It was another early morning in Nimes, and the hotel rooms were buzzing with the usual sounds of alarms going off and groggy friends dragging themselves out of bed. John B. Routledge and Christian Hughes were the first to wake, as always, getting ready for another day of adventure. In the room next door, Clay Jensen and Jordan Baker were equally ready, while Sarah Cameron, Dani Ardor, Betty Cooper, Jessica Davis, JJ Maybank, Pope Heyward, Kiara Carrera, and Cleo slowly made their way out of their respective beds.

JJ, of course, was the last to rise. "Why do we have to wake up at the crack of dawn?" he grumbled, rubbing his eyes as Kiara threw a pillow at him.

"Because we're in Nimes, dummy," Kiara replied with a smirk. "This isn't the time to sleep in."


Once everyone was ready, the group met in the hotel hallway, where Emily Cooper, Mindy Chen, and Camille were waiting for them. "Everyone good to go?" Emily asked, her usual upbeat self.

"Let's do this!" Jordan said enthusiastically, clearly excited for another day of Roman history and exploration.

"Where are we headed first?" Pope asked, looking curious.

"We're off to the Jardins de la Fontaine," Camille replied. "It's a beautiful park with Roman ruins and a lot of history."

JJ's ears perked up at the mention of ruins. "I hope these ruins have some wild stories," he muttered.


At the Jardins de la Fontaine, the group was immediately taken aback by the beauty of the park. Tall trees, fountains, and ancient ruins scattered throughout the grounds gave the place a peaceful yet mysterious vibe.

"Wow, this place is beautiful," John B. said, taking in the scenery.

Christian nodded, holding John B.'s hand as they strolled together. "Yeah, I love how everything is just... timeless here."

Sarah, Dani, and Betty wandered off to explore some of the paths while Emily, Camille, and Mindy began to explain the history behind the park.

"So, what's the deal with this place?" Clay asked, genuinely interested.

"Well, the Jardins de la Fontaine was originally created around the Roman thermae ruins," Emily began. "It was one of the first public parks in Europe and is home to several ancient Roman buildings, including the famous Temple of Diana."

John B. pointed toward an ancient ruined building that stood out. "What's that building over there? Looks like it's been through a lot."

Camille smiled. "That's the Temple of Diana. It's one of the key Roman ruins here."

JJ, ever the joker, interrupted with his first inappropriate question of the day. "So... do you think Romans ever skinny-dipped in these fountains?" he asked with a smirk.

The group burst into laughter, and Emily playfully rolled her eyes. "JJ, only you would think of that."

Camille shook her head but couldn't help but chuckle. "Probably not, but who knows with the Romans."


As the group moved through the park, they eventually reached the Temple of Diana. The ruins were majestic and old, and even JJ was impressed.

"This place is epic," JJ said, looking around. "But like, why is it called the Temple of Diana? Wasn't she the goddess of the hunt or something?"

Emily nodded. "Yes, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, and while we're not entirely sure why the temple was dedicated to her, it's believed that the structure may have been part of the Roman baths or a library."

Christian admired the interior architecture and asked, "What's the inside like? Does it still hold that Roman vibe?"

Mindy chimed in. "Yes, the interior is just as impressive. It's thought to have served a civic function rather than a religious one, but the exact purpose remains a mystery."

JJ, feeling mischievous, blurted out, "So did they store their Roman selfies in there or what?"

The group erupted into laughter again, with Camille giving JJ a side-eye. "If by 'selfies' you mean mosaics and manuscripts, then yes," she replied dryly.


After their time at the Temple of Diana, the group hiked up to the Tour Magne, an ancient Roman tower. The hike was long but worth it for the breathtaking views of Nimes from the top.

"Can you believe this tower used to be part of a military defense system?" Camille said as they reached the summit. "It's one of the oldest structures in Nimes."

"Military defense?" Christian asked. "What kind of role did it play back then?"

Mindy explained, "The Tour Magne was part of the Roman city wall, and it was used as a lookout tower. It's one of the few surviving towers from that time."

The view was breathtaking, and the group took a moment to appreciate it. JJ, however, couldn't resist asking, "Do you think the Roman soldiers ever dared each other to jump off this tower into the city?"

Everyone laughed, and Mindy shook her head with amusement. "If they did, we wouldn't know. But probably not."


After the hike, the group headed to Les Tables de la Fontaine for lunch, located right next to the park. They indulged in French delicacies like Charolais Beef Burger, Poultry fillet with polenta and fried mushrooms, and ended the meal with a delicious Raspberry Cheesecake.

As they ate, Kiara's phone suddenly rang. She looked at the screen and sighed heavily. "It's my mom again."

"Just block her," JJ said with his mouth full of burger.

Kiara rolled her eyes but reluctantly answered. The entire group listened in as Kiara's mom, Anna Carrera, launched into a tirade about Kiara's spending habits, her travels, and the wilderness camp threat looming over her. The final straw was when Anna mentioned sending Kiara back to Kitty Hawk.

Without missing a beat, Kiara hung up and blocked her mom's number. "I can't deal with this right now," she said, her voice a mix of frustration and relief.

Betty, sitting next to her, gave her a comforting pat on the back. "You're doing what's best for you, Kie. Don't let her ruin your day."


After lunch, they made their way to the Porte d'Auguste, another Roman ruin that still stood tall in the heart of Nimes. Emily, Camille, and Mindy explained how the arch had served as a monumental gateway to the city, part of a historic Roman road that led into the city.

Pope was fascinated by the history. "So, what Roman road are we talking about here?"

Camille answered, "The Via Domitia, one of the oldest Roman roads that connected Italy to Spain. The Porte d'Auguste was one of the grand entry points."

JJ, always one for ridiculous questions, smirked and asked, "Do you think Emperor Augustus ever strutted through here like, 'Yo, this is my gate'?"

The group cracked up once again, and Camille, ever the patient guide, chuckled. "Let's just say he probably didn't talk like that, but yes, Augustus was a big deal here."

After visiting the Porte d'Auguste, they were eager to see more of Nimes' rich Roman history, by heading to their next stop, which is the Castellum Aquae.

"What's the Castellum Aquae again?" JJ asked, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Is it like a water castle?"

Emily laughed, already used to JJ's wild guesses. "Not exactly. It's an ancient Roman structure that distributed water through the city. Think of it as a very fancy, very old water distributor."

Christian perked up, intrigued. "So, it's kind of like an ancient water supply system?"

"Exactly!" Camille nodded. "The Castellum Aquae is where the water from the aqueducts was collected and distributed to different parts of the city."


As they arrived at the Castellum Aquae, the group was immediately struck by its simple yet intricate design. Emily, Camille, and Mindy led them to the structure, offering insights into its significance.

"Why is this place considered so unique among Roman sites?" Betty asked, genuinely fascinated by the simplicity of the structure.

Mindy jumped in. "Because not many cities had such well-preserved water systems. The aqueduct that led to this structure, the Pont du Gard, is one of the most famous and well-preserved Roman aqueducts in the world."

"That's so cool," Betty responded, taking it all in. "It's amazing how advanced they were with water systems."

JJ, of course, couldn't resist. "So… do you think the Romans ever had water balloon fights with all that extra water?" He smirked, looking around the group for a reaction.

Everyone laughed, while Emily shook her head with an amused smile. "JJ, if they did, I'm sure they weren't as fun as the ones you're thinking of."

Jessica rolled her eyes but laughed at JJ's constant jokes. "Only you would turn an ancient water system into a playground."


After the Castellum Aquae, the group made their way to the Museum of Romanity of Nîmes. The building itself was impressive, modern in design, yet blending seamlessly with the Roman artifacts it housed. As they entered, they were greeted with displays of Roman history, artifacts, and reconstructions of ancient Nimes.

"Who designed this museum?" Jordan asked, admiring the architecture.

Camille explained, "The museum was designed by the architect Elizabeth de Portzamparc. It's known for the way it blends modern architecture with ancient history."

As they moved through the exhibits, John B. became curious. "What's the story behind these Gallic houses? I don't know much about them."

Emily nodded, pointing to a display. "The Gauls lived in these kinds of houses before Roman influence. They were simple, round, with thatched roofs, and were made of materials like wood and clay."

Jordan grinned, imagining the Gallic houses. "So they weren't exactly mansions."

JJ chimed in with his usual humor. "More like Gallic huts! But hey, at least they didn't have to worry about paying rent."

This time, Cleo laughed the hardest. "That's the real dream, JJ."


After their museum visit, the group was hungry and ready for dinner. They decided to head to L'Esclafidou 'La Table du Cap', a Mediterranean restaurant, to wind down after a long day of exploring.

As they sat down, Emily, Camille, and Mindy introduced the group to Mediterranean cuisine.

"I highly recommend the roasted cod fillet with pasta," Emily said. "It's fresh and perfectly cooked."

Christian and John B. exchanged a glance, both deciding to order the cod fillet. Jordan and Betty chose lamb skewers, while JJ opted for a mixed seafood platter. As the group placed their orders, the energy was light and filled with laughter.

Their meals arrived, and the group dug in with enthusiasm. The Mediterranean flavors were a hit, and everyone seemed to be enjoying their food—until The Karen showed up.

A woman seated at the next table turned to John B. and Christian, her face twisted in disapproval. "Excuse me," she said in a nasally voice, "Are you two really going to kiss while eating that cod fillet? It's unsanitary."

The entire table fell silent for a moment. Then Jordan broke the tension. "Lady, no one asked for your opinion."

JJ quickly followed up. "Yeah, do you work for the Cod Fillet Police or something?"

Betty chimed in, backing up her friends. "Maybe focus on your own plate, Karen."

The woman's face reddened with embarrassment. Just then, the restaurant manager approached and, seeing the situation, politely asked her to leave. "We don't tolerate this kind of behavior here," he said firmly.

As the Karen left in a huff, the group clapped and cheered, celebrating their small victory. John B. turned to Christian with a grin. "Guess we're famous now—getting interrupted even while eating dinner."

Christian leaned in for a quick kiss. "Fame suits us," he joked, making the whole group laugh.


After the drama with the Karen, the group continued their dinner, toasting to their adventures in Nimes and their growing bond. JJ, ever the jokester, raised his glass and said, "Here's to no more Karens and all the cod fillets we want!"

The group erupted into laughter once again as they finished their meal. The night ended with a bottle of champagne—one JJ had sneakily "borrowed" earlier, which caused even more laughter as they toasted to their continued adventures.

As they headed back to the hotel for a good night's sleep, the group was already excited for the next day of exploring. John B. and Christian exchanged smiles, knowing that every day with this group, no matter how chaotic or unexpected, was filled with joy, laughter, and love.

And no matter what Roman ruins or Mediterranean dinners awaited them, they knew JJ would always have an inappropriate question ready to lighten the mood.