*Mason’s POV*
A loud and annoying sound stirs me awake and I immediately search for it despite having my eyes closed. Successfully turning off my alarm, I sit up, yawning and rubbing my eyes. Is it already time for me to get ready and leave for the trip?
Fumbling with my grey pajamas, I get out of my bed and do my necessities for the day. Afterwards, I wear a baggy pink sweater over a white collared dress shirt, paired with beige pants. As I’m about to wear my white socks, I hear a knock on my door, walking up to it and opening it with my empty hand. It must be my mom’s assistant but why is she here when we’re leaving in half an hour?
The person on the other side smiles once the door reveals them, their hand raised low in the air.
“Sup,” Austin greats as he dunks under my arm and enters my room.
“Hey, why are you-” My mouth hangs open as I see Brian and Liam peer into my room, our gazes meeting.
“What is going on?” I question while they all sit on my bed, Austin twirling his long bangs he didn’t tie up today.
“Can’t your friends visit you?”
“Then why are you here?”
“...’Cause I’ll be your guide for the charity gala dinner,” Austin replies.
“And how did someone like you get the job?”
“Well…” he chuckles. “with hard work and determination sucking up to people, it was fortunately possible. But they probably did so so they could look good for giving teenagers opportunities.”
I nod in agreement since I know he lacks talent, sitting at the side of my bed and wearing my socks.
“Um…” Brian says as he stands in front of me, moving his fingers rhythmically on his black jeans. “how are you doing?”
“Good and you?” I reply, and he nods repeatedly. “I’m fine… yeah.”
Afterwards, the atmosphere is quiet as I go take my paige satchel and drape its strap across my body while Austin secretly plays with Scarlet who’s in his leather messenger bag.
“...Your room is nice,” Brian comments, breaking the silence. We all turn to him which causes him to flinch a little.
“Really?!” I answer with enthusiasm, happiness surging through me. “Then I can show you even more cool things in my room if you’d like- ahh!”
I hold onto my hair that is being pulled, frowning at the culprit who is a nuisance to society.
“Sorry. He tends to act a bit too excited when he’s happy,” Austin says, turning to me. “Right, Mason?”
I scoff, scratching his hand so he lets go of me which is successful. “Like I’d say so. We’re all friends so why am I getting bullied? What have I done wrong, mom?”
He makes a face, pointing his finger at me. “That… that is what is wrong. And I’m not your mom.”
“Then what are you?”
“Well, someone who earns as much money as I can, and of course by legal means,” he proudly confesses, Liam applauding him.
“...This is why you shouldn’t hang out with Austin,” I whisper loudly to Brian. “He’s got a screw loose.”
“Excuse me?” Austin says in the most dramatic way I’ve ever heard and we continue bickering, not letting the other finish before interrupting.
After a minute or so, a laugh behind me causes me to freeze, turning around to see Brian, his hand wrapped around his stomach. Noticing us all looking at him, he looks away, his ears red.
“Sorry. It’s just funny how you two start bickering like kids. You two must be close.”
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Umm… why was I not friends with Brian sooner? I immediately hold onto his shoulder, looking as sweetly as I can. “Brian… have you ever considered being my compadre for life?”
“…Huh?”
“He’s just bullshitting,” Austin comments and before I can reply, we hear a knock on my open door, my mom’s assistant standing beside it.
“The car is ready so your luggages will be moved as quickly as possible,” she informs as random workers come into my room and take my luggages.
When they’re done, I wear my white shoes, my gaze moving to the now closed door. “When will you guys be leaving for uptown Anthon?”
“What do you mean? We’re leaving together.”
“Really?” I question, looking at Austin as a big smile forms on my face.
“...I’ve never seen anyone other than you radiate light,” Austin says as he covers his eyes from some invisible light, Brian and Liam nodding in agreement.
…Who cares about what Austin thinks? I’m just glad I get to spend more time with my friends since it will be the first time I have ever gone anywhere in a car with my friends, except for Lily of course.
After 20 minutes, we’re called to enter a car which is what Austin calls a ‘land rover defender’. But does that mean he’s interested in car businesses too? Nonetheless, the car starts moving and I have a fun time; Austin and I talking mostly since the other two are introverts. We play card games… I don’t know why Austin brought a card game, we have snacks every once in a while and before I know it, my eyes start to feel heavy with tiredness overcoming me and not long after, my eyes shut close.
•••
I open my eyes to see Austin’s oversized maroon shirt, my head on Austin’s shoulder. I sit up, my gaze wandering to the window, the view causing me to wake up. We’re already here and tall buildings, like skyscrapers can be seen as well as tons of people walking on the sidewalk and vehicles passing by. I read the billboards that come to my line of sight, my heart accelerating. It’s been two years since I’ve been here and it’s still as busy as ever.
“Are we here?” Austin mumbles tiredly, yawning a few seconds later.
“Yep,” I answer, my gaze still fixated on the view. It’s so different from downtown Anthon that I can’t help but admire the environment around me whenever I visit.
Austin leans his chin on my shoulder as he too looks outside the window, quietly taking in the view. After 10 minutes, the car stops beside a luxurious hotel and a few suited attendants – I suppose they are escorts – approach the car. One of them opens the door and gestures for us to step out.
Austin and I wake Brian and Liam up and once they’re awake, we leave the car and follow the escorts into the hotel. They provide us with our room number, and we immediately head to it. When we get there, I immediately run to a random bed, burying my face in the soft mattress.
“Get up, you lazy bum,” Austin says as he practically pulls me by my leg out of the bed.
“I just wanted to lie down for a few seconds,” I mumble, getting up a few seconds later. Not long after, hotel staffs come in with our luggages and immediately leave when they’re done.
“What do we do now?” Brian asks, his gaze moving to me.
“I don’t know,” I answer with a shrug, my gaze moving to Austin. “Maybe Austin has an idea?”
Austin glances at me, his expression neutral. “I won’t get paid for things like this so don’t expect anything from me.”
I give him a deadpan look before going deep in thought. I’ve mostly hung out with Lily so I have no idea what to do in this kind of situation. Bake? Take a stroll on a bike? Look for new songs to listen to in a Record store? Maybe we can stay here but what can we even do in a quad hotel room?
“We could visit an arcade.”
We immediately turn around to the deep monotone voice, our gaze landing on an expressionless Liam.
“Liam, that is… an incredible idea!” I acknowledge and Austin and I begin to clap, sobbing with exaggeration. “A genius has certainly been born to our pitiful world.”
“Oh yes,” Austin agrees, slowly wiping an imaginary tear. “The lowest note of a base held for eternity could not match the steady depth of your baritone voice. Though it’s been 15 years since I last heard it, the wait was worth it.”
“…What are you two even saying…?” Brian questions, looking at us like we are mad men.
“You’ll understand one day,” he answers. “You’ll understand the depth of our insanity-“
“Let’s just look for an arcade,” I say as I cover his mouth and gently push him onto the bed I laid on earlier.
“Fine,” he mutters with his head on the bed sheet.
Brian replies with a nod a second later, my head flooding with thoughts of all the fun we could have together. With that, I pull Austin up from the bed and point to the door with excitement.
“Then let’s be on our way!”
——————————
Lily's Playlist
• Windy Day by Helios Relaxing Space
• Melancholy by Helios Relaxing Space
• Dandelions by Ruth B
• The Other Side by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron
• At My Worst by Pink Sweat$ feat. Kehlani
• N/A
Mason's Playlist
• The Other Side by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron
• At My Worst by Pink Sweat$ feat. Kehlani
• N/A