A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys. I've been away for a bit, that's why I haven't updated in freaking forever. Sorry . Anyways, I shall continue with the Gorillaz goodness.

And so our journey continues! Last we left our delectable whelps, they had only begun the quest that Destiny would have them complete, for it could have only been through the power of Fate that they had come together. Now, cruising down the black highway, our main gal can't keep her eyes away…

Kate sat in the very backseat of the van, her body rigid and limbs tight against herself, eyes wide and staring, completely transfixed by the people sitting all around her. She was alone in the back of the van as it sailed down the highway at rates hard to believe. But her view was perfect as she gazed at the band known as Gorillaz.

In all truth they didn't really pay much attention to her, at all. After their initial meeting, a nod of the head or a quiet "hello", they had basically ignored her. Now, in the van, her sister Audrey was chatting animatedly to Murdoc, the band's Satanic bassist player and typical Goth. He looked like he wasn't paying much attention because he was driving the van and scowling every one in a while and twirling around his upside-down cross pendant around his neck, but Audrey simply kept talking. Kate's eyes wandered elsewhere…

Russel, the large black drummer with the white, pupil-less eyes was in the front seat, idly strumming some drumsticks on the front of the dashboard as he bobbed his head to the music in the headphones. In front of her Noodle, the teenage Japanese girl sat hovering over what looked like the new Playstation PSP, playing with blindingly-quick fingers and her eyes darting to and fro on the screen, paying no attention whatsoever to anything else. Kate felt that if she pitched something at the girl she'd utterly ignore it. A smile twitched in the corner of her mouth. And then her eyes drifted to the entity sitting next to Noodle…

2D was dozing soundlessly, his breath coming in soft risings and fallings of the chest, in which his arms was crossed over at the moment. He was wearing a gray hoodie with printed words that said "Zombie Hip-Hop" and a dark, grayish green beanie in which is amazingly blue hair was poking out, framing his quiet face. Kate found she couldn't take her eyes off the singer; she had always heralded him as the best singer there ever was, his voice angelic and like that of velvet, or clouds. But also, pain. She felt it, had felt it ever since she first got their CD, years ago and listened to 2D's voice. She wondered, vaguely, what could cause him such pain…

She was cut abruptly from her thoughts as Murdoc mercilessly hit a large bump and the van bounced roughly. The bassist gave them all the finger as he was pelted with a barrage of foul curses and mutterings.

"Get off it," He croaked, his accent notable, "I'm used ta drivin' the Geep. She can take all these little bumps wit no problem."

"'Little bump'? You're mental," said 2D, who had jerked out of his sleep and was rubbing his head. His accent was soft, and not as noticeable as Murdoc's, giving the illusion of elegance. He squinted his dark, fathomless eyes and sighed irritably, "You gave me a headache now. Wonderful. Pull over and let me get some painkillers."

Murdoc sneered, "No way. We just stopped ta get her," he said, jabbing a thumb in Kate's direction, who blushed to her roots. "We're not stoppin' again until we need gas. 'Sides, you always got a headache."

"Just pull over and get him some pills or he won't stop whining until you do," interjected Noodle, which was the first time she had spoken since Kate had joined in the party.

"Thanks, love," said 2D sarcastically. Finally, after a moment of silence, he frowned, "Come oooonnnnn, my head hurts real baaaadddd," he whined, adopting a nasally, child-like voice which was very false, yet apparently, quite affective. At once, Noodle and Murdoc began to groan, the girl muttering something under her breath in Japanese, while the bassist rubbed his eyes with his hand. When neither of them said anything, 2D continued,

"Pleeeease? It won't stop hurting until I get some Tyyyylenol…"

"FINE!" yelled Murdoc, slamming the brake and ripping the steering wheel to the right, just making the exit ramp they had nearly passed. They pulled into a station, the doors flying and sliding open and everyone piled out. 2D snickered and hopped out, walking into the quick store with a smug grin on his face. Murdoc, still grumbling, started filling the van while Noodle and Russ followed their singer inside. Kate, still razzled, took her sisters elbow and lead her aside.

"What in the world is going on?" she said when they were out of the earshot of the others.

"What do you mean?" her sister asked innocently.

"Don't tell me you don't know what's going on!" Kate spat, looking around, "How did you meet these guys!"

"New York, I already told you," She answered, waving her arm away from her sister's grasp.

"Don't give me that! I mean, how?" She insisted, confusion written all over her face.

Audrey smirked, "I don't know. Just met 'em. Saw 'em on the streets. Said 'hi, I'm a big fan'. Muds seemed to like me," She said that last sentence with a wicked twinkle in her eyes. Kate let it go, not satisfied with her explanation, and sighed, and took off toward the store.

Cold air blasted refreshingly in her face upon entering the store. She looked about, catching glimpses of her fellow travelers- Noodle and Russ were looking at the beverage coolers and 2D looked lost, trying to find the medicine. Kate felt her heart rise in her throat at the sight, for some reason- his eyes and face were blank and he looked from side to side, occasionally bumping into stands and knocking them over. She found herself by his side, suddenly, smiling,

"Here," she said to him, the first words she had spoken since their strange journey had begun, "I think they're over here."

She pointed to the next aisle over and they walked over. She picked out a bottle and handed it to him. He stared down at her blankly and smiled, "Thanks.Gonna get somethin' yourself?"

Kate nodded, "Yup. Want anything?"

"Naw, I'll get somethin' myself. Thanks for the offer, though."

They made their way to the coolers. Murdoc had drifted inside and was casting them all foul looks, but eventually he grabbed a bag of chips himself and left back outside. Kate and 2D laughed conspiratorially and picked out a few cans and paid, walking together back to the van.

"Sorry about all this, " 2D said, popping a few pills into his mouth and swallowing, "We kinda just sprang up on ya."

Kate chuckled, "Yea, but that's ok. I've always liked spontaneity. 'Sides, at least I got to go back to my apartment and get some clothes, so it's all good."

2D shrugged and smiled again before they climbed back into the van and Murdoc peeled out of the station back to the highway. They had returned to their previous seats, and continued their previous activities; Murdoc yawning at Audrey's rantings, Russel strumming on the dashboard and Noodle playing her viedo game. 2D was dozing softly again, rubbing his head every once in a while and downing his canned drink. After a moment Kate cleared her throat,

"Um…" she said loudly enough so everyone could hear her, "So, what are we doing? Where are we going?"

"Roadtrip," her sister said simply, but happily.

"Where?" Kate responded, a tinge of irritation in her voice.

Murdoc scowled, "To malls all over America." He sneered at Kate's questioning stare, "Don't ask me, was her idea," He jabbed a thumb in Audrey's direction.

"We were bored. Thought malls would be cool. Cause havoc, you know, the usual, " said Noodle, though her eyes never left the screen.

"We wanted to see them, that's all," interjected 2D, staring blankly into the backseat, "The major ones. That, and I love that movie 'Mall Rats', Kevin Smith is a bloody genius."

"…So you decided to pull a mall rats?" asked Kate in disbelief.

He nodded, "It came to us. You can't ignore something like that, you know?" He said, rather sagely, before leaning his head back and falling asleep. Kate swallowed her drink and sat back again, but not as rigid this time. She still felt akward, sitting here, watching the road fly by. For whatever reason, something out there had brought them on this crazy roadtrip. She didn't know what, she didn't know why, but all she knew was that she was there, right now, and she couldn't change that. She felt like if she didn, something bad would happen. Besides, it was the Gorillaz! She wouldn't never get another opportunity like this again, and she wasn't about to bail. Besides, she thought she had made a bit of a friend.

And it was the one should coulnd't keep her eyes away from at the moment.