perfect month // m.c.

chapter three (pt. 1)

As the seven friends filed in Calum's car, Michael and Ashton lagged behind to fill the trunk with necessities (alcohol, junk food, energy drinks, the works). The two were laughing and talking and were giddy from excitement when Luke screamed from the passenger seat, "GRAB THE BLINK CDs!"

"THEY'RE IN THE FŲCKING GLOVE COMPARTMENT! JESUS CHRIST, LUKE, CALM THE FŲCK DOWN!" Calum screeched from the driver's seat.

"Your voice was so shrill I swear to God every bat in the world heard it," Nadine deadpanned.

"You two are fųcking beside each other, talk like normal people," Clary scolded.

"I HAVE NO CHILL," Luke shouted.

"LUKE, WE ARE SO DONE WITH YOU," Jen joked, shouting to match Luke's volume.

Just then, the two guys outside finished filling the trunk and slammed it shut. As they were getting in the car (only Ashton made it in properly), Michael bellowed, "LET'S DRIVE TO LA BEFORE I RIP LUKE'S HEAD OFF." He tried getting in the car and accidentally sat on Nadine.

"Hey, mate, get off my girlfriend before I rip your head off," Calum said, glaring at Michael.

The red haired boy laughed and said, "Chill, dude, it's strictly platonic."

"LET'S HURRY, MOTHERFŲCKERS, IT STARTS AT SEVEN THREE DAYS FROM NOW AND IT TAKES TWO DAYS TO GET THERE!" Jen shrieked.

"You and Luke are so meant to be," Ashton said.

"We're a loud group," Clary agreed.

"STEP ON IT!" Jen and Luke clamored.

Calum fumbled with the CDs in the glove compartment, picking the music for their road trip. "What do you guys want to hear?"

"Start with something chill so these two," Michael gestured to Luke and Jen, "could shut up."

"Then when we switch shifts let's change it to something party-ish," Nadine said.

"First shift: Me and Luke," Calum began. "Second one is Ash and Nadine, third is Michael and Jen, then we repeat."

"Thank God I don't have to do anything," Clary said, relieved.

"Ha ha, Clary, you're in charge of listing what we need on the road trip; we are going to be driving for forty-one hours," Calum said.

"Okay," Clary said, nodding. "LET'S GO, NOW!"

Hour 1 - +; Ed Sheeran

"Alright, alright, alright," Calum said under his breath.

"Dude, why're you doing that?" Luke questioned.

"No reason," Calum replied. Luke glanced at the back and laughed at the sight.

In the middle seat (which they had called the living room of the car as it was the most spacious) were Michael, Clary and Jen, playing a game Jen taught them: Tong-its. The living room was cluttered with soda cans and Cheetos while the three were organizing their cards.

The back seat was where Ashton and Nadine were (kind of) laying down, asleep. Since the backseat was the farthest from the speakers from the front's, it was the quietest and therefore most desirable place to sleep. It was the bedroom of the car.

Where Luke was sitting (the passenger seat) was the porch. It was more spacious than the den but smaller than the other rooms. Luke and Ashton were the only ones who actually could play car games. Like the living room, the passenger seat was also cluttered with various junk foods.

The last "room" of the car was the driver's seat, also known as the den. It was the least comfortable and least voluminous space.

"Good luck to the other drivers," Calum said, shaking his head.