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They slam the driver side door to their 1996 Ford F-150 loudly as they step out, the noise echoing through the quiet night and open roads that at this point were more vague trails of gravel.
Charlie and Casper has driven a couple hours to the middle of bum fuck Texas with intentions of getting away for a night to watch a metor shower that was passing through for the next few days. With all the light pollution in Dallas, it would be far too bright to see from there. Hell, even regularly you couldn't see any stars. And don't get them wrong, the city was nice and all, but it got tiring. The constant noise and crowded busyness of it all was only bearable for so long. So why not spend this weekend further out like they used to?
Cas unlatched the back of the flatbed, climbing in to lay out an old, probably mud stained, thick, red, blanket that had sat under the backseat of their truck honestly probably since they got it. They spread it out as close to the corners as they can get, careful to not step on it with their shoes on. They set the silver cooler of drinks that was conveniently already back there, on the top end of the blanket as to not let the wind mess it up, and lazily dropped a couple of jumper cables -also already back there- on the opposite end.
Charlie hops out soon after, briefly setting a pack of cigarettes and a lighter on the outside edge of the roof while he got in behind them.
The two kick off their shoes, Cas taking the time to unlace their boots, before putting them just off the edge of the blanket to situate themselves. Cas is sat up with their back against the cooler, legs streched out with one bent up to rest their own arm on their knee. Charlie is sat to their left, also leaning against the cooler, instead with his legs half crisscrossed and his arms out in front of him. Both are unminding of the slight uncomfortableness caused by metal that was gently digging into their spines, despite how aware they were of how it would probably soon become painful if they were out here for long enough. The pack and lighter are swiftly moved by Charlie onto the top of the cooler.
It's nearly pitch black out, not a street light or even other cars or people around. The only light coming from the moon that was shining brightly down on the couple, like mercury poured over them, illuminating everything around them in an almost eerie manner. If they didn't know any better it would've felt like a set up to a horror movie. And given how alone they are, it's also incredibly quiet. No more road noise or strangers that have decided they need to yell an entire conversation so everyone can hear. The only sounds being the constant, soft, chirps of crickets, the gentle, cool, breeze rustling the leaves of trees and bushes, at least the ones that haven't died from the relentless summer heat. Though it wasn't too bad out now, probably somewhere just below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm and definitely a bit humid, but without the sun beating down on them and with the breeze, it was quite pleasant.
"Y'know," Casper starts, grabbing the pack of cigarettes and taking one out. "I missed this," They set the pack down as a cig hangs gently from their soft lips, lighting it before setting the lighter back down as well. They take a drag, exhaling the excess smoke as they take it from their mouth and between their index and middle fingers.
"Both the stars and you-," They specify after a few beats of silence, gesturing vaguely with their free hand.
Charlie relaxes a bit, letting his posture slack a bit as he gets more comfortable. "Yeah, I- and don't get me wrong the city's nice 'n all, but I-," He clicks his tongue light, making a small tsk noise in a way that seemed unintentional. "I think it's safe to say I was a lot more... idealistic back then." He says, taking the lit cigarette from Cas as they hum quietly in agreement as if they were nervous to shatter the silence around them.
"I've missed you too," He adds softly, inhaling a lung full of smoke.
They direct their attention to the velvety, dark blue undertoned, endlessness above them, watching the millions of stars that freckle the sky that had died out years ago, yet that just reached their eyes. The way you could see the moon in far much more detail without all the lights. If only they had thought to bring a telescope. They now no longer have to stare at it alone and wounder if the other is too. They can take comfort knowing the other will never leave their side like that again. There will be no more sleepless nights mourning what could've been.
Charlie points to somewhere in the sky, presumably at what he assumes to be a metor.
"Pretty sure that's a satellite," Casper mutters,
He points again a bit later. "That's a plane, hun," Cas responds, giggling softly.
After another handful of minutes in silence and just enjoying eachothers company passes, exchanging few words but honestly not really needing to in the first place, before Cas comes to the realization that, "We're facing east." They blurt out. "We've been facing the exact opposite direction."