AN: Here is Chapter XXVII! Did you guys enjoy the previous chapter? If not, please forgive me. I wasn't feeling well yesterday. Anyways, I got a lot of follows and favourites so thanks to those who followed, pressed favourite as well as reviewed. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! And now, let's begin!


CHAPTER XXVII:

PREPARING FOR SANTA MONICA

"Celeste, can we talk to you upstairs?" Petra requested as she and Levi stood up. Celeste was torn on obeying her mother or watching Corpse Party. She decided on the latter.

"Can it wait? This is one of the good parts." She whined.

"That's an order, soldier." Levi snapped as he headed upstairs. Celeste moaned in annoyance before standing up.

"You know that's abuse of power, right?" She asked Petra.

"Walk." She commanded. They both headed upstairs to the guest room.

"So, what do you guys want to talk about?" She asked.

"Are you insane?" Levi asked as he grabbed her arm. She flinched at the contact. Celeste was still affected by what she saw in the Red Anomaly; something that Petra noticed.

"Okay, first off; don't touch me." Celeste told him as she threw him off. "And secondly, I'm already insane. Especially when it comes to races. But I'll indulge you both; what's so insane about what I did?"

"You heard the new racing rules and still you decided to join. This is your first Brawl Race and the first one you've joined in 4 years. You didn't survive 2 Expeditions against the Titans to die now." Petra argued. Celeste rolled her eyes as she rubbed her face. So, that was the problem?

"Look, I'm not going to die. A bunch of Titans can't even stand against me, I'm sure I can hold off on my own against humans. I'm proclaimed as Humanity's 3rd Strongest, aren't I? They won't stand a chance against me so stop worrying." She told them. Petra sighed, still not liking the idea. But Celeste was so much like Levi; once they're mind is made up, there's no changing it.

"Wha-what are we supposed to do while you're gone?" She asked.

"You guys are coming with me. Come on, you'll get to see your little girl race and win. Look, here's where we're going." Celeste said as she grabbed a map of the USA.

"I know this country, America, like the back of my hand. I've been travelling it since I was 12. I've been through all 50 states. See, we're here." She explained as she pointed to North Dakota. Petra and Levi glanced at the map.

"Alright, we go through Montana, Idaho, Nevada and then California, which is our destination. It should take us a day and 2 hours if we drive nonstop, depending on traffic. I'll take you guys to the Ocean once we're in California."

Celeste watched in amusement as Petra's eyes lit up at the mention of the Ocean. Just then, they heard some crashing downstairs. They rushed downstairs to see Rex and Duncan holding someone by the neck.

"You got a lot of nerve, showing your face here." Duncan said angrily.

"What's going on?" Aunt Natalie asked as she ran from the kitchen. Celeste froze up as she saw who the intruder was. The brunette boy with black eyes was named Alex Sinclair.

"Alex?" She asked as Janine ran to her arms. Celeste looked at Janine, who was crying. The child was easily frightened and it most likely scared her; seeing her older cousins act violent towards someone.

"Celeste, who is he?" Levi asked.

"He-he's the guy I told you about when we were in Utopia." Celeste answered. A flash of anger was seen in Levi's eyes. So, this was the guy who broke his little girl's heart. He wanted nothing more than to snap this little fucker's neck. Just as he was about to move, he felt Petra hold his wrist.

"Let him go! I'll talk to him. I'll be fine, dad." She assured him. Celeste separated from Janine and grabbed Alex by the collar of his shirt and dragged him out of the house.

"What do you want? You got three minutes to state your reasons." She threatened him.

"I just wanted to talk to you. To tell you I'm sorry for what I did." He answered.

"5 years too late, Alex. 2 minutes."

"Look, I've always wanted to say how sorry I was but you went missing from my line of sight for 4 years. I broke up with her when I realized that I love you. If you would, please give me another chance." Alex requested.

"5 years too late. I don't need your pity, I don't need your apology and I sure as hell don't love you anymore. What I do now; there's no future for us. I don't believe in 2nd chances, Alex. You of all people should know that. Time's up. Get out of my house." She ordered him as she went back inside. While it was true that they didn't have a future anymore, the lie was saying that she no longer loved him.

"Uncle Damon! When do we leave?" She asked, putting up the façade that was very similar to her father's.

"Uh…if we leave now, we can get there 4 days before the race. Maybe 3 days before it depending on the traffic. Your hover car can be put in Auto-drive mode to California." He explained.

"Then pack your things. We leave ASAP. Call the Principal of the kids' school and tell them they're going with us to the races. I'll go to the basement, grab the chips and the sodas and we'll take 2 cars. My hover car can follow us via auto drive." She explained as she headed for the basement. She immediately grabbed the coolers and the crate of Pepsis. When she was about to grab a bag of Lays, however, she screamed her head off and ran upstairs with the coolers and crate of Pepsis and Red Bulls.

"Celeste? What's wrong?" Levi asked as he ran into her in the living room. Petra and Natalie came down immediately.

"Spi-Spider…bag of Lays…fucking…kill-"She tried to wheeze out but she was too out of breath to speak clearly.

"Let me check out what she's saying." Aunt Natalie volunteered. "So, spider by a bag of Lays?"

Celeste nodded as she took deep breaths.

"And you want someone to kill it?" She asked and Celeste nodded again. Natalie rolled her eyes and headed for the basement.

"Geez, one spider in the head from Hanji and you're freaking out about every single one of them." Petra said.

"Actually, she's been scared of them ever since she was little." Rex said as he came down with his things.

"Spider gone. Go get your chips." Aunt Natalie announced as she held a bundle of tissues in her hand. Celeste was hesitant so Natalie showed her the dead spider. Celeste immediately screamed and ran away to the basement and ransacked all the potato chips before heading back upstairs. The Knight Mansion's basement was being used as a pantry for junk food and sodas and needless to say, they have about a year's worth of it. Putting the chips in 2 bags after equally distributing it, she immediately put a ton of ice on both coolers and equally distributed the Pepsis and the Red Bulls. Everyone in the family loved Pepsi so that's the usual soda. The Red Bulls, however, were used for long road trips like these. Celeste went back to the living room and set the items there. The Kids came down with their things while Celeste went upstairs to get her things.

"Alright! We're ready!" Celeste yelled as went downstairs. Petra and Levi immediately came downstairs with their items.

"Ready to go?" Uncle Damon asked as he came down with Aunt Natalie.

"We are but it seems like the two stooges upstairs ain't." Celeste answered as she fiddled with Andrea's camera.

"BOYS! HURRY UP!" Natalie yelled. Immediately, Duncan came downstairs with Rex hot on his heels.

"Rex, you ride with me. I'll need to sleep eventually." Celeste said as she went out of the house with Petra and Levi and her share of soda and chips. They loaded their things into the car and got on.

"Dad, get in the back with Mom and put your seatbelts on."

"Why do I get stuck in the back?" He asked her.

"Now." She demanded. Her father may call the shots when it comes to what she does most of the time but when it comes to her car and its seating arrangements, that's her call. Sighing, Levi got in the back with Petra and they put their seatbelts on. Rex got on the passenger's seat with her.

"So, you excited for your new race?" He asked. Celeste took a deep breath and let it all sink in.

"Yeah. Just think; in 5 days, I'll be back on the tracks." She said with a smile as she put her aviators on. It seemed like Uncle Damon turned the Auto drive mode of her car on and started honking at her.

"So, mom, dad, get ready. We're about to go on the road to Santa Monica, then you guys will get to see the ocean for the first time." She said. Petra smiled widely at her while Levi looked on with an amused face as he held Petra's hand. With a wide smile, Celeste stepped on the gas and they went on their way.


AN: And that is Chapter XXVII! I hope it ain't too piss poor for you guys but I tried my best on this one. Thanks to those who will review, favourite or follow. I hope you guys enjoyed this!