Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up, my life has just become extremely busy so I haven't had much time to write. Anyway, I hope that you all have had a good holiday season regardless of what you celebrate!

Also, this chapter will now be 5 chapters instead of 3.

City Lights

D.W. watched in awe as the bus approached Crown City. The freedom of being away from home in the huge city was overwhelmingly exciting, and she couldn't wait to start walking around and exploring. Sure she'd have to stay with her group and go to the museum, but they were allowed to walk around the city after the tour as long as their group leader agreed and they returned to the hotel by 5:00 pm for dinner.

"Emily, do you think we'll be able to go up to the top of the Sheers Tower?" D.W. asked.

Emily shrugged. "Maybe, it depends on what our group leader lets us do."

"I'm glad we got to pick our own groups for this trip, that way we'll all get along!" D.W. enthused. "You, me, James, and Cheikh."

"Mhmm! I feel kind of bad for Bud being stuck with the Tibbles though!" Emily giggled, looking over at Bud, who was staring off vacantly while the Tibbles tried to annoy him.

D.W. turned around and smiled at James and Cheikh, who were sitting behind her and Emily. "Are you guys excited for the trip?"

"Uh huh, it should be fun..." James mumbled nervously.

"I am! This is the first time I've been to Crown City since moving to the U.S.!" Cheikh replied excitedly.

"James, are you ok?" Emily asked.

"Yeah...just motion sick...and nervous..." James mumbled, clutching his stomach.

"Mr. Ratburn!" D.W. called in the direction of her teacher and the other chaperones, who were sitting at the front of the bus. "How long until we're there?"

"Miss Read, please don't shout on the bus, everyone can hear you!" Mr. Ratburn scolded before checking his watch. "We're approximately fifteen minutes from the hotel! Remember, the group's you're sharing a room with are different from your field trip groups, and no boys and girls in the same room!"

The bus turned off onto a ramp and soon enough was in front of the Crown City Heaton Hotel. The kids gasped at the scale of the building then excitedly began to talk about their stay.

"Whoa..." James said quietly, looking at the building.

"This is huge! I've never seen a hotel this big!" Cheikh exclaimed.

"I have in Paris, but this is pretty impressive too," Emily bragged.

Mr. Ratburn stood up again to address the class. "Attention everyone! You will now be given your room assignments. Remember, you will be sharing the room with four people plus your chaperone, so listen carefully to who you will be with!"

The kids grew quiet and carefully listened, hoping to be put with their friends for the trip. Mr. Ratburn cleared his throat and began to read off the list.

"Cheikh, Liam, Edwin, and Kyle, you'll be rooming with Edwin's father. Emily, Lucy, Sarah, and Brie, you'll be rooming with Sarah's mother. D.W., Maryann, Wilhelmina, and Lisa, you'll be rooming with Wilhelmina's mother. And finally, Tommy, Timmy, Bud, and James will be rooming with me! These room groups are to remain the same the whole trip, no switching!"

"Oh no..." James sighed, slumping down into his seat while the Tibble Twins taunted him.

"Ugh...I can't believe I got stuck with Lisa..." D.W. grumbled.

Lisa and DW had become rivals back in Kindergarten when they had been given the same topic for a project and the teacher liked Lisa's better. Since then, the two couldn't stand to be around each other. Lisa locked eyes with D.W. and stuck out her tongue, earning a dirty look from her.

"Sorry, if we could switch I would offer to," Emily offered.

"Yeah but you actually get along with Lisa," D.W. pouted.

"It could be worse. We could be stuck with people like Tommy and Timmy. Poor James and Bud won't survive the night," Emily sighed, glancing over at their friends.

"It's fine. I'm sure we can survive one night together," D.W. sighed, getting up from her seat as people began filing off the bus.

D.W. walked over to where her group was standing and greeted them with a forced smile. Maryann was quiet but nice and mostly kept to herself, so she would be easy to stay with. Wilhelmina and Lisa were both loud and outgoing however, but in different ways. Wilhelmina used to be enemies with D.W. but the two had set aside their differences in first grade and even though their interests were still very different they got along fairly well. But Lisa...

"Oh hi D.W., great that you could finally join us!" Lisa taunted.

"Yeah definitely, I can't wait to spend the night with my favorite person in the class," D.W. replied sarcastically.

The two glared at each other as they entered the hotel, followed by Wilhelmina and Maryann.

"This is gonna be a LONG day isn't it..." Wilhelmina sighed while looking at Maryann.