"Are we there yet?"
Brooke whined. She had been wailing ever since they left the gas station which was approximately two hours ago. Everyone was ready to wring her neck in any second, but she had a point. They had been driving for so long they should've been there by now.
"Brooke calm down, Lucas knows where he's going, right babe?" Peyton looked at him with questioning eyes.
He choked a little not wanting anyone to know he had gotten them lost.
"Umm yeah we'll be there in no time."
"See Brooke you heard him now be quiet and just enjoy Drugs or Me," she was referring to the song on the speakers by Jimmy Eat World.
The brunette scoffed.
"He's obviously lying, like come on we're in the freaking woods for crying out loud. We left Tree Hill at seven and now it's practically past noon and we're still not there. If my calculations are right according to Model Girls dad's instructions we should've been in Charlotte surrounded by loads of buildings at lunch. It's way past and we're driving through the boonies. I'm hungry, annoyed, and freaked out by all these trees. The road under us isn't even concrete it's dirt."
"It's called a short cut," Lucas spat in spite.
"Uhh doofus the reason we call it a short cut is because it's short, what you're doing right now is nowhere near that."
"Brooke simmer your ass down, I remember me being the driver and you being the passenger. You don't get to call the shots I do."
"Well you're doing a bad job at it and you've got a bad attitude to go with it too."
"Oh please, just quit being a backseat driver and let me do all the driving okay?"
"No. Knowing you you'll drive us into a ditch or something."
Lucas looked like he had steam coming out of his ears. He hated it when people bugged him while driving. Driving was supposed to be calming and soothing not irritated by the voice of the one and only Brooke Davis.
The other three just sat there and listened while the two had their debacle. Jill and Nathan were still silent as mice but at least she had moved her head from looking out the window to face the two teens battling it out. Nathan as well, he had long ago put away his ipod in order to listen to what Brooke and Lucas had to say about each other. Just what they needed a little road trip drama.
It was a whole other story for the curly blonde who sat in the front with Lucas. Since Nathan and Jill were off being quiet she had no choice but to play referee to both her boyfriend and her bestfriend.
"Okay stop it you two. What good is fighting going to do. It's not going to make our journey any less quicker. Brooke sit down and just stay quiet please I beg you, don't talk, don't even snicker just stay in one spot. Sleep even, maybe when you wake up we'll already be there."
Brooke rolled her eyes.
"Oh yeah sure blame me for trying to get there faster. Why aren't you telling off your precious boyfriend who thinks he knows everything."
"I'm getting to him don't worry," she shook her head before turning towards Lucas her voice softening, "babe are you sure we're not lost?"
Dammit, Lucas thought. She used her cute voice, the one he couldn't lie to, but what was he going to do? Tell her, tell all of them especially Brooke that he had no clue where he was going.
"I umm I think so."
"What? What do you mean?"
"I-we may be lost."
"What?"
Cute silent Peyton had vanished, in came a more violent hysterical side.
Brooke laughed in the back causing Lucas to snicker at her. He already knew he worked up his girlfriend he didn't need Brooke's sound effects adding to the ambience.
"What do you mean you think we may be lost? Lucas Eugene Scott, I gave you the instructions and even offered the map to help you."
Oh no! He winced with the sound of his whole name. That meant she was angry, she always did the whole name thing when she was pissed off.
"Babe I said maybe."
"Don't babe me. You got us lost Lucas. You thought you were too macho for the map and now look where we are," she looked at the nearest sign, "Armadillo Swamp. There's no houses around, it's all trees, and the last place we saw poeple was back at that gas station which was what? Almost three hours ago!"
"I said maybe, maybe we're lost. I didn't say yes we are I said maybe."
"Quit saying maybe and just admit we're lost."
Lucas sighed with impatience.
"I know where I'm going trust me."
"We already did that six hours ago, look where it got us. We're in Armadillo Swamp. Just let me help you with the directions."
"No I got it."
"Don't be so childish, let me help you."
"Peyton I said I'm fine."
"What's wrong with you men. You think you know everything."
The two were arguing as the three watched them. Instead of Brooke being mouthy it switched to Peyton. Brooke actually enjoyed it. Where was the popcorn when she needed it. Finally some sort of excitement, even if it was at the expense of Peyton and Lucas fighting. She could flow with it, that was until she saw what was ahead.
"Lucas hit the brakes," Brooke cried out.
He and Peyton were too deep in their argument, he let his eyes wander off the road and at her not seeing the big mud hole ahead of them. Brooke's shrill yell got his attention but it was too late, the front of the jeep was already knee high in mud.
Lucas revved the engine and put the gear in reverse but it wouldn't go. The vehicle was in way too deep to move.
"Shit."
He was determined, still trying to reverse, but it seemed the more he did the more they sunk into the mud.
"Dude what's going on?" Nathan sat up trying to see what had happened.
"We uh, we're stuck."
"What?" Everyone said in unison, even the most quiet ones of the journey.
Lucas opened the car door and jumped out. He needed to see the damage for himself. Telling from his face it wasn't good.
"The uhh, the two front tires are wedged in the mud," he recoiled.
"What do you mean?" Nathan got out of the car joining his brother wanting a look too.
"The front part of the jeep is knee deep in mud. No matter how we try to reverse we won't get out."
"Okay mechanic, how do we get out of this mess?"
Lucas cringed as he scratched his head. This was a tough one, and he knew it wasn't going to be easy.
"We're going to have to lift it."
Nathan nodded understanding the basics. Easy right, lift and move? Wrong!
"Alright, I'll grab that side and you grab the other."
"Uh uh that's not enough. Me and you combined can't lift this even if we tried, the front of the car is always the heaviest."
"So what then?"
Lucas looked at the three girls staring out the car window.
"We need you guys too."
Fair enough, Jill and Peyton got out of the car leaving a wide eyed Brooke still inside.
"Brooke aren't you coming?" Jill asked noticing the missing girl in action.
"Yeah no thanks. There is no way I'm going to lift a muddy car and move it to safety. Too dirty for me, plus it's dark out there. What if the Lochness Monster or Big Foot appears? I want to know that I'm in the car ready to lock it. Besides you guys need someone to start the car and reverse it once you've gotten it out of that ditch right?"
The rest of the gang just kind of stared at her for a minute. First she had gone all girly on them with talks of getting dirty and some creepy fictional monster then she made a pretty valid point only someone familiar to automobiles would know. Brooke caught on to their facial reactions and smirked. She wasn't ditzy after all.
"Yeah, right," Lucas still bewildered, "you stay behind the wheel and when I say go, start the car and put it into reverse, got it?"
"Aye aye captain broody," Brooke mocked as she saluted.
She climbed to the front taking a seat behind the wheel as she observed the rest of them planning their next move.
Lucas gathered Peyton, Jill, and Nathan as he explained what he wanted to happen. They would take hold of the front of the jeep and lift it. When it was out of the mud they'd reverse the car still holding onto it, only until they reached tough ground were they to release their hold. Simple plan, hopefully effective.
"Okay so I'm going to go with Peyton on this side while Jill you go with Nathan on the other."
Jill raised her hand up meekly. It was a weird habit she developed from school. Every time she asked a question, she seemed to always raise her hand.
"Can I go with Peyton on that side and you and Nathan on this side?" She was still trying to avoid him.
Lucas had already grabbed hold of the bottom of the jeep as he looked up at Jill.
"How come?"
"I don't know maybe boys on one side and girls on the other. I mean isn't Nathan's side deeper in the mud than Peyton's. We should have more force on his side."
"Nah both sides are pretty equally in there, I don't think it would matter. Besides me and Peyton, you and Nathan it's balanced."
"But.."
She was interrupted by Brooke.
"Uhh guys hurry up the more I look around the more I get scared."
She had heard some rustling in the bushes, which was enough to send her peeing her pants.
Everyone still looked at Jill waiting for her reply.
"Umm nevermind yours makes more sense, I'll go help Nathan," she finally gave up knowing she was only wasting time.
Both pairs manded their stations waiting for more instruction.
"Okay so what do we do?" Peyton asked pulling her hair into a pony tail.
"Alright Nathan and I are going to lift up the sides of the jeep while you and Jill lift up the front by the corners."
Following Lucas' commands the other three grabbed their sides and waited to lift when asked.
"Okay on the count of three I want you to lift the car. One...two...three lift."
All four lifted with all of their might. Damn Jill's jeep was heavy. But they managed to lift it out of the mud. All they needed was to get it out completely. That was kind of the hard part. Everyone's grip was slowly slipping.
Lucas mustered up his strength to call out at Brooke.
"Brooke," he struggled, "go."
Brooke nodded her head and grabbed the stick.
"Okay," looking at the names she tried to remember what he asked her to do, "did he want me to hit drive or?"
"Hurry," Peyton cried out. The jeep was starting to sink her into the mud.
"Okay okay," Brooke thought for another second, "dammit Model Girl's gears are way different than mine. Umm what's this?"
She pulled the stick towards her.
Just then, Peyton and Jill started screaming. Brooke had made the front wheels spin profusely causing it to splattter mud all over the two girls.
Lucas and Nathan's eyes widened as they stared at the two covered from head to toe in mud. Even though they were all carrying the weight of a two ton man made machine they started cracking up.
Brooke looked out as she burst into laughter.
"Oops, wrong gear."
Peyton glared at her before she turned to her boyfriend who was too busy laughing his head off with Nathan.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Babe," he was trying to control his chuckle, "you look like a horse just shit all over you."
Peyton pouted causing Lucas to stop laughing.
"Aww don't worry, for a girl with mud all over her you're the sexiest," he went to give her a kiss ending him up with mud on his face too.
On the other side Jill stood still trying to remember what just happened. First she was struggling to hold up a jeep then next thing she knew she was covered in muck.
She turned to find Nathan laughing. It sort of soothed her from the early awkwardness. Come on she was covered in mud, what could be more embarssing?
"Nathan don't laugh," she began giggling.
"I'm laughing cause you're laughing."
"Well I have the right to, I'm the one looking like Homer when everyone thought he was Big Foot. You're all pretty and dry."
"Okay I'll stop laughing," he paused, "here let me help you," he took one of his hands out from under the car and wiped the mud off of her face.
His touch startled her, but she didn't flinch. She just stared at him as he did the same. Their blue eyes dark from the eerieness of the forest. It was sort of entrancing.
But just like that they were brought back to reality when Lucas started talking again.
"Okay guys again, this time when I say go, Brooke put the gear in reverse."
She nodded making her way in the car but stopped.
"Wait which gear is that? My car is automatic I'm not used to manual."
Lucas went over to show her before heading back and taking his position. Again he yelled the instructions to the group and the car was back up in the air.
"Okay go," he yelled.
Taking his cue Brooke switched the gear. It began to move backwards so she knew she was doing the right thing this time. The others outside struggled to hold it up but managed to keep the front of the car up until it was way out of the mud and onto safe strong ground.
They all let go immediately tending to their sore arms. They weren't body builders or Guiness Brook of World Record holders, they were four teens.
"Yes!"
Lucas marvelled the glory of what they accomplished.
"Alright," he clapped his hands, "let's get out of here."
He and Peyton headed towards the car followed by Jill and Nathan.
Jill was trying to scrape the mud off of her clothes in hopes she wouldn't drag in any of that mess into her jeep. It didn't go unnoticed.
"Here."
She turned around to find Nathan taking off his jacket and handing it to her.
She smiled accepting it.
"Thanks."
He gave her a smirk before heading back into his seat.
Jill sighed as she took off her muddy sweater as well as her track pants. She was glad she decided to wear shorts under neath that day for it came in handy. Throwing them in the back she put on Nathan's letter jacktet and zipped it up covering her tiny frame. Wiping off excess mud from her hair she finally retreated back into her seat.
Everyone had already gotten in. Peyton was too lazy to change so she sat on a bunch of plastic bags. Lucas was back at the wheel finally looking at the map, Nathan was far away in Kanye West land, and Brooke was too busy smirking at her. She knew it was because she was wearing his jacket, it had to be.
Jill thought she was going to say something because well Brooke always had to say something, but instead she just smiled and linked arms with her.
Finally, their road trip was going according to plan.