Chapter Text
Alex and Charlie decide to go on a whole tour around the United States for their summer vacation. After spending the first half of June doing long hours of work, they finally gain enough money for their multiple flights across the country. The first destination they had planned to go to was the small town of Shadyside, right outside of Salt Lake City. After flying away from their Californian homeland and landing in Utah territory, the boys gather their stuff and exit the airport.
"Here we are, Alex," Charlie shouted. "Shadyside!"
"Why is it called that anyway?" Alex said. "Is everyone super shady in this city?"
"You never know." Charlie joked.
After reaching their hotel and checking in, Alex and Charlie decide to go play around a bit at the city park before dinner.
"Ooh... swings!" Charlie gasped with glee.
The jock dashes towards the nearby swing set and immediately starts swinging himself high along with it. Alex, however, sits on his seat without doing any playful movements.
"Hey, babe! Get up here!" The jock pleaded.
"Nah, I'm good." Alex groaned.
"Come on! You can't be that jet-lagged." Charlie chuckled in the air.
"That's just my face, you dork." The nerd said.
Charlie fiercely jumps off the swing set and sneaks up behind the smaller boy. Before he knew it, Alex had found myself being sent flying sky-high by the force of his boyfriend's rigid, athletic hands.
"AHH what the hell, Charles!!!" Alex screeched.
Charlie continues to laugh as he keeps pushing Alex up the swings. As they continued playing with one another, two other boys start to approach the swing set.
"Oh no, TJ. They took our spot!" Cyrus pouted.
"Hold on a minute... Cyrus, it's them!" TJ said. "Those guys we saw on the news where it talked about Liberty High being the first school in the U.S. to award two prom kings!"
"Wait, seriously?" Cyrus gasped. "Two gay guys won prom king and queen?
"I think one of them is bisexual, actually." TJ pointed out.
"And everyone was accepting?" Cyrus asked.
"Yeah! Crazy right?" TJ gushed. "We should say hello!"
Cyrus and TJ approach the older couple and Alex and Charlie disband themselves from the swing set.
"Hi, uh... can we help you?" Alex said.
"You two are Alex Standall and Charlie St. George, correct? Those Liberty High guys from the news?" TJ said. "Congrats for being the first gay couple in this country to be crowned king and king at Prom!"
"Like for real! Literally one of the biggest cultural resets in the history of this universe!" Cyrus said with great eagerness.
"Aww thank you, guys." Alex smiled. "Charles, it looks like we have some fans."
"Really?" Charlie whispered. "We have fans?"
Ever since Alex and Charlie's historic night at prom, their names ended up being on the cover story of every single news headline and magazine for the past several weeks due to Tyler placing them on the "best couples" section of their high school yearbook. Despite making many homophobes pressed, other queer people in the world had become more confident with their sexuality because of them.
"I’m Cyrus and this is my boyfriend, TJ." The younger boy said as he and TJ shook the other couple's hands.
"Nice to meet you guys!" Alex and Charlie replied.
"Far from home, I see?" Cyrus guessed.
"Yeah, we just landed here not too long ago," Alex answered.
As both of the couples continue interacting, Charlie insists Alex to ask the young friendly strangers to tour them around Shadyside.
"If y'all don't mind, do y'all want to give me and my boo a little tour around this town?" Alex asked.
"Absolutely!" Cyrus replied. "Where to first?"
Alex could feel his stomach growling loudly due to skipping his lunch.
"Umm is there a place we can eat first?" Alex asked. "I'm really hungry."
"Yes, Cyrus knows a place," TJ said. "Come follow."
Alex and Charlie follow the younger boys as they begin their first journey through new uncharted territory. After exiting the park, the boys make their way near downtown until Cyrus signals the newcomers to enter his favorite restaurant.
"Welcome to The Spoon." Cyrus smiled.
"Don't mind my boyfriend," TJ said. "He loves making a dramatic entrance."
The boys proceed to sit at the nearest table inside the diner.
"So... What would you like to eat?" Cyrus asked.
Alex scrolls through the menu and becomes befuddled with the meals that were shown.
"These look... odd." Alex cringed. "I'll just let y'all pick for me."
"I know!" Cyrus beamed. "You have to try the baby taters!"
"Here we go," TJ said, shaking his head.
"What can get you guys this evening?" The waiter asked, appearing out of nowhere.
"Two large baskets of baby taters please!" Cyrus responded. "And four glasses of water!"
After a fifteen-minute wait, the two couples have their meals served and they proceed to eat their dinner.
"Holy shit, these are delicious!" Alex said happily with his mouth full.
"Alex! Language!" Charlie laughed.
"Oh, we don't mind." TJ chuckled. "Not sure about Underdog though."
"My family has a big issue with cursing!" Cyrus mentioned.
The group continues to eat and talk as time passes.
"So how long have you guys been dating?" Charlie asked the younger boys.
"Almost a year now!" Cyrus answered with his mouth full. "TJ's going to be a sophomore while I'll be a freshman."
"Nice." Charlie nodded. "Are you scared about starting high school?"
"A little... but good thing I got Teej here to protect me, am I right?" Cyrus smiled.
"Anything for you Cy-Babe!" TJ said with confidence before kissing his boyfriend.
Alex and Charlie grin with amusement as they examine the two young boys being affectionate towards each other in public. Charlie then proceeds to look at his watch and becomes wary of the time.
"Oh geez, it's getting late!" Charlie said. "Me and Alex should get some sleep. Our flight was exhausting today."
Once they were finished with their meals, Alex and the younger boys wait outside until Charlie was done paying their bill.
"It was nice meeting you guys!" Alex smiled.
"Same here," Cyrus responded. "How long will you guys be staying in Shadyside?"
"About three-four days tops." Charlie nodded. "Then me and Alex are gonna travel to either Rapid City or Chicago next."
"Awesome!" TJ gushed.
"In the meantime... maybe we could all do something? Like tomorrow?" Charlie suggested. "You know... to get to know each other better?"
"Ooh yes yes, I absolutely love making new friends!" Cyrus beamed. "What do you think, TJ?"
"I'm down if y'all are!" TJ agreed. "The fair opens tomorrow if y'all are interested. We could hang out there are or explore other parts of the city."
"Absolutely!" Alex and Charlie said in unison. "Well see you later guys! Can't wait to see what this town has to offer!"
"Bye!" Cyrus and TJ responded, waving at the other couple before seeing them walk away down the street.
Alex and Charlie make their way back to their hotel and proceed to rest underneath their bed while watching TV. They turn the TV on to see that Fox News was doing a report on the couple.
"Eww.. not the Trump-infested Fox News!" Alex gagged. "Babe, switch to CNN please!"
"Why? It's a new channel." Charlie chuckled. "They can't be that bad."
Charlie then adjusts his eyesight to see that the news channel's headline was saying: Evergreen County Spreads REVOLTING Homosexual Agenda and It Must Be Stopped.
"Yup never mind. Let's just watch Disney Channel instead." Charlie gulped.
Alex playfully squints his eyelids low at his boyfriend while watching him change the channel.
"Ooh yes! Andi Mack!" Alex cheered. "I fucking love this show! I ship Cyborg and RJ so much!"
"Hold on. Those two guys kinda look like those strangers we just met!" The jock pointed out.
"Really?" Alex said as he examined the two characters on the screen. "Nah. I don't see it."
The nerd adjusts his comfort level by cuddling his sweet, quarterback boyfriend into his arms, causing Charlie to do the same.
"Speaking of Cyrus and TJ, they seem like pretty interesting guys," Alex admitted. "I hope we had taught them enough to be proud and love who they are."
"Agreed." Charlie nodded before resting his head on Alex's.
As night falls, they continue to watch television until Charlie notices that his nerdy boyfriend has already fallen asleep. Charlie kisses Alex on the forehead before holding him gently underneath the blankets. And so the famous prom kings of America sleep inside the comfort of their Utah hotel room, dreaming about the memories they will soon make in the future of their trip.