𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍

05.

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another turning point, a fork stuck in
the road, time grabs you by the hand, directs you where to go

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CHAPTER FIVE,
OMNISCIENT POV.

7:48 PM, SOMEWHERE
IN EAST LOS ANGELES, CA

"aight, everyone fade up."

the group was currently parked in a chevron gas station-mini mart by downey, east los angeles. six hours away from destination. it was already dark out, and they hadn't even left the city yet, so they had to make gas and snacks a quick one-stop only. this was all, of course, according to isaiah, who had somehow been put in charge of the whole thing. 

"we need like, what, about $75 to fill up the tank right now? another, like, $50 for snacks. we should probably put all the money together right now so we don't lose track of it and shit." isaiah pulled up his backpack from the car floor, taking out a couple crumpled bills from the front zip and counting through it quickly. "i got, uh... $240." he twisted around in the seat, looking back at everyone expectantly.

sage wasted no time in pulling out her own money, leaning over and handing the small stack to isaiah. "that's $200."

"i only have $320 in cash," valentina frowned after checking her wallet. "but i have mine and my dad's card on me."

"i got a couple hundred on me, i think," jahmier checked his jogger's pockets, pulling out a wad of cash and thumbing through it. "$950." he handed it over to an unimpressed isaiah, who not so discreetly rolled his eyes.

"we don't need that much."

jahmier simply shrugged. "you might."

once everyone else had contributed their share of money, isaiah counted through it carefully. the group had come up with about roughly $2100, which was more than enough. he took $130 for the pit stop and tied the rest together with a rubber-band, putting it back in his backpack.

"okay, we gotta make this quick so everyone listen," isaiah sat back up in the passenger seat, turning to face everyone else. "jahmier, you're in charge of gas, so you'll stay here while i go pay and hold our place in line for the rest of the stuff." he looked at romeo and kai next. "you two are gonna get drinks. water, juice, coffee, all that. so anything you guys want, tell them. sage and sy, you guys are getting snacks. chips, candy, cookies, whatever. and you," he gave valentina a pointed look. "go to the bathroom. you guys have five minutes and if you're not back inside the car by then, we're leaving your ass."

"since when are you so bossy, izzy." jahmier grinned, if only for the sake of teasing the teen.

"shut up." was the reply that he got, just as he had expected.

"wait!" valentina practically squawked as she processed what her friend had said, her lip curled back in disgust. "i'm not going to pee in a gas station bathroom. that's disgusting."

"sorry, princess," isaiah rolled his eyes. "but that's your only option. this is our only pit stop for at least another four hours, so you should just go. unless you wanna go in that porta-potty we saw a few minutes back, then go ahead, no one's stopping you. i doubt there's a difference anyway."

"are you serious?" the teen whined.

"hey, this is a luxury. be glad you're not going on the side of the road." he swung his door open and hopped out of the vehicle, not giving her a chance to snark back. "aight, c'mon. five minutes."