The city is beautiful.

We come down the highway that gives us the first sight of the space needle. It's actually a lot shorter than most of the other buildings around Seattle but it's lit up with greens and blues (I think it's for the Seahawks, I hear they're really big on football). The streets are dark, lit by golden streetlights and the buildings are tall and dark, but they have all sorts of neon lights up the sides.

Off in the distance past the city is a body of water. Elliot Bay, I think, and it eventually leads out to the Pacific Ocean. There are also a few islands past there, Banebridge, Vashon, Whidbey, Camano, Morrowstone. As I'm looking over the horizon, I realize I might have done a bit too much research on Washington.

"We're staying at the Kimpton Alexis Hotel 'cause it was the cheapest we could find. But on the bright side it's like 6 or 7 blocks away from the ferris wheel and Pike Place Market." Patrick says from upfront.

I smile and squeal, pulling Pete close to muffle it. He chuckles and runs his fingers through my hair before I let go.

"You excited?" Pete asks playfully.

"Uh-huh."

He smirks and kisses my cheek before looking back out the window as if nothing even happened.

I feel my cheeks warm up and my eyes widen and my breathing even goes as far as to hitch.

It doesn't mean anything... right? Friends do that? Casually kiss each other's cheeks? God, I hope so.

I blink and smile slightly to myself nevertheless, pressing two fingers to where his lips just were.

Just friends.

***

When we arrive at the hotel, Patrick and Gerard and Pete and I hang out in the hotel room for a bit, planning out the next week.

"I want to go to the Ferris wheel maybe at one point or at least go down to the dock. Going on the space needle would be pretty cool, too. Or Pike Place Market-"

"Chill, Mikes." Gerard chuckles, looking back down at his phone where he has Google Maps and the Space Needle reservations pulled up.

"We have six days to do whatever the fuck we want. We have the concert on the 1st so we could probably do something that morning or just chill. And that's five days to do whatever else we want to do." Gerard says, "So we could do... the space needle day after tomorrow and I can get reservations tonight. Then I guess take a break tomorrow. Take a break on Sunday for the concert, too..."

I watch as he quickly writes it down in a little notebook he'd packed.

"We can go to the Ferris wheel or whatever for the 2nd I guess. There's this beach I want to go to on the 3rd and on the fourth we can watch the fireworks. Sound good enough for you guys?"

Pete, Patrick, and I all nod in agreement and watch as the red haired boy writes it down then looks up with a grin.

"We have the week planned."

I smile and after a moment as Patrick and Pete announce they're getting ready for bed, I grab my notebook and copy down the schedule. Just because.

June 29th - Break
June 30th - Space Needle
July 1st - Concert
July 2nd - Ferris Wheel/Pike Place
July 3rd - Beach
July 4th - Fourth of July
July 5th - drive back