[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Lt7BSz9.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OvyNxJV.gif[/img] [sub]Collab Starring: [color=5C6F8E]Chris[/color][@GhostMami] and [color=a0410d]Aleks[/color][@Plank Sinatra][/sub] [hr][hr][/center] [indent]This was supposed to be a celebratory trip, wasn’t it? Last hurrah, summer fling, road trip, party all day, staying up night… that kind of thing. So why the hell was it so tense right now? Chris thought all of these things as he approached his brothers from other mothers. AJ had that pinched expression he got when he tried (badly) to hide that something was pissing him off, and then Val practically grabbed him by the ear to drag him off for… whatever reason. Everyone else seemed unsurprised by the tension, and weren’t really speaking about it, ‘cept for Aleks, of course. Aleks always called it like he saw it, and for some reason he was predicting bodies. Chris scanned the rest of the group and his eyes found a face that he didn’t really recognize. Maybe in passing at a party, if that, but nobody that he got to know at all. This was unexpected, given that this trip was organized by AJ and meant to be with his closest friends… so, who was she? The punk sized her up and, truth be told, he liked what he saw. Long wavy blonde hair, black crop top, chucks, a choker. She was [i]fine[/i], and very much so his type. Hell, give her some smudged eyeliner and a drugged out expression that dripped sex appeal and she’d be giving Gwen a run for her money. That thought sent a pang of guilt through his gut and Chris tried to shake it away. Best not to think about that bad idea… poison that tastes sweet is the most dangerous of all. Aces and Chris would be each other’s downfall, so they couldn’t [i]be[/i] a thing. At least that’s what Chris told himself. Leaning in towards Aleks, he asked in a low tone, [color=5C6F8E]“Hey… who’s the babe?”[/color] Aleks grinned to himself, the mischievous tug on his lips somewhat disguised by the way they pursed around his straw. He took a long sip of iced mocha before he elbowed Chris’ bicep, his way of a wordless greeting. Once he gulped, in a similarly low tone he murmured, [color=a0410d]”Check this out.”[/color] The Russian in his accent was more noticeable when he spoke quietly. It turned half his sentence into a purr and grew more pronounced as he continued. It was so rare that people allowed him to gossip. [color=a0410d]“Here is the rundown. So the babe. The babe is Jamie’s [i]twin[/i]. Obviously, we can assume she was not on the guest list, meaning some perceived Judas among us decided to tell her to be at this parking lot with all her things with the rest of us. It’s fucking great.”[/color] Chris’ eyebrows shot up and he nearly choked on his words. He had been ogling his best friend’s ex’s sister. His [i]twin[/i] sister. That had to be breaking some kind of bro code. [color=5C6F8E]“Oh… no [b]shit[/b]…”[/color] Chris laughed and even smirked alongside Aleks. [color=5C6F8E]“So [i]that[/i] is why he looked like he had just sucked a lemon when I got here.”[/color] He shook his head, recalling the girls’ conversation in the car when they arrived. [color=5C6F8E]“I thought they were fucking joking… I didn’t think they were serious, holy shit. But I know who your Judas is. It’s a Judette.”[/color] [color=a0410d]“Hm?”[/color] Aleks was taking another sip of his coffee when his eyes found Chris’ two lovely chauffeurs, and his eyebrows shot up with a rare surprised breath - one that almost led to him inhaling an entire mouthful of mocha down the wrong pipe. He took another deep breath to steady himself, but the damage was done; he was already on the verge of doubling over, gasping and laughing in the same instance. [color=a0410d][i]Dear Lord. Holy fuck.[/i][/color] [color=a0410d]“Please tell me it was Ivy,”[/color] he whispered, tears of breathlessness and mirth filling the corner of his right eye. [color=a0410d]“AJ will want someone beaten to death for this, and if it’s Chloé I don’t think I have the heart.”[/color] Chris’ silence was the only cue he needed. Aleks let out a small giggle from his chest, coarsened into a chuckle from his accent and the tickle still clinging to his throat. [color=5C6F8E]“Well… there was definitely some collusion between the two… but…”[/color] Chris nodded in confirmation. [color=a0410d]“Oh, Ivy, you goddess. I for one can’t [i]wait[/i] to be sealed in a single fucking vehicle with everyone.”[/color] Aleks leaned closer, sticking his breakfast plate towards Chris as if he was making an offering of one of his uneaten flapjacks. His voice lowered again. [color=a0410d]“Val is just as furious. Given the general level of attractiveness around here, she’s going to be spitting venom like a fucking dinosaur at everybody here in about an hour. So, in short, she and AJ are--”[/color] Aleks jerked his head towards the van and rattled his coffee; the ice cubes struck the insides of the cup and rocked in his best approximation of a caffeinated tsunami, his closest comparison for what the hell might be happening in the RV right now. Especially with the presence of Leon. [color=a0410d]“While Katie is--”[/color] His eyebrows rose again suggestively, accompanied by rolling eyes. They both knew damn well that an act of sabotage like bringing Katie was only going to lead to Biblical plague levels of fuckery. Aleks had no fear on that count; after all, he’d helped her seal the deal with Carter. That earned him a pass, and he was sure he could extend one to Chris. Chloé might be on her own, but hey, that’s what she got for trying to nail him to the wall on several counts of OnlyFans While Intoxicated. [color=a0410d]“And here I am, stuck in the middle with youuuu,”[/color] he sang playfully. Chris blew out a breath of exasperation and shook his head. [color=5C6F8E]“Damage control central, [i]goodie.[/i]”[/color] He reached into the bag of breakfast bread that his mother made and pulled out a roll, taking a mighty bite in thought. Chewing quietly, he looked over to Katie again and shook his head. [color=5C6F8E]“Why are the most evil, off limits ones also the hottest? God damn, dude. I think I get Val’s perspective for once.”[/color] Aleks’ look lingered on Chris for a long few seconds. Then he shrugged and shook his head. [color=a0410d]“Listen, there’s no need to be fooled by all this. It’s tempting, I know, but it’s all bullshit. Even me. Especially me.”[/color] Aleks grinned and sipped on his mocha; his teeth scraped against the end of the straw thoughtfully. [color=a0410d]“You know, I never went to a bank before I came to America. The first time I walked into one was with AJ in freshman year, he had something to cash for his little sister, I think. I asked them what they would do for me if I made an account, and they said, ‘Well, this is where we keep all your money.’”[/color] The Russian laughed to himself at the memory. [color=a0410d]“I doubt that.”[/color] Chris raised his eyebrow and looked over at his rambling friend. What the hell was this Russian on about? He figured that if he listened long enough he would eventually find the point or lesson to be learned. Maybe... [color=a0410d]“A lot of the people here have had life gifted to them. I don’t know where my money comes from or how much of it we go through in a year, because I can snap my fingers and there’s always more. We’ll all run out of Reyna’s cooking before I run out of cash to set on fire. To most people, that would make me look like a proper cunt. Maybe I am. But you all got to know me, right? Back when I was too shy to say more than a few words, out of fear of how my accent sounded. And I would like to think you all benefited from taking that leap. The way I did. I mean, if I wanted to sit still and go through life on easy mode, fuck knows I could just stay in Los Angel--”[/color] Aleks shook his head, not finishing the sentence. He chewed over his pancake contemplatively. [color=a0410d]“The [i]point[/i] is, it may look like there’s a lot to be jealous of here, but you know us very well. We have as many fucked up problems and idiosyncrasies as anyone. And you, unlike most of us--”[/color] Aleks cocked his head at his friend, staring again. [color=a0410d]“You have a good head on your shoulders. You know how to use it. Just don’t do anything to her that AJ would do, and don’t do anything you think I wouldn’t. In fact, I would argue that maybe it’s better to get on her good side early. The summer won’t go by any faster if we decide to draw battle lines right here in the parking lot.”[/color] He turned back to Katie - a girl he hadn’t talked to in ages, someone who made him feel as though the Aleks of last year and the Aleks of this morning were two different people, someone who made him acutely aware of the passage of time and friendships. [color=a0410d]“Maybe we need to take a leap again. Try and be her friends [i]before[/i] it turns out we’re enemies. But I am a lover, not a fighter, I guess..”[/color] [color=a0410d][i]Yeah right.[/i][/color] Finally, destination “the point” had been reached. Conversations with Aleks were always a hoot. It was like one of those indoor roller coasters that are completely dark, so you just keep getting tossed around at every twist and turn, no idea what is going on until you are out in the light again and realize what a fun ride that was. Yeah, that’s what being friends with the crazy Russian was like, and it was great. [color=5C6F8E]“Well…”[/color] He looked down at the bag in his hands. [color=5C6F8E]“I got my mom’s fresh baked rolls. Peace offering, maybe? Also, you’re disgustingly rich and I kinda hate that, but I keep forgetting so it’s easier to love you regardless. No homo.”[/color] Aleks winked and elbowed Chris’ arm again. [color=a0410d]“Good talk, sport. I’ll give you a thousand dollars if you tell her one of those rolls is from me. You know me, I’m too shy to shoot my shot with girls.”[/color] Chris kissed his teeth and shook his head, [color=5C6F8E]“Pfft, man, [i]fuck[/i] your thousand dollars…. Wipe yer ass with a thousand dollars… too shy, my ass, dude.”[/color] His filipino side started taking over as he started gesturing with his hands, indicating all around Aleks face and such. [color=5C6F8E]“The hell you got to be shy about, shit…”[/color] Chris shook his head some more and waved Aleks off. [color=5C6F8E]“I ain’t walking over there alone, and you can save your money for our hospital bills if AJ loses his shit for us talking to her, how ‘bout that?”[/color] [color=a0410d]“That seems agreeable.”[/color] Aleks smiled innocently and looked at his half-finished white mocha. It seemed he and Katie shared some common ground after all. Chris had a point. There was no telling what AJ would do if he came out and saw them chatting up Katie, but Aleks hoped his presence would ease tensions somewhat. After all, his decent acquaintance with Katie aside, Aleks had never been a fan of Jamie. Hopefully it would make them both realize all he wanted was for the trip to go smoothly until they could reach Colorado and replenish their pot supplies. Hospitalization seemed unlikely, but the Russian knew that AJ, at the very least, would never strike Chris. [color=a0410d]“I am, you know. Cripplingly, painfully shy. I wish you wouldn’t mock me for it.”[/color] Chris was looking at him like he was an Instagram thot, gyrating on his bed while swearing he was a born-again Christian. Which was an apt comparison. Aleks smiled wider. [color=5C6F8E]“Me? Mock you? I could [i]never[/i]...”[/color] He smirked and clapped a hand against the back of Aleks’ shoulder in camaraderie. [color=5C6F8E]“Val ought to keep AJ busy for a few, so we should have enough time to extend an olive branch. Shall we?”[/color] [color=a0410d]“I believe we shall.”[/color][/indent]