Disclaimer: I DO NOT own any of the original LoTR characters. They belong
to that wonderful magnanimous genius Tolkien. This story is fictional and
I'm not taking any money for it so please, no one sue me. Entertainment
purposes ONLY!
Chapter 3- "In Which a Journey is Taken"
"Ni-ni, hurry up we are going to be late!" Her dad shouted from downstairs. With a last quick look at her bedroom at home Ni-ni turned and flew down the stairs.
"Sorry daddy" she said, adding a quick kiss to his cheek and heading out the door to where her mom was waiting in the car. It was mid-summer and they were going to pick up the Johnson's to start on the annual family plus friends camping trip upstate. Even though Niari was in college she still loved coming home and taking trips with her family and her best friend Shiana's family in the woods.
"Sorry I took so long mom," she said flopping in the back seat "I just had to look at my room for one last minute." She added with a grin allowing the excitement to come out in her voice.
"Ni-ni you act as if you aren't used to leaving that room behind. You were the one who wanted to go to college out of state and we've been moving you back and forth for the past two years." Said her mom turning around to look at her from the front seat of the car.
"True, but I still miss being home sometimes. Just because I'm twenty doesn't mean that I don't feel like a kid still."
"And act like one too?" joked her dad as he got in behind the wheel and started the car.
"Uh, excuse me. I hate to admit this but I do feel as if I'm more mature than both of you. Who was it that got caught at the Anderson's party last year making out in a closet like a bunch of hormonally challenged teenagers?" She waited for a response and when she was met with silence added, "Yeah, I thought so."
"Touché," her mom murmured to her dad after a moment and they both busted with laughter.
"See, look at you, sitting up there giggling together. I can hardly wait to get to Shiana's house so I can have some adult conversation." That just made her parents laugh harder and Niari gave up on them with a smile and chuckle of her own, and contented herself to enjoy the view until they got to the Johnson's.
"Hey girl!" Shiana yelled jumping on her friend as soon as she got out of the car. "Shy!" Niari yelled just as loudly returning the embrace.
"Would ya look at those two, they act as if they haven't seen each other in years." Mr. Johnson said, coming up beside them and laughing.
"When in fact they went out two days ago, and see each other almost every day at school." Mrs. Johnson added joining her husband. "Shiana Johnson please let go of Ni-ni so we can get the car packed."
"Alright, alright, slave Shiana at your service. Come on slave Ni-ni you can help." Shiana grabbed Niari's hand and pulled her towards her families pile of luggage.
"So what is gong on 'Ri?" Shiana asked her best friend as soon as they were out of earshot. "You called me last night, said something about your parent's acting strange and then got right off the phone. What's the deal girl? You had me up half the night worrying about you. You sounded so strange, and unlike you, some of us actually need get some beauty sleep."
Niari smiled at her friends concern. "I'm sorry Shy. Huh, I know you need your beauty sleep. You must have stayed awake half your life to look the way you do." she added with a grin.
"Ha, that was lame 'Ri even for you, now I know something is going on."
Niari sighed. "Yeah that was a pretty corny joke. I guess the truth is I don't know what is going on. I can tell my parents are upset about something. Really upset you know, and it has something to do with this trip.
"But you said they've been off since your birthday last winter. It can't have gotten worse?"
"It can, it has gotten worse Shy, and I don't know what to do. I have a feeling though that I'm going to find out this trip. They try to act like nothing is wrong around me but." she trailed off with another sigh.
Shiana looked at her friend for a moment and stood there biting her lip like she always did when she was troubled.
"Well, whatever it is we'll get to the bottom of it like we always do." She swung an arm around a downcast Niari. "Right?" She said flashing one of her Shy smiles.
Niari couldn't help but laugh at her goofy friend. "Right Shy" she replied with a genuine smile this time.
"Come on chica, we'd best get the car loaded up or our parents will have us running behind the car the whole trip." Shiana started gathering up the many bags and things and Niari followed her.
"Whoa, what have you got in here Shy, a bunch of rocks?!" Niari exclaimed as she tried to lift a particularly heavy bag.
"Ha, ha, probably." Shiana grinned at her over her shoulder. "You know what I always say, better to have too much than not enough."
"Oh really, is that why you always over accessorize?"
"Humph, just goes to show that you have no sense of style Niari. I never over accessorize, I simply apply my personality to my looks." Shiana said matter of factly.
"Well, it looks like over accessorizing to me." Niari replied, baiting her friend.
"You know Ni-ni, you'd better be glad I love you." Shiana bit back but not unkindly.
"Oh, I am Shy, I am." Niari cast a warm smile at her friend before moving ahead and allowing Mr. Johnson to take her friends incredibly heavy bag from her.
Chapter 3- "In Which a Journey is Taken"
"Ni-ni, hurry up we are going to be late!" Her dad shouted from downstairs. With a last quick look at her bedroom at home Ni-ni turned and flew down the stairs.
"Sorry daddy" she said, adding a quick kiss to his cheek and heading out the door to where her mom was waiting in the car. It was mid-summer and they were going to pick up the Johnson's to start on the annual family plus friends camping trip upstate. Even though Niari was in college she still loved coming home and taking trips with her family and her best friend Shiana's family in the woods.
"Sorry I took so long mom," she said flopping in the back seat "I just had to look at my room for one last minute." She added with a grin allowing the excitement to come out in her voice.
"Ni-ni you act as if you aren't used to leaving that room behind. You were the one who wanted to go to college out of state and we've been moving you back and forth for the past two years." Said her mom turning around to look at her from the front seat of the car.
"True, but I still miss being home sometimes. Just because I'm twenty doesn't mean that I don't feel like a kid still."
"And act like one too?" joked her dad as he got in behind the wheel and started the car.
"Uh, excuse me. I hate to admit this but I do feel as if I'm more mature than both of you. Who was it that got caught at the Anderson's party last year making out in a closet like a bunch of hormonally challenged teenagers?" She waited for a response and when she was met with silence added, "Yeah, I thought so."
"Touché," her mom murmured to her dad after a moment and they both busted with laughter.
"See, look at you, sitting up there giggling together. I can hardly wait to get to Shiana's house so I can have some adult conversation." That just made her parents laugh harder and Niari gave up on them with a smile and chuckle of her own, and contented herself to enjoy the view until they got to the Johnson's.
"Hey girl!" Shiana yelled jumping on her friend as soon as she got out of the car. "Shy!" Niari yelled just as loudly returning the embrace.
"Would ya look at those two, they act as if they haven't seen each other in years." Mr. Johnson said, coming up beside them and laughing.
"When in fact they went out two days ago, and see each other almost every day at school." Mrs. Johnson added joining her husband. "Shiana Johnson please let go of Ni-ni so we can get the car packed."
"Alright, alright, slave Shiana at your service. Come on slave Ni-ni you can help." Shiana grabbed Niari's hand and pulled her towards her families pile of luggage.
"So what is gong on 'Ri?" Shiana asked her best friend as soon as they were out of earshot. "You called me last night, said something about your parent's acting strange and then got right off the phone. What's the deal girl? You had me up half the night worrying about you. You sounded so strange, and unlike you, some of us actually need get some beauty sleep."
Niari smiled at her friends concern. "I'm sorry Shy. Huh, I know you need your beauty sleep. You must have stayed awake half your life to look the way you do." she added with a grin.
"Ha, that was lame 'Ri even for you, now I know something is going on."
Niari sighed. "Yeah that was a pretty corny joke. I guess the truth is I don't know what is going on. I can tell my parents are upset about something. Really upset you know, and it has something to do with this trip.
"But you said they've been off since your birthday last winter. It can't have gotten worse?"
"It can, it has gotten worse Shy, and I don't know what to do. I have a feeling though that I'm going to find out this trip. They try to act like nothing is wrong around me but." she trailed off with another sigh.
Shiana looked at her friend for a moment and stood there biting her lip like she always did when she was troubled.
"Well, whatever it is we'll get to the bottom of it like we always do." She swung an arm around a downcast Niari. "Right?" She said flashing one of her Shy smiles.
Niari couldn't help but laugh at her goofy friend. "Right Shy" she replied with a genuine smile this time.
"Come on chica, we'd best get the car loaded up or our parents will have us running behind the car the whole trip." Shiana started gathering up the many bags and things and Niari followed her.
"Whoa, what have you got in here Shy, a bunch of rocks?!" Niari exclaimed as she tried to lift a particularly heavy bag.
"Ha, ha, probably." Shiana grinned at her over her shoulder. "You know what I always say, better to have too much than not enough."
"Oh really, is that why you always over accessorize?"
"Humph, just goes to show that you have no sense of style Niari. I never over accessorize, I simply apply my personality to my looks." Shiana said matter of factly.
"Well, it looks like over accessorizing to me." Niari replied, baiting her friend.
"You know Ni-ni, you'd better be glad I love you." Shiana bit back but not unkindly.
"Oh, I am Shy, I am." Niari cast a warm smile at her friend before moving ahead and allowing Mr. Johnson to take her friends incredibly heavy bag from her.