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just-sonic-things · 6 months

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Something Going On in Green Hill (Part 1)

T//W: Child Abuse

(I will place a text cut where it takes place. Only read past there if you can.)

Shadow's POV:

It was my first day at this rustic looking high school and I was already a bit hesitant to even make an effort to socialize. Instead, I just put on my headphones through a good chunk of the day, except in classes. Even then, raising my hand to answer questions I actually knew would've been a terrible idea it seems. Everyone here seems to make fun of you for being smart, unless it benefits them in some way. Not sure why being "dumb" is a popular thing, but I guess it is. I got sent to the Guidance Counselor to get my locker assignment and an assignment notebook for the school to write down assignments and all that junk. Turns out, it's also a Hall Pass of sorts. You get the teacher to sign it out for you before you leave the room. Kind of frivolous that we need to do that in the first place, but whatever.

It wasn't long before we got to my least favorite subject of the day: History. It was almost always boring for me, since I never really see any sort of practical applications for it, other than knowing how catastrophically we all messed up. Oh well, time for me to just sort of zone out for a moment or two. I sense myself drifting off before I see someone sitting in front of me. He's got long, red dreadlocks and is talking to a blue hedgehog boy. The dreadlocked echidna looks toward me and gives an awkward smile. I reciprocate. "Sorry" I apologize, looking away from him. He nods and goes back to his idle chit chat with the other hedgehog boy.

After class was over, I shuffled to my locker to put my unneeded books away. Of course, right across from me was that same boy with the long, red dreadlocks. They cascaded down his back seemingly effortlessly, and I was admiring their neatness for a moment. I turned back to my locker and grabbed my remaining notebooks. English and Biology. Biology was at least easy for me, so there wasn't any worries in that regard. I trudged on to class while listening to music again. As soon as I sat in my seat... There he was. He walked into the same class as me. Did... Did we share more than one class?

Knuckles' POV:

There was that boy again! Black and red quills, perfectly styled and everything. He had on what would be considered as "Emo clothes", so a few of my dickhead friends were already making fun of him. I decided I wanted to be nice to this new kid and sat down next to him this time. I faced him, and he looked a little skittish. But I think he warmed up to me fairly quick.

"Hey there. Name's Knuckles. I'm one of the more... 'Popular' kids. Whatever that means, right? And you are?" I ask, extending the invitation for him to speak.

"... Shadow. Good to meet you, Knuckles" Shadow says with a weak smile. "I think 'Popular' means that you're well liked enough for people to not make fun of you or somethin'" he says, finishing his trail of thought.

I smile a bit at Shadow. He seems to lower any sort of hostility or suspicion by now and just sits by me quietly. I notice that whenever he's not taking notes or answering the teacher's questions, he's doodling in his notebook. They were actually really decent drawings as well. I asked him if he's ever taken an art course, and he nods. "Your art's really good!" I say enthusiastically. He blushes a little and flashes a... Handsome smile to me. I blush as well. Damn it, this boy was kind of cute. Well, now I had to get to know him a little bit.

"This may seem kinda random, but what lunch period do you have today?" I ask.

"Lunch 2. Why?" Shadow asks.

"Oh nice! Me too! We should find each other and sit together. Talk, just the two of us, perhaps?" I ask.

Shadow blushes a little, clearly off guard. He croaks out "Sure" and now after this class, I had that to look forward to. Biology felt like it couldn't go any freaking slower than it was right now. I smelt Shadow's cologne, and it was all too enticing. I don't know what scent he had on but damn it, I felt like I wanted to just throw myself at him. But alas, that would be frowned upon.

FINALLY, the bell rang.

Shadow's POV:

Why did Knuckles want to sit with me of all people? Why was he staring at me the way that he was in Bio class? Whatever the matter, I sat down at a seat closest to a window with my homemade lunch. Mom always knew what to put in to make my day. A nice turkey and cheese club with some chips, fruit snacks and water. Knuckles came walking to my table with the school lunch and sat down right next to me. He seemed rather... Excited to sit with me. He was grinning a bit, as he asked me if I brought that lunch from home. "Yes. It's all mine" I teased, making him fake pout. I giggled... Damn it, he's kind of cute. I sigh and relent, giving him some chips and fruit snacks as compensation for giving me company. Knuckles smiles at me and thanks me. We talk about school stuff for a while, before we start getting into the nitty gritty of life stuff.

"So, I'm a football player. Linebacker to be specific. Also do cross country. Thinking of signing up for any clubs or sports?" Knuckles asks, taking a bite of his food.

"Nice. I'll have to go to one of your games" I tease, making him nudge my arm playfully. "I may sign up for Drama actually. Something about it just calls to me" I say, playfully fluffing up my quills.

"Then I'll just have to go to one of your shows. I bet you'll be great" Knuckles replies, wrapping a friendly arm around me.

After lunch was over, I went to the Guidance Counselor, asking how I could sign up for the Drama club. He smiled at me and handed me a clipboard that was only so full. Of course, there were a bunch of girls names on there, with maybe 2 or 3 other guys. I put mine on there, and the counselor told me that the Drama teacher was an incredible director and teacher & that I was in good hands.

Once school ended, I went home. Mom wasn't home yet, so it was just me and my dad. He was on the couch watching a wrestling match. As soon as he heard me walk through the door, he asked me how my first day at school was.

"I made a new friend, so I guess it went well enough" I reply.

"That's great! Who is he?" my dad asks excitedly.

"Knuckles. Knuckles the Echidna-"

"The football kid?! Holy shit. That IS good news. Keep up being friendly with him and you'll pretty much have an easy ride through school!" my dad replied, interrupting my train of thought.

I ask my dad how he knows Knuckles and how he knew he was in football. My dad told me that Knuckles was in football for as long as 7th grade. He knew because the 8th grade coach was a good friend of his and they'd go for drinks together. They'd talk about football and the kids they thought could go Pro & Knuckles' name kept coming up.

Later that night... Dad wasn't so friendly though. At the dinner table, I told my parents that I was signed up for Drama club. He slammed his fists down on the table. "First it was Dance, now THIS? No way. No son of mine is gonna be some 'Theatre Kid'" he said angrily. "I will if it makes me happy" I muttered. My dad has a tendency to have an explosive temper. So, with my food still piping hot, he sent me up to my room with no dinner for the night... After slapping me across the face a few times. While I cried, he yelled, "You DARE disrespect me?!"

I charged up to my room after he yelled at me to do so & slammed the door. Then he came up to me again and... Punched me.

"You wanna slam doors like that?! You'll do that when you move into a place of your own. Not in MY house" he said threateningly.

"I... HATE YOU" I scream.

"I HATE YOU TOO. YOU THINK I WANTED TO HAVE YOU?" my dad screamed in reply.

For some reason, this time around when he said it, it REALLY hurt me. Perhaps it was the punch that he already landed to me but I started to cry once he shut the door. I just tried to dress the black eye, but it was causing some pain. My mom helped me later on and expressed her anger toward my dad.

"He should never lay his hands on you like that. I swear, I am so done with him" My mom said in a hissing sort of tone. She asked me if I'd like to live with her, since she's the one who paid for the house. I smiled and hugged her, saying that would be wonderful. She smiled back and rustled through my quills in such a way. I.. Purred softly. It felt relieving. She giggled and told me that she was already talking to a lawyer, but tonight's incident was just pushing her further. She and I talked more before she left my room to let me sleep.

Part 2: ( Here )

Part 3: ( Here )

#sonic fanfiction #knuckles x shadow #knuckles the echidna #shadow the hedgehog

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karasuno-writings · 5 years

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Soulmate AU scenarios

Hi!! So in hopes to get some followers so I can get some requests I made these scenarios for some Haikyuu!! boys I love fondly!! I hope you all like them!!!

Characters: Yamaguchi, Nishinoya, and Tsukishima

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Yamaguchi Tadashi

Everything you draw on your skin also appears on your soulmate’s skin

Y/N doodled absentmindedly on their skin, peppering their arm with stars and planets, it was odd, but it helped them focus when the teacher spoke, and they liked to imagine their soulmate liking the décor. Y/N knew that whatever they decided to pepper their skin on was going to appear on their soulmate’s skin, so they decided they would draw at least a small doodle until they found the one that was meant for them. Their soulmate was not idle either, sometimes Y/N would notice a few doodles here and there. Y/N had tried to speak to him, especially when they had just found out about soulmates, but they had been explained countless times that messages would blur and appear as ink splotches rather than deliver, which was totally unfair and made everything rather challenging. So, they had given up on writing and rather expressed through doodles, a sun in the mornings, a heart when they wanted for their soulmate to feel loved, a dog or an animal when they were happy and always a moon and a star at night. They were sometimes met with décor, little clouds, small stars, hearts and what could be animals with enough imagination, those little added details brightened their day.

They looked outside, longing to find their soulmate, whichever hints they could give they would, they just needed something, anything they could to help. A lone raven crowed outside, perching on the windowsill just outside the classroom. Y/N smiled, of course! With the growing popularity of the volleyball team across Japan a raven might be a good hint! They hopped their soulmate would make the connection; with that they decided the decorations for today might be enough.

______________________________________________________________________

Yamaguchi stared at his arm as little swivels spread on his wrist, he had not found them yet, but he understood, the little details, the drawings were not coincidences, they reflected them and their thoughts, and he found that adorable.

“Tsk, they spend enough time drawing, they should have lend you some clues already…maybe they are too thick for that” Tsukishima sneered when he noticed his friend staring, “and you don’t seem too keen on helping them either”, he said stoically.

Yamaguchi knew he was not being mean with his words; he was rather pushing him to do something other than stare; to try and find them. He tried to make sense of what had appeared today on his wrist, some stars, hearts, flowers…was that a bird? A black bird mid flight adorned the top of the masterpiece, it was big and inside a circle, clearly to state its importance. Could it be? Was it a coincidence, that the “flightless ravens” just starting to gain height had so much yet maybe not enough to do with that drawing? If it was not a coincidence, if they knew…. that meant they were closer than he ever imagined, this filled his heart with a new hope.

Tsukishima knew that Yamaguchi was not thick, but he knew him well enough to know he was holding back due to his own insecurities, and he had to admit it, he was scared they would be disappointed when they met him. He squinted his eyes and turned to look at his blonde friend, “I will find them today”, a fire of determination had been lit within him and when he set his mind nothing would hold him back. He uncapped a marker, ready to try.

_____________________________________________________________________

Y/N noticed that just above their constellation splotches of ink began to appear, their soulmate was drawing something, bigger than the usual add-ons. Something round, something square; he truly was not the best at this. They squinted their eyes; ¿Was he trying to say something? Y/N added some question marks next to the drawing, Yamaguchi huffed, clearly his art skills needed some polishing. His strategy needed to change; when he was determined to do something, he was sure to carry it out, he would not give up on them, not when he felt them so close.

Yamaguchi hopped they would forgive him, that they would not mind, and gathering the courage he drew a black heart on his cheeks just below his left eye. If the raven was not a coincidence, he would be able to recognize them.

_____________________________________________________________________

Y/N exited their clubroom, the activities have been delayed so they were headed home a little later than usual. As they walked outside school Y/N would buy some snacks for the way home on the nearest convenience store. They were about to enter when a volleyball rolled towards their feet, they picked it up and looked around, wondering where it might have come from. They saw a figure running towards them, the light was dim but they could see that it was a boy around their age, floppy hair that stuck in different directions and freckles that adorned his face and… was that a heart on his cheek?

Yamaguchi stopped dead on his tracks as he saw Y/N holding the ball out to him, he felt his cheeks flush and he could not help his smile. He knew them from school, Y/N, he shared the first class with them and honestly Yamaguchi always thought they were beautiful, and they were nice with their classmates…but could it be? Cheeks flushed red he lifted his hand as if to touch the heart in their cheek, however he figured that they might have not noticed it before so instead he lifted his arm to display their beautiful artwork right there on his wrist.

They gasped and looked at him, then at their arm, lifting it up to compare the identical scribbles Y/N remembered making. They looked at his cheek and lifted a hand to their own. “Did you…make it?” was all Y/N managed to say. Yamaguchi, enticed with them, their eyes and smile, only nodded. Y/N smiled and held his hand, his already flushed cheeks turning a deeper shade of red, “Maybe we can go out sometime soon, I am ______” They said admiring the boy that stood before them. Yamaguchi gulped “I am Yamaguchi Tadashi, its late already, mind if I walk you home?”. Y/N smiled at the sweet suggestion and nodded “I’d love to, we have a lot of catching up to do”.

Nishinoya Yu

Soulmates that feel each other’s pain and get each other’s bruises

You were enjoying your after-school club as usual; everything was running smoothly. That is until you felt a warm pain spread across your side. Flinching you held your breath as you felt it spread before disappearing, relaxing after it was gone. Sure, this one would not be tainting your skin in the usual purple bruises that seem way too common on your body now. You can’t say it took you by surprise, you were expecting it sooner or later as your soulmate seemed to become especially reckless at this time of the day.

Ever since you were little pain seemed to invade you without an apparent cause, bruises were common on your legs and arms, your parents explained that this was because of your soulmate, your other half’s pain was meant to be yours too. You had then understood that your soulmate was either someone really clumsy or incredibly reckless.

Yet again pain spread though you, this time it was sharp in your arms, this was the most common place for it, leaving red splotches on your arms. It stopped being odd for you a while ago, even if you could not muster to think of a reason why this was.

However, you were sure that when you met your soulmate you’d have to file in some complaints.

_____________________________________________________________________

Kageyama sent the ball right into Hinata’s hand, Noya followed its every movement as Hinata spiked it, and while it was a powerful hit, Tsukishima managed to block it just in time. Noya’s time to shine was here, he dived towards the ball as it fell, sure that he would be able to save it and give his team one more chance. However, his measurements were a little off, and the ball instead of hitting his arms was headed straight to his face. Noya braced for impact, and immediately he felt stinging hot pain on his forehead and nose, where the ball had hit. Everyone stopped dead, and even though the save was successful it didn’t seem to matter, all eyes were fixed on him, the ball hit the ground with a dull thud.

“What?” He stood up, ignoring the remaining ache “Why are you looking at me like that? It wasn’t that bad! We can carry on!”. A drop of blood fell to the ground, as soon as he noticed this he felt a warm sensation on the right side of his face. He excused himself and ran out of the gym, towards the infirmary, he wanted to carry on as soon as possible but he had to stop the blood first.

_____________________________________________________________________

When he entered the infirmary the nurse was tending to someone else, he could only see her back and make out the silhouette of what seemed to be a classmate of his. Considering all that he needed was some gauze and that his mind was still in the rush of game, he hoped they would not mind the interruption. “Hi! Sorry to interrupt but I swear this will be quick it-“. He was abruptly taken aback, the nurse had turned to face him, annoyed by the tasteless interruption, and behind her Y/N sat, a white compress on the right side of their forehead.

Their mouth hung agape “You!!”, Y/N had finally found the culprit, and while they probably should be mad, seeing him standing there all sweet and quite handsome, Y/N couldn’t help but feel their heart melt. Noya turned bright red, after all it was his fault they were both here, but smiled bright nonetheless as he knew exactly what this meant. “Nishinoya, actually, nice to meet you!” They were gorgeous, and he really hoped they would forgive him for all the troubles they had probably been though because of his reckless actions, “I promise all make it up to you! Are you free this Friday?”. They smiled and rolled their eyes, maybe he was not so bad after all.

Tsukishima Kei

Not being able to see colour until you look at your soulmate’s eyes.

Kei walked around the schoolyard, his headphones playing his favorite song. Classes had ended early today, and he still had yet to wait for the clubs to start. He had finished all that was for tomorrow, so he had time to spare, sadly he had forgotten the book he used to read in his free hours. Walking towards a bench to sit down he saw a couple pass hand in hand, not meaning to eavesdrop he heard them talk about an apparent “sunset”. He had heard of the idea before, his brother used to tell him stories about how the sky would turn into beautiful “colors”, which he had described as emotions; however he stopped believing in those fairytales as soon as he lost his faith in Akiteru.

“Tsk”, he clicked his tongue, suddenly annoyed by the memory, whoever had come up with such silly stories clearly didn’t think it through. If there was really a thing such as a “soulmate” and “true love” he wanted nothing to do with it. What was the point of giving people hope if at least a good fraction of them ends up alone anyways? He sat down and closed his eyes, letting himself drift to the sound of the music to distract himself from the thought. Still the idea danced on the back of his mind, along with a classmate of his, he could not really wrap his mind around why they seemed to have something special about them. He blushed and clicked his tongue once more, such silly thoughts would be the end of him. He had not even talked to them, all he knew was what he saw of them when they talked to their classmates, they just seemed…different. Kei stood up, even more annoyed than before, he wanted to stop his mind from wandering more so he decided to go to the library and use this time to study English.

_____________________________________________________________________

Y/N rushed along towards the library, they had been asked to hand in some projects from her classmates, after that they were free to go. They clutched the neatly stacked folders close to their chest, not really paying attention to were they were headed since this path had become very familiar to them. When they opened the door to the building somethings seemed…off, the grey hues seemed particularly unstable that day, almost mocking her as if they were to suddenly burst into colors. This had been happening a lot recently, specially whenever Y/N was at school.

They entered the library and greeted the librarian, who smiled at them as they handed in the projects, “Thank you dear, the book you’ve been asking for is finally in! You can look for it on hallway 7G”. “Thank you!”, Y/N went on their way towards the English section of the library, where she saw his classmate Tsukishima staring at the books with a frown on his face.

Y/N could not lie, he was very handsome, and while he usually seemed cold they were sure that there was more to him that what his demeanor sold off, he was intriguing and while they had not talked to him personally, Y/N felt some pull and a big want to get to know him. Considering he was standing in front of the book they wanted to rent, they decided it was ideal to start a conversation. “Hi! Are you looking for any book in specific?” Kei did not turn to face them just yet, reading the backsides with particular attention, he would never admit it but it was partially to hide his surprise at the sudden interaction, “Not really, I just wanted something to help me practice”. Y/N smiled and took the book they were looking for, “This one is the best! I was going to use it but I already know most of it so you can take it.”, they held it out for him. When Tsukishima turned around to thank them, he was abruptly stopped, he was not one to get startled with ease, but this time he could hardly hide his surprise as he held in a deep breath. Y/N dropped the book they were holding, looking straight into Kei’s eyes as the world around them changed in the most wonderful way possible. Both of them dared not to move as color busted in that little section of the library, the small windows near the celling letting in the light of the sunset, orange and pink hues lightened up the backsides of the books which to them were now filled with different tones of crimson and navy blue. However, Y/N was still fixated on him, his hair golden and eyes a beautiful warm honey.

Kei quickly composed himself, he did not know what to say, he really did not think anything like this would ever happen to him. He clicked his tongue once more; he was stupidly proven wrong by this sweet classmate of his whose E/C was the most beautiful thing he had yet seen and as annoying as that was he could not muster to be mad. “You should be more careful with the books, you know? Tsk, dropping them like that…terribly clumsy” he picked it up, “Are you just going to stare at me?”. Y/n smiled “I’m Y/N, we could maybe share the book, if you want?”.

#haikyuu!!#haikyuu tsukishima #haikyuu headcanons #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu x reader #tsukishima x reader #yamaguchi x reader #nishinoya x reader #Kei Tsukishima #yamaguchi tadashi #Nishinoya #haikyuu matchups

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easytravelpw-blog · 6 years

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Full text write on https://easy-travel.pw/what-i-spent-three-day-road-trip-through-the-southwestern-us/magazine/

What I Spent: Three-Day Road Trip Through the Southwestern US

01 of 04

Upfront Costs

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The upfront costs of vacations are predictable. It’s the little things—airport snacks, cocktails before dinner, tipping a tour guide—that can throw even the most well-planned vacation budget off track. In new series, we look at the spending patterns of real travelers in popular destinations, so you can estimate what you’ll actually spend.

In this installment, two friends fly into Vegas and drive for three days from Nevada to Utah to Arizona.

Upfront costs:

Flights: $463.60 (Newark, NJ to Las Vegas, NV)

Accomodations: $156 (per person)

Rental Car: $102 (per person)

Antelope Canyon Tours: $78(per person) for the most popular tour time.

Continue to 2 of 4 below.

02 of 04

Monday

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11:00 a.m. The drive from Las Vegas to Utah is filled with gorgeous scenery. Driving out of the most over-the-top city in the U.S. and immediately being surrounded by miles of desert is a bit surreal. How can a bright, showy city exist smack in the middle of all this? This, mainly being the stunning purple mountains in the distance, getting ever closer as we drive past cactus after desert brush. Of course, as we approach the mountains, we realize they aren’t actually purple, but a red-brown color.

We are stocked up on road trip essentials (peanut butter cups, popcorn, cheese doodles, and granola bars, à la Trader Joe’s), the music is blaring, the sun is shining, and our spirits are high (fueled by a mix of caffeine, peanut butter cups, and the view). Cost: $13

1:15 p.m. When we reach Zion National Park, we are completely surrounded by those red-brown mountains, which are even higher and more awe-inspiring as we get closer. First things first: check into the hotel. We’re staying at Cable Mountain Lodge, and our suite is much bigger than my small Manhattan apartment. We stock up on waters, and hit the trail! Cost: $1.55

2:00 p.m. On our way into the park, we see a very enticing sign for salmon tacos next to the Zion Brewery (mental note saved for later). Admission into the park for the day is $15 each, which includes the access to all the hiking trails. We don’t have time for such luxuries, but instead we have our sights set on one of the most strenuous (and perhaps one of the scariest) trails: Angel’s Landing. Cost: $15

As we set off on the trail, I’m a little disappointed. The trail itself is a paved path. I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, so I can’t believe that a hiking trail is paved. Yes, the hike is steep, and yes, many parts of the trail wind around a cliff side with a sheer drop-off, but the path itself is steady, so no real need for worry. That is, until we reach the top. Oh, so this is what everyone was talking about. The end of the path greets us with a narrow ridge and a chain to hold onto so you don’t fall over the edge. I take a few steps and decide I’m not cut out for this kind of hiking today. I let my friend tackle the rest of the climb, and I sit down with the rest of those who decided not to do it.

5:45 p.m. Now at the base of the park (the climb down was quick–a bit of a jog at some points as the downhill slope and our excitement to eat those salmon tacos overcame us), we are ravenous. Charging straight into the brewery, we order 11 flights (that’s their full menu of beer, so might as well sample everything!), two orders of salmon tacos, and chili cheese fries (because we earned it). We figured that ordering all 11 flights was a normal occurrence, but with the surprised look we got from our server and others, we quickly realize we are maybe a little overzealous. Oh, well! We finish up and then order a growler to-go of our favorite beer that we tried—a delicious sour beer with fruity notes. Cost: $58.35

7:15 p.m. We proceed to the hot tub with our growler, considering it physical therapy for our soon-to-be-sore muscles. We relax with the sunset and chat with a few other visiting families before we call it a night–but not without first stopping by the brewery to buy a second growler to bring home with us. Cost: $15

Continue to 3 of 4 below.

03 of 04

Tuesday

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8:30 a.m. Next up: we’re heading out of Zion and on our way to Page, Arizona. But first, breakfast. We stop at a cute little diner where my friend orders a giant savory crepe covered in hollandaise sauce and I get a bacon, tomato, and scrambled egg grilled cheese (I definitely helped myself to some of that crepe, though). Cost: $15.48

9:15 a.m. We had no idea what was in store for us, but we’re now winding through narrow, cliffside roads. We make our way up, up, and up, all the while, gorgeous textured mountains are taking over our entire view. It’s simultaneously beautiful and terrifying—one side of the road is a sheer drop-off, and as we get higher, the drop-off gets deeper. The mountain fairytale ends with a mile-long drive through a dark tunnel, straight into the belly of a mountain.

We get to the main road again (and pick up our jaws off the car floor), and stop for gas. Cost: $20.78

11:00 a.m. We arrived in Page about an hour and a half before our appointment with Antelope Canyon Tours, so we are hitting up a local bar. Finding wifi and a place to charge our phones was really our main criteria, but a couple of late morning beers doesn’t hurt. Cost: $11.50

12:30 p.m. Our scheduled tour for Antelope Canyon is at 12:30, which was the recommended tour, as the light is optimal during this time of day in the Upper Canyon. We take a bumpy, somewhat thrilling ride on an off-road path into the desert to arrive at the entrance to the canyon. The path is tight, and some parts require being squished up against the canyon wall as other tour groups make their way by in the opposite direction. Our guide seems to have the most uncanny ability to locate the best photos. “Here, give me your phone,” and after bending into an awkward position against the canyon wall to capture the perfect shot, the results were truly unbelievable. The guides have also named many parts of the canyon, as if the wind and waters had magically formed presidential faces overtime; we can see Obama, Bush, Trump, and Lincoln–the resemblance is actually pretty spot-on for some of these.

3:00 p.m. While on our way out of Page, we spot Big Texas BBQ and, stomachs rumbling, we’re sold. I ordered the sampler–ribs, pulled chicken, and smoked sausages. A side of baked beans and coleslaw and ice cream for dessert really rounded out the meal. Cost: $25.52

4:30 p.m. Barely five minutes out of Page, we’re immediately driving by Horseshoe Bend, and we decide to stop for a spontaneous exploration. We climb up and over a massive sandy hill, and we can spot the indistinguishable landmark. The colors are so vibrant this time of day, and the water bending around the rock is perfectly still. The breathtaking and slightly unexpected view makes Horseshoe Bend one of our favorite stops so far.

We’re back in the car, and on our way to Flagstaff, Arizona, and the landscape around us is slowly changing again. The flat-top mountains are gone, being replaced by trees (how long has it been since we’ve seen those?) and one gorgeous blue, snowy peak getting closer in the distance. The mountain is located near Flagstaff and a popular skiing destination.

6:30 p.m. Reaching Flagstaff, we come upon a quaint and cool little town. It’s an eclectic mix of old Southern-style architecture, artful graffiti, and neon signs—a hipster-millennial playground. Our hotel—Monte Vista—is apparently infamous for being haunted. Since the 1920s, quite a few people have died there, and ghosts are apparently rampant throughout the hotel.

7:30 p.m. After checking into our room, which is the very same room that actor Anthony Hopkins had stayed in, we head downstairs to one of the bars located off the hotel lobby. In the first bar, which has a fancy but hip cocktail menu, we try the Magic Eight Ball, which is a fruity gin concoction that tasted pretty good. Then, we head off to another bar, which is more of a dive bar–with karaoke to boot. Exhausted, we leave the bar and look out for the known elevator ghost on our way up to our room (no luck). Cost: $16

Continue to 4 of 4 below.

04 of 04

Wednesday

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8:30 a.m. Recommended by our bartender from the night before, we head to MartAnne’s Burrito Palace. The colorful, quirky Mexican spot is previously a small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant (explained to us by a friendly local and our waitress, who once owned the place, but had now stepped aside for her daughter). The previous location became so popular and the line to get in so long, that they had no choice but to upgrade to a much bigger space. I order the Fiesta Potatoes with a fried egg on top, and it does not disappoint. Cost: $22.14

On our way to the car, we decide to stop for a coffee at a not-so-subtle shop called Whyld Ass, and I order the Mexican Specialty Latte. Unfortunately, it tastes like hot, steamy taco seasoning, not the caffeinated version of Mexican hot cocoa that I was hoping for. Cost: $6.02

10:00 a.m. The drive to the Grand Canyon is a bit of a longer one (about three hours), and we decide to veer off the main highways for the Arizona backroads. The sun is out in full force, and the landscape, yet again, is amazing. Bright green brush and strange-but-pretty cacti occupy the desert while red and purple mountains stand tall in the distance. The closer we get, the more I’m wondering where the Grand Canyon could possibly fit into all of this.

2:15 p.m. A quick stop for gas, and a bit of fumbling for directions later, we make it to the National Park. Since the zipline closes at 4:00 p.m., we try to hurry along to the canyon. We buy our tickets and board the shuttle. Cost: $93.31 (zipline tickets + canyon admission)

The zipline is brand new (opened January 2018), and the view, as anyone can imagine, is breathtaking. The actual thrills only lasted two lines and 20 minutes tops, which was a bit of a disappointment. We’re in our RV on our way back to the shuttle stop, but our driver decides to pull over at the edge of the cliff to show us Quartermaster Canyon. Closed off to the public, and once the scene of a historic expedition, it is hard not to feel a bit unworthy standing on such sacred ground and taking in the unbelievable view.

3:15 p.m. There are two more shuttle stops and two different spots to view the Grand Canyon. The second stop on the line is slightly disappointing. After being wowed by Zion, Antelope, Horseshoe Bend, and Quartermaster, the canyon we are staring at now felt a little less grand. The third shuttle stop, however, immediately stops those complaints. It turns out the Grand Canyon is most definitely worth the hype. We’re on a massive rock with miles and miles of canyon stretched out before us on three sides. On one side, there is an old abandoned guano mine that makes this scene that much cooler.

4:30 p.m. The drive back to Vegas is peaceful, both of us exhausted and satisfied from our journey. We stop for gas one more time and return our rental car before venturing back into Sin City. Cost: $5.01

Totals:

Food & Drinks: $184.56

Activities: $186.31

Accommodations: $156

Transportation: $591.39

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