"Are we there yet?" Vickii groaned, slumping down in her seat.
"We've only been driving for three hours." JJ stated.
"I can't believe they shut down the airlines." Hope said.
"Why are we shocked? With the war that Gwen caused getting closer and closer to America, they don't want to risk-"
"Please don't talk politics." Haley interrupted Rob. "I'm so not in the mood for it."
"It's not really politics." Rob corrected.
"Whatever title you want to give it, I really don't want to talk or hear about it." Jaxon crossed his arms. "I'm sick of all of this shit."
"Aren't we all?" Tori muttered.
"Why are we even driving to California? By the time we get there, Gwen'll be done with whatever she's doing there and will be gone." Fabian asked.
"This is the closest thing to a lead we've had in a while." JJ said. "We might as well follow it until something better comes along."
"Pretty sure he was asking Lance." Vickii said.
"And I'm pretty sure he's not listening right now." Tori added.
The group continued talking while Lance drove the car, occasionally glancing to the side to check on Sammy, who had fallen asleep a while ago. Her head rested against the window and she hugged her stuffed tiger tightly to her chest, her face empty of any emotion and body fully relaxed. Lance preferred Sammy being asleep at the moment, with her dislike of cars and the conversation heading into unfavorable territory. He was also thankful for Rose agreeing to stay at home with Emma, keeping both of them away from the danger and he also had a few DWMA students watching the house as well in case something happened while they were away. Everyone in the car started complaining after a particularly deep pothole sent them flying into the air for a brief moment.
"Lancey?" Sammy groaned out, the bump having woke her. "Are we at the hotel yet?" She blinked several times and saw that the sun was still out.
"Not for a good while still. Go back to sleep, I'll wake you for the next pit stop." Lance gave Sammy a quick smile before putting his eyes back on the road.
"Don't think I can now." Sammy admitted and sat back up, letting out a soft yawn as she stretched. "How long was I out?"
"Good hour."
"Only an hour?" Sammy whined. "I was hoping to be asleep longer than that."
"Didn't sleep well last night?" Lance asked.
"What do you think?" Sammy blew out a soft puff of air.
"Sammy finally up?" Hope asked.
"Sadly." Sammy popped her tongue.
"You really don't like cars, do you?" Fabian asked.
"What was your first hint?"
"Do you really want me to answer that or are you just being overly sarcastic like usual."
"Don't be a whore."
"Too late." Fabian chuckled.
"Lance, dude, pull over at the next rest stop, I gotta piss." Jaxon said.
"You just went an hour ago." Vickii said.
"And the last stop we made I bought a giant ass soda and I drank it all." Jaxon held up the large cup.
"You're worse than me." Hope giggled.
"I'm sorry that my manly bladder is screaming for release!" Jaxon said louder than he should have.
"What makes a bladder manly?" JJ asked.
"It's mine." Jaxon chuckled.
"Hurry up to that rest stop, I think I'm gonna puke." Tori said.
"Please no peeing or puking in the van." Sammy said.
"Why am I here again?" Lance sighed.
"Because you love us." Sammy sang.
"He loves you." Haley corrected. "We're just the attachment."
"The price to pay for loving a Sammy." Rob added.
"We should get shirts that say that." Hope said. The group all yelped when Lance suddenly slammed on the break and honked the horn as a car cut him off and almost made Lance hit it.
"You fucking piece of fucking shit!" Lance yelled. "You fucking scared my fucking girlfriend and I fucking hope you fucking crash into a fucking shit-truck!" Everyone sat in silence for a moment as Lance let out a huff of air and pulled into a rest area.
"Gotta pee!" Jaxon jumped out of the van before Lance could even turn it off and sprinted for the restrooms. The others climbed out of the van as well, either heading for the vending machine's or started walking around to stretch out their legs.
"Are you okay?" Lance asked Sammy when he noticed that she still hadn't moved.
"Yeah, still recovering." Sammy admitted.
"Sorry about that." Lance finally turned the van off.
"That was the most cursing I've ever heard from you." Sammy said. Lance let out a weak chuckle and rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah, I might have over-done it a bit."
"I like it."
"Gross!" JJ called.
"Do you even know what we're saying!?" Sammy called back.
"I know that look!"
"What look!?"
"Bitch, you know!"
"Whore!" Sammy stuck out her tongue when JJ flipped her off. "Sorry, we can try talking alone later. A lot's happened and I think we just need some time to...chill." Sammy gave Lance a small smile before throwing open the door and hopping out of the van. "You hooker! You ruined our moment!" Lance watched Sammy go over to JJ and the two looked as if they were arguing, but were soon laughing
Lance watched Sammy go over to JJ and the two looked as if they were arguing, but were soon laughing. Vickii was standing with JJ and she only rolled her eyes at them. Hope went up to the two and held onto Sammy's arm, making a wide gesture with her other hand and JJ and Sammy laughed at her comment. Tori and Fabian exited the main building, Tori was holding a pamphlet in her hand. She showed it to the others and they all started talking with high excitement. Jaxon came out of the restroom and went over to the group, taking the pamphlet from Tori and reading it real quick. Jaxon got into whatever the paper showed and made large movements with his arms are he spoke. Haley and Rob joined the group, small bags of chips in their arms. The others spoke to the two and now the entire group was jumping around and Lance could hear their voices, muffled by the car. Lance let out a sigh and slumped down in his seat, putting his hands to his face and ran them down, groaning as he did. When he finished, he looked back at the group and saw Sammy looking back at him, waving with her hand for him to join them.
"The price to pay for loving a Sammy." Lance said softly. He chuckled when he saw that everyone else was now waving at him. "I guess it's not that bad of a price."