Xisuma looked over the small crowd of teens conversing in the park, feeling a sense of pride wash over him.

This is so cool, he thought with a smile. I organized something that could make a small difference.

All ten people had backpacks slung over their shoulders, ready for the trip to come.

The tanned brunet felt his co-host and friend Keralis put his hand on X's shoulder.

"Wanna get this show on the road, swashswammy?" Keralis giggled at his own joke, "Everyone's here."

"Okay, thanks for telling me." Xisuma smiled at his friend from beneath his facemask before turning towards his little group.

"Attention everyone!" He clapped his hands, "We're going to be taking off soon, and there a few things I want to go over before you guys go."

The ten contestants turned their eyes to look at X surprisingly quickly. Xisuma smiled, pleasantly surprised.

"I've gone over most of the following details in the Group Chat, but seeing as certain individuals" - Xisuma looked at Doc, Grian, and Tango pointedly - "never bothered to even look at it I feel the need to repeat the necessities here."

"This marathon has been cut into five chunks. It's a five day trip from here to the finish line with four checkpoints along the way. Everyday the two teams will be racing to the next checkpoint, where there will be a campsite to stay at for the night." X explained, "Whichever team gets to the checkpoint first each day will receive a point, and their teams tents will have already been set up. At the end of the five days whichever team has more points wins and gets to choose a local charity that 200 dollars will go to."

Bdubs raised his hand, "What're the teams?"

"Glad you asked! Keralis?"

Keralis stepped forward, holding two van keys on key rings. "Team One gets the green camper van, and consists of Doc, Ren, Grian, Iskall, and Mumbo."

Iskall's eyes widened, glancing back and forth between Keralis and Ren. Keralis tossed Grian one key before listing off the second team.

"And Team Two is everyone else! Bdubs, Scar, Tango, Impulse, and Zedaph! You guys get the blue camper van."

Keralis threw the second key to Zedaph and nudged Xisuma.

"So.. any more questions?" Xisuma asked,

"What about traffic?" Mumbo asked, "Like there's got to be other cars on our route, what if it gives one team an accidental unfair advantage?"

"Simple fix," Xisuma waved the air as if swatting the problem away like a bug, "I rented a highway."

Silence hung over the group, the only noise being an amused snort from Bdubs.

Xisuma shrugged, "I come from a wealthy family."

"Of course you do." Grian said, "You totally have that vibe."

"Any other questions?"

The group of teens just stood there, watching Xisuma expectantly.

"Okay." X smiled, "Go!"

There was a slight stagger in the teams' stance as they registered Xisuma's command. Impulse was the first to really react, grabbing Zed's hand and bolting towards their teams van, shoving the blond in the front seat.

"Wait- right now!?" Iskall yelped, jumping when Doc grabbed his forearm and began dragging him towards the green camper van.

"Yes right now, they already have their car going come on!"

Impulse managed to get everyone into his van first and Zed was already zooming away when Grian got his vehicle going.

After both vans were off, Xisuma turned to Keralis with a grin.

"I think this will go swimmingly."

---

Everyone in the van was quiet, still adjusting to being thrown into the competition so much quicker than expected. Grian was behind the wheel with Mumbo beside him in shotgun, both of them with their backpacks uncomfortably squished between them and their seats.

Iskall had been shoved between Ren and Doc in the back seat, and was still freaking out over... just about everything.

"Well," Ren broke the ice, grinning at Doc and Iskall next to him. "That was exciting."

Grian chuckled from the front seat. "Yes it was. That guy with the gray and yellow shirt had an impressive reaction time!"

"That's Impulse," Doc explained. He leaned around Grian's seat to see the van in front of them and snorted. "He's probably the only person in that vehicle with a braincell."

Their group laughed, and Mumbo turned around in his seat. "So, what are your guys' names?"

"I'm Ren!" The brunet reached across Iskall and patted Doc's shoulder. "This is my best bud Doc."

"Nice to meet you."

"And who are you three?" Ren asked.

"I'm Mumbo." The ravenette smiled tightly, "And no matter what Grian says you cannot call me Mumby."

"Yes you can call him Mumby, he secretly loves it." Grian took a hand off the wheel and attempted to stick it behind his head to shake hands. "I'm Grian!"

Ren and Doc laughed, the latter attempting to give the blond a small handshake.

"And you?" Ren nudged Iskall, making the swede freeze up. "What's your name, dude?"

Iskall could feel himself melting, but he knew this time he needed to keep his cool.

He took a breath. I'm terrifyed, nice to meet you. "I- uhm.. I'm Iskall. I think I sit behind you in social studies."

"Social Studies.." Ren tilted his head, then smiled. "Yeah, I think I've seen you around. I like your accent!"

Iskall turned away, "thank you.." He mumbled.

Doc raised an eyebrow at the swede and gave him a small understanding smile, though Iskall didn't notice.

I just spoke to Rendog. Iskall thought, astonished. Holy shit I just talked to Rendog.

Grian cleared his throat.

"Well." He said, "I think we'll make a good team!"

Ren cheered in agreement, his caramel eyes shining in excitement. "A dog shelter is five days away from a gracious donation!"

"No way!" Grian argued. "We gotta give to the homeless man!"

"I'd say LGBT+ youth." Doc said, "But it's okay if you'd rather help some dogs over minorities, Ren."

Ren gave an over-exaggerated gasp, and the vehicle once again dissolved into laughter.

Iskall allowed himself to ease up, his face melting into a smile. He laughed along with the group, temporarily forgetting his fears of embarrassing himself in front of his crush.

---

"And then you just grabbed brown shirt guy and bolted!" Bdubs had his hands on both of Impulses shoulders, and he was shaking the life the poor brunet. "Like, man that was so cool!"

"Thanks..?"

"'Brown shirt guy' I-" Zedaph wheezed from behind the wheel. "Flattering, but please, call me Zedaph."

"Okay! You grabbed Zedaph and r-"

Impulse laughed, "I get it, I know--"

"But seriously that was so cool!" Bdubs insisted, "Like jeez, date me!"

"I'm aro, so I'm good but-"

Scar smiled at Impulse apologetically from shotgun, "He's joking, obviously, he says that to everyone. Bdubs gets very... passionate sometimes."

Impulse nodded, and smiled back. "Noted."

"So, Bdubs is your name." Zedaph clarified, and he looked at Scar briefly before focusing back on the road. "And yours?"

"I'm Scar!" He said, "You're Zedaph. And aromantic guy?"

"It's Impulse." Impulse grinned, "And the one beside me on his phone is Tango."

"'ello." Tango looked up at Impulse. "Do you think every day the start of the race will be like that?"

"Could very well be, knowing Xisuma." Bdubs said, a bit calmer now. "We should probably figure out who's driving every day so we aren't ever in a jumble."

Impulse nodded, "Smart idea."

"I can drive tomorrow." Scar volunteered.

Tango pulled up notes on his phone and typed out a little list of who was driving when. "Okay! Who's driving the third day?"

Impulse raised his hand, which Tango marked down.

"Do you wanna drive the fourth day, Tango?"

Tango looked at Impulse with a blank face, his amber eyes filled with something between confusion and amusement. "I can't drive, Impy, you should know this."

"Oh."

The vehicle was quiet for a moment, then Zedaph laughed from the front. "It's because he wouldn’t be able to reach the brakes."

"I will take you out you dumbass."

"Sure." Zedaph said with a grin. "I'd say pick me up at eight, but you can't drive so I can do the picking up."

"What do you-" Tango's cheeks mottled red, his face matching quite nicely with his jacket. "Did you just flir- WHAT-"

Scar, Bdubs and Impulse broke down in giggles, while Zed simply kept driving, smiling contentedly. Tango harrumphed and crossed his arms, setting his phone on his lap he attempted to hide his blush by looking out the window at the passing scenery.

Zedaph and Scar moved onto another conversation and Bdubs began playing Crossy Road. Meanwhile, Impulse stole Tango's phone from his lap, startling the blond.

Impulse made a new page in notes and began typing out a message. He passed the phone back to Tango, who read the makeshift text.

"You gotta ask himout while were here man!"

Tango frowned.

"No"

":( Why not?"

"He'll say no"

Impulse raised his eyebrows at his friend.

"How dyou know."

Tango gave Impulse a look like, 'Come on.'

"He is the most ladies man I know there's no way he's gay. Hed probably think im weird or smth and never talk to me again."

"How tf did you draw that conclusion."

Tango locked eyes with Impulse, shaking his head sadly.

"I cant lose my best friend this way, Impy"

Impulse sighed, giving back Tango's phone. He responded aloud. "Okay, whatever."

"What was that, Impulse?" Bdubs cocked his head quizzically.

Impulse put on a smile. "Oh, noting. Sorry."

---

Tangaph my beloved.

REMEMBER TO HYDRATE AND STAY HEALTHY *AGRESSIVELY THROWS WATER BOTTLES AND LOVE <3*

Buh bye o/