to get you out of the city."
"The thinking was if we get you past the state line, you won't be as likely to chicken out and want to go back," Zay explains further.
Riley gasps, bringing a hand to her chest in offense. "Why is it that you all think I would be the one to chicken out? What on Earth about my personality makes you all come to that horrible assumption about my ability to be dangerous and spontaneous?"
"Because you're responsible," Farkle says.
"Because you're in love with rules," Zay adds.
"Because your conscience is stronger than your need to rebel," Lucas offers.
"Because you've never proven otherwise which would lead us to a different conclusion," Smackle suggests.
"Because Cory is going to have a fit when he finds out," Maya finishes, grinning one of her devilish smiles that always makes Riley wonder what mess she's going to have to clean up next. In this case, that mess is going to be her father. "And to be honest, I'm a little sad I'm not going to be there in person to witness it."
Zay nods. "Yeah, that too."
"He is going to freak," Riley agrees, already feeling a little bit of guilt over the situation. She knows he'll call the moment he finds out and she'll be able to explain it then, but something in her makes her want to call now. That exact part that her friends just pinpointed so well. She reaches into her drawstring bag and pulls out her phone. "Maybe if I just give him a call…"
"No!"
All five voices shout at once and three hands fly towards her in unison, Lucas's from her left and Zay and Maya's from behind. Lucas nudges her phone out of her hand and tosses it to Zay, who hands it to Maya.
"Hands on the wheel, Lucas!" Farkle snaps from behind the chaos.
"Actually," Smackle chimes in, leaning forward between the seats to insert herself into the fray. "Being able to drive with one hand, although moderately more risky, is a symbol of driving skill. It signals a less rigid grip on the wheel which indicates more relaxed posture, hence more confidence on the road."
"Nah, Lucas really ain't that good."
"Thanks, Zay."
Riley lunges for the phone and Maya jerks back and raises her eyebrows, holding it out of her reach. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
"What did I do?" Riley whines, attempting another swipe. "Why can't I call him and let him know?"
"Riley, if you call your father right now and tell him what's happening, he'll drive out here after us and make you go back home." Farkle locks eyes with her, speaking in his most matter-of-fact tone. "That's why we're relying on the state line theory—if you get that far, you're already on your way. He's less likely to force you home."
"The more distance traveled, the more freedom you obtain," Smackle fills in, earning an affirmative nod from Farkle. They exchange a smile.
"And if you call him now, you'll ruin the entire trip." Maya cuts right to the chase. "Do you want to ruin the trip?"
"Alright, calm down," Lucas says pointedly to Maya, glancing at her in the rear view mirror. She makes a face at him. "Riley, listen. If you are seriously uncomfortable with this, I can turn the car around and take you back."
"Aw, boo!" Maya cries out. "Who let him drive first?"
"Lucas the Good, on patrol once again," Farkle adds.
Ignoring their jeers, Lucas reaches out and pats Riley's hand, resting on her armrest. "You tell me, and I'll do it. This is only going to be worth it if all of us are in. Just say the word."
Farkle presses his fingers against his temple. "Lucas, if you take your hand off that wheel one more time I'm calling the cops."
Riley glances down at his hand on top of hers, then to all of her friends piled into the van behind her. Although she's slightly terrified of what's going to happen when morning comes and the real adventure begins, and what consequences may come from it, she's so happy already being here with them. If what's to come in college and life is always going to be a little terrifying, what's to stop her from starting to take it on right now?
"I'm okay," she says with an exhale, giving Lucas a reassuring smile before nodding to the back. "I'm in for the journey. I won't freak out and call my dad."
Maya whoops loudly and holds out her hand, gesturing for Riley to hand over her bag. "I'll just hold onto it for the night, if you don't mind. I trust you, but for good measure."
She does, a tad reluctantly. Maya hums triumphantly and opens the bag, poking her head in as she drops the phone back into its depths.
Riley takes a deep breath, readjusting to face forward and clasping her hands together on her lap, straightening up. "Okay. This is it. I'm invested, I've given up my agency, I'm ready for this to be amazing. Just know that if I get home and my father locks me in a tower for the rest of my life, it's your fault."
"Oh, Mr. Matthews could be more creative than that," Zay says, propping up his legs over Maya's. She attempts to nudge him off with limited success. "He'd probably make you be a student in his class for the rest of your natural life."
"Oh, so that was punishment? I thought that was just our luck," Maya jokes.
"Look!" Smackle suddenly hollers, pointing out the front window to the road in front of them. Just in the glow of the headlights, the big sign brandishing a happy welcome to the state of Pennsylvania greets them.
"Welcome to the state line," Farkle proclaims.
"Hear, hear!"
"Great!" Lucas cheers. "Now someone tell me where the hell I'm going."
"I would look it up on my phone," Riley says coyly, crossing her legs and shrugging. "But I don't have my phone."
"You're fun when you're sassy," Zay says with a laugh, leaning forward to clap her on the shoulders.
"It's okay, I'm pulling it up." There's a pause as Farkle enters the address, his phone lighting up his and Smackle's faces a translucent blue. "You're going to be on this for another forty miles. Then there's an exit. Head towards Philadelphia."
"Aw, Philly," Riley coos.
Smackle nods. "We'll get to see all of it tomorrow."
"But for now, we got forty miles of darkness and the open road ahead of us." Maya holds her hand out expectantly. "Hand me the aux cord. Time to crank up the music!"
The moment they pull into the parking lot of the motel, Farkle clambers over Maya to hop out of the car before Lucas even turns off the engine.
"I'll go check us in. Make sure the card my dad gave me is working out and everything." He disappears before any of them has a chance to argue.
Zay shakes his head, unbuckling his seatbelt. "You know, I've known that kid for almost five years and I still can't believe he talks that fast. I thought I was a talker, but man."
"Yeah, he's a twitchy one," Maya grumbles, brushing her hair out of her face from Farkle's hike over her seat.
The group unloads, waiting around by the car until Farkle comes back to show them which room. Riley closes the passenger door and walks around the hood to the other side where Lucas is leaning against the driver's side door, stretching his arms and shoulders.
"You okay?" Riley questions, approaching him.
He nods, shrugging. "We're going to be doing a lot more driving than this. This is nothing."
"Well, you shouldn't drive tomorrow," she chides, leaning against the door as well and facing him. "You don't want to overwork yourself."
"Gee, Riley, if you're already worried about how much people are driving we're in for a long trip," Maya teases, coming up to her other side. "Just wait until we get to the middle of the country and there's only three of us. And miles and miles of Cowtown."
"Yeah, and it'll take you a whole year to get there since Lucas doesn't go more than five miles over the speed limit."
"Again, thank you, Zay."
"Aw, what's the matter Huckleberry?" Maya pouts at him, resting her elbow on Riley's shoulder. Considering she's taller than her, it looks less comfortable than it should. "You mad someone is criticizing your ability to ride the open range?"
"Okay, okay, very funny."
"I can see it now. Ranger Rick, out on the open trail with nothing but his horse, his ten-gallon hat, and the sunset on the horizon around him. A beautiful, idyllic Western scene. Then a turtle passes through the frame because he won't let the horse go more than three clip-clops per minute."
"Ha ha ha."
"And in the music swells," Maya says dramatically, inhaling deeply and tilting her head back, singing to the sky. "Ha hurr… ha hurr, ha hurr…"
Smackle interrupts the torment right as Lucas reaches over Riley to swat at Maya, earning a smack back from her. Riley holds her arms out to split them up. "It's okay, Riley. I'll drive most of the day tomorrow, seeing as I'll be present for the smallest duration of the trip. It's the least I could do."
"It's all in the driving rotation," Zay agrees from the trunk, pulling out suitcases. "No one is going to be pushing themselves too hard. Our parents never would have let us go otherwise. It's common sense. Now get over here and help a guy out."
Riley leads the way over, leaning into the back to pull out a couple of suitcases. Under the pile she finds the one Maya packed for her, all kept in her favorite suitcase, a dark purple one that she's had for years. She yanks it out from the back with a grin, Maya mirroring it as she comes to stand next to her. "You got my favorite one."
"Of course I did," she says casually. "I know you, Riles. Well enough to pack for you at least. I don't know how you didn't notice a good chunk of your closet was empty."
Farkle comes out of the lobby entrance and heads towards them, and Riley can immediately tell there's a problem. He's keeping his head down, a hard job considering how tall he is now. But the sheepish look on his face is hard to miss. "So, we have a problem."
"That was fast," Zay murmurs.
"Problem?" Lucas asks with an eyebrow raise, dropping the last suitcase on the ground. "What problem?"
"Farkle, if you tell us we're stuck sleeping in this van, I'll kill you."
"No, Maya, we do have a room," he says in exasperation, waving her off. "That's just the problem."
There's a long pause, all of them waiting for him to explain. Riley watches Maya's eyebrow inch into an arch the longer Farkle stays quiet.
Finally, Zay breaks the silence. "You know, for someone who claims to live by science and logic, you sure do love your dramatic pauses."
"We have a room," he exhales, "But we only have one room. They only gave us one."
"Farkle, are you kidding?" Maya snaps, crossing her arms. "You had one job!"
"Look, this was the last minute addition!" Farkle raises his arms in surrender, but his expression is defensive. "All the rest were perfectly booked and accounted for, and then you called me three hours ago saying that we had to leave tonight and that I better work fast so I did my best."
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Riley offers diplomatically, smiling at all of them and clasping her hands together. "We're going to be spending hours together in a car, what's a little more time in a room? I'm sure we'll be able to spread out and get enough rest."
"Well," Farkle trails off, earning another testy glare from Maya's direction.
"What else?"
"It's… you'll just see when we get there. Hand me my suitcase."
Farkle takes the lead, going through the outdoor hallways and taking the stairs to the second floor. They go all the way down to the corner edge of the building, stopping at the last room.
"I just want everyone to stay calm," he repeats, digging the key out from his pocket and sliding it into the lock.
Upon opening the door, the subject of Farkle's concerns are revealed—not only is there only one room for the six of them, there's only one bed.
"Congratulations, Farkle Minkus, you've just discovered your death bed."
"Shut up, Maya!"
Riley straightens her shoulders and strides forward into the room first, turning on the light and dropping her suitcase on the ground. She puts her hands on her hips, managing a smile and turning to face her friends. "This is good, guys. Nothing we can't handle! We'll be fine, come on, get in here."
The rest of them grumble as they file in, designating a space to stack their suitcases. Smackle reaches out and gently takes Farkle's arm, giving him a forgiving smile. He returns it gratefully, lightly touching her fingers in reply.
Maya flops onto the bed, staring at the ceiling and sighing dramatically. "At least we made it this far. I was seriously worried we weren't going to get Riley out of the city. But we did. It's like some reckless, mischievous spirit is watching out for us from above and letting this mayhem happen. How did you put it, Lucas? 'A guiding hand with your best interests at heart.'"
"That's not quite what I was referring to, but sure, we can go with that."
"A guiding hand with your best roguish, wild interests at heart. Amen."
Zay suddenly jumps up from sitting on the suitcases, clapping. "That reminds me. I know exactly how we should celebrate." He grabs his backpack and unzips it, digging into the bottom to produce a tupperware container. Opening the lid, he tilts it down for all of them to see the contents.
"Cookies!"
"Grandma's specially made cookies, packaged and sent for this very trip. And there's enough for everyone and then some," he says, looking pointedly at Riley. She smiles innocently. "Everyone take one, let's go."
He holds out the container and passes them around, stopping in front of Farkle and snapping the lid shut. "Nah, you don't get one. Get a room with more than one bed next time and then you can have your cookie."
"It wasn't my fault!"
Zay shrugs, locking eyes with Farkle while he takes a bite of his cookie. "Mm, delicious."
"This is going to be a sorry last few days with you all," Farkle mumbles. Riley catches Smackle break her cookie in half and hand him the other piece. The way his eyes light up appreciatively makes the whole room feel a little bit brighter.
Riley still can't believe they willingly decided to break up.
"It's crazy that this is going to be one of the last times for a while where we're all talking to one another at the same time," she says thoughtfully, looking at each of them.
Maya hums indignantly and holds up a finger to silence Riley, unable to speak with her mouth full of cookie. When she swallows, she shakes her head firmly. "No getting sappy yet. It's way too early for that. I know it's gonna happen eventually but not one night in. Keep it together, honey."
"Besides, we'll be able to talk to each other as a group," Lucas says, "Smackle's already talked about organizing a Skype chat."
"Yes, it'll be simple to work out, after finding the best times for everyone."
"Yep." Maya pats Riley's back, hugging her close. "We'll sit on our laptops and talk for hours just like we do now, only it'll be slightly more awkward because all we'll get is a glimpse of each other's dorm rooms and nothing else. Ten p.m., be there or be square."
Riley's jaw drops. "It'll start at ten?"
"You and Zay and Smackle will be on east coast time, but Lucas and I are going to be an hour behind," Farkle notes.
"And I'll be three hours behind!" Maya says delightedly. "Ironic, that as the night owl of this group, I'm the one going three hours back."
"So our Skype chats are really just going to be the five of us watching Riley sleep," Zay laughs.
Smackle smiles. "It'll be as though we never even left Manhattan."
Once the group finishes laughing at Riley's expense, all of them scoot around each other as they get ready for bed. It isn't until everyone is up and moving that Riley realizes most of them are in sweatpants or other sleep pants of some kind already. She wonders just how unexpected it was that Maya decided to jump start the trip tonight rather than in the morning.
Farkle manages to find some movie on the channel guide and the group of them settle in to watch, dozing off over the course of the film. Even squished onto one bed, Riley's one of the first to fall asleep, head drooping onto Lucas's shoulder. As long as she's with these people, she's comfortable.
As she's early to bed, Riley is early to rise and the first to wake up the next morning.
She lays there with her eyes closed, trying to recollect the events from last night and piece them together in a way that makes sense. The only reason she isn't sure she dreamt it is because she's surrounded on both sides, Maya's knee digging into her back. Pressing her face into the pillow and taking a deep breath, Riley gives in to the sunshine and opens her eyes.
Lucas is there next to her and the first thing she sees, still sound asleep despite the sun filtering in through the curtains that are only half-drawn. She watches him rest for a few moments, his fingers resting inches from hers. He must've fallen asleep holding her hand, but she can't remember.
There's something about the way he looks when he's sleeping that Riley loves, but she can't quite put her finger on it. Not to mention the fact that she only has about a week to figure it out before things change and the prospect of seeing it again becomes a lot more uncertain.
Sitting up slowly as not to disturb him or Maya, Riley stretches out her legs and almost knocks Farkle right off the edge of the bed. It's amazing how the four of them have configured themselves to fit—Maya curled up in a ball, Farkle laying somewhat diagonally and managing not to roll away, his long legs draped over Lucas's and dangling off the side. Getting to her knees, Riley can see that Zay and Smackle both cleverly chose alternatives for the mattress, the former on the floor with a pillow and blanket and the latter in the armchair by the window.
Somehow managing to tip-toe off the center of the bed, she checks her phone. To her relief, there are not a thousand messages from her father, but it occurs to her it's far too early for him to freak out. If they found her bedroom empty, Topanga probably rightfully assumed that she went out with Maya and will be back later in the day. In this case, she's half-right.
No, the volcanic eruption of Mt. Matthews is more likely to come tonight, when they're well on their way down the coast.
After dancing around Zay as to not trip over him and stopping at the bathroom, Riley slips on her sandals and grabs one of the room keys. She hesitates to lean over and tuck the blanket more snugly over Smackle, then she steps out of the room and into the warm morning air.
She's a little bummed she missed the sunrise. The sky is a cloudy grey, no orange or pink in sight as the sun creeps higher and higher up. She wonders how many of them it'll take to get Maya out of bed within the hour when the door opens behind her.
Smackle, blanket still wrapped around her shoulders, walks over to the railing and leans forward next to her. Still waking up and without her glasses, she looks much more serene than usual. It would probably take her a couple seconds longer to recite pi than usual. "Good morning, Riley."
"Morning," she chirps, giving her a smile. "You sleep okay in that chair?"
"Yes, the comfort was more than sufficient. Considering the amount of space, I'm impressed you all slept as well as you did sharing that bed."
"I don't know how Farkle managed to sleep along the bottom of the bed," Riley laughs. "Did you see his legs hanging off the end?"
Smackle smiles lightly, breaking into a giggle. Riley smiles wider.
"Are you excited for John Hopkins? It's crazy that in a day you'll be starting your college experience."
Smackle's expression softens, becoming more pensive as she looks out to the cloudy horizon. It's an expression Riley is certain she's going to see on all of their faces many times over the next few days. A balanced mixture of excitement and terror. "It will be a learning experience, that's all I can say for sure. Anything else would be inconclusive speculation."
Riley nods understanding. She knows the feeling, and appreciates Smackle's logical approach to the situation. "Maya used to say I worried about things I couldn't control all the time, which I guess we know is true through the years. I guess that's sort of the exact opposite approach."
"I would concur with that assumption," Smackle says with a teasing smile.
"I'm glad you're going somewhere you really want to go." There's movement from the room that Riley catches out of the corner of her eye, but she wants to take advantage of this moment alone with Smackle. "I know you weren't certain and wanted to weigh your options, but it makes me happy to see that you chose your heart over anything else."
"I think I learned that from you," Smackle admits openly. "To do otherwise would have felt like a disservice to my own ambitions."
Riley grins. "I think we learned a lot from one another."
"I can only hope to have acquaintances as good as you all when I get there. You, and Maya, and Lucas, and Zay…"
"And Farkle," Riley fills in, smirking in spite of herself.
"And Farkle." Smackle nods, looking distant again. "You're irreplaceable. It will be hard to find people who match your caliber."
"Smackle?"
"Yes?"
"Bay window. Bay window right now."
"Bay window?" Smackle asks, raising her eyebrows in confusion. "Riley, your bay window is across the state line. Please tell me you know this."
"Yes, I do. This is emergency bay window time. In times of great need but limited resources, we must imagine the bay window and allow its energies to do their magic," she explains, holding out her hands. "And in this moment, we need the bay window. Hands, please."
Tentatively, Smackle reaches out and places her hands in Riley's. She hums, imagining the feeling of being in the bay window and allowing that memory and warmth to give her to courage to approach the subject head on.
"Smackle, why are you and Farkle not together?"
"What do you mean?" she asks, tilting her head. "We have been over this multiple times. It's the most logical thing to do. Statistically speaking, long distance relationships don't—,"
"Smackle, I'm not talking about statistics." Riley squeezes her hands, making her meet her eyes. "It's obvious that you still care about him, and he cares about you. If you still like each other, why not take the chance and see if you'll be a part of the statistics that go against the trend? The exception to the rule, or however you want to put it."
Smackle takes a deep breath, shaking her head slightly. "We're scientists. We work by logic, it's why we work well together."
"Well, scientists are always trying to prove something new, aren't they? Discover something different. Test the boundaries of what has already been established. Why not take that scientific approach? Don't simply listen to what statistics have already proven—be scientists and set out to test the boundaries."
She knows she shouldn't meddle, but the curious look on Smackle's face at this possibility feels like a breakthrough. And she knows in her heart that while she'd like to take the credit, no one in their group has done more for Smackle than Farkle. She needs him, even if she's going to journey off on her own, and he needs her. Riley knows this better than she thinks she knows anything about herself.
Before Smackle can reply, the door opens behind them and Zay pokes his head out, looking relieved. "There you are. Next time, leave a note or something, yeah?"
"We went five feet out the door."
"Yeah, well, I worry," he says haughtily. "Now get in here and help. Maya's refusing to get out of bed, it's going to take all of us to get her up and moving."
It ultimately takes Lucas, Farkle, Riley and Zay each taking one of Maya's limbs and lifting her off the bed to get her to relent. Riley points out that if she can't get up in the morning it's going to be a long trip of them being constantly late, to which Maya merely shrugs before dramatically storming off to the bathroom.
"She loves an exit," Farkle comments.
"And she thinks you're dramatic," Lucas adds to Riley.
Once all of them cycle through and get dressed and freshened up-a process that requires an additional page in the travel notebook giving everyone a turn-they lug their suitcases back out the door and down the steps to the van.
"Goodbye, devil motel!" Maya shouts gleefully, before dropping her suitcase in front of the trunk and pressing up against the van, pretending to hug it. "Good morning, Cory. I can't wait to see your namesake blow sky high at some point today."
Lucas tosses the keys to Smackle, who just manages to catch them. "You ready?"
"Born ready," she affirms, Lucas and Zay exchanging amused smiles as she pushes past them to hop into the driver's seat.
Lucas and Zay climb into the very back, Riley and Maya climbing in after them to the middle. Farkle slams the passenger door closed behind him and pulls up the directions, turning around to face them. "This is it. No turning back now."
"The adventure is about to begin for real," Maya says ominously to Riley, giving her an eyebrow wiggle. "You ready?"
Riley grins at all them, before linking her pinky with Maya's. "Born ready."
Smackle turns on the engine, pulling out of the parking lot. Maya rolls down the window and Zay whoops, yelling out towards the road.
"Philadelphia, here we come!"