User blog:Cartoonprincess/Somnium: Chapter 12 Road Trip

NOTE ''': **SPOILER ALERT** We're goin' on a road trip! ^.^'''



Chapter 12: Road Trip



           Everything was running as usual in Isabel’s fantasy world. One might even say in harmony. All of the lovely users were behaving, enjoying themselves and perhaps most surprisingly, they were getting along. This put Isabel in an especially good mood. She smiled brightly as she walked down the center trail.

           Disrupting the natural concord was the sound of a roaring motor. It was Slappy slowly pulling the car over onto the grass. Raising an eyebrow in slight disapprobation, Isabel walked over towards the vehicle.

           “…What are you doing?” Isabel tentatively asked Slappy.

           “Just taking The Slapinator out for a ride…” Slappy said as he looked up and cracked a small smile.

           Isabel rolled her eyes and sighed smartly, “We’re not calling it that!”

           “Well, it sort of resembles a plum; would you rather we call it The Plum Pie…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Ugh, no! Why does it even need a name…?” Isabel enquired in vexation.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Every car needs a name…” Slappy retorted with a smirk as he looked around in admiration at its interior.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel let out an exasperated sigh, “Fine, we can name it later! Now, why is it out here, again…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           With that, Slappy got out of the car. He looked as though he had something important to say that required standing. Isabel looked up at her ex and made an interrogative movement with her hands.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy mumbled out his suggestion, “…I was thinking we could go on a road trip…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel narrowed her eyes in confusion, “A road trip? But where would we even go?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “It doesn’t matter,” Slappy explained. “We’ll just go wherever the roads take us…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel had to admit that the idea sounded intriguing; as someone who had an awe-inspiring sense of adventure throughout her childhood, this was something that she had always thought about doing in the back of her mind.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           She smiled deviously, “Okay, Slappy!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy’s eyes widened in shock; he was not expecting to come to an agreement so quickly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “…Really…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel chuckled, “Yeah, it sounds like fun!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Well…good, ‘cuz I kind of wanted to talk to you about something…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Before any further words could be said, Yoshi and Seddia eagerly approached the automobile.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Wow, sweet ride!” Seddia exclaimed as she ran over to touch the car. “Have you guys named it, yet!?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel stood and glared, “…No…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Oooh, well how about this for a name!?” she motioned her hands in visualization. “BOOBS…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “We’re not calling it Boobs!” Isabel declined in distress.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Yoshi opened his mouth but Isabel interrupted him before he could say anything, “We’re not calling it The Boobsmobile, either!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Yoshi made a sad expression, “You guys suck! Come on, Seddia, we’re outie!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           On that note, they both did a robotic dance as they exited the scene.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel then looked back over at Slappy, who strangely sported a serious disposition.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           She smirked, “Gosh Slappy, lady parts were mentioned and you’re not even snickering; what’s the matter…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy sighed glumly, “Oh, nothing…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Sensing that he wasn’t going to open up to her anytime soon, she decided to let it go and walk away. The young, bald chap was left standing by the convertible, looking despondent.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Later that day, everyone began to gather around the car in ardent interest. Murmurs of excitement and anticipation could be heard coming from all who were assembled. Isabel was seen laughing and talking from within the car, sharing the mutual fervor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Just then, Slappy came walking and noticed all the concentrated zeal.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “What’s going on here…?” he asked hesitantly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Didn’t you hear!? We’re going on a road trip!” a user named TheLyricalLeaf cheerfully informed him as he honked the horn from the front seat.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy scowled in anguish, “Yeah, I heard! Who told you!?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “…Well, Laters told me…” Fudge said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Carlaay told me,” Laters said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “…I told Carlaay,” Cc said regretfully.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Cc told me too, and I told Lucy…who probably told Candy…” Tash reasoned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “She did,” Candy confirmed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I told Cc…” xx spoke quietly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I told xx,” Samlovesham revealed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I told Juicy…” Churchpants solemnly admitted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I told Chunt,” Seddia confessed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I may have mentioned it to Seddia…and Alica…” Yoshi said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I told Becky,” Alica said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “And I told Jerky…” Becky declared.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I told Reason,” PurpleJerk said with a bored shrug.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I kept on yelling and screaming and chanting ‘ROAD TRIP! ROAD TRIP!’ so I’m pretty sure that’s how everyone else found out…” Reason said with a grin.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Wait, wait, wait,” Slappy interrupted. “Who told Yoshi? I think that’s where the chain started…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           All of a sudden, Isabel looked around guiltily and lowered her head in shame, “……I told Yoshi, it was me…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy groaned and covered his face, “Toon, get out of the car; we need to talk…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel gulped nervously.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Laters and Fudge smirked evilly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Reason snickered, “She’s in trouble…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Becky and PurpleJerk laughed with him.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy pulled Isabel aside and took a moment to stare at her in annoyance and disappointment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Why did you tell people about our road trip?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I didn’t know it was supposed to be a secret!” Isabel screeched frantically.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I wanted us to be alone; just the two of us…I wanted to talk to you…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           At that, Isabel winced and chuckled weakly, “Well…that’s not going to work out; everyone’s already hyped up about the road trip…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy rolled his eyes and sighed deeply, “Fine, they can all come along…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           As they walked back, the users were in awe of how roomy the car actually was on the inside.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I CALL SITTING NEXT TO JOOOON!” SFG announced.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Who’s driving?” Marc asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I’ll drive,” Slappy moped.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel sat up front with Slappy, while everyone else somehow fit comfortably in the backseat.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Okay, so what tunes are we going to be listening to…?” Slappy asked flatly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel suddenly swiped out her iPod and hooked it up with a crafty smile.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Latin/Salsa music began blasting from the speakers. Everyone groaned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “SHUT UP! THIS MUSIC IS AMAZING…right, Slappy!?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “…Simply astounding…” Slappy said through gritted teeth as he tensely tapped the steering wheel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           After an hour or so of driving, Isabel realized that she vaguely recognized where they were; everything looked acutely familiar. Thick brushes of trees surrounded the road. The sun was perfectly shining off of the bright, green leaves.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Where are we…?” Tara asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “…It looks a lot like Hoover Nature Preserve from back home…” Isabel replied in a spacey tone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           The young, day dreamy Ohioan girl vividly remembered the scenic route her family sometimes took on the way home. It was located near the exquisite Hoover Lake. Isabel had always wanted to escape to that lake, so that she could possibly fish and relax and bask in the beauty of the temperate deciduous forest that changed seasonally in the horizon. Suddenly, she could barely make out the spectacle of the lake as they traveled further.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Slappy, pull over,” Isabel spoke softly with a sense of urgency.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “…What?” Slappy questioned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I mean it, pull over. There’s a lake just around the bend…” Isabel insisted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “And…how do you know this…?” Slappy asked uncertainly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “I don’t know…my mind must be processing my memories or something. I know where we are; just trust me…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy eyed her suspiciously but was in no mood to argue. Without a word, he pulled over.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Anxious to get out of the small, crowded backseat, everyone quickly dashed out of the car.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Within a few minutes, everyone found something to do. Most people found pleasure in walking on the boardwalk that went all the way from one end of the lake to the other. Isabel, however, knew exactly what she wanted to do and her mind was set on it. She was about to walk all the way over to the puny, dingy Karaoke/Fishing store that she knew was by the street across the way, but Slappy had already read her mind.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Looking for these?” Slappy appeared with some bait and two fishing poles. “I found it in the back of the trunk.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel smiled, snatched a pole and ran over to the pier.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Finally, we’re alone. Slappy thought to himself.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           They both sat down and started fishing. The minutes seemed to pass by so slowly as they stared blankly at the sparkly, blue-green water. When she wasn’t looking, Slappy would glance over at Isabel. He desperately wanted to tell her…but he couldn’t.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           After taking a bottomless breath, he finally found the courage to say something.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “…Toon?” he began.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel was snapped out of her trance, “…Huh?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Slappy held his breath, “……We should be getting back; it’s getting late…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Isabel became saddened, “Oh…okay…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Once everyone got back in the car, Slappy appeared to be drained.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Do you want me to drive?” Tash asked graciously.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Huh? Oh, sure…” he choked out.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           On that note, they awkwardly switched seats. Tash looked to the side and saw Isabel. Isabel turned around and noticed him looking. They both smiled timidly at each other.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           From the backseat, Slappy and Lucy looked over at Tash and Isabel and then glanced in displeasure at one another.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           A few more hours passed and the young wikians were beginning to get fidgety.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Loony, Jon is breathing down my neck!” Churchpants complained.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Yeah, and Yoshi keeps farting!” Tara proclaimed bitterly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Am not!” Yoshi retorted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Are, too!” Tara challenged.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           This went on for about 15 minutes when finally Slappy just couldn’t take it, anymore.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Alright! I think it’s time for us to find a place to stay for the night!” he stressfully suggested.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           Tash, once again, looked over at Isabel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Toon, do you know any place we could sleep around here..?” he asked her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           For a moment, Isabel had no idea, but then she saw a trifle of light out in the distance.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Why don’t we try over there…?” she recommended.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           “Good idea,” Tash agreed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           With that, they parked at the bottom of the hill and walked their way up to see what they could see.