hail the king.

Effie hoisted her suitcase up, shoving it into the trunk of Brian's car with a huff. She looked over to see Jimmy lifting up Victoria's bag, and she moved out of the way so he could put the bag in the back. She yawned softly and rubbed her eyes, looking up at the sky, which was still a bit dark. It was pretty early in the morning still, but they'd all agreed to leave earlier so they could beat work traffic going out of LA. It was the second week of summer, and they were all taking a vacation together, which they much deserved after their long senior year. She, Brian, Jimmy and Victoria were traveling in Brian's car, while Matt, Val, Zacky and Johnny were taking Matt's car. She climbed into the car, sitting diagonal from Brian. The two of them had never really gotten along too well, and they always picked on each other, but it was all in good fun.

Jimmy shut Brian's trunk and turned to Victoria, smiling softly at her. "All done," he breathed out, glancing over at Matt, who had also just finished packing his car. Johnny and Zacky climbed into the car, followed by Val and Matt, and they were ready to hit the road. He walked around to the front passenger side and climbed into the car, turning the radio on and grabbing a water bottle out of the bag of snacks he'd packed, cracking it open and taking a sip. He licked over his lips and sighed contently, resting his head back and watching as Matt pulled out onto the road. He heard Victoria climb in and then looked over at Brian. "All ready to go," he grinned, rolling his window down before putting the cap back on his water and putting it in the cup holder. Sure, it was really early and on a normal day, there was no way in hell he'd be up this early, but today he was excited. More so than he'd been in a while.

Brian slid off the hood of his car as he heard the trunk close with a bang. Even though he did not look it, Brian was so damn excited to get out of the town with his best friends and just sit back, drink and relax. After such a stressful final year, he knew they all deserved a break like this. Brian shot a grin over at Matt as he watch him slide into his car. "See you guys soon. We'll have to stop along the way, you know how Jimmy's bladder is," he joked. He sent a wave to his friends before climbing into the driver's side. "More than ready," he replied to Jimmy. Brian rolled down his window and grabbed a cigarette from the packed that was just sitting near his hand brake. He lit the end before starting the car. "Guess it's time to go," he said as he watched Matt speed off, beeping his car horn.

Victoria went by many nicknames, Tori, Vicky and even to some Victory for god knows why. She followed after Jimmy who had her bag in her hands, even though she kept on pestering him that she could do it herself. She had her arms folded against her chest. "Thank-you James," she replied, shaking her head with a smile. Her and Jimmy were great friends, even more than friends some would say. She loved the boy to the very bottom of her heart. She walked away from Jimmy and climbed into the backseat of the car with Effie. Vicky could not wait to be on the road, to get away from all the stress and just drink the days and nights away.

ah double already

[]

Effie sat back in her seat and closed her eyes, sighing contently. She couldn't wait for this. She had been counting down the weeks, days, hours and minutes ever since they'd planned this trip back in May. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and turned it off, having decided that she was going to have a technology redux. This trip was going to strictly be spending time with her friends, drinking, possibly doing drugs, whatever else they decided they wanted to do. She could go a while without technology, occasionally using her phone just to check in with her parents. The only way they'd agreed to let her go was if she'd promised to check in. Even if she was 18, it didn't matter because they still treated her like a five-year-old. She'd probably be 21 before they let her fully be the adult she was.

Jimmy nodded his head, chuckling softly. He began to sing along to the radio, staring out the window as Brian followed Matt down the road. For some reason, he was feeling a little bit nauseous, but he wasn't entirely sure why. His stomach was hurting, but it was probably because he was so anxious and he'd skipped breakfast to finish packing. He reached into the bag full of snacks, pulling out a little bag of chocolate Teddy Grahams. He began to nibble on them, looking back at the girls and sending them a cheeky grin. "Want some?" he asked, reaching the bag back in case they wanted one.

Victoria frowned when her phone vibrated in her pocket, she pulled it out and giggled softly at the message on the screen. It was Zacky complaining about Johnny. Besides Jimmy, Zacky was the next person she was closest to. He was not just a best friend, but a brother. She was smiling to herself as she replied back with 'I told you to come with us' before throwing her phone into her lap. She settled back into her seat and looked over at Jimmy. "God yes, I skipped breakfast again because of this ridiculous hour you all made me get up at," she laughed, holding her hand out for Jimmy to tip some into her hand.

Brian flicked his finished cigarette out the window, his spare foot tapped on the floor of the car to the beat of the song that was playing over the radio. He reached one hand out to turn it up just that little bit. "Where's my offer, asshole?" he joked, taking a quick look at Jimmy. He had a small smile on his face as his eyes once again moved from the road to the rear view vision mirror before moving back to the road. "Trying to get away from the parents already, Effie?" he asked when he noticed her turning her phone off.

Effie looked up at Brian and laughed a bit humorlessly. "Yeah," she murmured, shaking her head. "I'm going to talk to them as little as possible. You guys are so lucky your parents don't care." She shook her head and took a Teddy Graham when Jimmy handed them to her, eating it and smiling to herself. She figured, though, that she was still living with her parents, so they could still baby her a little. She just had to be lucky that they even agreed at all to let her go. She'd had to tell them that she and Vicky would be sharing a room but honestly, she wasn't sure who she'd be rooming with. Probably Brian or Johnny, but she was sure she and Brian wouldn't last long before they wanted to kill each other.

Jimmy looked at Brian, smirking at him. "Ladies first, dick," he chuckled, throwing a couple at Brian before he ate another, shaking his head. He leaned back in his seat and looked back at Vicky. "Hey, we all had to get up this early. You girls are just lazy. You don't see us complaining." He smirked at her and flicked a teddy bear ear at her. He loved messing with her. She was definitely his best girl friend. He really could see them as something more, but the topic of discussion had never come up between them, even though all their friends brought it up. He didn't know if they just avoided it or what.

Elizabeth shoved on in her mouth and grinned at Jimmy. "We need our beauty sleep James," she replied in an over dramatic tone. She let out a soft laugh and dodge the ear that he flicked at her. "Oi, watch it boy, no food fights until later." Elizabeth pointed a warning finger and Jimmy before turning to Effie. "She told her parents that we were sharing a room which is funny because everyone knows who I'm sharing with." Elizabeth paused with her grin widening. "Zack of course," she joked. Really, everyone knew that she would be sharing with Jimmy. That's just the way it went. Where ever Jimmy was, that's where she was. They were always inseparable.

Brian let out a scoff and used it free hand to punch Jimmy's arm. "Stop throwing shit at me you prick," he laughed. He picked up one of the teddy bears in his lap and shoved it in his mouth. "I'm surprised they even let you go. You're there baby after all," Brian cooed mockingly. He let out another loud laugh. "Anyway, our parents do care, they just aren't as strict as your parents," he shrugged. His mum and dad did care about what they done, but they knew that the group wasn't stupid enough to get themselves to out of control. They did silly things, but nothing to get themselves too injured or killed.

Effie laughed and she shook her head. Between all the conversations going on, she was getting even more tired. She yawned softly and leaned against Vicky, resting her head on her shoulder. "We all know you're going to be rooming with Jimmy," she murmured, smirking up at her. "Hey, Brian, make you you buy some earplugs when we stop at the gas station." She grunted when Jimmy tossed a Teddy Graham at her, smirking and picking it up, eating it. Everyone knew that Vicky and Jimmy had it hard for each other, they just never did anything about it. But she knew they'd eventually see what they had between them; they had to.

Jimmy rolled his eyes at Effie and sighed, shaking his head. "You guys are perverts," he said, gnawing on a cracker as he stared intently out of the window. He watched Matt's car take the exit up ahead of him and he raised an eyebrow, reaching for the map and grabbing it. He unrolled it and looked at it, biting his lip. "Are you sure he knows where he's going? I don't think we're supposed to take this exit." Matt had agreed to be the leader because he had been so sure he knew where he was going, but this way didn't look like familiar territory to Jimmy, and he'd been almost everywhere in California.

Vicky wrapped an arm around Effie's shoulders, making it a bit more comfortable for her. "Well, obviously, who else is going to keep me safe and protected at night," she giggled in reply. She rested the side of her head against the top of Effie's. "Yeah Bri, can we stop soon. I need some form of energy drink considering that's the one thing Jimmy didn't bring." She lifted her head once Jimmy had mentioned Matt and she soon groaned. "What the hell? He's taking the fucking scenic route. He's an absolute dumb ass."

Brian laughed at the conversation about Vicky and Jimmy. "Shut it, you enjoy spooning her." Brian frowned as he watched Matt turn off and followed after him. "Should've told Val to drive, he has no idea where the fuck he is going." He let out a long sigh and shook his head. "Someone text someone in the other car that we are stopping for gas and shit soon."

Effie sighed and shook her head. "Matt's so full of himself," she said, reaching up into Brian's back pocket and fishing his phone out, sending a text to all four of them in the car in front of them. It probably would have been more efficient to call, but she didn't want to start arguing with Matt and cause an accident or something. Besides, they'd be making a stop soon anyways, so they could talk then. She put Brian's phone back in the empty cup holder in the front before leaning back against Vicky and closing her eyes. "I texted all of them, hopefully one answers."

Jimmy rolled his eyes and chuckled softly, putting the map back down and taking a sip of his water before he unbuckled his seat belt and leaned out of the window, throwing the water bottle at Matt's car. He smirked when the car came to a quick halt and he plopped back down at his seat. "There we go," he grinned. "That car is his everything. There's no way he'd let anything happen to it. He might kill me though, so you girls need to protect me." He looked back at them and winked before looking over at Brian. "You wanna go tell him he's going the wrong fucking way?"

Vicky rolled her eyes and unbuckled herself once their car came to a stop. "Fucking hell, I'll go deal with Matt's shit of him going the wrong way." She pulled away from Effie and opened the car door. "Sometimes I swear I am tougher than all you boys," she stated before slamming the door close. "Oi muscles, where the fuck are you heading?" she hollered out, making her way towards Matt's car. "The fucking turn off is a few miles up, deciding to take the scenic way?"

"Couldn't you just take Vicky's for god sakes Effie," Brian groaned, lifting up slightly so she could get his phone. Brian watched as Matt's car came to a stop and he soon followed. "He would've killed you if that bottle hit his precious car. I swear he loves it more than Val," Brian laughed. He placed the car in park and shook his head. "I ain't dealing with that. He will swear he is going the right way and we will be here for two fucking hours."

Effie laughed softly and smirked. "I just wanted to touch your ass," she joked, climbing out of the car and following Vicky. She made a face when Zacky undid his belt and pushed his jeans and boxers down, pressing his ass against the window in front of her face. She opened the door and backed up as he fell out, smirking down at him. "You're gross." She shook her head and looked over as Matt got out of the car and looked around. "Well damn, I thought we were going the right way. Shit." Effie laughed at him and shook her head. "No, genius. I thought you were sure you knew where we were going."

Jimmy laughed when Zacky fell out of the car with his pants around his knees, shaking his head. He climbed out of the car and walked over, his eyes widening at the look on Matt's face, quickly holding his hands up in surrender. "It wasn't me. It was Brian. I only drink beer before ten in the morning." He smiled sheepishly at his best friend before throwing his arm around Vicky's shoulders and leaning against her. "Anyways, we need to go back. You took the wrong exit, meathead." He looked in at Val and smiled at her, waving. "C'mon, we need to get going if we're gonna beat traffic."

"Shut it Jimmy, it was you and for god sakes Zacky, how many times do I have to tell you to keep your pants on." Vicky shook her head and leaned into Jimmy's side. "Okay everyone listen up, I've been down here once before. We need to go to the service station which I know there is one down the road a few miles. I think the turn off back to the main high way is about twenty minutes past the service station," she stated. "You guys go find the turn off, if there is nothing give us a call and we will head back the way we have come."

"Always knew you loved my ass," Brian snickered as he slipped out of the car. He followed after the other three with his hands shoved in his pockets. "I'm actually surprised it wasn't Johnny who was doing that," Brian said to Zack with a laugh. He looked over at Vicky and nodded her head. "I agree with Jimmy's girlfriend, I need fuel pretty bad right now anyway," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Might as well give it a go. I'm sure it won't hurt us. Let us put all our trust into Vicky and blame her if we get even more lost."

Effie nodded her head and looked back at Brian, rolling her eyes. "Come on, asshole," she murmured, pushing him back towards the car. She walked back and climbed in, reaching up into the front and turning the AC down a little. It was going to get hot, but right now she was cold. She sat back and watched as everyone got back into Matt's car before Jimmy pulled Effie back over to their car.

Jimmy led Vicky back to the car and then let her go, climbing in and shutting the door. He buckled up and grabbed another bottle of water, opening and slowly sipping on it. He turned the radio back up and looked back at the girls, grinning. He looked back over at Brian and then at Matt's car as it took off again. "Hopefully he understands English this time," he chuckled to himself, shaking his head. There was no way they'd beat the traffic now after this little detour that Matt had decided to take.

"See you losers there soon!" Vicky called out as she let Jimmy lead her back to the car. She smiled up at the taller man, giving his arm a small squeeze before jumping into the backseat of the car. She rested her head against the window and sighed. "He fucking better. It's not that bloody hard." Vicky closed her eyes and relaxed a bit more. "Just in a few hours we will be sitting around getting as high as the sky and drinking until Johnny throws up," she laughed softly. She couldn't wait to be there.

Brian pushed her back playfully, rolling his eyes. "I'm not an asshole," he muttered at her. He made his way back to the car, sliding in and started it once again. He watched as Matt sped off and he was soon right behind him. "I'm already sick of driving, this little detour better not take long," he murmured. He kept his eyes flicking between the road and fuel gauge. He needed to stop very soon.

Effie rolled her eyes at Brian. "Do you complain about everything?" she teased, shaking her head at him. "If you need someone else to drive, just pull over and I will. Don't complain like a little baby." She smirked and reached up into the front seat, flicking his earlobe before she sat back and propped her feet up on the back of Jimmy's seat. She yawned softly and rested her head against the window, staring out at the scenery they passed as they drove. The sun was really starting to come up now, and the sky was a nice mix of orange, pink, purple and blue that was really beautiful.

Jimmy chuckled and looked back at Vicky. "As long as he doesn't throw up on me, I'm good," he said, shaking his head. Johnny had thrown up on his shoes before and it was not a pretty sight. He'd been so pissed and all he wanted to do was take his shoes off and shove them in Johnny's face. But he wasn't that cruel. Instead, he'd just taken his shoes off, chased after the little fucker and punched him good and hard in the jaw. Taught him a lesson.

Vicky opened her eyes and looked over at Jimmy. "That was a good night," she replied with a grin. "I think Johnny has thrown up on all of us now. I still remember the night I got him back for throwing up on me," she laughed. When Johnny had thrown up on her, she made sure she got him back by throwing up on him just before he passed out. Vicky shook her head and sat up straight again.

Brian snickered as he kept his eyes focused on the road. "I do try to complain about everything," he shot back. He slapped her hand away playfully and laughed softly to himself. "You won't drive, don't lie to me Effie. Last time you said that you wouldn't fucking move from the backseat and told me I could do it myself." Brian smiled as she saw the gas station in the distance. "Brilliant!" he exclaimed as he got closer and closer. He soon pulled in and parked next to one of the many pumps.

Effie rolled her eyes and climbed out of the car, walking inside the gas station and going to the bathroom before she picked up a few things for the road. She looked around as the guy rang her items up, fishing her wallet out of her back pocket and paying. She wasn't the type of girl who carried around purses. She preferred to just have a small wallet in her pocket at all times instead. She paid for the snacks and the drink she got before walking back out and looking around. She walked over and put her bag in the back before leaning against the car.

Jimmy chuckled and got out of the car when it stopped, looking around and rubbing his eyes. All of the excitement he'd had had begun to fade and the tiredness was setting in. He yawned and leaned against the car, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his cigarettes and lighter, taking one out and lighting it before he put them back in his pocket. He took a long drag as he watched Brian fill up the tank with gas, realizing he really probably shouldn't be smoking here. Oh well, he'd be careful.

"Not the smartest place to smoke James," Vicky stated as she walked past him and inside the store. She grabbed a few energy drinks and made her way to the counter. She paid for the items and also several packets of cigarettes to get her through the weekend. She made her way back outside and to Jimmy's side with the bag of items in her hand. She leaned against him, resting her head just below his shoulder.

Brian slipped out of the car and began to fill it up with fuel. He leaned up against it and just waited for it to click off. He groaned softly to himself as his phone vibrated in his pocket. He finished filling up his car and made his way in to pay. When he finally did he grabbed out his phone, smiling at the text from Val. "Matt managed to find the turn off!" he called out to his friends as he made his way back to the drivers side of the car.