Call it Fate, Call it Karma

Priorities

Just like car rides used to be, Julian was asleep with his head resting on my shoulder and everyone else was either making light conversation or just straight up bickering and arguing.

"You're wrong," said Fab, huffing. He angrily pointed his finger at a smirking Nick. "...the second album is better and you know it!"

He and Nick were fighting about some bands music. I didn't know exactly who, though, because I was trying my best to tune it all out.

"Nope. You're a fool, Moretti! A belligerent fool!" Nick shouted at him, even though they were sitting beside eachother. "The first will always be the best!"

"If you wake Jules up we are turning this goddamned car around!" I whisper-yelled.

"Damn, why is he so tired anyway?" Adam chuckled as Julian slumped into my lap.

"Isn't it obvious?" Nick said with his usual devilish smirk. "Jade kept him up all night!" He finished with a wink.

"Doing what?" Adam asked, then gasping when his stoned brain allowed him to think straight. "Ohhh! Naughty!" he cackled.

My cheeks flushed red and I huffed. I couldn't deny it because of the mortified look on my face that I couldn't hide, so I sat in silence, frowning as everyone laughed.

Albert sighed. "This is gonna be a looooong trip."

Ryan cleared his throat, hoping to change the subject. "Anyone fancy some drive-thru?"

"Yes!" Everyone screeched in unison.

That sure woke Julian up. He slowly sat himself up with a frown.

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You didn't really expect to nap in peace, did you?"

"Not for long." he laughed. "And what's this I hear about drive-thru? I want some fuckin' fries, man!"

At the drive-thru, everyone was fumbling all over the place, jumping on top of and pushing eachother away as each person tried to get to the open window to shout their orders.

After Ryan had managed the chaos and got all our orders through, we eventually got our food and the van was silent as everyone ate for 10 minutes at least...a world record.

We soon pulled over at some park to stretch our legs for a little while, and so Ryan and Julian could swap seats, because Julian suddenly insisted on driving.

Nick pulled a camera out of his backpack and snapped a few shots of anything and everything, whenever he could.

"Cut it out, man!" Julian shielded his eyes from a bright flash.

"No way! These could be good for a website someday!" Nick announced, then coolly posed with his arms crossed. "The Strokes...dot com."

"I'll start working on that." Ryan said with an approving nod. "Music over the internet is gonna be huge."

A few minutes later, Fab and Nick were frolicking in the distance like children playing a game of tag. Nick tackled Fab to the ground after pulling him off of a picnic table and put him in a headlock, earning a light chuckle from Julian as he seemed to be refereeing the childish wrestling match.

I turned to see Albert with a sour look on his face. I noticed he'd had that subtle look all morning, so I huffed and poked him. "What's up with you? You look like you wanna kill somebody!"

"It's called a hangover, Jade." he replied, his scowl turning into a smirk as he watched me frown. "But don't worry, I'm excited for round two! Where's the booze at?!"

"Albert, I'm glad you're ready to party, but it's just after noon!" I protested.

"Don't question the man, Jade." Interrupted Adam as he lifted a bottle of beer to his lips. "He's got his priorities straight." He then grinned and tossed Albert a bottle from the cooler in the backseat.

Albert took in a deep breath, almost looking regretful before he popped off the cap and downed half the bottle in seconds.

I stared at him with a raised brow.

"Don't you judge me!" he said with a pointed finger. "You wanted this, you sick fuck!"

His expression made me crack a smile and soon I found myself joining the crew of apparent alcoholics.

"Save some for us!" Fab and Nick cried in unison as they hurdled back over to the van.

A/N: Sorry for my absence and the uneventfulness of this chapter! just gotta get back into the swing of this :)