Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes! She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes! She'll be com-" "If you two don't shut up right this minute, I swear!" "Oh come on, Denny, that's mood music for a trip!" "Joey, we haven't even started moving yet." "So?"

The Joe Gibbs Racing trio sat in the parking lot of their facility. Denny, in the drivers seat, put his hand over his mouth and spoke in his best airplane captain tone. "Attention, all passengers. This is a one stop flight. If you need to go, if you think you might need to go, if you have the slightest INKLING that you might need to go, you better go now, cause I AIN'T STOPPING." "I bet you'll stop rather than have Joey or me put our permanent mark on your rental Toyota Sienna, since you're paying and all," Kyle said with a smirk.

Denny glared. Then he smirked himself. "You're right. We should use an older vehicle. Like your Highlander." "No way, dude." "Hey, we're going to the mountains, the four-wheel drive might come in handy!" Joey put in from the backseat. "Logano if I want your opinion, I'll give it to you," said Kyle. Joey crossed his arms and glared. For a 19-year-old, he had a rather intimidating mad face, perhaps due to his usually cheerful demeanor.

Kyle rolled his eyes. "FINE! We'll use my Highlander. But I'M driving." "No, I want Denny to drive." "Yeah Kyle," Denny added, grinning, "Joey wants ME to drive. Show him, Joey!" Kyle looked back at Joey, who had made his mad face even madder. Out of instict, Kyle backed away, causing Denny to cackle. "Fine, lets unload this sh-" "Hey! Kid in the backseat," Denny said, feighning concern and pointing at Joey with his thumb. "STUFF. OKAY? STUFF!" Kyle got out of the SUV and went to slam the door, but as he looked back in, he saw Denny looking at him with a glare of his own, so he shut the door nicely and gently.

A little later, once all their supplies had been transfered from the rental to Kyle's SUV and the minivan had been turned in, the drivers set off on their journey. Denny drove while Kyle looked out the window, apparently contemplative of his home situation. Joey, meanwhile, sat in the backseat, sipping Coca-Cola from a glass bottle through a straw and listening to his iPod.

Given the total quiet in the vehicle, it was hard to believe these were two of NASCAR's most outspoken drivers and an affable rookie.

They were about halfway on their journey when Joey took that total quiet and turned it on its head. "Hey, Denny, I need the mens room." "WHAT?!" Denny shouted, glaring at Joey through the rearview mirror. "He said he needs the mens room," Kyle added, still looking out the window. "I heard what he said! JOEY! WHY DIDN'T YOU GO WHEN I TOLD YOU TO?!" "Because I didn't need to, then!" "I said if you even had an inkling!" "I don't get inklings! I quit doing that when I was three!"

"All I know," said Kyle, turning to Denny, "is if he hoses down my backseat, I'll rub YOUR nose in it first. Find a gas station."

Seemingly exasperated, Denny hunted for an exit sign. To Joey's, ahem, relief, it didn't talke long. Denny navigated the Highlander off the interstate onto the exit ramp. A Shell station sat at the base of the ramp. Denny pulled off into the parking lot of the station. The bathroom. Joey got out and rushed towards the door when behind him he heard another of the doors on the Highlander close. He stopped and turned to see Denny rushing at him.

"Outta my way kid!" "Hey, me first!" "I'm your elder, your can WAIT." "No I can't!"

Fortunately, Joey WAS able to hold it, and after Denny paid for a few snacks he had picked up, they exited the station. Kyle had gotten out of his SUV and was leaning against the back of it, just getting some air. Joey mischeviously laughed as he opened up the passenger door and jumped in.

"Hey, what are you doing Joey?!" "SHOTGUN!" "No. Get out." "Uh-uh, I'm calling shotgun." "I called shotgun before we even started this trip." "No, you wanted to DRIVE," Denny added, cracking up. "Yeah, you wanted to dr-" "Logano you've got five seconds to get your BUTT out of my seat before we find out if the boomerang setting on your iPod works or not."

Sullen, Joey gave up his new seat. Once everyone was buckled in, the trip continued.