Heat Wave by Elizabeth Neal

Author:Elizabeth Neal [Neal, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, Darby Creek, Fiction, Hi-Lo Fiction, Road Trip, Road Trips, Survival, Travel, Traveling, Transporation, Car, Action & Adventure, Survival Stories, Survival Story, Social Themes, Emotions, Feelings, Adventures, Best Friend, Best Friends, Cars, Friend, Friends, Friendship, High School, Humor, Relationships, Teen, Teenager, Teenagers, Teens
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Published: 2020-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

7

4:00 p.m.

It was sweltering in the car, but the skies were clear and their spirits were high again. They still had a half tank of gas and a full bag of snacks. Ben had broken into the fruit that T’s mom had packed and was already on his second banana.

T glanced at the GPS on his phone. “Hey, somewhere in that storm we crossed the state border and didn’t even realize it. We’re over halfway there!”

Marissa offered to take over the wheel.

“Nah, I’ve only been driving for a little while,” said T. “I’m doing okay.”

“Yeah, but that was like a lifetime in terms of stress,” said Marissa. “You could just pull over real quick and we can switch. Why don’t you take a break?”

T hesitated.

“Don’t try and be macho about this,” said Marissa.

“Ha. Fine.” T signaled and steered the car onto the gravel shoulder. It was still muddy and there were puddles everywhere. He sighed and stretched his neck to either side. He had to admit, it did feel good to stop. “All right, let’s do this.” He checked behind him, then cracked the road-side door open and slid out.

Marissa flung her door wide and hopped out too. T was doing jumping jacks. She laughed at his hair bobbing in the breeze and his sneakers squelching in the mud.

“Hey, it feels good to move!” T said. “You should try it.” He kept bouncing up and down, his hair bouncing along with him. “Come on! Gimme twenty!”

Marissa looked down at her shiny gold sneakers and then back up at T. She shook her head. “Dude, you’re not my drill sergeant.” She hip-checked him on her way into the car. “Let’s go! We’ve got a concert to see.”

Marissa slid the seat forward and adjusted all of the mirrors. T watched the whole routine with a bemused look. “Dang, Marissa,” he said. “I knew you were short, but this is ridiculous.”

“Hey!” She checked the time on her phone. “Focus, people. We can still make the campsite before it gets dark. Maybe we’ll even have time for dinner.”

“You know they always start these things late,” piped Ben from the back seat. “It’ll be at least an hour before whatshername actually comes on.”

“Show some respect, man. This is Natalia Chavez, Queen of the Live Show, First of Her Name, Breaker of Billboard Records, Dropper of the Mic.”

T and Ben looked at each other, stunned into silence.

“Yeah, that’s right,” said Marissa. “Anyway, I’m just saying . . . you said there were food trucks, right?”

“Yeah, there were some pretty good options last year,” said Ben.

“I’m getting hungry again,” T moaned. “Can you pass me the fruit bag?” Ben tossed it forward.

“Dude, how much did you eat?”

Ben shrugged. “Sorry. I was bored and it was there!”

Marissa pulled back onto the road, her back wheels spraying gravel. “I hope you’re buckled in, gentlemen,” she said. “I’m driving to make up for lost time.”

“Yesssssss!” T yelled.

Ben shook his head. “Whoa, there, Leadfoot! This is my grandparents’ car, remember?”

“I am not missing a second of Natalia’s show,” said Marissa, twisting her head around to face him.

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