Mages In America

Chapter 5- Guard Infiltration

How many more hours?", asked a sick Natsu.

"Maybe a whole day.", Rin said.

At this, Natsu groaned. He didn't want to wait for a day, and get off the vehicle. But the group had no choice. Erza punched him in the stomach, since he was in the back, and he was now laying his head on Lucy's lap, sleeping. Lucy blushed.

Never before in her life, will she ever be sent on a mission. The last mission she went to was when she was still in Fiore. She earned lots of money back then.

Night time came. Rin kept driving through the darkness, as she noticed everyone sleeping in the car. She smiled. They look very peaceful. But as hours go by, her energy drained. She wanted to sleep so bad, that she couldn't. She will have to stop at a nearest convenient store to get gas, and coffee. Maybe some snacks too.

She stopped somewhere in Redding, as soon as she saw a store. She parked right beside the gas pump, and went into the store. A cashier was staring back at her, eyes sore. This lady must've been tired.

"Hi, $30 for gas.", Rin said, handing the money.

The lady took the money. "What number?"

"Um, 3."

She went out, and started to fill the car with gas. When it was finished, she went back inside, bought food, some candies, and a cup of coffee. That was $9.56 in total, since the coffee was $5.

Rin went back to the car, and started it up. The car was now moving again. She didn't know that she was now entering the forest. She drank her coffee as she passed through without trouble.

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They were now in Oregon. Maybe on the borderline, but Rin knew. It was still nighttime, and she had to find her friend's house. She found it immediately p, and knocked on the door. The light was still on inside, meaning that Katherine is still doing her homework, and reading some books she bought.

When the door opened, Rin was gaping. Katherine's face is pale. She's never this pale before. Katherine never had a good life, when her parents divorced. Now, she lives with her mom.

"Kathy, what's wrong?", Rin asked Katherine worriedly.

"Well, I've had a bad day at school yesterday.", she replied.

"What happened?"

"My crush humiliated me in front of the school. I was trying to read in peace at lunch, until he squirted ketchup sauce on my face. That made the whole school laugh."

"I told you not to go into the cafeteria. You should've just stayed in the library reading your book, since you're not always hungry."

Kathy never replied after. Rin just sighed, and started soothing her. Lately, Kathy's mom had been working as an airport attendant, which means she doesn't she her till after a week. She left this morning. Now, Kathy have to work two hours at a restaurant, and she only gets paid a little. She had been stressing out lately.

"Why didn't you wake us up?", Kathy was startled by Lucy's sweet voice.

"I was talking to Kathy.", Rin replied.

Lucy looked at Kathy's tired expression. She was now staring at her confusingly, knowing that she doesn't know this blonde girl.

"Don't worry, Kathy. This is just my friend Lucy, who is an exchange student from my school."

Kathy just smiled sadly at her, and managed a weak hi. This surprised Lucy, knowing that girl is very shy towards strangers.

"Hi there!", Lucy greeted.