Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts

Elain still couldn't believe it. She felt like she was stuck in a dream and she wished she didn't wake up from it. If it weren't for the sounds of roaring engines, the people chatting loud enough for the others to listen and the redheaded guy she was holding onto, it was proof enough that she wasn't dreaming.

She took in the wind on her hair, face and skin, making sure to memorize the feeling. She glanced around as the trees and objects moved quickly, now behind them. She could only think of Einstein's Relativity Theory she learned from a science show a week ago before the screen went static. She pulled herself from her thoughts and focused on how she was going miles and miles away from the town, feeling like she was going to float away.

They'd rode about 209 miles before stopping near a sandy clearing. Cassian got off his crimson scrambler in a hurry and ran behind some trees. "Gotta pee, gotta pee, gotta pee!" It took Elain all of her will to not snicker but it didn't last long when Mor laughed at him, making herself chuckle before covering her mouth in an attempt to hide it.

"That's what happens when you don't go to the bathroom after you've drunk a large coke, Cass." Mor said with a smirk. Amren didn't seem to hide her own smirk, smaller than Mor's but devious enough to mock him.

Elain glanced at Lucien when he shook his head with a chuckle. He then faced Rhysand. "How long until the next stop then?"

"Next town will be about 345 plus miles from here, so.. maybe five and a half hours." He said while stretching his back before glancing at Azriel. "What time is it?"

Before Azriel could even say a word, Elain answered him instead. "11:45 am." Lucien turned to her with raised brows. She pulled away and shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, not to mention that they were pretty far from where they left. "I checked my phone before we left, it was 7:45 am so-"

"You've been counting the whole way?" Rhysand asked but Elain chuckled.

"No, I checked my phone again when we stopped and Cassian had to.. you know." At this, the band laughed, even Azriel was chuckling at her joke. Just as they calmed down a little, Cassian returned, zipping his pants back up. Just then, an idea popped on Elain's head. "Oh! Before we go, is it ok to take a selfie with you guys? I really want my sisters to know my whereabouts." She got off Lucien's bike, a bobber she realized, her legs wobbled a little but she managed to stand. Her sisters probably think she was still in town so it was valid to surprise them.

Cassian was the first to ask. "You got sisters?"

Elain nodded with a wide smile. "Two. My older sister Nesta and little sister Feyre. They've been traveling longer than me and I want them to know that I'm out and about." She held her phone up, and made sure everyone was on their rides. "Ok! Everyone smile and say, Compass!" And as she said that everyone obliged as she took the picture. Elain glanced at it and smiled brightly. Cassian and Mor were holding both of their hands in front of them, doing the ILY gesture, Azriel just did a salute gesture but had the faintest of smiles, Amren just glared at the camera with her chin up, Rhysand only smirked while resting his arms on his hd handles, and Lucien, sitting on his bike next to her, gave a mild but genuine smile. "It looks great!" She said as Mor walked to her and peered over her shoulder.

"You gotta send us that selfie later!" Mor exclaimed. "We can exchange phone numbers once we get to our next stop."

"Of course. That would be best." Elain nodded then sent the picture to her sisters on their group chat with a comment.

Elain: Guess who just stepped out of the nest! These fellas agreed to let me join their band! :D

Once she sent the message with the photo, she hopped on Lucien's ride and held onto his jacket instead of his torso. She didn't want him to think the wrong idea and she thought he probably had someone waiting for him already. "Alright! Let's go!" She said with a lot of enthusiasm, making Rhysand chuckle.

"The lady just roared. Let's go." He smirked as they proceeded with their journey. Lucien made sure she was holding on so she wouldn't fall and injure herself. Instead, she was looking at the forest view, her expression joyful and bright. He couldn't help the smile that quirked up his lips as he focused on the road in front of him.

During the next hour, they left the forest sight and entered the more prairie ground with small isolated buildings, which Elain realized were farms, something she usually wished to see ever so often but rarely did since she was stuck in one simple apartment. She crossed that off her bucket and made a mental note to add a new one on her phone when she saw the corn crops: Visit a Corn Maze. They briefly stopped to buy some homemade food from a farmer's stand and Elain's taste buds went on a flavor rampage, drawing a squeaky moan from her throat, when she tried the milk and honey pie and was for certain that she would pinpoint it as one of her newly favorite foods of all times. Lucien chuckled at her reaction, making her cheeks flush slightly in embarrassment.

They spent almost 25 minutes on the road when they came across a river, stopping on the edges of a bridge, to which Elain couldn't help but peer down to the water and gasped in excitement. "There are turtles here." Mor peered down next to her and chuckled when one of the turtles flopped to the water when the small floating log was pretty much full.

"Lemme borrow your phone, Elain." Mor said as Elain obliged, both posing for a selfie. One normal and another with funny faces. Soon after, Cassian joined inthe fun as he hugged the girls with a wide smile then another where the girls shared his shades. "This will go to our yearly album." Mor commented, making Elain smile. When she turned her head, she was stunned to see the other end of the river, with Lucien staring at what seemed to be orchids, the red of his hair contrasting with the green of the wilderness. For once, she wished she had Feyre's ability to name any sight before plastering it in a portrait. What she did manage to do is snap a photo of him before he turned to her with wide eyes.

Elain smiled and waved her phone. "If you're not a fan of photos, I'm sorry to say that you gotta go through me if you wanna delete it." She said smugly, making Lucien chuckle.

"Unfortunately, that would be Azriel. But if you assume such things, then I suggest you hide your phone while sleeping." He said and gave her a secret wink. Elain snorted before hopping up behind him.

"We'll see." Elain said simply. That was one detail the Archeron sisters have in common: They all love a good challenge. She managed to send the photos to her sister's group chat before they hit the road again.

Elain: Saw a bunch of turtles and we took funny pictures. Having fun thus far!

She then sent the photo of Lucien privately to Feyre with a question attached.

Elain: You don't have to answer right now but you got any good labels for this photo? Please and Thank you.

None of them answered yet but Elain could understand if they were busy and traveling. The sun was almost setting, giving the sky a combination of oranges, yellows and purples. Elain was starting to feel quite sleepy but she fought it bak to prevent herself from falling backwards, to the hard pavement, or falling forward, against Lucien's back. Obviously, she didn't want to end up in one of those two situations so she stared over the colorful sky. She then realized that they were slowing down and turned to a small town with luckily a gas station, few roads of houses, a motel and a minimarket that was still open. The gang settled their bikes in the parking lot before walking towards the motel. Elain trotted behind them.

"So, who's gonna be roommates with who?" Mor asked her cousin as Rhysand made a long hmm before answering.

"Knowing Amren, she'll take a room to herself."

"Naturally." Amren said bored as she walked ahead. Rhysand shook his head.

"Well, pick a partner then." He said with a shrug.

Cassian snapped his fingers. "I'm either sleeping with Az or Mor. If I sleep with Mor, Azriel will sleep with Lucien."

"Not sleeping with him!" Both Azriel and Lucien said, barely in sync, causing Elain to chuckle.

"How about.. Rhys and me, you and Az, and Elain with Lucien?" Mor suggested and Elain froze. She never slept with a guy. aside from Graysen. Then again, she considered it for a moment before Lucien spoke.

"Guys, shouldn't we let her choose her roommate instead?" He asked. Well, at least he's modest.

"Lucien and I can share a room. One of us can sleep on a couch or on the floor." Elain said, not minding the fact that she could sleep on the floor or on a couch. She did it most of the time when she couldn't even get herself to sleep on the bed properly. Lucien frowned, as if he figured her thoughts.

"You're not sleeping on the floor." He said and Elain scoffed.

"Couch then." She shot back.

"You'll take the bed and I'll take the couch." Lucien debated. The two now glared at each other.

"A bet then.." Elain held her chin up in challenge as Mor and Cassian gasped. Lucien raised a brow, unamused. "A game of poker.. Whoever wins gets the couch, the loser takes the bed.. If you have cards, that is."

Mor was the one who ran back to her bike before coming back with a box of cards. "We carry them around always."

Lucien scoffed and smirked. "Make it a bit more interesting, Lady."

"Winner gets the couch and ten bucks while the loser gets the bed and invites everyone for drinks. How's that?" Elain crossed her arms.

Lucien smirked as the two shaked their hands in agreement. "Challenge accepted." Was all he said. Certainly, he could beat her in poker, right?

He was WRONG. Lucien hand no fucking idea how in God's name she was beating him in poker. He was running out of options and she was still wearing an expression so unreadable that he had him reconsidering every option and every turn on his head.

"Are there any snacks?" Elain said Rhysand too casually, as if she wasn't even playing. She was smart, he had to admit, it was like she was a fawn in hiding while he was the predator looking for her and yet cant see her. It wasn't long enough before Lucien lost to her when they placed their cards down, she had a full house.

"How?" Was all he could say.

Elain smirked. "You owe me ten bucks and a drink, Fox.~" Lucien almost shuddered when she said that while Cassian and Mor cheered for her. Of course, a bet was a bet. Lucien ended up sleeping on the bed while Elain slept on the couch. Next time, he'll beat her at poker next time, he thought to himself as he dozed off.