The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Guide #1)(11)
Kylie’s video concluded with another thirty seconds of her obnoxious, self-performed theme song, but thankfully Topher clicked his iPad off before it finished. All the people on his computer were quiet and motionless as they processed the information Kylie had revealed. Once it was absorbed, they erupted in contagious spurts of exhilaration, like cheap fireworks setting each other off.
“That was awesome!” Joey said. “I wonder how they’re going to write Professor Luckunckle off for three episodes.”
“Or who the surprise guest stars are going to be,” Sam said.
“I can’t believe we have to wait eighty-one days until the next season!” Mo said. “That’s practically a pregnancy!”
“Girl, please,” Huda said. “That’s a wink compared to how long I have to wait. I’ll be lucky if I’m caught up with season nine by then.”
“But Reptoids?” Davi asked, still stuck on the topic. “Are they dusting my balls? I hate the Reptoids!”
Topher was just as eager about the things his friends were pointing out, but they were overlooking the best news to come out of WizCon 2017.
“I’m just happy they confirmed the show is sticking around,” Topher said. “We were kind of counting on it.”
With graduation in their rearview mirrors, Topher, Joey, Sam, and Mo would be splitting up soon to attend different colleges in the fall. Topher was staying in Downers Grove for community college, Joey was going to Oklahoma Baptist University for performing arts, Sam was headed to the Rhode Island School of Design to study interior design, and Mo would be attending Stanford to major in economics.
Regardless of their new locations, they were still very committed to their Wednesday night Wiz Kids ritual; they’d just be doing it over the Internet. Now with the certainty that Wiz Kids would continue throughout their college years, the pending good-bye was a lot easier to swallow. And since their time together was limited, Topher, Joey, Sam, and Mo had big plans to make the most of it.
“Are you guys excited for your road trip?” Huda asked. “You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”
“You guys didn’t tell me you were going on a road trip!” Davi said.
“We didn’t want to brag, but it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Joey said. “Our parents helped us pay for it as graduation gifts.”
“Speak for yourself,” Sam corrected him. “I had to get a summer job to pay for my quarter of the costs.”
“Topher’s planned out the whole thing!” Mo added. “His mom is even letting us borrow her station wagon.”
“Where are you guys going? How long will you be gone for? Tell me everything!” Davi said.
Topher rubbed his hands together as he informed their efriends of their exciting itinerary. He looked like a criminal mastermind reciting his plan for world domination.
“We’ll be gone for about two weeks,” he said. “We’re driving from Illinois to California. The first five days we’ll be on the road checking out roadside attractions, historical landmarks, and national parks on the way. We’re going to see the world’s biggest rubber-band ball, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Lewis and Clark Museum, the Mark Twain National Forest, the Bundy and Claire Jailhouse, the UFO Observation Tower, Dinoworld, the Petrified Forest, the Arizona Meteor Crater, the Grand Canyon, and then, finally, the Santa Monica Pier. We’ll be in Santa Monica for four days so we can explore Los Angeles, hang out in Hollywood, and take an exclusive tour of the Wiz Kids sets on the Sunshine Studios lot!”
“You’ve got to be fondling me!” Davi exclaimed.
“I am so jealous!” Huda said.
“Wish you guys could come with us,” Sam said.
Mo suddenly let out a quick screech and everyone jumped. Topher’s thorough description had reminded her of something very important she needed to do before the trip.
“Mo, are you okay?” Joey asked. “Did someone leave a nasty comment on your fanfiction?”
“No—I just realized I haven’t even packed yet!” Mo said.
“Crap, me either,” Joey said. “I’ve got to sign off and do some laundry. What time are we meeting in the morning?”
“Ten o’clock sharp,” Topher said. “And we’ve got to be prompt so everything else in the schedule times out.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Joey said with a salute. “See you guys in the morning!”
“Bye, Huda, bye, Davi!” Mo said, and blew them a kiss.
Mo and Joey disappeared from their friends’ computers screens. Davi and Huda’s time zones were starting to get the best of them and they both yawned like newborn puppies.
“I have to say good night, too,” Davi said. “It’s late as douchebags down here and the cybercafe is about to close.”
“I’m going to take a nap before breakfast,” Huda said. “Have fun on your trip, guys! Post pictures as you go—I’ll have my contact in Turkey keep an eye out for them!”
The Wizzers from abroad signed off and Topher and Sam were the only two left. They were usually the last two on their computers and sometimes continued the conversation until the wee hours of the morning. Topher had nothing against Joey and Mo, but he always looked forward to his alone time with Sam.
“What a night,” she said. “I’m so overstimulated I doubt I’ll sleep much.”