Author's Note & Disclaimer: See Intro

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It's the end of June and summer has finally arrived! To celebrate their friend Taka's birthday, the group of eight was spending the weekend in Atlantic City.

Nurina: Hey! Is everything packed yet?

Tory: All we need is money, so I think we're ready!

Shane: I have to stop at the bank on the way, how about you, Lee?

Lee: I'm not gambling.

Shane: (surprised) What? Why not? Where's the fun in that?

Mia: (closes the door of her apartment) Okay! Where's Taka?

Shane: Juan and Rick are on their way over to get him now.

They had decided to take two cars, with Shane driving one and Taka driving the other.

Shane: (dangling the keys to a red convertible) Look! I get to drive! (grins)

Lee: What? I don't think so! I have an idea.

Shane: (sarcastically) I'm all ears.

Lee: Let's put someone who's got their feet on the ground behind the wheel! (dives for the keys)

Shane: NO! (holds them out of his reach) Taka and I want to drive and that's why we're taking two cars.

Lee: (whining) But you're going to be gunning it the whole time!

Shane: No we won't. Taka doesn't know where we're going so he'll have to follow me. We wouldn't want to wreck the surprise and tell him, would we?

Mia: (chiming in) No way! It's going to be a really great present!

Shane: Besides, he just got a brand new convertible for his birthday, so he's just getting his feet wet. He wouldn't want to crash into anything.

Lee: (still having his doubts) Okay.

Nurina: Hey! I see them! Come on, shake a leg - but remember it's a surprise!

Juan, his younger brother Rick, and Taka pulled up to the apartment. Mia jumped in the passenger seat next to her boyfriend who had the car keys near at hand, while the brothers sat in the back.

Taka: I have no idea where we're going, but knowing you guys, it's going to be a blast!

Rick: (excited) Let's get this show on the road!

Juan: It seems like forever and a day since we've had a group vacation like this.

In the second car, Lee took the passenger seat to make sure he had an eagle eye on his best friend's driving, while Nurina and Tory sat in the back, preparing themselves to be backseat drivers.

Tory: Lee, what are you doing?

Lee: Taking an aspirin for the road. (pops pill in his mouth)

Tory: That's a good idea. Can you spare one?

Lee: Sure.

Shane: (glares at them from behind the wheel)

Nurina: Make sure you're on your toes Lee. We can't see him. I'm just crossing my fingers that we make it there in one piece.

Lee: I'm going to keep my cool no matter what.

Shane: (thinking) I'll show them I won't be the one upsetting the apple cart.

After a while of driving, Shane began to get ants in his pants. It had been almost an hour and he couldn't keep going at a snail's pace. One by one, those in the car began to doze off. Nurina was out like a light while leaning on Tory in the back, and Lee seemed to be out of it at the moment, but Shane couldn't tell. He slowly put a little more force on the gas pedal.

Shane: I can't go this slowly! They'll thank me for getting them there in two shakes of a lamb's tail. (notices Taka pulling up beside him)

Taka: Hey Shane! Are we almost there?

Shane: Not really. We've still got a ways to go.

Lee: (snapped out of trance by the yelling over his head) Oh. Hi Taka. (turns to Shane) Slow down Shane! How fast are you going?

Taka: (to Shane) I bet I can get wherever we're going before you! My new car is faster than your older one.

Shane: (snorts) Yeah right. My car was just souped up the other day. Straight back from Ken's shop.

Taka: Doesn't matter. Besides, you just told me we don't get off the Parkway for a while anyhow.

Lee: (looks back and forth between the two and notices everyone else doing the same) Don't think about pulling a fast one!

Nurina: I think it's too late. (hugs Tory for dear life)

Taka starts going faster, causing his car to pull slightly ahead of Shane's. Shane realizes this and starts going faster as well.

Shane: (yelling) Two can play that game. The Great and Powerful Shane doesn't give in that easily!

Lee: (shakes head) This isn't going to be pretty.

Taka: (to himself) He's at my heels! I won't allow this! Hey Shane! Get ready, get set, GO! Eat my dust!

Shane: You'll eat your words by the time I'm done with you!

Nurina: Hey! This is fun!

Tory: MY HAIR! NOOOOOO!

Juan: (twiddling thumbs) Let's just let this run it's course. I don't feel like getting in the middle of it all.

Rick: It's too late, Bro. You're already in the car.

Mia: (hanging on for dear life) This is getting out of hand!

Lee: Shane! You're slowing down right now! I told you I've put my foot down to driving this fast!

Shane: Get off my back! Woohoo!

Nurina: (throwing caution to the wind) Weeeee!

Mia: (throwing her hands up in frustration) BOYS! Or is it men...?

Nurina: (yelling back to Mia) Boys. Men are grown-up. (laughs)

Lee: (muttering to himself) I wash my hands of this all!

Shane: You know, Lee, they say talking to yourself is a sign of insanity.

Lee: (frowning) And this is coming from my best friend?

Shane: (grinning) Yup! Did I ever say insanity was bad?

Rick: (wobbling to and fro and directing his attention to Juan) I don't feel good Juan.

Juan: Er, Mia, get Taka's attention. Rick isn't feeling too well. He's looking a little green around the edges.

Mia: (turns white as a ghost) Hey, Taka. (taps him on the shoulder) Rick isn't feeling well.

Taka: (turns around to look) He does look a little off color.

Mia: Guys! We have to pull over. Rick is sick.

Shane and Taka pull over to the side of the road. Rick gets out of the car and sits down on the unmoving pavement for a moment. Lee hands him a bag and Rick proceeds to calm down after he throws up. Perfect timing.

Rick: I'll be fine in a few moments. Once my stomach has a chance to calm down.

Juan: Are you sure?

Rick: I'll be fine.

Taka: Forget making a beeline there.

Mia: (whacks Taka on the head)

Tory: (to Shane and Taka) I hope this teaches you two not to fool around and race down the empty Parkway from now on.

Shane: (under breath) At least when Rick's in the car that is. (gets whacked by Lee)

Rick: We can go now. I'm all right.

Nurina: Good. Taka, Juan is driving your car.

Taka: But...but...but...

Nurina: I don't want to hear it.

Taka: But you're booting me out of my own car!

Nurina: No, Juan is, so fork over the keys.

Lee: And I'm driving your car Shane. You're getting on my nerves.

Shane: (chuckling) You see, Lee, it's my car, so if I want to drive it I will.

Lee: But, Shane, I have the upper hand. (a smirk grows on his face) I have the keys. (dangles keys in front of Shane)

Shane: (dives for keys)

Lee: Juan and I are driving so we don't run over anything. Or get anyone else sick.

Tory: That scene looks familiar doesn't it? (motioning to the travelers) Let's hit the road!

Everyone gets into the cars. Shane gets into the passenger seat, grumbling the whole time about not being able to drive his car. Nurina and Tory are still in the back. Lee is tickled pink and breathes a sigh of relief knowing he is now safe. In the other car, Mia and Taka have taken the back seat, while Juan and Rick get in the front.

Nurina: (from out of the blue) IT'S SING-ALONG TIME! (starts to sing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall)

All: SHUT UP!

Nurina: Sure. Just dismiss my ideas like week old bread. See if I care. (pretends to start crying)

Shane: Ok. I will. (grins at Nurina)

Lee: Don't pick on each other!

Shane: (grumbles, but shuts up)

They finally arrive. Mia and Taka are cuddled together, dead to the world, as was Rick. In the other car, Nurina had zonked out, draped on Tory again. He was also asleep so he didn't seem to mind. Shane had curled up in the front seat, muttering about how Taka was going to take a beating when they get to the hotel for being the instigator in the race down the Parkway.

Lee: (breaking the news) We're here Shane!

Shane: (coming to) That was one heck of a trip.

Juan: Is your stomach okay Rick?

Rick: It's fine. I'm just peachy!

Taka: (stares around him)

Nurina: I think the guy's in shock.

Mia: Happy Birthday Taka! (hugs him)

Taka: Oh my gosh! (shoots a questioning glance) Where are we?

Shane: (points to a big sign) Read the sign, buddy!

Taka: At-lan-tic Ci-ty. Atlantic City? Atlantic City! I've heard of this place!

Tory: (while the others crack up laughing) This should take care of all of your money grubbing concerns.

Nurina: By the way, I think we should mention that we're going to be here all weekend.

Taka: No way! (he gets stars in his eyes) Well, this is just one step in my quest of seeing the world! Now I can win the money for an all-expense paid trip!

Lee: Or so you can hope. You don't want to get caught short.

Taka: (gasp) That's right! I stand the chance of loosing all my money! Noooooo!

Mia: We're just going to have a fun time! (scowls at Lee)

Juan: You don't have to be 21 in order to get in, do you?

Tory: No, Rick's of age.

Rick: Good thing! I hadn't thought of that!

In the next few minutes, the group had entered the hotel, gotten their places to sleep for that one night, and headed down to the casino. Shane was acting like the big cheese, as if he lived there. One could tell he was almost more excited than Taka was, who was still scrounging around to make sure he had enough money. But would he spend it?

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Well, what are you waiting for? Go to the next part. And review too!!!!!!