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"Almost ready?" Eiji asked, coming into the room with two plates of Eggo waffles. "They're just about done packing the car."
Sitting on the edge of the unmade bed, Ash shoved his toothbrush, deodorant, and razor into the plastic Ziploc Eiji had labeled 'bathroom’. "Yeah, if this damn bag would seal," Ash said, furiously trying to get the Ziploc to close. They were clearly the last to get their bag in the car out of everyone in the house.
Eiji was pacing and double-checking their shared red suitcase. He had been ready to leave since seven in the morning. However, Ash refused to get out of bed until eleven, much to the group's annoyance, but none would dare try and wake him. This was his vacation too, and sleeping in was a mandatory part of it. "There! Got it."
Eiji handed the waffles to Ash, careful not to spill the syrup gliding over the plate. "Hurry up and eat," Eiji said urgently. He already had half the first waffle down his throat while zipping up the suitcase. "The guys are waiting out front for us."
Ash grumbled beneath his breath.
"You know how excited Bones is," his roommate said with a mouthful of waffles. "Last night, he was up until two trying to plan out the perfect trip for us. The least you could have done was woken up at a normal time or packed the day before."
"Who do you think was helping him plan until two?" Ash asked.
"Just eat," Eiji said. "By the way, we are taking Kong's car." He shoved the last of the second waffle in his mouth, chewing quickly. Eiji knew his stomach was not going to appreciate the fast meal, but they needed to move.
"Good. That things got room," Ash remarked, both waffles from his plate gone. He stood from the bed and picked up the suitcase, testing the weight. Heavy as usual with the way Eiji packs. He collected his roommate's paper plate and headed out their bedroom door toward the living room. On the way, Ash made a quick stop in the kitchen to toss the plates while Eiji trailed behind, checking all lights on their side of the house were off.
Stepping outside to the sweltering sun and heat of July, Ash spotted the group of guys. They were gathered in a circle on the side of Kong's black Honda Pilot, all dressed for the eighty-degree day in shorts and casual t-shirts. Sing, who was tagging along now that high school was let out for the summer, wore Shorter's sunglasses making him look further annoyed at Ash's late appearance.
"Look at you bums just standing around."
They all turned and glared at Ash.
Shorter separated from the group with a laugh and swung an arm around Ash. "Yo, who sleeps this late day one of vaca man?"
Ash mirrored Shorter and brought his own arm around his friend's shoulder. "It's for everyone's benefit. This way, I won't kill whoever navigates us in the wrong direction on this road trip."
"Who is navigating?"
Eiji came up alongside the two as Ash shrugged out of Shorter's side hold. Sing spotted Eiji and gave a shy wave toward him.
"We already shook the Magic 8 Ball, and guess who's got the first two-hours of the drive," Shorter said.
"Bones?"
"Nope."
"Alex? Kong?"
"Wrong again. Eiji, you're gonna go through everyone before you get it."
"It's Eiji," Ash interrupted the two, wheeling the suitcase to the back of the SUV and shoving it in with a grunt.
"Ding-ding-ding! Correct-o, sir!" Shorter cheered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out Kong's car keys. He threw them over to Eiji, who caught them with a slight fumble. "We're about to shake the 8 for your navigator. Come on over."
The three walked over to the group, where Alex gave a rough shake to the black ball. As he watched Alex get a "My reply is no" from the little window on the Magic 8 Ball, Eiji felt the growing anxious feeling in his stomach like a hive of bees.
He grew up driving his mom's compact Mazda around, not this monster of a car he would have to navigate through hours of traffic. Then there was the matter of the navigator. Kong often freaked out over slowing down for yellow lights, Bones would shout at other cars for a race, and Shorter never paid attention to the GPS, leading to many recalculations. Ash and Alex were the best navigators in the group. With one already out, the odds were not looking suitable for Eiji.
Next to shake the ball was Kong, who breathed a sigh of relief just as Eiji did at the negative result. Why did Bones have to pick a vacation on the far end of Pennsylvania?? It couldn't have been a trip to New Jersey or Delaware?? Eiji felt the nervous tic to bite at his lip but stopped before Ash could see.
Too late.
His roommate was thrown to next and gave a lazy shake.
Ash could clearly see the fear on Eiji's face at having to drive Kong's car. Sure, it was big, but it was nothing too crazy. Besides, they would be on highways where he would stay in one lane for miles. Easy, but Ash felt the familiar pull to comfort his friend.
"Ah shit," Ash threw the ball to Alex, hoping the throw jostled the stupid Magic 8 to a positive response when Alex caught it, "I'm navigator."
"Damn, no nap for you. Not like you need it anyway," Alex joked, glancing down and confirming the blue-colored ‘Yes’.
Shorter wasted no time and ran for the back row of the Pilot, dragging Sing with him. "The Magic 8 Ball has spoken! Now let's get the fuck outta here, guys!"
Everyone yelled back in agreement and shoved in the car. Eiji wordlessly made his way to the driver's side, overthinking how to back out of the driveway. Ash came up to his side and put a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
"I know a few backroads that will get you on I-87 without making too many lane changes. You'll be fine. Okay?"
"Thanks," Eiji opened the door and looked over at Ash. His eyes sending help signals toward his navigator. "I will be alright."
"Right…let's go."
Ash squeezed Eiji's shoulder and walked to the passenger side, sliding in and opening the Waze app on his phone. The sound of the driver's door closing and shaky breathing was blocked out by the sound of the party happening in the seats behind.
Despite all his worrying, Eiji handled his driving shift with no mistakes. Shorter, the famous backseat driver of the group, had for once kept quiet the entire time. Though some credit went to Sing for distracting Shorter with the newest K-Pop music, he downloaded to his Spotify.
After a short rest stop visit for bathroom breaks, the group reentered into the car. The Magic 8 Ball was taken out again, but with Eiji and Ash out of the game. Kong had been chosen as the next driver, with Shorter as his navigator.
Bones bunkered down for a nap in the middle row as Alex talked to his girlfriend on his cellphone. Eiji settled into the back row between Ash and Sing, relieved to finally be out of the driver's seat.
"Eiji did you want to share music?" Sing said, offering up one of his earbuds.
"Sure," Eiji smiled, "What do you want to play?"
"You pick."
"Do you have Yuuri? I think he just came out with a new album?"
"Ichi?"
"Yeah!"
Eiji sat back and closed his eyes as the music played, taking in his native language. The familiarity felt like a balm after the chaos of navigating American roadways.
A moment later, the car engine started up, and the gang set out again in hopes of making it to the motel before it got too late. Ash let Eiji recover and spent the time fiddling on his phone. He shot a quick text to Max asking if he could grab the mail every other day during the week. Then started out the window to watch the landscape go by.
Losing count of how many mile markers they passed, Ash felt himself slowly begin to relax and close his eyes. A touch to his elbow made him jerk back awake and look over to Eiji. His roommate was holding in laughter and pointing to Sing. The boy was leaning into his seatbelt strap along his shoulder, fast asleep.
Eiji took the earbud out of Sing's ear and his own, placing them back in their case and placing it in the cup holder beside the sleeping boy.
"I could never sleep in cars like that," Eiji whispered.
"On a drive this long, I don't blame him for passing out."
"You are tired, Ash? If I remember, you were just sleeping four hours ago."
Ash leaned his head onto Eiji's shoulder while kicking his shoes off, "A little catnap would be nice."
Eiji laughed and knocked his head lightly into Ash's, toeing out of his own shoes. Kong's driving was the smoothest out of the group, weaving between the lanes steadily. Even though it was true Eiji never slept in car rides, something about the easy drive and warmth of Ash next to him caused a comfortable drowsy state to overcome him.
"We should save it for the motel," Eiji said, "That way, you'll sleep at a normal time."
"I think someone just goes to bed too early."
"Ten is early to you?"
Ash picked his head up off Eiji's shoulder, "I go to bed three hours after you, so yeah."
"Maybe that's why you're a jerk first thing in the morning when I wake up." Eiji mocked, making sure to keep his voice down for Sing. However, Bones picked his head up from the seat in front and gave them both a look.
"Can yah' both be quiet? I'm tired from last night," he said, rubbing his eyes.
Shorter perked up and glanced behind from the front passenger seat. "Are Ash and Eiji flirting back there?"
"Shorter…"
"NO."
"Yah' and I just want to sleep."
Ash leaned forward, grabbed the back of Bones's head, and pushed him down, "We'll shut up, now get back to dreaming about your right hand."
Bones ignored the jab and settled his head back onto the car's window. Ash leaned back into his seat and kicked at Eiji's legs. "Drama starter."
Eiji kicked back but then got a better idea. He used his foot to peel the sock on Ash's foot halfway off and leave it.
Ash pet peeve #21.
Just as he was about to go for the other foot, Ash tilted his mouth right next to Eiji's ear, lips lightly brushing the soft curve. "You. Are. So. Annoying."
At the feel of the unexpected touch against his ear, Eiji turned, bumping their noses together. But before he could become hypnotized by vibrant green eyes, he was overcome by the uncontrollable desire to laugh. The touch of hands-on his stomach made him aware that Ash was counterattacking by tickling him.
Trying to keep from making a sound, Eiji locked his hands around Ash's wrist and tried to pull him away. His roommate's hold was too strong and he found himself trying to wiggle away but knew he would hit into Sing if he moved back any further.
"Ash--, Ash—s-to—stop," he stuttered out, trying to whisper.
Ash grinned and pulled him further down the seat. "Sto-stop what, Eiji."
Finding a soft spot right above the hipbone, Ash dug a finger in and caused Eiji to jump back with a startled shout. Aware that Sing was about to get crushed, Ash attempted to grab onto Eiji and haul him away in time. Instead, the momentum caused the two of them to fall into Sing, shocking the innocent, sleeping bystander to wake up to two college guys shoving his head into the side of the car.
Sing cried out in shock and pain. He looked down to see Eiji in his lap, looking just as shocked and Ash leaning up from Eiji's chest.
"Good afternoon, kid."
"Sing, I am so sorry." Eiji used the back of the seat to try to get up. "Ash, move!"
"What the hell is happening back there?" Kong shouted, looking in the rearview mirror.
"Sing! What are they doing to you??" Shorter turned to see Sing grabbing his head, "Ash, you just injured a minor!"
Alex put a finger in his ear and leaned the phone closer to his other, blocking out the shouting. Meanwhile, Bones was finally in too deep asleep to wake from the commotion.
"Hey, hey, the directions. How many miles until I get off??"
"Come on, he's good. Right Sing? Little love tap on the glass."
"Let me see."
"Eiji, don't baby him."
"I'm fine. I'm fine."
"Shorter! Directions!"
"Last one in has to pay for gas in the car!"
Shorter jumped into the motel pool, wearing his sunglasses and boxers. The boys had forgotten to pack swimsuits but didn't mind the compromise. Alex floated in the deep end with Kong, while Sing and Bones jumped in after Shorter. Ash was underwater near Alex, testing how long he could stay at the bottom of the deep end.
A few other motel customers shared the pool but didn't seem too pleased at the waves the rowdy college boys were causing. Though the young women catching the last of the sunset's rays from their lounge chairs, found the display to be the exact opposite.
Eiji sat up on the wrap-around balcony from the second floor, feet dangling between the white-painted metal rail. He had his Sony camera wrapped around his neck, swapping to take pictures of the guys below in the pool or simply watching them.
Gazing through the lens, he followed Ash as he resurfaced from being under for a good two minutes. From the smile on his face, it must mean he made it to a new record. Alex looked like he wanted to join in and make it a contest, but Ash waved him away, swimming for the ladder.
Ash pulled himself out of the pool right in front of the women lounging. Eiji snapped a quick picture of the women's faces and laughed at the hungry looks in their eyes. However, Ash paid them no mind. His boxers hung low on his hips, and aviator-covered eyes followed with each step he took.
Sensing that Ash was coming up to join him, Eiji reached for the towels he set aside earlier for everyone once they were done with the pool. Ash stopped to talk to Sing, inspect his head, ruffled the boy's damp hair, and then climbed the stairs to Eiji.
"Carefully, the camera is out," Eiji said, handing a towel off to his soaking wet friend.
"Got it, "Ash said, drying off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and went into their motel room for a moment. He came back out with a bag of pretzels. "I'd open it, but my fingers still feel wet."
Touched by Ash’s kind gesture for bringing along his new favorite snack, Eiji took the bag and opened it. "Thank you. When did you buy these?"
"At the rest stop when you weren't looking," Ash teased. He wiped his hands on the motel towel and scooped it into the bag.
The two sat in silence, eating their pretzels and watching the game of chicken Shorter had to have initiated. Eiji propped the camera back up and clicked just as Sing took down Alex, causing Kong to dance below him in victory. Looking back at the shot, Eiji remembered his previous picture.
Brushing his leg against Ash's, Eiji leaned toward him and showed the picture he had taken.
"Look at the attention you got earlier."
"Bunch of vultures. Still trying to get me to model, huh?" Ash subconsciously leaned his leg into Eiji's and felt his friend respond by wrapping his foot around Ash's ankle. This game felt very different from their car one.
Eiji looked up from his camera at him. "I'm not sure I would like that anymore."
Ash drew closer but was aware enough not to drip water on the expensive camera Eiji guarded with his life. "Why's that? Afraid I would move on to a better and wealthier roommate?"
He grew nervous the longer it took Eiji to respond.
"That," Eiji chuckled, moving his foot along the back of Ash's ankle, suddenly changing to a more somber tone, "but we wouldn't make any more memories like these ones. I keep thinking, what is going to happen when we all graduate? One more year is left, and then we all get jobs and move away."
Ask him.
"Who's leavin' anytime soon? Nobody."
He might stay if you would just ask him.
"I know. And I know it's too early to be thinking like this." Eiji placed his arms over the bars and leaned his head on them. "Sorry."
Ash rubbed his foot along Eiji's calf in comfort, "Even if we did all move away. Like far, far away. I think this group is tight enough to come back together."
Eiji turned toward him. "You think so."
"I know I ain't goin' nowhere. Are you?"
Eiji smiled.
"No."
Ash nodded his head in acknowledgment and looked down. He let out a frustrated sigh at the sight of Shorter looking up at them, drawing a heart in the air.
Eiji watched, amused as Ash gave Shorter the bird in response.
Did Bones stay up until two in the morning to plan this week-long road trip to PA to ride the Duquesne Incline?
Yes, he did.
Did he assume that it would be cheaper for them all to stay together in one motel room each night?
Yes again.
Was this last decision planned well?
Why, no, it was not…
Currently, Shorter sat on his motel bed with Eiji's bag of pretzels…empty bag of pretzels, watching the late-night news on mute. Sing slept alongside him, earbuds in to block the horrendous snoring of Kong, Alex, and Bones.
It was no surprise the three did not wake each other since they all slept in the same room back home, but the other four were not prepared. Shorter was exhausted and found himself absently staring at the changing lights on the TV. He hoped it would somehow hypnotize him to sleep before it hit three in the morning.
Ash and Eiji were in the bed beside his and were not any better at ignoring the noise. Ash lay with a pillow over his head, tossing and turning, while Eiji watched him and held onto the blanket to ensure Ash didn't take it all in his restlessness.
"And I'm done," Ash said, throwing the pillow on the floor. "Eiji, you up?"
Eiji rubbed at his eyes and stretched. "Yes."
"I'm going outside. Shorter, you coming?"
Looking away from the TV with red-rimmed eyes, Shorter glanced at Sing and then back up at Ash. "I'll stay here. I think I am almost exhausted enough to sleep through this."
"Good luck."
Ash stood and threw a pair of jeans on. Eiji, already in his shorts and black tank top, headed for the door.
They quietly made their way down the balcony stairs to lounge on the pool chairs. It was a warm night, and sleeping outside didn't seem like such a bad idea all of a sudden compared to the room. Eiji sat back and stared up at the sky in awe. "Look at the stars."
"Nice, right?" Ash put his hands behind his head and stared up.
Eiji sighed in agreement. "They don't look like that back home."
"That's light pollution for you."
The two let the silence take over, a nice change from the atmosphere before. Ash glanced over at Eiji to sneak a look at his face and found him pulling at his tank top, trying to cool down.
"You're hot?"
"A little. I miss the air conditioning already, but I do not want to go back to that room."
Ash shrugged and looked back up. "I'd rather sweat all night out here than endure that again."
They lapsed back into silence, taking in the stars.
Until Ash got an idea.
"Hey, you never got to try out the pool."
Eiji continued to stare at the stars but was listening.
"And it would cool you down."
"It would.." Eiji didn't like what was implied. "but it's closed."
"So…"
Eiji looked over at his friend, eyebrows raised.
"Come on, just dip your feet." Ash insisted, getting up and taking his jeans off.
"Is that necessary?" Eiji said, getting up and watching Ash make his way to the pool in his second pair of boxers of the trip.
"You can chicken out, but I'm going for a swim."
Eiji rolled his eyes but sat at the edge of the pool. The cool water came up to his shin and felt good, accompanied by the breeze at his neck. He moved his legs back in forth and watched Ash do smooth strokes throughout the pool, creating tiny ripples that met with Eiji's.
After twenty or so laps back and forth, Ash decided to rest and float in the pool's center. From the shallow end, Eiji thought he saw him close his eyes.
Feeling a rare urge to mess with his friend, Eiji took his shirt off and, as silently as possible, pulled his feet up to take his shorts off. He descended into the pool, which was much colder than he thought.
With his head above the surface, Eiji made his slow approach, keeping his eyes focused on any sudden movement his friend could make. Keeping afloat, he hovered both hands an inch above Ash's chest, ready to give him a quick dunk, his heart beating fast at the pressure to not get caught.
However, all his careful movements were ruined when Ash opened his eyes and caught Eiji mid-dunk. His roommate twisted out of his floating position and stared him down with a predatory grin.
"Well, well, look who decided to come in," Ash said, placing both hands on Eiji's shoulders and pushing down. Eiji flailed; with the water now up to his chin and going over his mouth, he tried to grab on to anything that would keep him from getting dunked under. He hastily wrapped his legs around Ash, dragging the taller man down with him. Both went underwater out of sheer stubbornness to not let go of the other.
Eiji resurfaced first, panting and heading for the shallow end. A pale hand grabbed his foot and kept him from escaping. Ash popped out of the water with a low chuckle, running a hand through his hair to push it back. Eiji pursed his lips, bangs dripping in his face, as he trod water and watched his friend swim to him.
"I don't understand how you can hold your breath that long," Eiji said, shaking his head like an agitated show dog.
"I don't understand how you can't with all that running you do." Ash continued to laugh and moved Eiji's bangs out of his eyes.
Eiji grew shy at the touch, self-conscious of how unruly his hair got in the summer humidity. Ash didn't seem to notice and swam back further into the deep end, beckoning Eiji to follow, green eyes illuminated by the moon's reflection in the water.
Forgetting about his bangs, Eiji swam after him, pulled by the intense emotion to feel those fingers brush against his forehead again.
The two swam toward the diving board, holding on to either side. "Looks like we should have taken that nap earlier."
"That would have been nice," Eiji agreed, putting his feet on Ash's knee to anchor himself in place, "I'll probably nap when we get back on the highway."
"What happened to keepin' a consistent sleep schedule?"
"On this vacation, with those three, I think I will just have to find sleep when I can."
"Going to be sleeping on chairs all day, oldie?" Ash ducked as Eiji released from the diving board and smacked a water wave at him.
"At least I won't stay in bed like someone."
Ash sent a wave back at Eiji, and the two started going back and forth, the sound of water smacking against water echoing through the center of the motel. A light turned on from the first floor behind Eiji, and Ash grabbed at his friend's arm and put a finger up in a silent gesture to be quiet.
Eiji froze and let Ash drag him further underneath the diving board, their feet tangling and bumping to stay afloat.
"Are they coming—"
"Shh, shhh."
The door opened, and Ash could feel himself draw closer to Eiji, light breathing came out in nervous exhales along his neck. Eiji put a hand on Ash's arm as Ash placed said arm behind Eiji to steady himself on the edge of the pool.
Muttering could be heard by a middle-aged man about supposedly his wife ‘just hearing things’ outside. After confirming that he could see and hear nothing out go the ordinary, he went back inside, shutting the door with a slam.
Eiji rested his head on Ash's shoulder, relieved and laughing at not being caught. Ash joined in, amazed that the shadow of the diving board hid them so well.
"I guess that is a sign to get out." Eiji was still laughing but picked up his head and looked at Ash.
"Yeah, that's probably a--," Ash began but found he could not move. Or at least move back. The dark brown of Eiji's eyes had changed to almost black from the lack of light, and it made his eyes appear that much fuller and captivating to look at. "A-uh-good."
"Idea." Eiji finished and seemed to be falling under the same spell. His lips parted, and his eyes searched, just as Ash's did the same. Taking in signs and movements on what to do next.
Ash flexed his arm, holding on to the edge, and tangled his legs further with Eiji's. Was this okay? What were they doing? Well, he knew what it looked like they were about to be doing, but did Eiji want this?
Eiji took a sharp breath, gripping his hand on Ash's outstretched arm tighter.
It sure seemed like he wanted what Ash had been willing to offer him for years now.
"Ash, you—your—hair looks nice pushed back," Eiji stumbled out, trying to maintain eye contact.
Ash brought his other hand to Eiji's waist, aware that his hand was inches away from the spot that caused Eiji to spasm earlier in the car. "Yah think so?"
Eiji's eyes grew in surprise at the touch, but he didn't shy away. Instead, as Ash drew closer, breath going deeper, huskier, Eiji leaned up into his space. The two stayed still, waiting.
"Ash," Eiji whispered, echoing in the small space under the board. God, he loved it when Eiji said his name like that, soft and like a secret about to be revealed. "I wan—."
A feeling of eyes on the back of his neck shook Ash out of whatever moment they were sharing. Sure enough, he turned toward the shared motel room where Shorter and Sing stood with a bag of Fritos watching. Ash turned back to Eiji with a groan.
"You want to go back to the room, right?"
Eiji experienced whiplash from the change in atmosphere and felt a sting of rejection that he could not decipher. "Oh, do you. Uh, yeah, we can. Sure."
Pushing away from Ash and not looking him in the eye, Eiji swam to the ladder and hurried out. Ash followed behind slowly, trying to piece what had almost just happened.
He had almost…kis..
Ash let out a frustrated sound and joined his friend in grabbing their clothes before heading upstairs.
Shorter let out a low whistle in the bathroom while Ash wrung out his boxers in the sink, wearing only his jeans. "If I knew what was happening outside, I would have shut off the shitty news a long time ago."
"I thought you were falling back to sleep, you fuckin' stalker."
"I preferred the soap opera show in the pool," Shorter jested; he leaned on the side of the sink and watched Ash. "Ratings are at their highest for that display. Confession moment, maybe?"
Shorter wiggled his eyebrows.
"No." Ash looked up, irritation in his voice and fully visible on his face, an unleashing of anger, he usually kept under wrap. "There is nothing between Eiji and me. We're just close like that and he was cold. End of story."
"Which is why you both looked like you were ready to kick up the heat with your tongues??" Shorter ignored the murderous look. "Listen, I don't know why you keep denying what is getting more and more obvious every day."
"What? That I have a friend who won't mind his own business?"
"No, you ass," Shorter scoffed, "That maybe you found something in someone you want to hold on to. We have a year left together, Ash. You have time, but you're wasting it too."
Feeling it was a good moment to give Ash room to breathe, Shorter left the bathroom, letting the door close behind him. He walked out into the bedroom area, where the snore trio was still fast asleep. Sing lay beside an exhausted Eiji, who had already changed his boxers and settled in.
Something obviously had happened outside. Eiji never shared a bed with anyone other than Ash on trips.
Shorter let out a sigh and turned the TV off, getting into bed and staring at Eiji's back. It was 3AM, and even with the noise, he knew his body was tired enough to tune it out now.
The bathroom door opened, and footsteps came to an abrupt stop.
Ash looked over at Eiji sharing the bed with Sing, his heart dropped, but he kept up an unbothered appearance. Tucking into Shorter's bed, he mirrored Eiji's position and turned toward Shorter.
"Sorry, man."
"I deserve it."