Alright, back again.

Came up with an idea for the next story. It's gonna be an intermission story before the sequel to this is released. I'm gonna set up the plot for it in this story, but it won't be worked on until this one is finished.

Got caught up with my RWBY story, so this one took a little longer than I'd hoped.

You know the drill.

Chapter 9: One Big Holiday (Part 1)

Wakin' up feelin', good and limber
When the telephone it ring
Was a bad man from California
Tellin' of a stone he'd bring

And of better days
From this town, we'd escape
If we holler loud and make our way
We'd all live one big holiday

- My Morning Jacket

[][][]

Rigby continued shoving popcorn into his mouth, dodging back and forth to see the screen.

"Gah! I can't see around this dork's costume!"

"Do you wanna switch seats?" Margaret suggested, "There's no one sitting in front of me."

He shook his head, "Nah, I'll see if he'll take it off."

Leaning forward, he knocked on the back of the cardboard box and waited for the owner to turn around, "Hey, you mind taking that thing off?"

Nodding, he pulled the Rob-O hat off and set it beside him.

Now able to see, Rigby leaned back in the chair and tried to focus on the movie.

"Hey, fur ball, keep it down or I'll have to come up there!"

Rigby passed his popcorn to Margaret, "Save my seat for me."

She nodded and grabbed a handful.

Rigby disappeared down the aisle while she watched the movie. Several moments later, the sound of punches and groaning echoed from the back of the room.

Picking up her drink, she realized it was empty and returned it to the holder.

Several moments later, Rigby returned to his seat carrying a larger bucket of popcorn and drink.

"Gave me his popcorn," he said, passing the drink to her.

"That was nice of him," she laughed, replacing her empty one, "And perfect timing."

He settled back into the seat and returned his focus to the movie, however, he was unable to concentrate on it. His attention kept returning to Mordecai. Even though they weren't on speaking terms, he left without saying anything. What if something happened and he didn't come back?

He shook the thought away and tried again, the massive uproar of cheering helping for a moment.

[][][]

"Told you."

Mordecai pulled to a stop at the metal gate and read the sign.

"This road closed due to dangerous driving conditions. Only authorized personnel permitted beyond this point."

"Well," Caroline sighed, "It was worth a shot."

The fence looked newer and was too strong to push through. The lock was too big to cut, and the trees were too close to go around.

"… And the hiking trail is just as bad."

"What was that?" he asked having only heard the end.

She pointed across the clearing to the small trail where the weeds began to reclaim it, "The hiking trail, they stopped taking care of it around the same time they left the road alone."

Mordecai nodded and threw the truck into reverse.

"What're you doing?"

He dropped the differential into "4L" and started toward the trail, "Well, we came to see the nail, didn't we?"

Vanessa quickly buckled her seatbelt and shook her head, "Not a good idea."

He rolled down his window and leaned outside of it to check the gap between the truck and the trees, "It'll be fine."

Crossing several large rocks and countless pot-holes, the truck continued over the rough terrain with no problems, eventually reaching the peak of the cliff.

"Well, that was uneventful," Mordecai said as he turned off the engine and unbuckled his seat belt.

"I guess the trail isn't that bad when you're in a truck," Caroline added while she moved the seat for Vanessa to get out.

He looked over the clearing, noting the differences. Instead of being packed with people, it was empty and already starting to become overrun with weeds and trash left by the last people to visit.

The only thing that remained the same was the view.

"It's really something, isn't it?"

He nodded in agreement, watching the ships roll into the harbor.

"This is boring."

Caroline sighed, "Can't you enjoy anything, Vanessa?"

"I enjoy lots of things."

Mordecai laughed, "Nothing nature related."

"Nature's boring! Nothing but leaves and jerk animals. There's nothing to do!"

"Just look at the water."

Mumbling, she continued pacing around the clearing, kicking the scattered cans she came across.

"So, Mr. Bigshot, what's it like in the city?"

"It's great," he began, climbing up the front of the truck, "Whatever you want is close by, most of it walking distance."

Caroline nodded and moved to climb up beside him. However, her foot slipped and she toppled onto the hood, rolling off the side.

"You still alive?"

She quickly stood up and laughed, "Oh, yeah. I'm fine. I think I'll stay down here."

"What about here? Anything interesting happen while I've been gone?"

"Well," she began, settling for leaning against the fender, "They finally rebuilt the playground, and got rid of all the graffiti."

"All of it?"

"Yeah, even the top of the water tower's blocked off."

He sighed, "I guess it's to be expected. It's kind of funny, actually. Spend my childhood spraying walls and now I work to clean them."

"Well, I thought I heard a strange voice."

Recognizing the owner right away, he sighed.

Turning and hopping off the front end, he looked at the group and their blonde headed leader, hoping it wouldn't go how he pictured it, "Hey, Richard."

Meeting in the middle of the clearing, he gave Mordecai a quick look over then glanced at the truck.

"So, you're back, and you have a different set of wheels."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said sternly, but calmly enough to keep it from being a challenge.

Richard laughed, a sharp, cutting laugh that sent a chill down his spine, "I'll cut to the chase."

At this point, he stepped forward, the rest of the group following him.

"Where's my Cadillac?"

Mordecai didn't take his eyes off him, "Haven't seen it."

There were footsteps behind him, and several of the others backed off.

Richard glanced to his side and shook his head, "I didn't think you two would stoop to associating with this low-life."

"Shut up, Richard," he heard Caroline's voice say behind him.

"At least he has a car," Vanessa added.

"Why don't you ask him why that is?"

Receiving no answer and feeling that things weren't going to go his way, Richard backed off, "How long are you in town for?"

"Just the weekend."

He nodded, "Alright, I'll leave you alone for now, but we're settling this before you leave. I have twenty grand to beat out of you, and I'm going to enjoy it."

As they turned to leave he paused, "Say, ladies. You're welcome to join us if you don't wanna hang out in the boring nature."

"As if," Caroline said.

"Vanessa?" he asked.

"No, but it beats waiting out here," she answered, walking away with the group, "See you around, Mordo."

He shook his head, dreading the nickname.

"So," she began when they were standing back at the truck.

Mordecai didn't answer, only looked out into the ocean.

Several minutes later, he sighed, "Now this place seems boring."

She nodded, "It's just cause you're pissed off. How about a trip to the arcade?"

"You should be a therapist."

Cranking the radio, he turned around and started down the trail they'd just entered from.

"Well, that was a waste of gas."

"What did Richard mean about you oweing him twenty grand?"

He glanced toward her and shook his head, "It's a long story."

"Not to sound cliché, we don't have that short of a drive."

Merging from the trail to the road, he came to a stop and switched back to normal, "Alright."

[][][]

A rust covered car rolled to a stop at the curb and the driver shifted into park.

"It's past curfew, they're gonna flip," Mordecai said, unbuckling his seat belt and opening the door, "Thanks Steve, it was a great game tonight."

Steve nodded from the driver seat, "No problem, Mordy. See you next week."

He fumbled in his pocket for his house keys as he walked to the door, pausing when he found it unlocked. Sighing, he opened the door and stepped into the living room.

Though blinded by the transition from dark to light, he could still make out the orange feathers of his father sitting in the recliner.

Seeing him walk in, he stood up, "Where've you been? Your mother's been worried sick."

"The movie ran longer than we thought it'd be," he lied, moving to walk past him to his room.

"Who were you with?" he asked, intercepting him.

He now seen the form of his mother sitting on the couch, staring at the floor, "Rigby."

"I don't remember him having a car," he returned, locking eyes and nodding when he realized who it was, "You were with Steve, weren't you?"

He held his glare and moved closer, "So what if I was?"

"We don't want you-"

"What? Hanging out with my father?"

His jaw dropped slightly and spoke quietly, "He told you?"

Mordecai nodded, "Not that he had to. It doesn't take an genius to realize the colors don't match up."

He began shaking, and his breathing increased nearly instantly, "You don't understand."

"No I don't. Maybe if you'd explained it I would've."

"If he'd of stayed gone," he began, his eyes darting back and forth, "This wouldn't of happened. I'm your father, not him."

"No, you're not, Carl," he said, moving to go around him.

"Hey, I'm not done talking to you!" he shouted, grabbing him by the throat and pulling him back into the room.

"Carl, stop it!" his mother shouted, jumping off the couch to start pulling him away.

"Let's get one thing straight," he yelled, the beer on his breath stinging his face and making it all the more harder to breathe, "I'm the one who took care of you when my brother ran out on your mother! I'm the one who kept a house over your head and clothes on your back! You think that loser could have done that?!"

He blinked, realizing what was happening and let him go. Almost instantly, Mordecai was back on his feet, fist reeled back strike. Carl watched him, not showing any sign of preparing to defend.

Shaking his head, he walked into his room and slammed the door. Grabbing his backpack, he began emptying the clothes from his dresser into it before grabbing his phone charger. Satisfied with everything he had, he emptied his life savings into his wallet and climbed through the window.

He zipped up his jacket while he walked to the end of his driveway.

"Hey, there he is," Rigby said, stopping on the sidewalk, "Was just gonna see if you were up for a game of air hockey."

Mordecai nodded and walked past him, "Anything to get out of the house."

[][][]

Rigby slapped at the puck and sent it back toward the other end of the table, "Dude, you can crash at my place for awhile. No one'd notice."

He slapped it back, "Maybe I'll calm down in a little while."

"Even so."

Mordecai pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the number, "Hold on, I've got a call."

Rigby slammed on the puck, sending it in and winning the game, "Yeah! In your face!"

Mordecai threw his mallet across the table, satisfied with the yell Rigby gave, and answered the call, "Hello?"

"Hello, this is Benson, manager of Twin Peaks city park," the voice began, not sounding enthusiastic, "Is there a Mordecai I can speak with?"

"This is."

"I'm calling in regards to an application you filed with our park. We're looking for two laborers, and I noticed you filed yours the same time as a Rigby. I tried contacting him, though I didn't receive and answer."

"Oh, he's right here. Do you want to speak with him?"

"No, that's alright. I'm calling to inform you we still have the opening if both of you were still interested in it."

He looked across the room to where he was attempting to pry open the bill holder on the change machine, "Sure, we're still interested."

"Okay, glad to hear it," he said, though his voice didn't sound it, "You can move your belongings in over the weekend and you'll both start on Monday."

"Alright, thanks. See you then."

"Try no to be late," the voice said before hanging up.

Mordecai walked over to the machine and put his hand on Rigby's shoulder.

"It was like this when I found it!" he shouted.

"Dude, that was the manager of the park we applied at. He said we can start Monday."

"Awesome!" Rigby shouted, shoveling the cash into his pocket, "We?"

"Yeah, we," he said, putting on his back pack, "You think I'm gonna let you have a room all to yourself?"

"That's great," he said, "But how are we going to get there? I'm not gonna walk the whole one hundred and sixty miles."

Mordecai though back to his sore jaw and the cause of it, "I have an idea."

Alright, going to cut you off there.

My keyboard's acting up, and it'll be better if I finished it next chapter.

Anyway, thanks for reading, not sure when the next one will be up, but know that I haven't forgotten this one.