Road Trip

"Babe it's time to get up," Beck gently whispered as he rubbed Jade's back.

"So dark," mumbled Jade.

"I know. But what's worse LA traffic jams or waking up really early to avoid them?" Beck said making his tone light.

"Five more minutes."

Five minutes later Jade felt Beck's weight back on the bed and she begrudgingly opened her eyes yet closed them once again. However, her bright blue eyes opened quickly and rolled over so she was once again on her back. Her lips formed a small smile. Beck was holding a cup of coffee. The woman sat up against the headboard and brought the coffee to her lips.

Jade sighed and rearranged the covers to keep the morning cold away before looking back up at Beck, "Hey."

"Hey, I already showered I'm just gonna get dressed."

"How did you so easily wake up at this ungodly hour," Jade asked. It was 5:00 a.m.

"At about 4:30 you were having a strange dream. You rolled over and your arm smacked me in the face. You were mumbling things. I couldn't understand much something about stairs, bells, coffins, and blood," Beck recounted.

"I was having a dream that zombies were after us," Jade said as if it were no big deal.

Thirty minutes later Beck and Jade were pulling out of their apartment building's parking lot. They were going on a short road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco. In fact the whole gang was making the journey to visit Robbie. It was a holiday weekend and Andre, Cat, and Tori were leaving early Saturday morning while Beck and Jade decided to leave early Friday morning and take the longer scenic route turning it into a road trip.

Jade had fallen back asleep during the car ride so it was just Beck and the soft sounds of the radio. He glanced over at his sleeping girlfriend and couldn't but smile, he wasn't at all surprised that she had fallen asleep. It was their first official road trip and she was asleep. Beck also knew that when Jade did wake up she'd accusingly wonder why Beck didn't wake her up. Although if he had waken her she would've been very grumpy.

Jade stirred awake once Beck was a few miles outside of Santa Barbara declaring, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"It's out first road trip together and I'm missing it."

"Sorry, you were just so sound asleep I just couldn't bear to wake you up. Besides you've driven from LA to Santa Barbara a few times."

"Yeah, but I was in the car with my father and step mother on the way to see her horrific family. Where exactly are we?" Jade said stretching.

"A few miles until Santa Barbara.

Leaving early had allowed the couple to miss the infamous LA traffic jams and they arrived in Santa Barbara by breakfast. Thanks to the internet they knew exactly where they wanted to have breakfast. They were able to get there with ease and walked straight into the restaurant sitting in a booth.

"What would you like order, sweetie?" the waitress asked looking at Beck.

"I'd like the blueberry pancakes."

"And for you?"

"I would like the French toast," Jade said with a faux smile on her face.

Wearing a fax smile was all Jade could do to contain the rage within her.

"I can't believe that waitress," Jade said with huff after the woman had walked away.

Beck said nothing and just waited for Jade to continue. This was a common dance they did when they went out to eat. Waitresses were friendly and Jade saw that as flirty.

"Why do they always flirt with you when I am right next to you?"

"Sweetie can I take your order? Honey do you want the sauce on the side? I hope you have a great day," Jade rambled on in the sweet voice she usually only reserved for Tori.

"I know, Jade, their just being friendly. It's their job. They just want a nice tip and they treat everyone that way," Jade said now imitating Beck's voice.

"Well, I guess you don't even need me for this conversation," Beck commented as Jade had commanded all aspects of the conversation.

After Jade was done with her spiel about the waitress Beck redirected the conversation and Jade was tame for the rest of breakfast. After their meal the two walked around town for a bit stretching their legs and taking in the sights of the town.

"So on a scale of one to ten how awkward are things going to be between Cat and Robbie?" Beck wondered aloud.

"When have things not been awkward between those two?"

"Good point. Remember that time in high school you tried to get them together?"

"Yeah, oh god. I still can't believe I meddled. It was so Tori of me. They were just annoying me by ignoring the big fat elephant that was their crushes on each other. It was pathetic."

The couple walked around town arm in arm stopping at a few shops along the way.

It only took about four hours to get to Monterey, their next stop where they would spend the night.

"Uh, why is there nothing good on the radio," Jade complained after flipping station to station to station about a hundred times.

"You made a play list. Right? Why don't you just start up your ipod?" Beck suggested.

"Oh yeah. I made a road trip playlist," Jade stated as she began playing it.

"I didn't know a road trip playlist included Joni Mitchell," Beck said as the female singer's voice wafted through the air.

"Why not?" Jade was clearly offended based on the tone of her voice.

"I just would've picked something a little more upbeat."

"Fine, how's this?" Jade said as she played the next song. It was "You're So Vain," by Carly Simon.

"This one is real upbeat," Beck said sarcastically.

"You're probably just upset this song isn't about you," Jade sighed.

"I can think of a least three songs girls have written about you."

Beck just ignored Jade's comments.

"Well, what would you include on a road trip playlist?"

"Something fast, upbeat. Maybe some stuff with the road trip theme. Kayne, some Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, Bennie and the Jets by Elton John, The Eagles, Rolling Stones, that Life Is a Highway song,…..," Beck listed off.

Jade then stopped the song currently playing and scrolled down to find a new one. She found the song she was looking for and with a smirk on her face pressed play.

Bennie and the Jets by Elton then wafted through the air as Beck and Jade coasted down the highway taking in the scenic California sights.

However, the peace didn't last too long because normal's boring, right?

Jade broke the peace first.

"Beck, you should pass this car."

"I'm going to give this car a chance to pass first. I don't want to pass two cars on this road."

"If you don't do it soon you'll run out of time and we won't be in a passing zone anymore," Jade stated. Her voice rising by the end of her statement.

"Honk the horn or something so they get the message."

"No, I'm not going to do that."

Jade moaned in frustration.

The car in front them then passed the slow moving truck.

Beck smiled to himself and Jade rolled her eyes.

About half way through the trip the couple pulled over at a lookout point. They sat on the hood of Jade's car looking out over the cliffs and dark blue water. They took a few pictures and mostly ate in a comfortable silence. After they were finished eating they just stayed wrapped up in each other's arms occasionally kissing and speaking.

In the middle of a kiss they were interrupted by Jade's cellphone ringing.

Beck could tell Jade hesitated answering the phone as she sat up.

"Hey, Kelly."

"Good. Not much. He's good."

"Oh, yeah."

After a long pause Jade spoke again.

"Yeah, he could spend next weekend with us. Yeah, I think that's a good idea too. We don't mind at all."

"Um, ok. Yeah. I'll see you then."

Jade then ran her hands through her hair closing her eyes and returned to laying down on the car.

Beck waited for her to speak but when it did not happen he prompted her too.

"So, who was that?"

"Kelly. Ben's going to stay with us next weekend. Kelly filed for divorce yesterday. Ben's with her parents for the long weekend and next weekend he's going to stay with us while our dad moves out," Jade shared and exhaled heavily and her body became rigid.

"Isn't it ironic that my stepmother is the one to tell me about the divorce?"

"Yeah, well your dad has always sucked at that stuff," Beck commented.

"I'd wish that they could amicably get divorced but it already doesn't sound like it will be drama free."

"I'm sorry babe."

"Yeah, me too. I don't know whatever possessed Richard West to get remarry and have a kid. He's not the type that should be a family man. I don't know if he just doesn't see it or doesn't want to believe it or just finds himself compelled to settle down. Why would he ever get married? Most marriages end in divorce anyways and when you have a wandering eye, cold personality, and are all together difficult, you're basically a curse to marriage," Jade began to passionately explain but by the end of her statement her voice had softened almost as if a realization had come to her.

Beck wanted to say something to reassure Jade but no words came to him. He wanted to say marriage could work out well, his grandparents had been married for sixty years. His parents got along pretty well. Those were the only good examples he could think of and that fact is what made him say nothing. He wanted his girlfriend to believe in marriage because he wanted to marry her. But now doubts swirled in his mind, what is marriage, why does it so often fail, and are they ready? He simply took Jade's hand in his but it did not help her relax.

"We should get going. We don't want to get to Monterey too late."

"Ok," Beck agreed as Jade sat up and hopped off the car.

"I'll drive," Jade offered.

Beck too hopped off the car and placed the keys in Jade's hand pulling in her for a hug, which she reciprocated.

"I just don't want to think about this right now."

"Baby, I'm sorry your dad sucks."

"You'd think I'd be use to it by now."

"Well, he has an awesome daughter though. He did a great job contributing his DNA. He even let her take mostly after her mother."

Beck felt Jade release a small smile against his chest before they parted with a kiss and got back in the car.

The rest of the drive to Monterrey was kept light hearted through conversations centering around the latest play Jade was writing and what they wanted to do when they got to San Francisco.

Finally, the couple arrived in Monterrey where they had reserved a motel room for the night.

First, they checked in. It was a very modest hotel. The cheapest they could find. Luckily, the city was big on tourism so even the cheapest hotel, as Jade put it, was not crawling with roaches or coated in lead paint with décor from 1993. Beck patiently waited as Jade inspected the room and made sure that it was within range of her standards. She closely looked at every object and crevice in the bathroom making sure it was clean. She counted the number of towels and the free soap they give you. She then looked over the bed ensuring that the sheets seemed clean and she lastly she looked over the furniture to see that it was devoid of dust.

"Alright, it seems clean," Jade declared as Beck let out a sigh of relief. He and Jade had only ever gotten a hotel room together twice before and the room was not clean enough either time so he had to watch Jade "request" a new room and speak to management. In both previous cases the manager had been stunned. He had never before seen someone be so picky over such a cheap motel.

Since the room was determined on par the couple changed clothes and freshened up. Beck and Jade then drove to Fisherman's Wharf to see the sea lions. It was a popular tourist thing to do in the town and they had a few hours to kill before dinner.

"Alright, so let's see what all the fuss is about the sea lions," Jade stated as Beck pointed a few from their spot on the dock."

"They sound like dogs," Beck observed.

"They're just lying there barking like dogs," Jade commented as she snapped a few pictures.

"I wonder if they do tricks," Beck joked.

"Looks more like they just lay around getting fat."

"It says here that they're actually intelligent animals and that they have been used by the US Navy to uncover mines, lost equipment, and enemy divers. They were used in Vietnam, although we lost that war, so what percentage of the blame rest on the flippers of the sea lions," Jade said as she scrolled through her phone reading the information.

"Well, we came, we saw, we took photos, and we smelled the fish smell," Jade declared wrinkling up her nose.

"In other words you're ready to leave?" Beck asked.

"Yep, but first do you have a penny I want to do that penny press thing over there," Jade said looking excitedly towards the machine.

"Okay," Beck voiced skeptically as he searched his wallet for a penny and then handed one over.

"Do you also want me to buy you won of those stuffed seals?" Beck jokingly questioned.

"What am I five?" Jade replied. Apparently she didn't see the irony. Beck wrapped an arm around her as she put the shiny penny in the machine.

"So shall we go find a place for dinner?" Beck said as Jade agreed and hooked her own arm around him her hand slipping into his back pocket.

The couple ended up a few blocks away at a restaurant that claimed to be moderately priced. They sat on the deck overlooking the ocean and perusing the menu.

"I know when one is in Monterrey one must eat seafood but I don't know they usually screw up my order," Jade pondered aloud as she looked over her menu.

"Just eat whatever you want, babe. This place is not only a seafood restaurant but we're in an area known for seafood so I think your luck will be better this time," Beck assured his girlfriend.

"I'm Angela your server what can I get you to eat?"

"I want the shrimp alfredo but I don't want the shrimp to still have tails. I want the shrimp to be tailless. So the shrimp alfredo without the tails. The chef will take off the tails, right?" Jade said with a clear tone and direct eye contact with the waiter.

"Yes, the chef will take off the tails," the waiter Joey told Jade sounding a bit nervous," And for you sir?"

"I'll take the seafood enchiladas," Beck requested handing the waiter his menu.

"Oh, did you know that Monterrey Jack Cheese was invented here," Beck said as he read a pamphlet he had picked up in town earlier.

"Fascinating," the girl before him sarcastically stated.

Minutes later their meals were served and to Jade's surprise and Beck's relief Jade's shrimp were tailless.

"It's a shrimp victory," Jade declared.

After dinner the sun was setting so the pair took a short walk and took a few photos of the setting sun. They ended the night at a local playhouse with cheap tickets and a great reputation.

"Alright, what was the name of the play we were going to see again?" Jade asked her boyfriend.

"12 Hours," Beck replied.

After walking a few more blocks. They arrived at the small theatre and Beck waited for Jade to notice.

"Beck, that play's not listed on the marque," Jade cautiously said.

"I know. I lied."

"So please tell me you got us tickets for The Addams Family."

"I did. I wanted to surprise you," Beck began saying as Jade's face broke out into a rare huge smile and she practically tackled Beck with a hug.

"I thought you might like it," Beck cheekily stated.

The Addams Family was one of Jade's favorite movies growing up and while she hated surprises and was paranoid in general Beck was able to pull this one off perfectly.

Later that night in their hotel room Beck was waiting for Jade to get out of the shower and flipping through the hotels limited tv channels when Jade clad in a towel entered the room. As Beck turned off the tv turning to his left to put the remote on the bedside table Jade walked to his side of the bed and by the time he faced forward again Jade was moving to straddle his lap.

"To what do I owe this?" he said as he put his arms around his girlfriend.

Jade was not fond of the fact that others had slept on the hotel sheets before her so she usually was not keen on having sex in a hotel bed. Bed being the key word.

"Well, we are about to be bunking with Robbie, Tori, Cat, and Andre so I figured we should have some alone time," Jade whispered raising her eyebrows.

Beck smiled. "Good idea."

"I'm full of good ideas."

"And only coming out in a towel," Beck remarked as he lightly rubbed her shoulders.

"Time saver," Jade confessed as she removed the towel and Beck brought his hands to her sides and finally kissed her.

The next morning the couple leisurely woke up and got dressed just in time to take part in the free breakfast the hotel provided in the lobby. After eating a light breakfast the couple checked out of their room and filled the car with gas. They stopped in Salinas to go to the National John Steinbeck Center to explore the museum about the famous author they admired. The next leg of the journey would only take a few hours as they drove down the highway with Bon Jovi playing in the background.

They made a few stops along the way. Once at a lighthouse and once at a coffee shop where they switched who was driving.

As the couple arrived in San Francisco it was early evening. Cat had called Jade to let her know that they were only a few hours away. As Beck and Jade pulled into the parking lot of Robbie's apartment building Jade remarked, "Maybe we should do something while we wait for the others to arrive."

"Babe it'll be fine. Just us with Robbie."

"Fine. I gotta pee anyways."

"So, we survived our first road trip."

"Yep, did you think we'd have trouble?" Jade pointedly asked.

"No. I mean you can be a back seat driver but..," Beck joked as Jade elbowed in the ribs.

"You're also so violent."

"You're just a baby."

"You're also emotionally abusive."

"Oh, shut up," Jade said as she began to ring the bell. Three times.

By the time Robbie opened the door the couple was kissing.

"Well, some things never change," Robbie stated looking at the couple and then clearing his throat when they didn't notice him.

Sorry it took so long. I wasn't in the mood to write but it's coming back now. I've never been to California so I did some research for the road trip portion. It was hard to find resources so I hope everything is alright. Let me know if something seemed wrong. In the next chapter I'll have the whole gang in San Francisco. So if you have any ideas on where they should go and what they should do in San Francisco let me know in a review or pm! Thanks!