The Glitch In Our Stars

Chapter 3: The Toll Bridge and the Brigade

By the time they reached the state border, the "adventure" part of the trip hit a massive, neon-yellow wall.

"Why is traffic stopped?" Aria asked, leaning out the window. "This is a rural highway. There shouldn't be a backup for five miles."

Julian tapped his tablet, which was mounted to the dashboard. "Ah. It's the 'Bridge-Block.' There's a group of 'Main Character' influencers filming a synchronized dance routine in the middle of the suspension bridge. They've literally parked their fleet of pink SUVs across all three lanes."

Aria checked her watch. "We're losing time. If we don't make the ferry in two hours, we're stuck on this side of the river overnight."

"We can't go through them," Julian noted, eyeing the crowd of teenagers with ring lights ahead. "But we can go around them. If you're okay with a little light trespassing."

Continuation of the challenges; Julian veered the car off the main road and onto a muddy logging trail. The "Adventure" tag kicked in as the car bounced violently. Aria, terrified for her $200 dry-cleaned blazer, had to use her "Student Council Negotiation Skills" to talk a grumpy local farmer into letting them through his private gate.

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- The Twist: The farmer didn't want money; he wanted someone to help him recalibrate his automated tractor's GPS. Julian fixed the tech, while Aria-in her high heels-had to herd a stray calf back into the pen.

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2. The Viral Recognition: They stopped at a gas station for fuel, only to find a group of girls from a rival school staring at Aria.

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- "Wait... are you the Cheese Girl?" one girl asked, her phone already out.

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- Julian moved fast. He grabbed a pair of tacky, oversized gas-station sunglasses and a neon trucker hat, shoving them onto Aria's head. "She's not the Cheese Girl," Julian said smoothly, throwing an arm around Aria. "She's my professional EDM back-up dancer. We're late for a gig." He then proceeded to hum a loud, rhythmic bassline until the girls backed away, confused and slightly scared.

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3. The Low Battery Crisis: Just as they cleared the woods, the car's alternator groaned and died. They were ten miles from the ferry with a dead engine and a dying tablet.

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- "We have to hitch a ride," Aria said, horrified.

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- "With who?" Julian asked, gesturing to the empty road.

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- Just then, a bright purple bus roared toward them. It was the "St. Jude's Jazz Band" on their way to a competition.

"Oh no," Aria groaned, ducking. "That's the Jazz Band. They hate the Student Council because I cut their budget for new reeds last semester."

"Well," Julian said, popping the trunk. "Time to see how good your 'Romance' skills are, Aria. We need to convince a bus full of theater kids and saxophonists that we're eloping so they'll give us a ride."