Rules Of The Road

-Kick-

The traffic on the interstate was literally bumper to bumper, I even put the car in park because I know we weren't moving any time soon. Apparently there was some major collision up the road and some people had been stuck in that traffic jam for four hours. There were people honking their horns and swearing at each other, as if they were blaming each other for the traffic jam. I guess its reasonable if you have somewhere to be but if you have nowhere to be you shouldn't be screaming at someone else. That's why I'm not rolling down my window to scream at someone for cutting me off.

"Did Ralph say what's in this box?" Kendall asked, the parcel sitting in her lap.

"He mentioned that she's a dancer," Moxie replied with a roll of her eyes. "Maybe its dancing shoes."

Kendall lifted the parcel and shook, the contents banging inside. "There's no way that these are dance shoes."

"Whatever," Moxie replied, she scoffed and rolled her eyes, I could tell that this delivery was bothering her. Little did she know that Gunther had told me why he really wanted to bring this parcel to Memphis.

()()()

"What's the deal with you?" I asked Gunther before we left Walmart. "We are already behind schedule and know you want us to deliver a package to some girl for Ralph? What's your deal?"

"Road trips are supposed to have detours," Gunther replied. "If you just go where other people tell you then you'll never get to do anything exciting, plus what's the fun of a road trip if you don't explore, find the open road. Plus I know what's in that box."

"What is it? How do you know?" I asked.

"I know because I saw Ralph put them in the box the day we left," He replied. I was both shocked and confused when he told me the actual contents of the parcel, then I understood it. "That's why you wanted to take this job? Dude your gross!"

"No!" Gunther exclaimed, giving me a shove. "Because when Moxie finds out she's going to be heartbroken and realize what a sleaze Ralph really is and how all the boys she goes for are exactly like that. Then she'll realize I'm the opposite and want to date me instead."

"Alright," I told him with a smirk and a pat on the back. "All for love."

()()()

It was the early evening before we managed to get off the highway, I couldn't place where we were exactly, and our GPS decided it was the perfect time to be completely useless. All I knew is that we got to West Virginia about an hour ago, and if we drove straight for another three hours, or maybe longer, we'd reach the borderline of Kentucky. Even though I know we will have to stop eventually in Kentucky to eat and sleep I plan to drive straight tomorrow so that we can deliver the parcel to the whore in Memphis and get to Seattle.

"Ugh!" Kendall groaned, slapping the dashboard. She had her laptop sitting on top of the parcel. "Look at this E-mail Ember sent me."

"Cant, need to watch the road." I replied, I could see her rolling her eyes.

As much as I love hearing the drama of Kendall's crazy big sister and her boyfriend, she wont tell us his name, I have my own problems to worry about. Like my mom constantly at my throat, because she thinks its my recklessness and irresponsibility that's keeping us from getting to Seattle. I know that Kendall's mom thinks that her little angel isn't doing anything wrong, why would she? All Kendall does is be perfect. I don't think that Brad minds that we're late, he's too busy going to parties, and getting stoned, and hanging out with some new girlfriend that I don't know the name of.

"You know I don't usually share my personal life with anyone," Kendall snapped. "So the least that you can do is listen."

That's when it hit me. Everything that she's done, the elections for class president, being the chair person of school clubs, being the lead in the play, she wanted people to listen to her. She didn't have many friends until we were twelve, and even then she had a hard time opening up. I've known Kendall since we were in diapers, our moms used to take us to the park for playdates with Gunther. I know because we have all the home movies on VHS tapes. By the time we were four we drifted apart.

I looked over in the backseat, where Moxie and Gunther were sleeping on each other's shoulders. Besides Kendall and I, the only other person awake was Christina, who had dug through Moxie's magazine stash and was staring at the models in the pictures. Ronaldo was leaning on her, his sleeping head bouncing up and down with the bumps in the road, but Christina didn't seem to mind. She looked up at me momentarily and put down the magazine, I turned my attention back to the road.

"It feels good to be on the road again," She said. "Dad hasn't taken us anywhere in years."

She was staring at the rock formations outside, a lot of them had graffiti all over them. There were names, symbols, drawings, and the occasional initials in a heart. She seemed to enjoy it, seeing the world while driving down the interstate. I think we should all be enjoying it more, but Kendall and I have just been focused on getting to Seattle that we haven't been enjoying this little detour we're taking. I guess Christina has the right idea, staring out the window, eyes wide with wanderlust.

"Mouth said that you guys have a cottage in California," Kendall recalled, twisting in her seat to look at Christina. "He mentioned that it was somewhere near Yosemite."

"Yeah, we would drive there every summer, dad said it's the best way to see America." Christina said, without looking back I could hear her smiling.

"So you liked driving across America?" I asked without turning my head away from the interstate.

"Oh no I hated it," Christina laughed. "The long drive with my dad and two brothers, it can get really annoying. But now I'm here with my friends and I don't know which I prefer."

I smiled I was glad that she was having a great time, and even though I'm sure that Kendall wouldn't admit it she's having a great time too. I turn over to look at her when we reach the Kentucky borderline to find her asleep, taking a quick look in the back I discover Christina asleep too. I don't usually see her sleeping, maybe it's harder to fall asleep when you're in a car. I take the first exit that I see off the highway into some small town that I don't know the name of, and circle around looking for a hotel, or perhaps a Walmart, to spend the night. Or at least the five hours until the sun comes up.

()()()

Kick's Play list #2

"Road less travelled" or "Does KFC taste better in Kentucky?"

Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard

Hold on by Alabama Shakes

Superman's Dead by Our Lady Peace

My God is the Sun by Queens Of The Stone Age

It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock n' Roll) by AC/DC

It Ain't Right by One Bad Son

Cowboy by Kid Rock

Fragile Bird by City and Colour

Tighten Up by The Black Keys

Bones by Young Guns

The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Izzy

Kick's Side Notes: Who wants chicken?

Avery: How many times do I apologize for my absence? Well it was exam week, and then I got into a car accident, and I'm going to camp for two weeks so I don't know when the next update will be but I'll try. I love you guys!