The gravel road crunches against the car tires as the two boys pull into the parking lot. Looking around Jack sees the area is nothing of note worthy. No mountains, no flowers, no large trees, nothing.

    "No offense, by why here? This area isn't anything special," Jack asks as he crawls from the car and goes to retrieve the shovels they bought from the back. Laughing Mark walks right into the grassy patch of random land.

    "You don't see it?" He asks as Jack joins him by his side.

    "Uhh no?" Laughing again Mark points into the distance.

    "Right there," he says guiding Jacks view and suddenly he spots it. A weird messed up car in the really far distance.

    "Why the fuck is there a random car in the middle of the field?"

    "Hell if I know but you better start hiking," Mark comments and Jack turns to him, raising an eyebrow.

    "Wait it's in the car?"

    "Actually it's buried under the car," Mark says correcting him and with a sigh Jack begins to walk.

"Doesn't this seem a small bit humorous to you?" Jack asks after a moment of silence and Mark chuckles.

"Two messed up teens going on a road trip to retrieve a dead mans money? Nah. This is just a regular old day for old pretty boy here," Mark answers sarcastically and Jack simply laughs.

"I love you, you know that right?"

"Yeah, I do know that," Mark answers. Then they walk. The dusty sand kicking up around their ankles. The hot sun shining down.

    Glancing over, Jack looks at Mark. He really doesn't want to leave him. He's fallen so hard for him and he doesn't know if he can drag himself back up. He came in as a stranger who went and changed his life.

    "What's been your favorite part of all this?" Mark randomly asks as Jacks snapped into reality.

    "This trip?" Jack clarifies and Mark nods. "Well facing my inner demons for one," he chuckles but looking over at Mark he knows thats not true. "Falling more in love with you," he answers truthfully and Marks face breaks into a grin.

    "I love you so so much. You know that right?" Mark asks.

    "I just asked you that question a few seconds ago," Jack says jokingly but Marks face turns serious.

    "But do you know that?"

    "Yes. I know that Mark... Is something wrong?" Jack asks getting the feeling of uneasiness.

    "Actually Jack," Mark says stopping as he turns to face him. "There is something wrong," he says his voice breaking and Jack reaches out to touch his shoulder. "I love you so much I'm afraid to let you go. I love you more than everything," Mark breaths in.

    "Jack Mcloughlin I love you more than the stars and the moon combined. I love you more than my words can process. I love the way you smile and how happy you are. I love how you manage to keep hope in the littlest ways even if you're breaking down with guilt. I love how undeniably smart you are. I love the way you say my name when you wake up. I love the jokes you crack. I lov-," Mark tries to go on but Jack cuts him off as he wraps his arms around him.

    "Shh Mark. I know. I know," Jack whispers as he hugs Mark, burrowing his head into his neck. "I know,"

    "I just never want to lose you," Mark whispers as he pulls back. Jack simply smiles as he wipes away his tears with the pad of his thumb.

    "As a wise man once said 'you'll never have too'," Jack laughs and Mark laughs with him. "Now are we gonna go dig up that money or what?" Jack smiles and Mark grins right back as he nods.

    "For better or for worse?" He asks offering his hand and Jack nods as he takes it.

    "For better or for worse," So they start walking again. Right to the random messed up car with flames painted on the sides.

    "So this is it?" Jack asks as he stops in front of the car. Marks hand still in his.

    "Guess grief stricken Mark is slightly morbid in a way I suppose," Mark chuckles has he looks at the flames.

    "Why do you think a abandoned sports is in the middle of a field, hundreds of miles from anything?"

    "Honestly, to be completely truthful, exactly for this moment," Mark answers and Jack rolls his eyes.

    "Seriously?"

    "Oh I'm serious," Mark jokes as he lets go of Jacks hand and throws down his shovel, ready to push the car.

    "Wait," Jack says, "Shouldn't we say something? I didn't know him but... this is his dream in a box," he finishes and looking at it Mark nods, a soft bittersweet smile lining his lips.

    "I never thought of it that way," Mark says as he steps back, joining Jack back at his side. "This is literally his dreams buried below us," Looking to Jack, he takes a step back. "You should say something,"

    "But I didn't know him," Jack mumbles as he narrows his eyes at Mark.

    "No, you didn't, but Jack, Ethan would've loved you," Mark says nodding and turning to the car Jack stares straight at it.

    "I uhh- don't really know you but-," Then he stops. What he was saying was all too cliche. Ethan seemed important and deserved more than a few petty words said by a stranger so Jack clears his throat.

    "Vox nihili, vox populi," he says, the latin words rolling off his tongue as he opens his heart and mind to sing. Shoving every emotion to every word, making everything count. He sings. Not just for Ethan. Not just for Mark. He sings for his dad. He sings for his mom. He also just sings for himself.

    "That's what I hoped you'd do," Jack turns around and gives Mark a light smile.

    "Should we start digging?" He offers and Mark nods.

    "Lets move that car," Walking over Jack places his hands on the hot metal as Mark stands next to him.

    "One. Two," Jack counts down, "Three," Both of them push the car and the metal creaks and shouts as they push the car away from the spot. When it's finally away Jacks broken a sweat due to the heat and is now wiping away the sweat building at his hair line.

    "Jesus I forgot I did that," Mark mumbles.   

    "Wh-?" Cutting off Jack looks down and sees what Marks looking at. A melted lump of black and gray hardened goop lays in the dirt, held down by a rock. "Wh- what is that?" Jack stumbles out and Mark squats down and picks it up.

    "His hat. His melted up polyester hat," Mark whispers and Jack swats down next to him, putting a hand on his back. "I barley remember even finding this,"

    "You okay?" And Mark nods his answer.

    "I was such a mess I barely even remember half of what I did. It was like a haze of grief. My mind was just the static of television,"

    "And your limps felt heavy and everything you did exhausted you even if it was just speaking a word or two. People asked what was wrong or they didn't ask at all but even then you just offered the 'I'm tired'," Jack finishes and Mark nods, resting his head against Jacks shoulder.

    "It was right here I realized that no one called or asked about me. It was right here I realized no one gave two shits about me,"

    "Well now, right here, you finally have someone who always will," Jack says as he stands up, reaching for the shovel.

    "Yeah...that's true," Mark smiles as he copies Jack, who's now digging his shovel into the dirt.

    For a moment its only the crunch of the dirt as they dig. The wind whistling in their ears and the sound of labored breaths right up until they hit a box. Jacks shovel is the one who makes contact with it but Marks the one who lifts it from the one foot hole in the ground.

    Setting the box down Mark sits down right in front of it, legs criss crossed. Jack follows. The box was a shoe box with the words 'Ethan and Mark' painted right across the front, the lettering swooping and dipping; a roller coaster in itself.

    "I painted it," Mark adds, as if reading Jacks mind. "Ethan tried but it sucked total ass so he called me,"

    "It looks very nice,"

    "Ethan sure thought so," Mark chuckles as he continues to look at it. The box was dirty and the words were kinda scratched a little but you could tell it was cared for. "You know Jack? I really never thought I'd see this box again but seeing it here, now, it's almost serine,"

    "I've never met him but it's like he's sitting in front of me," Jack adds and Mark nods, smiling.

    "Ethan really would've liked you," Then he reaches for the box, dusting off the top and prying it open. A burst of dirt comes with it but overall everything inside is intact. "I honestly don't remember adding half of this shit," Mark laughs and Jack laughs with him.    

    "The static?"

    "The static," Mark confirms as he pulls out a tiny figurine of a ukulele.

    "He played?" Jack asks and Mark nods.

    "He was really good, a singer too," Then he pulls out a small little gear. "Oh my god it's Gizmo," Mark grins and Jack tilts his head.

    "The gears name is gizmo?"

    "He named the little gear he found in the garage Gizmo once while we were trying to build a guillotine ,"

    "A guillotine?" Jack asks and Mark laughs at his confusion.

"The goal was to behead our enemies, but, we never succeeded,"

"I'm glad?" Jack asks and Mark laughs as he tosses him the gear before pulling out a massive stack of cash.

"This, Jack McLoughlin, is the biggest sum of cash you will ever see in your entire life," Mark says as he slaps down the wad of green paper. Looking at it Jack fingers the edges.

"It sure is a lot," Jack mumbles. Shrugging Mark takes in a deep breath.

    "What do we do now?" He asks looking over and Jacks unable to meet his eyes.

    "We could find a motel. Figure things out in the morning," he offers and Mark nods.

    "That's a good plan," he whispers looking off at the car. Standing up Jack offers a hand to Mark.

    "Ready pretty boy?" He asks and snapping into reality he lets out a sad smile.

    "Yeah... lets go darling,"

    "This room is hideous," Jack comments as he throws his bags on the floor.

    "Lets just hope we don't get bedbugs,"

    "Don't fuckin' mention it," Jack groans as he throws himself onto the ugly seventies bedsheets.

    "Come on you love bedbugs! It's like a traveling friend that won't leave without costing thousands of dollars," Mark jokes as he comes to sit next to Jack.

    "Ha ha," Jack answers sarcastically as he rolls onto Marks lap, staring straight up to look at his eyes. "You have pretty eyes,"

    "I do?"

    "Prettier than pretty itself," Jack smiles as Mark smiles back.

    "I love you," he whispers and Jack flutters his eyes closed as Mark runs his hands through his hair.

    "I love you more,"

    "That's impossible," Mark states and opening his eyes Jack raises an eyebrow.

    "Really now?"

    "Really," He confirms and snorting Jack nuzzles closer to Marks chest.

    "Remember your motel room. With all of the hand drawn pictures and Jaws," Jack recounts fondly.

    "Very hard to forget," Mark responds, "We began in a motel room and end in one to," he says softly and sighing Jack shuts his eyes.

    "This isn't the end," Jack whispers and he feels Mark nod his head as he goes back to running his hands through his hair.

    "I love you Jack"

    "I know Mark, I love you too,"