Work Text:
Sam sped in his car to his work friend's house. It was really late at night, and he knew he wasn't asleep yet.
He also knew he shouldn't disturb him with his work, but he just had an urge to hang out with him. Sure, it being eleven at night was.. unfortunate, but he felt fine.
He walked up and knocked on the door, and heard the moving of feet as the person he waited for appeared on the other side.
"hello, yes, what is it- Sam? what are you doing here? It's super late at night." His voice was clear with tiredness.
"What are you doing awake this late, first things first?" He tried not to be too loud responding to him, but the energy in his voice bled through.
"Work. Wait, why do you care anyways?" He leaned out to look behind Sam before he could respond; seeing his racecar. He looked back at him unamused.
"..Listen, Mr. Stewar-"
"Goodnight Sam, please come back tomorrow." He started to close the door.
"Hey wait, no! I just wanted to-" He got stopped by the mild shut of the door in his face.
"I just wanted to go out on a drive with you! I mean, I can't drive with two people in my racecar, so-"
The door opened again. He was holding a drink in his off-hand, probably something with caffeine in it.
"You just want to drive somewhere with me?"
Sam got caught off guard a little.
"Yes.."
"Right now?"
Sam just nodded, regret setting in the longer both of them stood there.
Mr. Stewart just stared at him.. then his drink, then back at him.
Then he turned to go get his keys while shouting back at Sam: "Come to the driveway, let's go."
---
So they both got into the car, Sam in the passenger's seat.
"Wait- you're driving? Aren't you incredibly tired?"
"Listen, I know we're regular friends and all, but I don't trust you with my car." He then pressed a button on his odd interface, making the sun roof come down.
"Ah.. shots fired I see." Sam sunk down into his chair, and he swore he heard a small chuckle as he started up the car.
"So, where did you want to go anyways?"
"Oh, the beach."
He stopped and stared at Sam, a look of disbelief on his face.
"The bea-?! Sam, I'm not driving you anymore." He turned off the car and opened his door.
"Hey wait-"
"No! I'm not driving us- you to the beach! That is stupidly far away and I didn't sign up for that."
In a moment of panic, Sam grabbed his hand and yanked him down, making him hit his head on the car.
He groaned in pain and Sam was seriously regretting his choice to come in the first place.
They stay there for a second, then the teacher repositioned himself in his chair.
"Sam."
"..Yes?"
"Never ask me to drive you again after this."
"Wait, what?"
He started up his car again and drove out the driveway.
"Why are you doing this? You could've just asked me to leave by now."
He kept his eyes on the dark road ahead as he spoke. "I just have to drive you there and back, and then I can go to bed."
"But you could've just kicked me out and then went to bed."
They stopped at a red light.
"I didn't think that through before I started to drive, alright? You wanted for us to go on a drive together, so that's what we're doing now." That sentence ended with both of them watching the stoplight awkwardly and the pit sitting in Sam's stomach got worse.
The light turned green, and he kept driving.
"..So, how fast do you think I've could've gotten to the beach if I used my racecar?"
Sam just started a conversation. The air was thick with tension and he couldn't take it for long.
"Hm.. 10 minutes or less."
"Yeah.. probably."
It was a bad attempt at conversation. The road felt like it would go on forever.
This time, Sam didn't speak first.
"Why did you want to hang out with me so badly?"
"Oh.. I just enjoy being with you. You make me want to slow down and take my time."
The teacher had a amused expression on his face. It made Sam feel better.
"At almost midnight?"
"Hey, my urge to be with you comes at random times, I don't control it."
Sam heard it loud and clear this time, he laughed. Hearing it made all of this feel worth it somehow.
As the car was moving along to the beach, they kept talking. Smiles and laughs were exchanged on the way.
But soon they arrived. The beach was, of course, empty.
"Okay, we've arrived.. at the beach."
Sam went to speak but got interrupted by a huge yawn. "Wow.. I'm tired!"
"Yeah, you sound like it."
Both of them sleepily got out of the car, staring at the waves from afar. Then, Mr. Stewart spoke, fatigue showing in his voice now more than ever.
"Was that.. worth it?"
Sam just looked at him, his tired face in the night, smiling at him.
"Yeah.. it was."
"..Why did you look at me when you said that?"
"Oh.. I don't know."