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[sub][color=dimgray][b][color=5C6F8E]Location |[/color][/b] The Great Outdoors, for AJ at least.
[b][color=5C6F8E]Mentions of |[/color][/b] Mostly [color=D52759]Val[/color] [@Dirty Pretty Lies]. 
Little mentions of others here and there.
[b][color=5C6F8E]Interacting with |[/color][/b] Each other [color=5C6F8E][b]Chris[/b][/color] [@GhostMami] & [color=#ff4500][b]AJ[/b][/color] [@TootsiePop] 
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[indent]Not uneducated of the area that he was in, AJ didn’t walk too far from the campsite. Those that hiked in the backcountry, off the established trails, are advised not to travel alone. In addition, there were over 20 hiking trails with different difficulty levels, and it was night, which meant it was even more dangerous than it would be during the day. 

He hoped his friends, and their friends, didn’t decide to go on a nightly adventure, and if they did, he hoped they weren’t dumb enough to stray from the path. Knowing this unpredictable batch... Who knows! 

Truly, no one wanted another disaster, right? Like in the form of venomous rattlesnake bite or falling off a cliff…. right? He hoped not. However, things weren’t looking so hot for them. It was their first day and there was already an accident and a fight. Both where he was at the center of it. Was this a smart idea? A last hurrah road trip? No one seemed to be enjoying themselves. No one seemed to want to do this anyways. 

Why was he getting depressed all of a sudden? Wasn’t he just inspired to say ‘fuck it all, let’s have a good time’? Sighing to himself,  he headed towards the visitor center. [i]Let’s hope they’ll stay put and take it easy. They had a hobo to entertain.[/i] The closest hiking trail to the visitor center was the Moenkopi loop, difficulty level easy. Deciding the best reception place was probably here, he took a seat at a picnic table. Still in sight was a now minuscule bonfire.

His lips curved into a sheepish smile. Gaining distance from everyone gave him some relief. He felt like he could catch a break. It was times like this where he could see the world stopping, as he took in the beauty of his surroundings. The night sky. The fresh air. The humidity. If it weren’t for all the negativity in his mind, one could say nature and travel brought the best out of him. He wouldn’t know. Right now, he cared too much about what everyone thought about him. Right now, he was the fool that wrecked a shitty RV. Right now, he was guilty for hurting Val. 

After he slipped on his bluetooth and his service slowly connected with the nearest satellite to call Chris, AJ leaned back, so he can stare up at the view. Reception was barely at the mid mark, but it did get through. The ringback tone was all AJ could focus on, as his narrowed eyes studied the distant lights entangled in the sky of midnight velvet. 

Armed with a bowl full of mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot fudge, and chocolate sprinkles, Chris elbowed open the door to his room and kicked it closed behind him. Dinner with his mom went well. It was just the two of them, Gwennie was busy. That was probably for the best, because her being around would have lead to more rolling around in the sheets and less preparing for tomorrow’s exam. Not hot blonde distractions tonight.

Chrysler had done as much as he could to study for his practical. He knew what he knew and his hands would do what they’re capable of, and that was that. If he failed… well, he could always just become a wandering vagrant or something. Hopefully he wouldn’t fail, but Chris always thought it best to never get his hopes up. Less disappointment that way. With his fate more or less decided, the teen plopped down into his futon bed — currently in couch mode and covered in a mess of blankets — and began to engage in Netflix & Chill all by his lonesome. You know, the actual literal PG version.

As soon as he had lifted the first spoonful of sweet confection to his lips, his phone buzzed in his back pocket. Lifting a cheek, he pulled it out and screened the call. AJ, oh boy, this would require pausing [i]Peaky Blinders[/i]. His best friend was known to be quite long-winded on the phone. And in real life. Basically all the time. He got that from his momma, from what Chris gathered of the duo. Lord knows how his dad could handle all of that drama under one roof.

[color=5C6F8E][b]“Ahh, he lives.”[/b][/color] Chris answered the phone mockingly. Having not heard back from AJ until now, it seemed an apt joke. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Still smiling?”[/b][/color]

[i]Grin.[/i] [b][color=ff4500]“How can I not smile while talking to you?”[/color][/b] Playfully teasing, AJ could admit to himself that hearing Chris’ voice did help elevate his mood. It was gay, but whatever. [b][color=ff4500]“You ready to ace your exam?”[/color][/b] For once, AJ wasn’t steering the conversation toward his turmoil. Friends gotta’ be considerate of others, [i]sometimes[/i].  

Chris looked down at the bowl of sin in his lap. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Uhh… I’m stress eating ice cream and contemplating if I’d be a decent criminal. That count?”[/b][/color]

[b][color=ff4500]“You’ll be [i]fiiiiiine[/i], Chris.”[/color][/b] Sitting up, AJ brought his gaze back to the small fire in the distance,  [b][color=ff4500]“As a criminal and a mechanic. I bet you could do both.”[/color][/b] He snickered, his laugh echoing in the receiver. 

Mm, ice cream sounded baller right now. 

He chuckled at AJ’s response. He hadn’t considered both as an option, but maybe. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”[/b][/color] Even if all else failed, Chris could always count on having AJ in his corner. [color=5C6F8E][b]“So how’d things shake out earlier? Did you get my texts?”[/b][/color]

[color=ff4500][i]Did I get your texts?[/i][/color] Clearing his throat, taking a moment to run his right hand through his unruly hair, AJ cheesed in an anxious kind of way, [b][color=ff4500]“I did... but. I was a little preoccupied.”[/color][/b] After another moment, he rubbed his hands together and thought of his next words. What to say, what to say. Deciding to let out another laugh, simply at the thought of remembering what transpired hours ago, AJ assured his lover boy, [b][color=ff4500]“Don’t you worry, Valentine. I still got my shiny teeth.”[/color][/b]

[color=5C6F8E][b]“Yeah I wasn’t too worried, not when ya have the crazy russian with ya. So everyone’s alright then?”[/b][/color] Chris said before taking a big minty bite of ice cream. Cold. The spoon was very cold. Brain freeze incoming.

[b][color=ff4500]“No… not necessarily…”[/color][/b] His voice trailed off and his eyes went down to the ground as if Chris was right there, giving him that stern, grumpyface look. How could he lie to his friend? He just couldn’t! He’d plead the fifth. [b][color=ff4500]“Soooooooo… the shitty — like why were they even driving — RV, was owned by the Cuban guy from my school, y’know, Sami? And it might’ve ended with me, errrr, making Val… emotional. BUT IT ISN’T MY FAULT!”[/color][/b] He suddenly defended his honor. [b][color=ff4500]“SHE BLAMES ME FOR HER PROBLEMS AND I MIGHT’VE YELLED TERRIBLE THINGS BACK AT HER THAT I KNEW WOULD HURT LIKE A BITCH!”[/color][/b] 

Ah, there it was. Classic AJ. Chris blinked a few times, partially because he was recovering from brain freeze, partially because he was digesting information. Cuban guy named Sami? Chris had recognized the voice from the phone and wondered if it could be the same guy he went to middle school with. Maybe he transferred to rich bitch school at some point, Chris had no idea, he’d kinda fallen out of touch with most of his old crew since he got kicked out. But that was neither here nor there. 

[color=5C6F8E][b]“Val, huh? Weird that you guys would run into each other randomly like that, but I mean like… you’re both always kinda like that…”[/b][/color] Like what exactly? Was there a word for it? Like what happens when a tornado meets a volcano, just like that one song said. But that song was about a couple, and AJ and Val weren’t a couple. Buttt, maybe they should be? Whatever, not his business, as long as AJ fulfilled his end of the bet. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Just like, wait for things to cool down and apologize. Get her some food or some shit.”[/b][/color]

Swiftly and with complete disgust, AJ retorted, [b][color=ff4500]“Why do I have to apologize?!”[/color][/b] Just thinking back at the fight, he was getting heated. Maybe they needed to talk sooner rather than later, only so he could burn the bridge down. Hellfire! [b][color=ff4500]“It’s MY fault she pushes me away because what? I loved Jamie? Break up happens. Boom. She’s back! Then Mandy comes on in and I’m just a GOOD ASS FRIEND. She ghosts me again. Like what the fuck??? Y’know what. I’m NOT going to be the better person. Not this time. Why should I?!”[/color][/b] He was standing up now, ready to start round two.

[color=5C6F8E][b]“Jesus, calm your ass down, aiight?”[/b][/color] Here he was getting all riled up when Chris was trying to have a relaxing night. At least this distraction was keeping him from stressing about tomorrow. [color=5C6F8E][b]“First off, you should apologize because only pussies don’t apologize when they know they fucked up, and YOU just TOLD me that you said some things in the heat of the moment that you probably shouldn’t have. Own your shit, be a man.”[/b][/color] The advisor ate another scoop of ice cream in a breath between lines. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Secondly—”[/b][/color] Chris began, with a mouthful. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Are you really that thick headed? This shit is so obvious, you know why she’s flyin’ off. She’s jealous, dude.”[/b][/color] On god, why did this kid need so much help getting it in.

The rich, naive, so naive boy had a response in his head after Chris told him to be a man. It would’ve been a heavy sigh and a simple ‘you right’, but the next part shook him. [b][color=ff4500]“What?”[/color][/b] The anger dissipated and his feet that were planted in the sand felt... light. He felt light. Jealous? Really? Of what? Of ME? 

Breaking out of this sudden trance, AJ laughed it off obnoxiously, [b][color=ff4500]“Pfft. Jokes. Chris is full of jokes.”[/color][/b] It was unbelievable. Uncanny! Unheard of!  She got jealous over people hanging over Nate, not him. 

[color=5C6F8E][b]“I ain’t jokin’, dude.”[/b][/color] Chris replied with an exasperated laugh. He set down his bowl on the end table with a porcelain clank. Grabbing his smokes and a light, he made his way to the window and opened it wide so he could blow out the smell. Last thing he needed was his moms whirling in and losing her shit too. 

[color=5C6F8E][b]“Think about it. You just said it yourself, right?”[/b][/color] Chrysler took a long drag and then exhaled. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Y'all were tight as hell, but then you get a boyfriend. And you in love and spending all this time, probably engaging in all kinds of PDA because you a slut for sure, so she gets bent and backs off. But then you break up, and guess who comes back trying to get it in? Things go back to the way it was for a while. But now you run into Val, and you got this hot lil honey in your passenger seat heading out on a summer vacation together, and she goes bananas. You see it now, bro? She wants to be that honey.”[/b][/color] This shit was elementary, as far as Chris was concerned. How on earth was AJ this oblivious? Must have dated a dude for too long, forgot the complex ways of women.

As much as AJ wanted to continue to be in denial, the painted picture Chris just shoved in his face was too daunting, too shocking for him to fight back. Was he that ignorant to her feelings? Those darted eyes that stabbed the back of Jamie’s skull, while he kissed his first love in the hall. Or when he rushed to give her a hug and she just shouldered him, ice cold. Calculating and mapping their memories, he could see a difference when he took her out, she at his side, and when he was surrounded by everyone, but her. 

When Mandy needed a place to stay, Tink didn’t agree it should be with a guy. Mandy was housed at his place, and Aleks, and other guys’ cribs for that matter. All who Val considered her close companions… was he this stupid?   [b][color=ff4500]“...it’s just platonic.”[/color][/b] He whispered, more to himself than Chris. 

How should he feel with this newfound information? Part of him couldn’t believe she liked him more than just a friend. Part of him was… confused. Extremely confused. If she loved him, really loved him, why would she lie? Why didn’t she just say it? Like [i]really[/i] say it. 

[color=5C6F8E][b]“I dunno man, just think about it is all I’m saying. Girls get weird about stuff like that, can’t just say what they feel.”[/b][/color] Not his girl though. Chris was blessed with a girl that did nothing BUT speak her mind, all the damned time too. He wouldn’t want it any other way though. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Apologize, clear shit up. Carry on with your trip, you’re supposed to be having fun, bruh.”[/b][/color] Chris took another drag. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Where’d y'all end up tonight anyway?”[/b][/color]

[i][color=ff4500]Get it together, dumbass.[/color][/i] Mentally scolding himself, choosing to focus on the present and not looking at Val in a [i]different[/i] light, his stomach [s]unpleasantly[/s] [s]pleasantly[/s] unpleasantly curling on the inside, AJ [i]calmly[/i] answered, [b][color=ff4500]“Red Rock. All of us. Every. Single. Fucking. One. Of. Us. Minus Mandy. Mandy bounced. Sami hates me. Emilia keeps crying because when she sees me and Matt she probably thinks of scum. Most of ‘em don’t like me because of what I did to Val. Yessi hugs me close to her tits. Aleks is exhausted. The usual. And oh, we have a new hobo friend that speaks french.”[/color][/b]

Red Rock? That probably meant they were camping instead of hotelling it. For a moment, Chris felt a pang of missing out. He loved camping… not so much the drama that seemed to be surrounding this particular trip though. Chris nodded as he listened along and then stopped at the last part. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Wait, hold the fuck. You have a what?”[/b][/color] He flicked a bit of ash out the window and let the night breeze take it. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Y’all a bunch of white people out there camping and are just chill with a hobo joining you? Haven’t you seen any horror movie ever, this is why you guys are usually the stars of ‘em. You don’t see asians doing that.”[/b][/color] You don’t really see asians camping at all, but that was beside his point. Point was, they were probably chillin with a crazy french ax murderer and AJ was way to ‘eh, whatever’ about that.

[b][color=ff4500]“It’s all good, Chris. When I get back to the site, they’ll all be singing kumbaya and be drunk as hell. He has a guitar, my man. He’s strumming to that song Gwen just played on the radio. It’s super chill.”[/color][/b] The vibes told AJ they weren’t in danger. The french hobo was amicable! And didn’t remind him of his mother, or anyone on her side of the family… now that was SCARY. Always give his mama what she wanted, or the house would catch on fire. Literally. Yep, yep. Regardless, he was more concerned about [i]other[/i] matters. [b][color=ff4500]“Don't worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing gonna’ be all right.”[/color][/b]

Chris just shook his head in response which, of course, AJ had no way of seeing. If things were to go horror movie, they’d probably be okay with Sami and Aleks around. Maybe not Aleks, actually… he and Yessi would be the pair that got killed because they were fucking in the woods. AJ was the pretty boy, he might last about halfway through the film. Anyway, hopefully his friend’s assumptions were correct. [color=5C6F8E][b]“Whatever you say, Bob Marley. Did the hippie bring you some weed or something?”[/b][/color] Chris laughed at the uncharacteristic musical reference.

Shrugging to himself, AJ slowly, very slowly, strolled back down the path toward everyone else (there was still a bit of distance), [b][color=ff4500]“Iunno. We just met him. I called you LITERALLY right after.”[/color][/b] 

Stopping himself in his tracks, realizing how unusually [i]nervous[/i] he was, returning to his original concern, he hesitantly asked his friend,  [b][color=ff4500]“...is this trip even worth it?”[/color][/b] He wanted to say fuck it and carry everyone’s burdens… but for some reason, this first day, just getting to their first destination, it was all crashing. Was he that afraid to lose everyone and grow up? He was a walking disaster and as his past has shown, especially with Jamie, he damages the things he cares about the most — on purpose. Maybe this last hoorah is his way of saying goodbye, move on, and hurt them before they hurt him. Maybe he was thinking too much and needed a drink. 

Yeah, he needed a drink. 

Worth it? What did he mean by that? The kid was the walking embodiment of more money than brains — not that he was stupid, he just had that much money. AJ could afford this trip ten times over, of course it was worth it. He was surrounded by his friends, sure a couple of tagalongs joined in, but whatever. One of them is a friend too! Knowing his best friend, Chris figured there was some deeper meaning with that question. Maybe he was just bummed that he wasn’t there to. Was it egotistical to think that? Eh, whatever… [color=5C6F8E][b]“Of course it’s worth it man, you had a rocky start, but you’re gonna have a blast. Save all that worrying for the real world, you’re on vacation now. Go have a drink with your definitely-not-a-murderer hippie friend.”[/b][/color]

Yeah, he was right. AJ needed to get in vacation mode. It would be easier with Chris at his side, but whatever. He wasn’t going to put guilt in his Valentine’s mind, the day before his big test. Friends don’t do that shit. [b][color=ff4500]“I’ll snap you his face.”[/color][/b] The pretty boy jested (not really, he was going to), before deciding it was time to let his friend go [s]until tomorrow a minute after his exam ends[/s], [b][color=ff4500]“Good luck, Chris. Don’t let Gwen’s tits distract you.”[/color][/b] 

[color=5C6F8E][b]“No luck, just skill.”[/b][/color] Chrysler responded with slightly feigned confidence. [color=5C6F8E][b]“And I’ll do what I damn well please with them tits. Have fun, I’ll see you soon.”[/b][/color]

[b][color=ff4500]“I MISS YOU ALREADY.”[/color][/b][/indent]