[color=silver][center][indent][indent][indent][img]https://i.imgur.com/vZzlMmY.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/qUTnksg.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/gSjvght.gif[/img] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzNvk80XY9s][color=808000][b][i]You taught me the courage of stars before you left, How light carries on endlessly, even after death. With shortness of breath, you explained the infinite. How rare and beautiful it is to even exist.[/i][/b][/color][/url] [img]https://i.imgur.com/KbSW1MA.png?1[/img] [/indent][/indent][/indent][/center] [indent][indent][color=808000]“It won’t be the same without you, Carlos.”[/color] Brent said, a regretful tone in his usually powerful, energetic voice as he talked to his twin brother on the phone. [color=fff79a]“I know man. I really wish I could have made it.”[/color] Carlos replied with a similar sense of regret. That much was clear from where Brent sat. [color=fff79a]“Had it not been for this conference I have to be at tonight in DC, I would have jumped at the chance to see the old gang again. But hey! At least one of the Walsh men will be there!”[/color] Brent laughed as he saw the hotel/resort come into view. He had been driving for a while now. Unlike most who probably just drove straight through, Brent took it upon himself to make the journey one of luxury and getting there when he got there. He had the benefit of being somewhat from the area but honestly? He wanted to enjoy the journey there. He inhaled the salty air, enjoyed the scenic route of driving as he had casually down the Florida State road, sampled the freshest seafood in all of the Southeast, and most of all, being able to meet some friends along the way. The reason Brent decided to extend his journey was that he didn’t get the chance to come down this way that often. He primarily stuck to his natural habitat of Palm Beach, so being out here where the sea air was the saltiest and the people were the friendliest, Brent Walsh was going to take full advantage of it. He was a firm believer that you had to enjoy the little things in life to get the maximum experience from it. [color=fff79a]“Earth to Brent! Are you there?”[/color] Brent heard Carlos snap into the phone. [color=808000]“My bad bro!”[/color] He apologetically laughed. [color=808000]“It’s just so beautiful out here. I’m actually kind of sad that I’m almost there.”[/color] [color=fff79a]“Wait, don’t tell me you actually drove there!” [/color] The disbelief in Carlos’ voice was obvious even before Brent responded. [color=808000]“Of course I did! I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to see the sights!”[/color] [color=fff79a]“Only you would find driving and sightseeing as a way to test out that new cruiser of yours. How many miles does it have on it, anyway?”[/color] [color=808000]“Less than a thousand!”[/color] He proudly chuckled. [color=fff79a]“I bet that changed now, huh?”[/color] [color=808000]“Lemme check real quick and I'll tell ya!”[/color] Brent quickly glanced at the odometer and just as soon as he saw the number of miles was, in fact, less than fifty miles from the 1k marker, which immediately resulted in Brent laughing. [color=808000]“It’s so close man!”[/color] Though Brent obviously couldn’t see it, he heard his brother sigh deeply into the phone as there was a high wind-like noise from his end. [color=fff79a]“Well, Brent, hope you have fun at the reunion! Be sure to give that hottie Tessa a nice, tight hug for me! Or ya know, you could [i]finally[/i] do what you know you want to and tell finally tell her how you feel!”[/color] Brent slammed on his breaks as he came to the Southernmost House resort, which was so aptly timed with Carlos’ bold suggestion. [color=808000]“Come on Carlo! You’re speaking nonsense! I don’t--”[/color] [color=fff79a]“Brent, I’m the only person in this world who [i]would[/i] know. Don’t think I never found that book of horribly-written poetry you wrote all about her. I’m not going to judge you, but your form needs work.”[/color] Brent didn’t respond. Truth be told, he hadn’t written a single poem about her in more than a year. He couldn’t bring himself to give Carlo the satisfaction in being right -- not verbally, anyways. There was nothing more in this world he wanted than to tell her, but how could he? Where would he even begin? They had a friendship that was nearly on the same level as the kind of friendship he had with his boys. That’s how important Tessa was to him, so would he take a chance with her just on the off-chance she felt the same? He didn’t know. [color=808000]“Well, as fun as it has been talking to you, I’m here, so I have to go! Have a safe flight and all that and kill it at the White House!”[/color] [color=fff79a]“If the presence of the idiot president doesn’t do that for me!”[/color] They both shared a laugh and both hung up. Brent gathered up his luggage which consisted of a laptop bag that had his laptop and personables and two medium suitcases full of clothes and general hygiene products. As he then would walk his way from the private parking lot, Brent carried himself like one who was deep in thought. He had a mix of wild emotions and thoughts swirling inside him. He was feeling joy because he hadn’t seen most of his friends in a while. Of course, he saw Jace and Tessa on the regular due to them still living in the area, but as for the others like Andre, Grayson, and Alex, they lived so far away that Brent only saw them on occasion. And then, of course, there were those he wasn’t looking forward to seeing again. It was just a combination of a lot of things that eventually made for an uncharacteristically-quiet Brent Walsh. That all changed when he got to the front desk, greeted the clerk with his usual smile and positive energy, and then made his way to his highly expensive room. Oh how it was so pricy. When he initially reserved it, sure he knew it would set him back a pretty penny, but he thought the view would be worth it. Plus, Brent was pretty good with saving and when the invites went out six months ago, every dime and penny he could spare that wasn’t for bills and other such payments made to things he [i]needed[/i] went to saving for the trip. In total, Brent managed to save over three grand, so that gave him plenty of spending money should he need it. After a brief conversation with the front desk clerk, Brent was given his room key and soon made his way to it. On his way there, he didn’t see anyone that he might recognize, so either he was so early that none of his friends were at the resort yet or he was so late that they were already checked in and were in their respective rooms. That thought lingered for exactly three minutes, which was the time it took for him to get to the second floor where his room was at and enter it. At the exact moment he flipped on the light switch, his wide jaw dropped as low as it could. [color=808000]“Wow…”[/color] That was all Brent could say because it was the only thing that was necessary. Such a blatant display of over-the-top luxury was what he saw. From the bed to the view to ...everything else. Brent was in absolutely, uncompromised awe. On paper, the price didn’t make sense but holy hell on a stick, it was more than worth the price of admission. If this was going to be his room, Brent could only speculate what the rest of the place was like. [color=808000]“This is going to be a fun weekend!”[/color] Brent hyped himself out, letting out a louder-than-intended battle cry as he proceeded to unpack and hum happily. [/indent][/indent][/color]