DJ walked into their room and just kind of, stared at the one bed. Okay, cool. He's sleeping on the couch.
Ryker just stared at the bed. this is going to be a long night..
DJ had grabbed a couple things from around the room and set up a sleeping area on the couch, keeping his backpack next to it as he got up to change in the bathroom. There was no way he was sleeping in the same bed as Ryker. He wasn't gay.
Ryker watched DJ go into the bathroom and then laughed softly to himself. He took off his shirt, then stretched out a little. today was roughhhh.
He then stopped, running his finger along his chest from an injury he received when he was younger. Ryker took a deep breath and shook his head, laying down on top of the bed covers, staring up at the ceiling. He was processing all that had gone down today.
DJ came back out in a t-shirt and sweatpants, his arms fairly open and exposed. The stitches were still healing and it looked like a couple had been tugged open, a hand shaped bruise having formed around his wrist. He took a deep breath and sat back on the couch, leaning his head back against the wall. The couch was small, and wasn't very comfortable, but he wasn't going to say anything.
Ryker looked over at DJ and frowned. "You know... there is plenty of space up here if you'd like to actually sleep tonight DJ." He said.
DJ looked over at him and blinked a few times, narrowing his eyes a bit in confusion. "I... don't know what you're talking about. This is perfectly comfortable."
Ryker rolled his eyes. "You're not going to be able to do much of anything if you sleep on that." He said, sitting up a little more.
DJ raised an eyebrow. "Do much of anything? What are you suggesting, I'm going to throw a party or something? It's just for one night."
"I'm saying that that couch looks like it's not going to be comfortable. Just trying to help you out here." Ryker sighed.
DJ looked at him and shrugged. "...well... you're going to be comfortable, so, that's what matters." He looked back down at his hands.
"And what if I want you to be comfortable?" Ryker asked, tilting his head a little.
DJ shrugged. "Then, too fucking bad I guess."
Ryker narrowed his eyes at DJ, looking him over for a moment. "Mhum..." He then stood up and laid down on the floor next to the bed without saying anything else.
DJ stared at him and narrowed his eyes. "Really? You're going to act like a child?"
"Yup." Ryker said, resting his hands on his stomach, looking up at the ceiling.
DJ blinked a few times, then rolled onto the floor. "Fine."
Ryker watched as DJ went onto the floor, he then looked back up at the ceiling, a small smirk grew on his face. "Sleep well DJ." He chuckled.
"Fuck you." DJ muttered, staring up at the ceiling. But, a small smirk grew on his face anyway.
He sniffed and smiled softly. Soon, Ryker's eyes would grow heavy and he was asleep.
DJ soon fell asleep too.
——————
Well... it was morning.
Courtney was curled up underneath of the blankets, sound asleep, despite the sun directly beaming into her eyes.
Leora had fallen asleep. She woke up and rubbed her head. Her headache was back. "Courtney? We should probably get our things together..." she said softly and got up.
Courtney didn't move. Stayed asleep.
Leora frowned and got her things together then took medicine. "Coooouuurtneey." Leora said and walked over, gently shaking her.
Nothing.
Leora's stomach dropped. "Hey... hey that's not funny. Please wake up Courtney."
When Courtney didn't respond again, Leora bolted out of the room and went to find Chase. She was on the verge of crying.
——————
Caleb grudgingly woke up, he didn't have any dreams. Which is different for him since usually Avery was in his dreams. He sat up and looked around.
Chase was already up and around. He was sitting by the window just staring outside.
Caleb rubbed his eyes a bit hand looked over to Chase. "Morning?," he laughed weakly.
Chase smiled weakly over at him. "Good morning Caleb, how did you sleep?"
Caleb shrugged. "I'm guessing you didn't, you look exhausted." Caleb said, frowning just a bit.
"I got some. It is hard to sleep when you have a pregnant wife who's worried about you on the mind." He said with a small shrug.
Chase cleared his throat looking down. "We uh... we have five hours to go until we reach Michigan." He said, changing the subject, walking over to his made bed, not really processing what he had just said.
Caleb kinda just paused hearing what chase just said. "y-yea.." Caleb said snapping out of it. He got up and fixed his hair a bit. was he hearing things or did chase just say that?
Chase put on his backpack not really noticing Caleb's reaction. "I should try and get everyone up and around. You can stay here and get yourself ready to go." He smiled softly.
Leora knocked on their door in a panic. "Chase! Chase!" She called.
He jumped a bit at the knock, but turned and headed to the door. Chase opened it carefully and looked at Leora curiously. "What's wrong Leora?"
Caleb nodded and jumped a bit as loud knocking was at the door. Then kinda just looked past chase seeing who it was.
"Its Courtney. She- She won't wake up." Leora said quickly. She was panicked.
Chase's eyes widened some. "Really?..." he sighed. "Caleb, get ready to head off, I'll go back to the room with Leora to make sure nothing else is wrong." He said, then headed out of the room.
Caleb nodded and went to change as Chase left. He got his stuff ready and cleaned up a bit then picked up his phone.
"I'm fine.." Chase said as they walked through the halls and to the elevator. "How's your head? Are you feeling alright?" He then asked, his gaze staying forward, not looking over at Leora.
"It hurts but I don't really mind... I did some pretty awful things so I deserve it." Leora replied and kept walking.
Caleb had grabbed what was theirs out of the room. He stopped for a second and took a breath. so Astrid was pregnant- uh lets go get the others- He nodded at his own thoughts and went out the door to grab Ryker and DJ then meeting Chase at Leora's room.
——————
DJ woke up, on the floor still. Sore, but, he was proving a point. He had a shit ton of nightmares, but, he was just happy he didn't wake Ryker up. However, he did have a blanket now. Huh.
Ryker was curled up against the bed on the floor still, asleep.
DJ got up and winced a bit, kicking Ryker in the side lightly. "Get up, we have more driving to do." He sighed and scratched the back of his neck, going to the bathroom.
Ryker let out a small groan as DJ kicked his side, rolling onto his back. He blinked a few times, then just kinda laid there for a moment staring at the ceiling before getting up off the ground and stretching out.
DJ was brushing his teeth, because, he's an Aphrodite kid and if he doesn't take care of himself he feels like he's dying.
Ryker had gotten up and around a little. He walked to the bathroom and knocked lightly. "Everything good in there?" He asked, chuckling softly.
He nodded and looked over at the door. "Yeah." He opened the door and looked up at him, toothbrush still in his mouth and all around looking fairly miserable.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Ryker asked, leaning himself against the doorframe.
He nodded. "Yeah, peachy." He turned back to the sink and spit out his toothpaste, rinsing his mouth before looking back at him. "You?"
Ryker tilted his head a little. "You don't look like you feel alright.. are you sure?" He asked, a little more concern in his voice.
DJ sighed and crossed his arms. "I mean, I slept on the floor, so I'm fuckin tired but... I'm fine."
"That's not my fault." Ryker chuckled. "I don't know why you slept on the floor."
DJ narrowed his eyes, then walked past him to his bag.
——————
Leora opened the door and walked in. She rubbed her arm. "Its hard not to beat myself up "
Chase nodded, his eyes going to Courtney as they walked in. "I know... but all you can do is try." He said, walking over to make sure that nothing else was wrong with her.
Leora sat on the bed. "So how are Caleb and Courtney gonna get back?"
Chase checked Courtney's vitals to make sure she was just asleep and nothing more. He sighed a little. "We will probably get them a ride back... I think it would be best if they headed back now rather than later. It will make sure that Courtney stays safe."
Leora frowned and nodded, "alright... how long until we get to Michigan?" She asked softly.
"We have a five hour drive to Michigan." Chase said, moving some hair out of Courtney's face.
——————
Caleb knocked at the door.
DJ looked up and he threw a sweater on, not really paying attention to whose it was. It was Ryker's. "It's open."
Caleb walked in and paused for a minute looking between them. "Okay lovebirds, we need get going soon, Courtney won't wake up" he said blankly.
DJ's eyes widened and he stopped, looking at Caleb. "...I'm sorry what?!"
"Courtney won't wake up," Caleb shrugged.
DJ shut his eyes. "No. Not that part." He looked back at him. "...we're not 'lovebirds' or whatever the fuck. I'm not gay."
"..uh-" Caleb looked at DJ. "So I'm guessing it wasn't Ryker's jacket? And those hickeys are from girl?" Caleb crosses his arms.
Ryker poked his head out from the bathroom, he still hadn't put a shirt on. He looked between them curiously. what. He leaned himself against the wall right outside of the bathroom, folding his arms. Ryker looked at DJ, his expression dropping unreadable as he tried to understand what was happening.
DJ stared at him and blinked a few times. "...I mean, the jacket was his..."
"Oh so who gave you those?" Caleb asked. he may be a dumbass but he's observant.
"Not my work if you think that's what happened Caleb." Ryker said, standing up from the wall.
DJ looked back at Ryker and his stomach twisted, then he turned back to Caleb. Inhaling sharply, he puffed his cheeks out and scratched the back of his neck as he looked down.
Caleb looked between them again holding a small laugh. "So it was a guy just not Ryker?" Caleb said reading his expression.
DJ scoffed and looked back at him. "No, I'm not fucking gay."
"Then why didn't you fall under the siren? What about silver hair's little looks or the ride here? You were so uncomfortable between the two?" Caleb kinda just started to ramble.
Ryker raised an eyebrow listening to Caleb speak. ahh.. He shifted his weight, then turned to head back into the bathroom.
DJ inhaled sharply and grabbed his bag, throwing it over his shoulder and shoving Caleb on the way out. He slammed the door behind him.
Caleb moved out of the way. denial. he sighed a bit. "Meet everybody back at Leora's room," he said to Ryker and left quietly.
Not denial. Internalized homophobia stemmed from verbal, mental, and emotional abuse from his father, and being forcibly outed by his colleagues for something he wasn't even sure of himself yet. DJ climbed into the back of the van, stretching out across the back seat with a blanket he took from the hotel. Throwing on his headphones, he shut his eyes and just... Cried.
——————