She shoves Emma. "Don't. Kaylee's sweet. I can handle myself, anyways, I'm almost seventeen."

"Such life experience. I bow to your great wisdom, oh elder."

Which would be Lianne's cue to try and smother her sister with a pillow.

(Doesn't work.)

In a few days, Kaylee has her license, and has two months of outfits packed.  She says goodbye to her parents, tells them she loves them and that she'll miss them and that she'll stay in touch.  She's quietly thankful that, even when she's keeping so many secrets from them, she's still able to mean it.

Lianne packs food and money and fewer outfits, figuring they'll be able to do laundry in motels, says goodbye to mom (does not particularly promise to stay in touch), and her sister drives her to pick Kaylee up.

"Hey Lianne!  Everyone all set?"

"We are! You ready to head out?"

She hauls her suitcase into the back of the car.  "Yep!"  And in she climbs.

"Buckle in, we've got a bit of a long drive to set us off. Lianne said you guys don't want to stop in Memphis?"

"No, we don't."

"Why do I get the feeling something happened on you guys' trip there?"

She glances at Lianne, deferring.

"Some girls are jerks, and really territorial."

"Is that likely to be a problem this trip?"

"Not sure."

"I don't know exactly how much Lianne filled you in on - we are going to be trying to make contacts with other magical girls on this trip, it's kind of the secret reason we're doing this."

"She didn't mention that exactly. Any foreseeable problems with that plan on you guys' end?"

"It's - conceivable - that some of them might try to start fights."

"Well. There's three of us. I suppose we'll just have to be good at ending fights."

"Um.  I can imagine how this is probably going to sound coming from a girl not two weeks into having her driver's license, but..."

"I'm assuming magical girls aren't bullet-proof, of course."

"It wouldn't be harmless, getting shot," she says.  "But we can bounce back from a lot.  And you're supposed to be able to turn off your pain receptors, if you're a magical girl, although I've never actually tried it - so someone might be able to keep going after you shoot them.  I know ordinary bullets aren't supposed to be able to do a lot against witches."

"Ordinary? Implies they can be extraordinary."

"...I might be able to modify your ammunition but I'm not sure I want you shooting people."

"Even if it's between them and me? Them and Kaylee?"