Author's Note: Thank you to everyone that continued to review even though my lack of updates was really pushing it. This is longer than my other chapters, and I feel proud for getting it out sooner. Lol, enjoy!
oh & follow me on tumblr, yumkimchi ? (x
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"I don't." I tried to respond back to him as the feeling kicked in, and I began pushing my body so it would go far beyond my usual limits to get my calming release. Faster is better, calmer.
I know that I may seem confusing to him, but I don't always run away. I'm not that much of a wimp that I have to run away from a guy, right? Him saying something like that just proves he really has no idea what I'm doing. Then again, I don't either, but I am aware that I am not running away though. I'm positive of that much.
Since I was considerably the fastest "slow" runner, I was ahead of a lot of girls and guys running with me, or rather, behind me. After a mere few steps, it irked me how a few of those suppose to run already stopped running. It was only half a mile, and to not have the stamina to complete it kind of surprised me for a moment.
I stopped thinking about the others, and I willed myself to go increase my speed, little by little. I found myself nearing the end of my first lap, and I felt pretty good about my current time for the distance I had run.
"You're at 1:26 Gabriella!" Willow called out. Oh fuck, I needed to speed up.
And how many times is he going to call me Gabriella when I've corrected him and told him to call me Gabrielle? He, and some nameless others can never seem to get it, it's one letter change, jeez!
As I go onto one of the rounded parts of the track, saw that I was clearly at least 3/4 of a lap ahead of the other runners and walkers. Regardless, I just just kept forcing my legs to take longer strides. I already knew that I would get a decent time -considering that I was speeding up with each step and Troy Bolton, the seemingly good guy who plans to mess with me, is my partner, and he just happens to be able to run a mile in just under six minutes.
I had only one more turn and a straight run 'til I would be back to where Troy was. All I had to do was 'tag' his hand, and I was free to stop breathing hard, and pushing myself to whatever limits I could manage.
"Come on Montez!" I was so close that I could hear the words of encouragement from my fellow classmates. I started sprinting, using what energy I was able to. I sprinted and felt my breathing become heavier, and the air became blurs of wind whooshing past me.
"Elle, you got this!" Troy called out towards me. Wait, since when did he call me Elle?
I closed the distance between me and to where Troy was standing, and it was probably the hardest 10 feet of my half mile. Everything in that 10 feet seemed to go in slow motion, a seemingly exaggerated moment. Whatever, I tried to shake it off, and finally, I was up to Troy.
I high-fived/tagged his hand, and he took off running without saying anything to me. And he says I'm the one who always runs away? Psh.
I walked up to Willow to check what time I got. "2:52, you should consider joining Cross Country."
"I'll think about it." I replied as I started walking towards the water fountain. Running is my release, but I don't think I can hold out doing super long runs for long periods of time. I'm more of a get-it-over-don't-think-about-it kind of runner. Running for competition, and training for it wasn't really my idea of sunshine.
In the time it took for me to drag my butt over to the fountain, Troy was finishing his first lap, and other runners were tagging their partners as they finished. I pressed the button and somewhat cold water squirted into my mouth. The taste, although not very good, was refreshing to my cotton-dry mouth at the moment. The run made my mouth dry, and my throat yearned for the taste of water.
"Aren't you slow today?" I heard a voice whisper into my ear as I still let the water flow into my mouth. God, I was really thirsty.
I turned around and found myself face to face with Troy's crystal blue orbs. Damn him and his ability to sneak up on me.
"What'd we get on the mile?" I questioned.
"Well," he paused and pushed the button on the water fountain next to me. He took a drink, and stood up once more to look straight at me. "I could tell you..." he started again.
"Wow Bolton, you're cool. First you're gonna tell me, and you get a drink of water. Then, you try to be all smooth, and make some long ass pause when you could have already told me the time by now. You're such a fucker."
I wasn't mad or anything, I was just making a point to him actually.
"Is that the way to talk to someone who helped you get a 4:58 mile time?" He questioned, in all seriously.
I screamed and hugged him. "Damn, that's really good!" I don't know why I hugged him, it was like an urge to I guess? I don't even know.
He hugged back. "See, that's how you talk to someone who helped you get a 4:58 mile!" he said, amusement laced in his words.
I removed my arms from him, it just felt really awkward. I don't even know what possessed me to do something like that when we weren't even on comfortable terms. Yeah, we were on talking terms, but we weren't friends, or in a relationship, yet. We would be in a relationship soon, I was sure of it, but, friendship, I know we will never be friends.
"Thanks for the most failed hug ever. You initiated it, and then you just let go out of no where!" he teased once I let go.
"Be happy you even got a hug." I replied as I walked back to where everyone else was -either almost done running or waiting for their partners to be done running.
He walked up next to me, keeping pace with my footsteps, he can always keep pace with me. "I was kidding Elle. Take a joke!"
I decided it would be best to change the conversation topic. Whatever he was talking about now? Of course, it would ensue an awkward silence at one point. "Where are you taking me today after school?"
"You'll see, no need to rush everything." Troy assured me.
"Well," I did want to know where we were going, to plan accordingly. God, I sound like some paranoid freaking checking what's happening every moment of every time I'm with him, or will be with him. "I just want to know. Would it kill you so much as to give me a hint to where we're actually going? Like, is it a long drive? Will it be cold? Something Troy, anything. I'll stop now before I sound annoying and whiny."
Troy laughed. "Nah, you'll never sound annoying or whiny to me, I actually find it rather cute. But, I won't tell you where we're going, you'll just need to see when we get there. Unless you'd rather not go?"
I turned to look closely at him before briefly sticking out my tongue, immature, whatever, I'm good.
The way he said that, it made him seem genuine -like he wasn't planning to mess with me. Really, it seemed as though he was being nice to me. Had I not known that he was going to try to uncover some nonexistent mask, and play around with me for his bet, I probably would have believed the very words coming out of his mouth.
We waited the next few minutes in silence as the rest of the runners began coming in. The walkers were still, well, walking, and if they didn't finish in the allotted twelve minutes, I'd have to say that would be rather pathetic.
"Still tired?" Isaac questioned as he and Richelle walked up to where Troy and I were resting.
"Nah, I finished a while ago, so I should be somewhat rested." I replied, my breathing steady at that point.
Richelle turned to Troy. "And you?"
"Same as Elle, my breathing is steady, and I'm not really tired." he responded, his voice seeming calmer than mine at the moment. Regardless of the fact that I should be the most rested since I ran first and whatnot. Boo to him and his ability to recover really fast I suppose.
"What'd you get on your mile?"
"7:36, not as good as you and Troy, but still an A by grading standards." Richelle responded with a slight smile. "You were the first to finish, so I don't doubt that you guys got a really fast time."
Troy shrugged like it was nothing. "Eh, 4:58, that's what Willow said anyways."
He has to stop acting cool. Getting 4:58 is amazing, even compared to his times. Honestly, yeah, he could have got a much better time if he wasn't partnered with me, but he asked, or more like stated, that we were partners. So, he's got to stop with this cool act and just be proud. Wow, I'm fucking analyzing so many of the things he's doing. Note to self: Stop. Just stop.
"Dude, Troy. 4:58 is amazing, so stop trying to play it off!" I exclaimed. "Come on, let's go watch everyone else finish." I added as I pulled Isaac and Richelle along, leaving Troy by himself. In a way, I guess I knew that he wouldn't follow us. I don't know how I knew, but in the end, he didn't follow us.
"What's up with that Elle? After this morning, you're on civil terms with him?" Richelle pressed.
"Honestly, I don't have a clue why our issues are resolved." I lied through my teeth. Aside from me and Shar, I wanted to keep this plan of mine on a need to know basis.
"I hope all goes well then." Isaac responded, speaking for the both of them as Richelle nodded her head in agreement.
Mhm, I hope it goes well too.
We played Frisbee for the rest of the PE period, and I didn't talk to Bolton anymore. I would talk to him after school anyways, we did have a date planned.
The objective of Frisbee today was to just throw the Frisbee at each cone in as little turns as possible. I lacked arm strength. I lacked accuracy. But, overall, I suppose to task went by really quick, and I was able to talk to Andrea, Richelle, and Isaac the whole time because Willow let us choose our own teams.
"God, this is boring!" Andrea complained. I had to agree, it was really boring after the first cone, or so.
At that moment, Willow's whistle blew, signaling for us to regroup around him.
"As some of you may know, I'm switching PE classes for this period." Willow stated. Wait, what? "For those who didn't, now you know. Starting next PE class, everyone in this class is going to switch to Coach Bolton. Yes, that's Troy's dad for those who are wondering. He has all Freshman PE classes except for this period, he currently has a sophomore class. To be consistent, he wants to switch. I don't really care who I'm teaching, but you are a really good class. Be sure to show him that you are, okay? You're dismissed and free to go to your lockers now."
Bolton? So, would Troy still be the student aid for Willow? Or, will he switch to be his dad's student aid?
I felt a presence sneak up next to me. I had enough sense to know that it was Troy, and I knew my friends slipped away as discreetly as they could. "I know what you're thinking."
"Tell me what I'm thinking then." I replied, diverting my attention away from my thoughts and towards him.
"Well, you're either thinking about how sexy I am." Gag me. "Or, you're thinking about if I'm going to be the student aid for your class or Willow's." Damn him and his accurate guess. How did he even know that I was thinking about that in the first place?
"How did you come to these conclusions?" I wondered, obviously.
"Your thoughts are written on your face, and you kept glancing in my direction." I was? Why isn't it that I'm not even aware of what I do? "I don't know if you realized that, but you were. I'm flattered at the attention, and since you probably would call me a narcissist if I thought you were thinking of the first thing I said, I can choose if I want to be my dad's aid, or stay Willow's. Both coaches don't mind, but I want to know, what do you want? "
What did I want anyways? Did I want him to be close to me, or distant? "I don't know. You choose, it's your choice after all."
"I'm just curious as to what you think. Well, you'll see next class, so it's another thing you'll have to wait for."
Did he really think my life revolved around waiting to see what happens? Because, really, it doesn't.
"What's your sixth period class? I'll ditch the last couple minutes and wait for you outside of your door." Troy changed the subject, and I would just let it be at that.
"I have Geometry Accelerated last period, Shinee's my teacher. But, you don't have to ditch class, I'll just wait for you in the student parking lot."
"Nah, I'm going to wait for you outside of class. Who knows, maybe there's cute girls coming out of your class anyways."
Troy Bolton really was a flirt.
"Yeah? Maybe there is, or maybe she's standing right in front of you." I replied as I walked into the locker room. He's wrong, I don't always run away from him, I walk away from him. That much, I agree with.
In the locker room, I listened to Richelle and Andrea's conversations, but I really didn't say much. I laughed on the right occasions and whatnot, but that's the extent. Quickly, I changed into my shorts, and folded my PE shorts to put back into my locker. Then, I changed everything else, fixed my small locker to make it look somewhat neat, locked it and sat there waiting for Richelle.
"Ree, you take forever to get changed -as if I haven't told you enough!" I expressed, putting myself into their conversation about Asian dramas. Richelle was trying to convince Andrea to watch one, but Andrea really wasn't interested.
"Surprise, I just finished!" she replied as she locked her small locker and gathered her belongings. I guess she did manage to change pretty fast, for once.
The bell rang, we were dismissed to nutrition break, and of course, we were in Horny Hallway again. Fabulous, really.
I guess Horny Hallway isn't that bad a hangout spot if you face yourself away from the people making out. It is rather spacious anyways, considering no one wants to claim this spot there's. So, there's one plus side.
I conversed with the group, snatched and stole a bag of chips from Jason. We were aloud to eat in Bio next period, so I plan on taking full advantage of that. Anyways, I'll share my food with Kelsi, and Ryan. Bio was an elective class, not a requirement, so it was okay having a sophomore like Ryan in our period.
"What'd you do in PE?" Jason asked, he had it next period. But, we don't even have the same teacher, so I have no idea why he questions me every time on what he's going to do in PE. The coaches do something different with their classes than everyone else.
"I don't have the same teacher as you, you know that." I replied, giggling slightly.
"Yo, Gabielle!" I heard Kuya Michael call as he threw me a Gatorade. I didn't catch it, so Chad dove to save it for me. "I know you love me right now!" he replied as he walked off with one of his Junior friends. Yeah, I did love him though, he would know that I would end up thirsty.
The ten minutes of Nutrition always pass by really fast, so it wasn't long before I found myself walking with the couple, Kelsi and Ryan, to Biology with Loera.
"I've got food!" I exclaimed with a smile.
"Chips and Gatorade. Sharing the chips, Gatorade for yourself." Ryan stated rather than phrasing it as a question. He knew me well enough anyways.
"Pretty much. What do you think we're doing in class today?"
"Considering we're the first period," Kelsi said. "I don't know. But, it's going to be with Investigations, and the basic stuff like what we learned in Middle School. It's the easiest lesson of the year anyways, so no need to worry if it'll be something hard to comprehend."
"Who says I'm worrying?" I replied as I opened the door. "Hello Mr. Loera!"
"Hi Gabrielle." Mr. Loera responded with his natural lisp, or was it slur? I don't know, Ryan was explaining it to me and I didn't quite get it. But yeah, he's one of those chill teachers who manages to get my name right the first time.I sat down in my respective seat, put the chips on my desk, the Gatorade on the floor, and grabbed a pencil, eraser, and my Biology spiral out of my backpack.
The rest of the class began piling in before the bell as I opened my bag of chips, delicious Hot Cheetos, and offered them to Kelsi and Ryan. It wasn't one of those small snack sized bags. it was a fairly decent size that would last for a little bit of time.
As the bell rang, our teacher began talking. "I'm passing out notes for this first lesson. Later, I won't be passing out anymore notes, so I'll expect you to print them at home. If you've got problems with that, just talk to me. Other alternatives include going to the computer lab, asking a friend, printing at the library, whatever." Mr. Loera said as papers were passed around the classroom.
Quickly, the notes were distributed and I found it hard to eat because the class was silent aside from Loera's lecture. Even though we already learned about the metric unit and conversions, of course, we had to copy down the notes and do the worksheet he handed us.
"At least it's easy." I heard Kelsi mutter.
"But, it's 3 pages back and front." I whispered to her. Really, easy as it was, it was rather long.
Before even starting, the three of us decided to split the work. Kelsi took the first page, I took the next, and Ryan took the last. When we were all done, we would just switch papers and copy. We wouldn't be losing the ability to learn anything new because we already knew this stuff.
Before the bell rang at 11:37, I found my spiral up-to-date with the new addition of the notes, the worksheets, and a blue pice of paper with more notes from the Biology textbook. Overall,, it was a very easy day.
Kelsi, Ryan, and I walked to my brothers' lunch table. They officially let us stay after the first day we went there, they've gotten use to the idea of having us with then anyways. It's better than eating lunch on the floor, next to the spit swappers, so I call it a win.
"Wanna go with me to buy food?" I asked Tay, she was my other best friend. Shar is the number one, then Taylor comes next. I'm Taylor's number two, too. Her best friend is Ryan, then I come next.
"Yeah, sure. Cafeteria or lunch carts?" she questioned back.
"Cafeteria, I'm in the mood for nachos."
"Alright, let's go."
We walked the short distance to the cafeteria, considering my brothers' lunch table was on the bottom floor of the cafeteria. The lunch carts were located outside with their never changing menu of cheese filled bread sticks, pizza, salads, and pre-made pasta bowls while the cafeteria had a variety of different foods everyday. Today, the cafeteria just happened to have delicious nachos.
"How are you and Chad?" I asked her. They weren't going out, but it was obvious to everyone but the two of them that they were madly in love, since we were seventh graders and Chad was an eighth grader.
He just never had the guts to make the moves. And, neither of them told the other of their feelings, no use to playing Cupid to two stubborn people, you know?
"What's between us? He only seems me as a friend." Tay replied.
No, he doesn't see you as a friend. Goodness!
"Is that so?" I responded softly, knowing the obvious truth.
"Mhm, it sucks. I'll treat you to nachos today, you bought me lunch the other day, and it's only fair I do it this time."
Really, it was no big deal. I give my friends money when they're out for the day, I don't expect anything in return because I mouch off them enough to settle anything between us.
"Taylor dear, you don't have to buy me lunch, I've got my money right here in my hands." I showed her the $3, lunch was $2.25. "You know I don't expect you to pay me back. I'm not stingy, and I already have the money."
"Too late." I saw her give $5 to the lunch lady and pass me my nachos while she got a bowl that she could fill with pasta.
I sighed, she was stubborn. Then again, so was I, but still, I don't need her paying me back because I bought her lunch before. "Thank you Tay, really, but you know I didn't need you to pay me back. In all honesty, I mooch enough for it to be considered as there never was anything to be paid back in the beginning."
It was weird how they did it, but you could add anything you want to the nachos. They pass you plain ones, and you add the cheese, and whatever else you want on it. For school lunch, it doesn't taste bad. It's definitely an improvement to last year's lunch. The only disgusting thing about the nachos was the beef to put on it. The oil in it just messed up the delicate creation you've set the moment it touches the cheese, and whatever else you pile on.
As I added everything onto my nachos -minus the beef, Taylor put Pasta Alfredo into her bowl, and grabbed sporks for us to use. Her's was to be used right away, mine was to be used when there were practically no nachos and mainly toppings on mine.
"Ready to go back?" I asked her, and I stood, waiting for her to add whatever else to her pasta bowl.
"Nah, let's stay here a bit before everyone tries to grab at your nachos or taste my food."
Smart girl, I knew there was a reason I asked her to come along with me, well, I didn't really have a reason at the time I asked her, but now, I know there's a reason. Damn, it's nice being able to eat your own food without multiple hands reaching without even asking.
We found ourselves just standing in place, eating our food without any conversation.
I sound like a hypocrite though, considering, I've done that plenty of times before.
I pulled my Gatorade out of my backpack, I didn't even open it in Biology because I wasn't thirsty during the 2 hour class. Surprisingly, I was satisfied. "Need a drink? You don't have to waterfall." I questioned as I extended the purple Gatorade. Funny, I never mentioned what color Gatorade Michael passed me.
"I'll drink later, let's walk back now." she replied as I looked down into her pasta bowl. It was halfway full.
I looked back towards my nachos, I still had a lot, but if she wanted to walk back, I'd walk back with her.
"What's up with you and Troy?" she asked, curiousity seeping through her voice.
"You have to promise you won't tell. I don't want to make some large production out of it, and I don't want a lot of people knowing. It might get out to him if a lot of people end up knowing."
"Of course I promise Elle, we're best friends." she responded in all seriousness.
I know I can believe her words, they're true as the day is long.
"But," she added. "If you like him, why wouldn't you want it to get out? You know, he might like you too!"
"Well," I looked straight at her. "I could say the same about you and Chad. Do you want me to tell you now, or will you interrupt again?" I questioned.
"Tell me, you know I won't tell anyone!"
I looked around to make sure he wasn't anywhere near us. Luckily, he wasn't. I couldn't see him anywhere, which was a good sign for me to tell her.
"I don't like him, really, I don't. He made this bet with some of his friends that he'd be able to get a date with me within a week. Today is the end of that week and we're going out on a date today." A date where I have no idea where we're going might I add! "I don't know what the stakes are, and I don't know why he would bet with his friends to mess with a girl, but I'll go out with him. And, I'll try to get him to be my boyfriend. At that point, when he really likes me, or loves me, I'll break up with him. He shouldn't be causing so many people such pain. I know, it's a cliche plan, and it could just as easily backfire in my face. But really, how do I counter a guy like that?" There really wasn't a longer explaination to what I was doing.
"Wow." she responded.
"It's brief, I know. But understand, I can't have a lot of people knowing. Anyone of those people could tell someone else and the word could be spread to him just as easily as I've told you know. I know you won't tell anyone though."
"Of course," Taylor assured me. "I won't tell anyone. But, what happens if you end up really liking him or even falling in love with him Elle? Do you still continue on with this plan of yours, or do stay with him because your feelings want you to?"
"I won't fall in love with him. And if I do, the plan comes before my heart. He's hurt so many others, I don't want to be just another challenge to him anyways." As I responded, we made it back to the group, where as expected, hands reached for my nachos.
"Here, take 'em." I said as I shoved them towards someone's hands. Whoever was willing to take them anyways. I ate enough, so I should be good.
While everyone finished eating what remained of my nachos, I listened to the scattered pieces of conversation until I heard Troy's voice.
"I have a date with her today." I heard him tell his friend, the same one from before.
"You have to get proof of this date, and kiss her. Yes Bolton, I need proof for both." his friend, Zeke I think his name was, responded.
"Easy shit. Be prepared to lose. You know, I take my bets very seriously."
"So I've realized. But, this girl seems very different. I just have a feeling you'll be losing today."
I don't know if my brothers could hear them, but I knew I could. Although, not loud and clear, I still could hear them. Now I know not to give him the satisfaction of a picture. You didn't need pictures to go on a date anyways.
The bell rang, and I went with Isaac, Kelsi, Sharpay, Chad, and Taylor to class.
Again, Geometry was one of those classes that wasn't grade permitted. The rest of us just happened to take Algebra as 8th graders while Chad took Algebra as a Freshman. You only needed three years of Math anyways, so no big deal that he was in our class.
"Can everyone sit down quickly so I can take attendance? After I'm done, I'll be leading you to Ms. Darbus's classroom, she will be your new Geometry teacher."
Wait, what? DARBUS?! Isn't she that eccentric Drama and Performing Arts teacher that both my brothers had the misfortune of having? I didn't even know she taught Geometry, let alone Accelerated Geometry.
"Don't worry everyone, she's a good teacher." I snorted. "And her room is just a few down from mine." Ms. Shinee explained. "It's just that all my periods have classes, and the school says I need a prep period. Since this is my last class, it's decided sixth period will be my prep period."
The class groaned, she was actually a really good teacher. But, I bet many of them have never heard of Darbus. I'm not one of the many though. OMG, I don't want to switch to her class.
"Please no, not Darbus." I whispered to my friends.
"She's the Drama teacher." Sharpay stated simply, being one of the thespians of East High.
"You of all people should know what kind of teacher she is. I've dealt with a school year of both of my brothers complaining about her. They needed a performing arts credit, and drama seemed easy. Easy until Darbus came along." I explained to everyone.
And really now, what are the chances of me switching two teachers on the same day? Apparently, when you're Gabrielle Mae Montez, the chances are very high. That, or if you're Isaac Han.
"Lovely, now I see her two times a day." Kelsi stated. She's the pianist for whatever production Darbus decides. Twinkle Town or whatever else.
"Class, please follow me, I'll lead you to Ms. Darbus. No, for those wondering, she is not teaching in the theater. She's in room 609, three rooms down from me."
We found ourselves in Darbus's room, and Ms. Shinee long gone.
"Hello everyone, I'm Alyson Darbus, but to you, it's always Madam Darbus." What the fuck is this lady playing at? "I prefer Madam, but if you don't remember, I suppose I'll settle if you call me Ms. Darbus. Any questions or concerns before you take the quiz for chapter 1?"
"Why are we taking the quiz already? We barely learned the material!" One student protested.
"We'll see how well you know the material. I'll have you take the quiz, give you a 15 minute break while I correct the quiz in class," There was some cheering, soon hushed by Darbus. "And we'll see what we'll need to review on."
The quiz was cake, I was one of the first to finish and I looked around her room while waiting for everyone else. It didn't look like the room of a math teacher, it looked like a replica of one of those stage rooms or something. There were masks, red curtains, the works.
My brothers warned me about her, and to think, I'm stuck with her Freshman year.
As the class progressed on and on, I've never been so happy to hear the bell ring. It rang with clarity at exactly 2:16, and I couldn't wait to get out of the room.
The fun was sucked when Darbus announced the homework assignment at the end of the period, just as everyone was leaving. Fuck this, like I'd be remembering it anyways. I'll ask someone later.
"Yo, Bolton!" I called to Troy, three doors away outside of Shinee's room.
He walked over to me. "And I wondered why the room was so empty while I waited for a good five minutes."
"How'd you even get out of class anyways? Your teachers wouldn't let you out without a note or anything with all your stuff."
"I'll tell you one day, today isn't that day."
"Wow, I get stuck with Darbus and you won't even enlighten me as to how you got out of class?!" I all but screamed in his face as I waved bye to my friends.
He stared at me in silence as we walked towards his nice car, which I realize now to be a Mercedes. Damn, he's really got money, or really generous parents.
"Hold up, I need to text my brothers. Gotta tell them I've got a ride and that I'll be home before dinner." I took out of my Samsung Gravity, it was white and aqua. Yeah, I have one of those mainstream phones, but in my defense, I got it before it was even mainstream!
"Why am I not surprised you have that phone?"
"I wanted the G1, but my brothers insisted that we weren't going to spend extra money to fuel another smart phone. They've both got really nice phones while I'm stuck with my second choice." I replied as he unlocked the doors and we were both inside the car.
"Where are we going anyways?" I questioned, I did have the right to know after all.
"Eh, you'll see when we get there."
I still pressed on. "Want to give me a hint then?"
"It's Japanese, I can't read any of it, and we press a lot of random buttons?"