Renegades // #Wattys2015

Chapter Four

"Really? You want to make cookies as a group? Elle, do you even realize how stereotypical and cliché this is?" Talia teased her teammate as they all poured into the kitchen of Elle's mansion lakehouse.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. But I read that you can bond over it so BOOM!" she shot back.

"Ladies, calm yourselves. Let's just get to work and discuss the plan," Rocky said coolly. Thunder rumbled outside and it began to drizzle. She set down her notepad and pen and began helping get supplies for the cookies.

"We are calm! Totally calm! Aren't we, Elle?" Talia argued. Elle just rolled her eyes and got out the chocolate chips.

***

It was only thirty minutes later that Elle slid the pan of cookie dough balls into her oven. "That, ladies, is how you make a good batch of cookies. High-fives all around! Now, we need to clean up the kitchen."

The kitchen counters were covered in flower, measuring cups and spoons—all kinds of ingredients.

"Oh boy," she sighed.

Soon, the whole kitchen was cleaned up (you'd be surprised how fast eleven girls can clean, especially when determined), and the girls were all seated at the dining room table, brainstorming.

Suddenly, Trinity bounced up and down. "Guys, I've got it!"

"What is it?" All the girls leaned forward to listen.

"My uncle is a bus driver. I could ask him if we can buy an old school bus or something, take out all those seats, replace it with furniture and cabinets and put carpeting in, and bam! We've got ourselves a cheap transport!"

"That's...actually not a bad idea!" Elle complimented, taking a cookie from their plate. "Here, have another cookie as a reward."

"All in favor of Trinity's idea, raise your hand," Rocky hosted the vote.

Everyone's hands went up.

"I think we've got ourselves a winner! Now, financing."

Financing seemed to be the hardest to cover. Finally, Beverly broke their silence.

"First, we'd have to split any bills—gas, food, drinks, anything like that. With all of us combined, it shouldn't cost too much, should it?" she asked.

"I don't know, Bev, gas is pretty expensive," Leigh pointed out.

"True, but it shouldn't be that much of a problem—we have a lot of savings, don't we girls?" Rocky debated. "And if we ever run into a stitch, we can camp out somewhere for a while and—"

"Alright, alright. Fair point. Any other things we need to cover?" Leigh finally agreed.

"Does anybody want to donate anything from their rooms? Any furniture, rugs, cabinets..."

"Yeah, I'm sure we could all come up with a few things," Megan nodded. "How 'bout we all head home, gather things to donate for the bus, and then Skype chat tonight and talk some more? I'll have to leave either way because my mom wants me home by five and it's already four thirty."

"Yeah, that's doable. Everybody, out. We'll Skype chat tonight, m'kay?" Elle agreed.

"Yeah, talk to you guys then!" Talia bid her farewell and got into her mom's old Denali. She was the first out the driveway, followed my Megan. Then, the rest of the girls left.

***

"So, what has everyone to offer?" It was eight in the evening and the girls were all chatting on said Skype call.

"My mom had a small, black leather loveseat in our basement we could use! I also have a few blankets, throw pillows and regular pillows I could donate," Talia offered.

"Alright!"

"I asked my dad and he said he can build us some storage shelves and cabinets," Elle told. Rocky was writing down the list of items.

"I have a chest and a desk chair along with a desk and laptop," Elise interjected. Nods of approval appeared over their screens.

"Anything else?" Rocky asked.

"BOOKS!" Talia shouted a little too loud. She shrunk away from the webcam. "Sorry, got excited. Anyway, I have a bookshelf I can donate. Oh, and I also have a smaller shelf with a TV and movies that I'm sure we can find out how to work."

"Good, and I have a rug," Rocky finished off. "My dad can also put in some carpet and make the walls and ceiling wood instead of that ugly tin."

"I think we've got it all planned out! Everything except our departing date," Leigh said.

"Right. How about after graduation? We can have our own little graduation party on the way to wherever our destination is!" Elle suggested.

"Yeah! But where are we going?" Talia hooted in agreement.

"How about...Gatlinburg, Tennessee?" Elise asked.

All the girls grinned in approval and Rocky spoke for them all. "Elise, that is a great idea."

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