The Milky Way Express- Chapter II. The Preparations Begin!

The next day, Allan, Daniel, and Irica came to pick up Kristie, George, and Lexi from school. The three looked very happy about something. As they seated themselves comfortably in Allan's car, Allan said, "Good news, people! Solus agreed to board the Milky Way Express! And, you guys, no one else is paying for it, except for Solus and me."

   Dan and Irica reluctantly agreed.

   The three teenagers were really happy. Lexi said, "So, do we let the preparations begin?"

   Irica smiled and said, "Well, yep, let the preparations begin!"

   Everyone, including Solus, packed their things. Their toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, bathrobes, clothes, snacks, books, etc.

At 7:00 p.m. on 1st May, everything was ready. Solus said, "Cool, we're ready! Now tomorrow, at 4:00 a.m., we board the flight to Los Angeles. That's where the Express arrives at 7:00 a.m. So that means, we need to reach the airport at about 2:00 a.m., so we leave the house before 1:00 a.m., ...Wow, guys, let's get some sleep."

Lexi looked at him and said, "I won't be able to. I haven't been able to sleep since you agreed to the trip."

George said, "It's a dangerous trip, isn't it? Don't you want mom and dad to know? What if they come here and find us gone?"

Irica said jokingly, "I thought you'd never ask, Georgie. Looks like you're not a baby anymore, after all!"

George glared at her. If there was anything that annoyed him more than missing an astronomical event, it was being called a baby.

Irica recoiled, "They do something to it, I honestly don't know what-", she looked at Allan, Solus and Dan for help. The Illies brothers shrugged, but Dan came to her rescue, "Err..do you know how- wait you don't, of course." George glared at him too. Dan said, "Uhh… right. You really don't. Well, the process is very complicated. Even I don't know how it works. People think we're gone for two minutes, while we'll be gone for four months!"

George finally stopped glaring and said, "Cool." 

Lexi widened her eyes, "Cool? Cool?! That's all??! That's awesome! Wait no, mega-awesome! Appreciate the discoveries, Georgie! Or baby.." Everyone, except George, laughed. They all were staying in an inn for the day, and everyone had their rooms. George rushed to his room and locked the door. Irica said, "Well, I guess he still is a moody baby." She said that out loud enough for George to hear her. George screamed, "I'm NOT!"

Allan went to George's room and said, "Stop cribbing, George! You're not a child anymore!", in an unusually stern voice.

George opened the door. He was crying. Allan said, "Why're you crying?" He said, "I'm not a b-baby anymore, so quit c-calling me that!"

Irica said in a bored voice, "Alright, sonny, I won't call you a you-know-what anymore. But if you cry like one, what else do I call you?!"

Kristie said, "Cheer up, Georgie! We're going on a tour around the Milky Way tomorrow! And by the way", Kristie giggled, "you're not the baby, Lex is." Everyone laughed. Lexi said, "Oh, shut up, I'm fifteen too, but I like babies." Everyone laughed again. George managed to smile. Solus said, "Ok guys, I'm serious now, let's get some sleep."

Four hours later, Daniel was being shaken awake by Lexi, "Dan, I'm done sleeping."

"Howdy, miss? You scared me to death, by the way."

"Hahaha, I'm sorry! Kristie doesn't want to wake up, so I woke you up."

"What's the time?"

"11:00 p.m."

"Oh okay."

They both went to everyone's room to wake them up. Everyone got ready. They stopped at Derek's Restro at midnight for quick snacks. Derek gave them a funny look and said, "What're you guys doing at this hour?"

"Uhh… we've to board a flight to Los Angeles.."

"Oh okay, er… sorry for asking, I should mind my own business."

"Come on, that's ok. Now give us 7 burgers and 3 packs of fries."

They were soon served snacks. What they didn't know was that they were having the last meal on Earth for longer than they thought.