Chapter 27: Pack It Up
"Sorry about earlier. I wanted to tell you my way, that way it'd have more oomf and you wouldn't have felt so uncomfortable with her being there," I apologized as Carver and I were switching out of gym clothes and into our casual wear.
Most of the guys were already gone for the day like always. We, on the other hand, like to chill for a while before we switch it up. This is one of the few times we actually get time for ourselves. No wandering eyes, no uncomfortable silences, just a place where we could be ourselves and not have to worry about keeping our guard up. Why it had to be during gym class is beyond me though. The only other person in the locker room was Coach but he always stays behind in his office, it has nothing to do with us. His office windows were peculiarly hazed, almost as if steam had permanently permeated through the glass. All we could ever see was a blurred out mass. No one really knows what he does while he's in there. I doubt it's anything nefarious. The most we hear is thunderous belly laughs that last a few second. He does have a TV in there so he's probably just streaming something funny or whatever.
"It's fine," he huffed, his back still turned to me.
He wasn't fine. He was far from fine but I wasn't gonna try to push the matter any further. I can already tell he wasn't happy with me or my actions. Way to go Fang, you're really making such great strides today. We finished getting dressed in almost complete silence. It would have been had Coach not been dying of laughter in his office. Carver glanced at me for split second and walked towards the exit. My lips pursed to the side as I walked behind him, keeping my distance when all I wanted to do was hold his hand, but I can read the room for once. Just as we got to the door leading to the gym, he stopped.
"Wait."
"Oh um okay...did I...do something?"
He turned around to face me and said, "I'm sorry."
"For what? You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who went behind your back. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. I-I'm sorry. I-I just wanted to do something nice for you and I thought a surprise like this would brighten up your day. Obviously I was wrong and I didn't think about how you would feel about all of this. I'm stupid. I'm really sorry."
"But you're not wrong. I'm glad you went through all the trouble to do this, really," he confessed holding my hands. "I want us to be together like we used to before everything went to shit, without all the rules and regulations. I feel like a caged bird. I don't want to be coddled, to be pitied. I just want everything to go back to normal."
"Well what can I do to make that happen? I'll do anything. I just want to see you smile again, for real, not the ones you put up so people quit pestering you. I miss you."
"I miss me too," he shrugged.
Crap way to bring down the mood...AGAIN. Way to take one step forward, only to take two steps back into the soul sucking abyss.
"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean—," I sighed. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Anything to get you to smile again?"
"You've done enough."
"I—oh okay, I guess I should be going then? I'll meet you out by the bleachers."
As I was about to head out I noticed him look down, shake his head, and smile.
"W-What? Did I completely miss something?" I asked concerned.
"The sleepover, you dork," he laughed kissing my cheek.
It's been so long since I've heard him laugh like this without the sweeping dread. I've missed it, I've missed everything.
"Are you two still in here?" Coach's voice bellowed throughout the locker room.
"We're leaving now Coach!" Carver yelled. He then looked at me one last time, smiled, and opened the door for me. "After you, my Prince."
"There you go again with that terrible British accent," I said walking past him.
"Accent? What accent? This is how I always speak. Perhaps the Prince is experiencing some minor head trauma?" he joked walking closely behind me like a toy robot.
"It's nice to see you two smiling again," my mom said from above, leaning against the railing of the bleachers.
For the most part, the gym had been cleared out. The only exception being the basketball team conducting their practice, dribbling balls and making shots or whatever it is they do. The screeching of the rubber soles skidding across the glossy, wooden floor.
"Mom, can you please tell Carver to can it with the British accent?"
Her eyes darted back and forth between the two of us and smiled wickedly.
"Accent? What do you suppose he means sire?" she asked in a twice as bad, fake British accent.
"Oh my god!" I whined, pushing my palms against my ears. "There's no place like home, there's no place like home!"
"Alright, no need to be dramatic Fang. Are you two heading out now? Are you working today?" My mom asked.
"No, Lulu said that I don't have to come in today. I don't really know why but I'm not complaining. And I—well we have to stop by the house first so I can grab my pills and some clothes for the night. But I imagine we'll head over to Carver's right after, right?" I asked turning to him.
"That's fine by me," he answered back in his normal voice.
"Okay well you two be careful. Remember to call if you need anything alright?"
"I remember, thank you," I said. We walked a couple steps forward and then it hit me. "Wait no escort today?"
"Escort? What do you mean by esco—Oh my God!" she said wide eyed. She hobbled down the steps and hopped in front of us like some crazed toll troll. "I was just testing you two and you both passed with flying colors. Now onward boys! To the car we go! High-ho silver, away!"
Carver leaned over to me, whispering in my ear, "Your mom is so weird."
"Oh yeah I know," I whispered back. "She goes from overprotective mom one minute and then super cool and chill the next."
"I know. I love it."
"What are you two whispering about over there?" she asked.
"Uh...we were just saying how cool you are," I admitted.
"Right like a couple of kids are going to openly admit that me, an adult, is cool. It's okay, you don't have to tell me, unless it's something important," she stopped and looked me dead in the eye. "It's not right?"
"Mom! You're being embarrassing again!" I whined.
"Carver? Am I being embarrassing?"
"Not really, I think it's actually entertaining seeing you two bicker back and forth. It's...cute."
"See! He thinks it's cute. Why can't you?"
"Ugh, fiiiiiiiiiine. It's cute. There, ya happy? Can we go now?" I asked irritated. "You have the whole basketball team looking at us like we're crazy!"
Without questioning it, she quickly shifted around and yelled, "Why don't you take a picture? It'll last longer? That's right look away! How about I air out your dirty laundry Barba?! Oh you don't like that? That's what I thought! Keep walking!"
"Mom! What are you doing?"
"What? I wasn't actually going to do it. I like my job."
I never thought much about my mom being the school counselor, it's not like she's a teacher or anything. It's not like I got any special treatment or accused of getting such a thing. And she's super serious about her job so she doesn't ever gossip to me about any of her students. So color me surprised when she did this. I guess that's just a key character trait for moms. Always having to protect their kids even when such methods aren't exactly necessary or are a little excessive.
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms and continued our walk into the parking lot. My petty irritation didn't last long though as Carver kept poking at my sides until I smiled, or in my case busted out laughing. Curse these ticklish sides! I lasted two whole seconds. It's really pathetic honestly.
Anyway we finally got to the parking lot but we had a ways to go. We parked all the way in the back and unlike this morning's rush, we didn't need to walk in zigzags as most of the cars were already gone. I could faintly see it all the way in the back, away from well everything. Thinking about it now, it's probably not the best idea to park all the way back here. We usually park pretty close to the faculty parking but today we were late and had to park far as hell, to a secluded area I didn't really know existed until today. What made it dramatic though was my mom closely driving by in her Jeep that morning as she was assigned escort duty today. Everyday we cover his car with a tan colored tarp for added protection or maybe just our very clear paranoia. As soon as we got to his car, he tore off the cover in one fell swoop and no matter what, it always looked dramatic as if he was unveiling a brand new car.
"Nice car you got there Carver," my mom said sliding her hands against the hood.
"Thanks Ms. Winters, it's same one I drive every morning," he awkwardly smiled. He turned to me and whispered, "There she goes again being weird."
I smiled and laughed to myself.
"So are we cleared for take off?" he asked.
"I don't see why not. You two be safe, alright?" she instructed us both. "Fang, text me when you get home alright?"
"I will Mom," I said annoyed. I really just wanted to get out of here.
"Good, and after that go straight to Carver's. Do we have understanding?" she asked looking at Carver.
"Absolutely. If it helps, I can share my location with you too. That way you know we're together and that he's okay since he's with me."
"I would appreciate that so much," she smiled.
"No problem," he said. He then tapped on his phone a few times and said, "Done. You should have it now."
"Thank you so much Carver. You have no idea how much this means to me."
"The feelings mutual. It's nice to know someone's looking out for me too."
My mom pressed her palms to her chest and frowned. Her eyes began to well up as she started sniffling.
"Okay we're gonna go now. This is getting a little weird, even for me. Mom I love you, but cool it on the mom factor a little. It's a little scary. I promise I'll text you when I get home and I'll text you again once we leave, okay? I love you," I said hugging her briefly. I walked around to the passenger side and hopped in. Carver just smiled and waved goodbye to my mom as he climbed into the driver's seat.
"Do you need a ride back?" he offered.
"Thank you, but no, I'm fine. I have pepper spray on my keychain," she said cheerfully presenting it to us as she waved goodbye. "Oh and Carver? Don't count my son out. I know you're safe too if he's with you."
As soon as Carver backed out of the lot and got us on the road, I sighed in relief. Once Carver stopped at the nearest stop sign, an idea popped in my head.
"Stop the car!" I yelled. "Come on, pull over!"
"Wh-What? We're already at a stop sign. What's up?" he asked turning his head to me, hands still gripping the wheel.
"I was just thinking, maybe I can drive?"
"You...want to drive?" he asked peering at me, one eyebrow arched. "You want to voluntarily drive? But you hate driving. Who are you and what have done to my boyfriend?"
"Don't be so dramatic. I was just thinking that maybe I could drive around while you caught up on sleep again. That's all."
"Wait, you'd really do that for me?"
"I mean yeah. You know I'd do anything for you."
"You're so sweet," he said caressing my cheek. "Okay, let's do it!"
He looked around for a moment to make sure no one was around. Quickly, he shifted his car to park. Instead of getting out on his side, he awkwardly started climbing over to my side like a crab.
"H-Hey! Watch where you're stepping!" I yelped as I could feel hands all over me while somehow being pushed into the driver's seat as I tried to move out of the way. "Ca-Carver! Wh-What are you doing? Why didn't you just get out of the car like a normal person?"
"It's more fun my way. Plus I got to grope you without you even realizing that I did," he winked as he comfortably slipped into the passenger seat while I slammed my back and my head against the driver side door.
"You did what?" I asked rubbing the back of my head and pivoting around to face the wheel.
"I'm just kidding...or am I?"
"Just go to sleep," I said dryly.
He grinned with those pearly white teeth and then, while cupping my face, pulled me into one of those deep, longing no tongue kisses that I haven't had in a while. Out of all of the different kisses, these are the ones I love the most. I call it the "take my breath away" kind of kiss. My body goes limp every single time he does this. Slowly, he pulled away and smiled at me again, patting my head as he made himself comfortable.
"Thanks for warming up the seat for me."
"Uh n-n-no problem," I responded back, eyes fluttering, my lips smacking together still tasting him, just barely recovering. I had to cover my mouth as I was profusely blushing. It's that instant high, I swear.
"Wake me up in twenty minutes. Don't let me sleep for too long or else I won't be able to sleep tonight," he said as he craned his neck beside the window. "I'm serious though. Do not let me sleep for too long."
"Okay, okay, I got you the first time. Jeez," I said rolling my eyes.
Before I could shift my car into drive, I had to text my mom about the change in plans. I can only imagine what she'd think if she just watched the little blue dot on her phone travel around aimlessly in one spot. She'd blow up my phone, that's for sure. She messaged me really quick of course and told me the same spiel. Be careful and blah blah blah. Sighing in relief, I reached the for gear stick about to put it back into drive then I stopped myself.
"Hey Carver?" I asked turning to look at him. He's already knocked out, mouth open, snoring loudly. I don't know how but I've managed to tune out his snoring almost completely. Why couldn't I hear it earlier? Guess I'm used to it. "Why am I not surprised?" I smiled, gazing upon his sunlit face. Maybe things can finally turn around.
I drove around downtown Haven, circling town hall and the restaurant sort of in a figure eight pattern, until I got bored of it. Driving isn't too bad if it's just around town. It's the going out of familiarity that's the problem. Since our town isn't too big to begin with there wasn't exactly a lot of places that I could drive around. In the end, I decided to drive around my own neighborhood for the remainder of his nap. For some reason I didn't even feel the need to cycle the different radio stations with all of the same recycled music. All I needed was the low hum of his snoring. That's the only thing I needed for comfort, strangely enough. I continued to drive around, exploring new routes within my own neighborhood, until the time ran out. As much as I would love for him to sleep more, I think one well meant "back stab" is good for one day.
Pulling up to my driveway, I gently shifted the gear stick to park and turned the key towards myself, quieting the mechanical beast. He looked so cute sleeping there peacefully. Sucks that I have to wake him.
"Carver. Hey! Time to wake up babe," I said gently shaking him out of his slumber.
"Mm is it time already?" he mumbled half-asleep.
"I mean yeah but I can let you sleep more if you want," I suggested inserting the key back into ignition.
Carver swiftly reached over, grabbed my wrist, and said, "No, I'm good. Just give me a moment to wake up."
What came next was a yawn so loud it could have probably woken up the whole neighborhood had it been that time of the night. I swear my ears were practically ringing due to how loud and drawn out it was. Somehow I was able to slip out of there without him noticing so when I popped up on his side opening the door for him, I caught him by surprise.
"Wh-What are you doing?" he asked.
"Opening the door?" I responded almost confused myself.
"That's my job," he said slamming the door shut with him still in the car.
"Don't be so stubborn," I said opening the door again, this time standing in front of it so he couldn't close it again. I smirked and said, "Right this way, my Knight."
He sat there staring at me with those sleepy hazel eyes, his lips pursed forward. If he wasn't so tired he'd probably tackle me right now. Shaking his head, he stepped out and said, "I'm letting this slide just once because I'm tired, but this is my job. You already have yours, no reason to take mine too."
"You're cute when you're grumpy," I joked closing the door behind him.
"And you're cute when your mouth's full," he countered as he climbed up the steps.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he smirked leaning against the railing by the front door.
I squinted at him with my lips scrunched to the side, my arms crossed.
"Well I'm gonna let that slide because I have nothing else to say," I said unlocking and opening the door. As soon as I stepped in, I turned slightly sticking my tongue out at him. "I only need a few seconds. I'm just gonna stuff some of my clothes in my bag and then we can go."
"Maybe you should pack a weekend bag?"
"What? I don't know. I think my mom is only gonna be down for tonight. Besides it's only Wednesday. I could try to convince her to let me sleep over Friday but I might need your help convincing her."
"I know it's Wednesday. I'm not that conked out. It's just that I've been meaning to bring this up and I guess now's a good time as any."
"What are you talking about?"
"I want you to bring as much clothes as you can fit in a drawer. I cleared out enough space in my dresser for you to have your own single drawer. If you want to anyway. Before all of this happened, I was going to tell you and then well, you know," he said twiddling his fingers.
"Y-You did what now? I-I don't know what to say. I-I—."
"Yeah, I thought it'd be a good idea at the time since you're always there. But if you don't want to, I understand."
"No!" I blurted out without thinking.
"No?" he asked looking up with those damn puppy dog eyes.
"I-I mean no, I-I want to. I really want to. You sure it's okay?"
He smiled and nodded.
"Okay, well then I need you to help me decide what I should bring," I said grabbing him by the hand and dragging him back to my room. It's still a complete pig sty. One of these days I'll keep my room clean for longer than five seconds. That day isn't today, but one day. "Okay so what should I bring?"
"Clothes. You should bring clothes. Clean clothes," he said looking around at the mess.
"Well I know that, but specifically. What should I bring? I've never had anyone give me a drawer before so I don't know the protocol and everything," I said overexcited.
"Fang, just bring clothes. Something that you can change into while you're there. A couple pairs of underwear, something to sleep in, maybe some clothes for work and school. I don't think there's a protocol for this. You're thinking way too hard for something so simple."
"Okay, okay, I get it. Well this is gonna take a minute."
"Okay you do that. I'm going to just lie down for a minute," he said kicking off his shoes at the foot of my bed, slipping into my bed, pulling all three blankets over him.
My mind was going crazy at this point. I know he said that this isn't that serious but it is for me. This is like the next step in our relationship or something. I don't want to fuck it up either. If someone told me to guess how today would go, this would not have made it in my thought process. I'm glad to see the old charming Carver back, not this version that's empty and hollow. Not to say that I didn't want to be around him or anything, I just didn't know how to support him through all of that. I'm not exactly an expert.
As I rifled through my dresser and my closet trying to find clothes that I could bring, clothes I think he'd appreciate. The more I looked, the more I grabbed, and the more I grabbed, the sooner I realized that I needed something bigger to hold all of it. Deep into my closet was this big, old suitcase with wheels that I used whenever I went out of town. It was big enough to smuggle me out of any sticky situation, not that I had any sticky situations to get out of. I always just imagined it in my head. Like made up scenarios. Anyway, it wasn't frequent, actually I rarely went out now that I think about it. Before the whole parental switch, I only went out when my parents had their work meetings or parties. I remember getting this size because sometimes I didn't know when I was gonna come home. I had to do supplemental online courses when I would miss school because of my parents. I don't miss that at all. Coincidentally it had a black and white woven plaid design. Maybe this is the universe's way of telling me that I was gonna meet someone who had this as their exact aesthetic. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.
I know he said to pack light but I just couldn't decide on anything. I filled this sucker up to the brim with clothes and some other things like a change of shoes and my toiletries. I don't know I guess you could say I have a real problem making executive decisions for myself.
"Hey Carver? I'm good to go," I said hopping onto my bed next to him. "Wanna see what I packed?"
Carver pushed the covers off of himself, looked over half asleep, and said, "Mm I'll just see it when you unpa—."
"What?"
"I should have known you'd go overboard," he said throwing the blankets over me. I heard his feet touch the ground as he jumped off the bed.
"I did not go overboard!" I said pulling the blankets off of me. Carver was standing right next to my open suitcase with his arms crossed. "Okay maybe I went a little bit overboard."
"Baby, I told you to pack some things that can fit in a drawer. You know this isn't all going to fit. You're going to have to make some changes."
"But—."
"How about I just pick for you? Sound good?" he asked as he started going through my things, taking things I needed and stuffing it into my school bag. "Boots? Why did you pack more boots?"
"Change of shoes. You never know, I might need a different pair of boots."
"But you already wear boots. Don't you have other shoes you can bring? How about the ones you wear to work? Where are those?"
"Uh they're out front by the door. I'll go get them."
"No, I need you to stay here with me. I can't have you wandering off and possibly finding something else you want to bring over to my house."
"Ugh fine! Ooo! How about snacks?"
"There you go again," he groaned, rolling his eyes. "Try to stay focused, please babe?"
"Alright fine, I'll stay focused."