Thanks so much for these great reviews… Ah,… you know how to make me happy ;-)
So Miss Fenway, you are absolutely great, you have really reviewed every chapter!! Very cool! And also thanks for the positive things you have said…
LoremIpsum, I'm so thankful, that you are my beta reader… thanks…
Ellasphere Thanks so much, I was really glad to hear, that my English isn't that bad… and of course that you liked it…. You made me laugh with that German-learning thingy… Did you volunteer, because I wouldn't learn German, because you only talk it in Germany, Austria and Switzerland… (more or less) I'm not really motivating, am I? If you need help, contact me… I talk German, like it is my mother tongue (WAIT; It IS my mother tongue…)
Okay, I should stop talking bad about learning German, I have learned Latin for 6 years (first foreign language), but I dropped it finally and now I get Spain. Thankfully I didn't fail class because of Latin,… I was really bad... okay,… I'm talking to much… sorry!
Thuraya Known, Thanks so much for your review!! It was a pity, that I couldn't read your story, but I left a little earlier. But I was looking forward to it…
Masterarcher, Wow, thank you, that was great to hear!! I have a beta-reader so I will post this story! Thank you!
Ugh,… by the way, do I have to say, that I own nothing,…? Did really anybody assume, that National Treasure is mine? So, well, it isn't…. is it…is it??
Keep reviewing, I love to hear/ read whether you guys like it. Thanks so much, you are really encouraging…
By the way… my trip to England was really great, I loved everything. But the goodbyes REALLY hurt… in my group were so amazing people. Some new friends and I cried a lot on the ride back home.
West Virginia
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Riley's Perspective
The next morning came way too early!
"Ben, are you crazy or something? It's 5am, I'm sleeping!" I whined and stuck my head under my pillow.
"I'm not crazy, we have a long ride us and it'll take a while to reach West Virginia. You think the ride to New York was long? This will beat it. You can still sleep in the car. Abi should be out of the bathroom any moment. So get up!"
"No, leave me alone, this is WAHH!!" I screamed, when strong hands took a firm grip under my shoulder and scooped me into the air.
Ben laughed when he put me back on the ground. "What did you just say?" He asked with an acted politeness.
"I wanted to say, that this SUCKS and you suck, too. This just confirmed my opinion." I glared at him and he glared back. We broke our staring contest when Abi entered the room and Ben gave me a shove against the bathroom door. I hated when he did this. Every time he did that, I felt like a child again. Back then I was shoved around like that. I was an adult and I hated being treated like a child.
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In the car
I was still mad and Ben didn't want to talk to me either. We were
just chatting as
much as necessary.
"Can we take a rest?" I asked. I hated it to be dependent on Ben in moments like this.
"No, we are not even in Pennsylvania, yet." Ben said dryly.
"Hm, Benjamin, it's your car, if I have to pee, it's your problem. Think about it, " I replied as cold as he was.
"Oh, boys, would you just give it a rest?" Abi asked angrily.
"That's exactly what I need, a rest, a break!" I egged on Ben.
"Riley, stop nagging, now!" he raised his voice.
"No I won't! I need a rest!" I screamed back.
"AHH!" Abi's outburst silenced Ben and me. "Ben! Would you please fulfil the wishes of your passengers? If you don't, I'm going to drive." She turned to me "Riley, if you don't stop behaving like a spoiled brat, you don't have to wonder why we are threatening you like one. And if you two are planning on fighting this whole vacation, we can go back home."
"Sorry Abi!" I apologized. This woman can really create fear in people.
Ben just tightened his grip on the wheel, an irate gaze on the street.
I hated it when he was angry with me; I adored him and most of the time. It was great to have somebody to lean on. But when he was angry I refused to admit that I needed him as a brother.
But I can't lie to myself; I really needed him as a brother. Yesterday in New York, in front of the city hall I was really lucky to have him with me.
"So Ben, can we take a break, please?" I asked and tried to sound mollifying. I hoped he would just leave it alone.
"No." Ben stated.
"Ben, don't be pigheaded like this. Wie kleine Kinder." Abi shook her head as she said it. Great, German again, so couldn't tell what kind of insult she just said.
"He started it." Wow, I thought. I was the spoiled brat.
"It doesn't matter, who started it! You two act like little toddlers in kindergarten, or like brothers and I don't want to be bothered like a mother." Abi seemed really mad.
Everyone remained silent. I had no hope for a break till Ben turned in at the next gas station. He parked and got out without a word.
I watched him walk away when he got out of the van and I had to swallow.
"Dammit," I cursed.
"He'll calm down," Abi said when she saw my look. "Now, follow nature's call she added, smiling.
I smiled back and headed for a toilet. Oh, I needed one.
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Ben's Perspective
I really didn't know why I was this angry at the kid. I mean, he said that I suck, but what would I have said if somebody hauled me to my feet when I was still sleeping?
"And this one." I said and gave a Butterfinger to the cashier when I paid for the gas. I knew it was Riley's favorite chocolate bar.
When I reached the car, Abi and Riley were already inside. They both looked at me when I got in. I handed Riley the snack without saying anything, but I had to smile when looked at me with wide eyes.
"Thanks!" He sounded really thankful and I knew not only because of the Butterfinger. I nodded at him with a chuckle.
Abi leaned over to me and kissed my cheek. She took my hand and squeezed it, a beautiful smile on her face. I smiled back and kissed her lips.
"Guys, I am eating," Riley complained mouth full.
"Than stop talking or you'll splutter." I turned around to see his face. He stuck his tongue at me after he had swallowed.
"So let's drive further." I said and couldn't
suppress a smile. Yep, everything was back to
normal.
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It was an incredibly long ride to West Virginia. It seemed even longer because I had nobody to talk to. Riley and Abi were both fast asleep. I couldn't turn the radio on because I didn't want to disturb their sleep.
But finally we arrived near the New River George Bridge. It would be a fifteen minute walk to the bridge.
"Abi, darling, wake up," I said and stroked her blond her.
"I am awake." She shook her head to clear her thoughts.
"Ri!" Abi turned around to stroke his cheek to get him awake. Neither of them would admit it, but both of them loved each other, of course in a sibling way.
He blinked the sleep out of his eyes. "You okay?" I asked him warmly. He nodded and stretched his arms, yawning.
"Why do we have to visit bridges? I mean, okay, we'll visit the Golden Gate Bridge, but why this one?"
"The New River George Bridge was for many years the longest in the world. It's at least 3030 feet long. It is 876 feet high and it was built from 1974 to 1977. And…" I started but was interrupted by an annoyed Riley.
"Yeah, yeah, Ben, do you want to talk me to sleep? It's bad enough we have to walk over to the bridge."
I opened my mouth to say something, but Abi took my hand and silenced me.
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I really thought the view was amazing. Though I somewhat regretted having made up with Riley. He was whining all the time. When we were fighting he was way calmer.
When we were in our room in the
motel, there was an obvious depressed mood in the air. We all were
exaggeratedly polite to each other, especially Riley, who knew that
he was
able to drive me crazy this way.
"Do you need an extra blanket, Benjamin?" he asked and I let out an angry breath. He was standing on the bed near by the window and he held up a blanket. I was sitting on a small couch in front of Riley's laptop and was looking for the best route to Ohio.
Abi was in bed already and fast asleep.
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Okay,… I am very curious about you opinion… :-)
It is so great to write that fic,... I really learn something about the USA, (now I know much about a random bridge…)… that's great!!
Keep reading… 3