The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

Chapter 63

So. Sunshine's picking up the guys.

When she rolls into the park, Nolan, Lionel, and Gary are all standing side-by-side, conversing with each other, jumping when they notice she's arrived.

"Oh! Hey!" Gary exclaims. Holding a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal in his arms. Wonderful. He seems way too excited, especially with his suitcase, sleeping roll, and pillow tucked next to his side. He shakes Lionel enthusiastically. "That's our car! I almost forgot we were going on the adventure."

"Hey, Sunshine," Nolan greets, hands stuffed in his pockets, sunglasses covering his eyes. It's mostly overcast, but she's willing to forget one of the first comments he ever made to her.

"Hey, guys," she greets.

"Hi," Gary laughs, jumping up and down, "Hi!"

Lionel grabs his sleeping bag and rolls it around his arm, picking up a huge bag of Doritos, hoisting a strap bag over his shoulder.

"So, are you all—you're all ready?" She looks over their bags as Gary slides his fedora on top of his head, and thinks about the last time she stayed (nearly) overnight with Nolan. At his 'grandma's' house. Hopefully nothing like that happens again.

"Yes, we are ready," Nolan says, walking up to the car. He has absolutely nothing with him.

"You got everything?" she asks.

"Yes," Lionel replies, walking with Gary towards the car.

Finally noticing Nolan, Sunshine turns her head and frowns. "Um—Nolan, where's all your stuff?"

He looks at her for a moment. "I have everything. Right here." He reaches into his pocket, pausing, looking at Gary and Lionel, motioning toward the back seat. "Get in the car. Go."

"Shotgun!" Gary exclaims.

Lionel glares at his friend.

"Yeah, I've got—" Nolan continues rummaging around his pockets, pulling out said objects, "A toothbrush—"

"Oh, wow," she says lamely. Apparently he doesn't know what a bag is.

"—got a ballpoint pen, in case I need to write something down. Uh, I've a USB charger. Just have to—tie something—"

Apparently they're ready.
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Not even thirty minutes later and the Scooby Gang is at the house, the gravel, as usual, crunching loudly under the car tires. "So, we're here," Sunshine quips, rolling into the driveway.

Guess who took shotgun? Definitely not Gary.

She sort of realizes that Nolan never gives up his passenger seat spot. Not even with Andrew.

(Andrew snaps his fingers and smiles. "Do I get shotgun?"

Nolan stares at him.

Sunshine stares at him.

"What do you mean, do you get— no." Nolan shakes his head. "No, hop in the car."

"I'll hop in the backseat."

"Yeah, there you go.")

The memory is fond. Almost. Well, it would be had the BEK investigation not gone to such shit.

A sudden loud call jolts Sunshine out of her thoughts. She turns and spots Georgia rounding the side of the house, waving at the team.

Jesus.

She just called this a team.

"Wave, guys," Sunshine says, "Be nice."

"Hi," Nolan waves unconvincingly.