Author's Note: I'm so happy about the reception this story is getting. I started this story with very little planning so I needed to take a few days to plan it out and then write it. I came up with an entertaining story so sorry for the wait. Thanks for everything. Keep reviewing though! I love reading and responding to them. Hope I can keep the quality up and ENJOY! This is also a set up chapter but I've made sure to make even the set up/ filler chapters enjoyable. So read on good folk!

"Road trip, road trip, we're going on a road trip. Ha Ha screw school! Road trip…." Luffy gleefully sang as the school bus filled with seniors barreled down the road.

The crew of misfits where sitting in the back of the bus together, making the most of even a trivial bus ride. Luffy sat next to Zoro with Brook and Franky in the row directly to their left. Chopper and Usopp sat in the row behind Luffy. Sanji and Robin sat next to them.

Brook joined in and began to match Luffy's pitch with perfect harmony followed quickly by a tone deaf Franky. No one seemed to care about the obviously horrid noise and terrible combination of voices as they laughed and clapped along to the trio. Usually, Chopper and Usopp join in for any if not all jovial activity but this time, the pair was too busy huddled together in fear.

Crying more than he probably should have, Usopp poked his head over the bus seat and screamed in fright at Luffy. "Why are you so excited? The trial of courage is tonight. With real monsters!"

"MONSTERS?! Holy crap we're going to die!" shouted Chopper as he hid his eyes behind his tiny hands and curled further into the corner of his seat in the fetal position.

"You mean a real makeup artist" Robin corrected as she offered Chopper a comforting smile from across the bus.

"But it's still supposed to be the scariest trial the retreat has made in years" shuddered Usopp at the thought of running through a pitch black forest with ghosts, skeletons, and ghouls chasing him. "Not again. Not like last year. How does one even get scarier!" sobbed the scared teen as he recalled the thick trail of pee from his walk through last year.

Luffy smirked at his friends fear and puffed out his chest as he pointed to himself with his thumb. "Well I'm trained in multiple Martial arts so I aint scared."

"I'LL KICK ALL THEIR ASSES!" continued the brunette as he laughed loud and boastfully.

"Shut it Luffy. You're too loud!" Zoro scolded as he elbowed Luffy in the side.

"I'LL PROTECT ALL OF THE GIRLS! ESPECIALLY YOU ROBIN-CHWAN" gushed Sanji even louder than Luffy.

"WHAT DID I SAY YOU CURLY BASTARD. YOU'RE TOO LOUD!" yelled Zoro.

"YOU WANNA GO SEEWEED BRAIN" Sanji retorted as he and Zoro tried to trade blows across the rows and over their friends. Robin eventually silenced both of them with curt slaps to their heads.

"This is why you two don't get to sit near each other" Brook added.

Franky grunted a quick "seriously" in response to Brook as he began to re-comb his hair from the two trying to fight over him.

"Whatever. I bet that shitty taekwondo cook is going to be the first one to run away screaming" muttered Zoro to which Sanji snickered.

"At least taekwondo is helpful. How is bushido gonna help you in a real fight!? You gonna carry around a wooden practice sword. Huh!"

"As a matter of fact yes. I'll carry around three I don't give shit" Zoro simply stated as he tied his bandana over his eyes and began to doze off.

Robin let out a small chuckle at his antics. She always did find that trick cute. And too good of an idea to have been thought up by the swordsman's tiny brain.

"Yeah well not everyone can be superhuman like you three" pouted Usopp as he tried to take Chopper's thoughts off the monster by doing the thing he was known best for. Lying.

"Choppeeerr! Listen! If those monsters come near you, I will banish them to hell with my counter curse technique" shouted Usopp with comical lights highlighting his fighting pose.

"Ohhh soo cooool. Counter curse, counter curse." Chopper coed with sparkles in his eyes before chanting along with Usopp. Robin just sweatdropped in awe of their childishness and Brook chuckled with his trademark "Yohohoh."

Franky joined in the mellow drama with a loud "SUPER COUNTER CURSE!"

Luffy meanwhile was recalling when he, Zoro, and Sanji first met. The Under 14, East Blue Martial Arts Invitational. Luffy won all the events except for two. Taekwondo and Bushido. And it's no surprise who beat him in those events. Luffy blamed it on only being able to use one style since he was at his best in a freestyle fight.

They always just said "no excuses" but still, they all knew he was the strongest. Regardless, they shared a mutual respect and a strong friendship. Luffy glanced over at a fuming blonde who was still pissed and pouting from the response he received from his rival.

"Well they care on the inside-…. I hope" joked Luffy to himself with a chuckle before he noticed who happened to be sitting in front of him.

Luffy angled his head around the giant bus seat and smiled a toothy grin at his little orange haired 'interest.'

"So Nami, you ready for the trial of courage? You won't be scared right?"

"No. After all, we get flashlights. I don't even need a partner honestly."

"Oh so you're going alone? You don't want any company? I wouldn't mind-…" began Luffy before Nami cut him off harshly.

"No-…..that's okay. I don't really wanna go with you to be honest."

"Harsh" he thought with a puff of his lower lip. He hated running into the walls she hid behind. Especially when she wasn't in the mood to be subtle and her responses were rough and hurt like spikes. This was normal for her or so he figured based on his few interactions with the girl. He'd just have to keep winging it.

"Honesty hurts ya'know" Luffy pouted, wilting back into his seat while he hung his head in comedic shame. His friends that were awake behind him just chuckled at his antics knowing full well it would take more than that to really upset their friend.

"It was nice of him to offer. Wait what am I saying? Did he really think I'd want to team up with him? What's this guy's deal with me anyways? Like seriously, who does he think he is?" thought the orange haired beauty before she was pulled out of her thoughts by the bus's abrupt halt.

The chaperons for this senior trip all stood up in the front of the bus to address their students. There was a stocky, silver haired man with two cigars in his mouth; because one wasn't enough. His name was Smoker which made his cigars all the more ironic. He was the school PE teacher.

Standing next to him was a tall, chubby woman with curly orange hair. She was the English teacher who petitioned for this trip every year. No one ever knew how it pertained to English but students generally never questioned Curly Dadan's ways.

Lastly, a blue haired girl who was barely older than a college student stood quietly reserved behind the two. Waiting for her introduction.

"Okay, listen up you unfit, waste of space maggots" shouted Smoker catching everyone's attention. "The teachers have to prepare for the trial of courage with the staff of the resort so after settling into your rooms, eat and be ready for tonight! Don't lollygag!"

"I hate lollygaggers. And disrespectful high schoolers" he continued earning a chuckle from Dadan.

"Maybe you're on the wrong career path?" He didn't respond per the normal response to her clever quips.

Curly Dadan laughed again before adding,"It aint our fault if you pee your pants. We're going to be here for the rest of the week. That means after tonight, you'll have another day to have fun so make sure to keep your pants clean. That means don't shit yourselves" and again, the pair of chaperons laughed while the students sweatdropped.

After getting all the laughter out, Smoker cleared his throat and stepped aside to reveal a blue haired girl dawning a similarly colored spiral tattoo that spread across most of her arm and lead up her shoulder.

"You brats think we're kidding but we got a real ringer here. Our makeup artist for the night. Say hello to Nojiko."

After everyone but one voiced their greetings, Nojiko smiled and looked around the bus.

"I'm here to make your teachers, the staff, and any volunteers scary as hell. I'm also getting college credits for being here so I won't lie and say it's all about helping children. But we're pretty close in age so let's be friends."

Her eyes met a certain orangette's before she turned and walked off the bus followed by the teachers and then the students.

(Nami)

"Nojiko? What are you doing here? Damnit!" I seethed as I got off the bus with everyone else and walked towards the huge resort. It was bigger than I'd imagined and the forest surrounded the main building on all four sides. "This trial of courage is going to be crazy with such a big course. And a waste of time honestly. Who could actually have fun with doing something like this?"

Walking into the main hall, I had to tune out the loudness of Luffy and his group of friends and try to focus on the night ahead of me. It was hard since I noticed Nojiko start talking to them. "Great, now I need to worry about her too. I have to keep a distance from everyone and have as little fun on this trip as possible. "After all, he's always watching."

Meanwhile (Luffy)

"Bum rush out of the bus! Last one to the main hall is the one who shits their pants tonight" I yelled as I threw Usopp to the side and ran out of the bus.

Everyone trampled over him and so, he was the last one to make it to the building. As I watched the bruised and dirty Usopp walk through the front door, I dodged a few harmless karate chops as he yelled at me.

"Luffy, you cheater! I was trampled back there because of you. And now I'm destined to be the one who shits his pants tonight!" That last part came out in an upset whine but I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't sweat the small stuff Usopp. No one is destined to do anything" I consoled making him cheer up briefly.

"You really think so?" the big nosed teen asked.

I smiled at my opportunity to poke fun. "Of course. It's not destiny that's going to make you crap yourself, it's the scary as shit monsters."

"I'm not going to make it" Usopp said almost passing out. Luckily for him, he was caught by the blue haired woman on the bus.

"Don't worry dude, I won't make them scary" she chimed in supporting the teen with both arms extended. "Now can you start using your legs to stand please?"

"Really! That's great" shouted Chopper helping Usopp stand. The long nosed teen was feeling vibrant after his mellow drama as he used his new position to start a kicking line. He and Chopper celebrated the news due to some recently instilled false hope.

Nojiko's expression quickly faded black as a sadistic smile spread across her lips. "Yeah it is great. They won't just be scary, they'll be fear personified. So realistic, your heart will have to scream for you. Honestly you'll probably die from shock well before you can crap yourself. But then again, you'll void your bowels when you die anyway so-…" Nojiko trailed off playfully as Chopper and Usopp's world crumbled.

"NOOOOO! I'M NOT GOING!" "WE'RE GOING TO DIE FOR REAL THIS TIME!" the duo screamed simultaneously as they cried their eyes out.

I laughed at their antics mostly because I knew if I said they had to go, they would go. I heard Brook let out a happy "Yohohoh" before I watched him turn to Nojiko.

"Excuse me miss. I'd like to volunteer to be a monster in the trial. Can you make me look like a real skeleton? I've been writing skull jokes the whole bus ride so it'll be fun."

"No Brook! Don't turn to the dark side!" bellowed Usopp while pleading on his knees for his friend to recall his request. He was grabbing at Brooks leg before his friend shook him off with a laugh.

"Don't worry…I'm already there" he said with a dark expression. Usopp went white and everyone laughed excluding Chopper.

"It was nice knowing you Brook. Now you'll be turned into a real monster and be lost forever" Chopper pouted as Robin put her arm around him in comfort.

"It's just makeup Chopper."

"BROOK!" Chopper screeched clearly ignoring Robin's comment and picturing the worse. "They'll skin him alive first and then polish the bones until they sparkle. Oh the horror" he thought giving himself the chills.

"Sure no problem. Skeletons are easy. We could use all the volunteers we can get" thanked Nojiko as she offered Brook a smile.

"Glad I could help. I could get you more volunteers if-…" began Brook.

"If what" asked the blunette.

"If I can see your panties" Brook stated with the utmost seriousness.

Nami twitched at what she heard and knew Brook was in for it. After all, she knew Nojiko well.

With a tick mark on her forehead and a large forehead vein popping into view, Nojiko sent Brook flying with a strong right hook.

"Perv!" the college student said as she stalked away.

"Franky. I was so close. Did you see?" asked Brook before passing out.

"I saw buddy. You almost had it" Franky said with a tone that made it seem like this was the last conversation with his 'dying friend'.

"NOO BROOK. IT'S TOO SOON!" yelled Chopper again before he got hit on the head by Zoro.

"You're too loud."

"Don't hit my Chopper. He's small and adorable" spoke Robin with an ominous tone.

"Oi, listen woman. He's not some stuffed animal you can cuddle. He's 17" grunted Zoro.

"Are you jealous of me cuddling Chopper? Zoro?"

"Wah-, No!" blushed Zoro as he stomped away.

"Cuddle with me ROBIN-CHWAN" yelled Sanji as he gushed over the woman.

"Your too loud, swirly brow!"

"Look who's talking, moss head!"

"Shishishishi" I laughed as I took in my friend's craziness. "They're just the right amount of wild for me" I thought. "But something's missing."

My thoughts now trailed towards a certain orange haired girl. Wherever she was. I just hoped she let herself have fun on this trip. "She's holding back from having fun because of something. And I think it's time I found out. After all, why won't she go with me to the trial of courage? I'm hot! I think?"

Author's Note 2: Sorry again for the lateness of the chapter. I started football again and even though it's offseason, I'm spent. And I was done on Saturday but Fanfiction wouldn't let me post it. But no excuses damnit! I took the time to start chapter 3 so hopefully there is a quick update.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and that you all keep reading and supporting me. I was going to do a longer chapter but I want to plan more so I tried to show Nojiko, Luffy's group and Luffy's interest in Nami. Nojiko will be important in this story so let me know how you liked her.

Were there too many emphasized/screamed lines? Was the chapter interesting? Were the interactions believable? Any inferences? Let me know with a review or P.M. I love responding to them. Till then, stick around and thanks again for being patient and reading! The trial of courage will be awesome (I hope) so read on friends!

I've begun editing the chapters. One and two are finished as of 5/3/16.