CARL

It was 20 minutes to midnight when we arrived at Red Woods National Park. My tailbone hurt from too much sitting. The bus reeked of vomit because as usual some teenagers thought their bodies could handle alcohol. It's a good thing I was seated next to the window, which supplied me with plenty of air.

Then there is my mom who woke up to find the bus in a mess. She screamed her lungs out, demanding an explanation. But nobody dared to snitch. So, my adorable mum ended up giving everyone a detention.

Nobody took her seriously especially because of the moustache, dicks and devil horns that had been sketched on her face. While she was passed out earlier, some notorious teens took their time practicing the craft of drawing dicks on her face. Her anger multiplied tenfold when she found out that her God given face had been turned into the temple of wickedness.

All hell literally broke loose after that.

After all that drama, we alighted the bus and were directed to the resort where rooms were allocated to us. My very strict mom ensured that students of the opposite sex didn't end up sharing a room. I ended up being roomies with Tony Bratelli. As if this night couldn't get worse.

"Little guy, you'll take the floor and I'll take the bed." He announced as soon as we got to our room. Fucking great.

"The bed is big enough for the two of us." I stated, placing my travel bag on the bed.

"No it's not." He tugged the shirt off, exposing his toned chest. For a douche, he had a nice physique. "Did you know that staring is 100% creepy?" His question disrupted my gawking.

"I did not know that. Thank you for enlightening me." I fired back, taking off my shoes. My feet were sore from wearing the shoes for long.

He took off all his clothes, including his briefs. I tried to look away I swear. But he was making it very hard because he was walking around the room naked. He was doing this on purpose and honestly, it was making me uncomfortable.

"Could you please put some clothes on?" I blurted, annoyance taking over.

"Why? Is my naked butt turning you on?" He teased.

"No. It's making me feel like vomiting." I hissed, getting up from the bed.

"Ouch. I thought you were into butts. My bad." Then, he grabbed his towel and vanished to what I assumed was a bathroom. Peace at last.

Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door just when I was beginning to enjoy the quiet. I strolled to the door, twisted the handle and opened it. Standing outside my room was Gavin. The guy I was hoping to see.

"Hey." I greeted softly.

"Hi." He replied, scratching the back of his neck. He was nervous about something.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. I just wanted to umm...ask if you carried your charger. My phone battery is low and I need to charge it but I kinda forgot to pack my charger." I could get used to this nervous but cute version of Gavin.

"Okay. I'll give you my charger. Anything else, you need help with? Perhaps I could sing you a lullaby." I teased, referring to when he was high, earlier.

"Carlito, you promised never to bring that up." He frowned.

"I can't help it. You were so funny and cute." A laugh absconded my lips at the memory.

"Laugh it all out. Get it out of your system." He declared, his lips forming a pout.

"I'm sorry. It was too funny. I promise this is the last time I'm gonna bring it up." I stated walking back into the room to get the charger. Gavin followed me.

"So, this is your room. Looks smaller than the one I am sharing with some guy." He surveyed the place. "Who is your roomie by the way?"

"That would be me." Tony announced, stepping into the room. He was drenched, a towel loosely strapped around his waist.

"You have got to be shitting me." Gavin uttered, frustration dominating his tone.

"Yes Gav. It's me your former team mate." Tony spewed. "Don't worry, I will take special care of your Carlito. He won't have a reason to complain."

"Don't you dare touch him or I just might break your limbs." Gavin's protective remark sent a jolt of electricity to my heart, causing it to start beating wildly.

"Gav, why are you always ready to break something? Jeez." He commented, taking out a tee shirt from his bag. "By the way, why are you so defensive of Carl? It's almost as if you have a little crush on him."

I didn't like where this conversation was heading. It wasn't going to end on a good note for any of us.

"Gav, here's the charger. You will return it when you're done." I shoved the charger in Gavin's palm and then dragged him out of the room before he could say or do something he would regret. Then, I shut the door on his face. Folks, that's how you prevent a world war 3. Huzzah to me.

"You just ruined the fun." Tony who was stark naked said.

"If an argument is your idea of fun then something is seriously messed up in that head of yours." I spoke, arranging my clothes in the closet.

"Tell me, what is your idea of fun?"

"Watching TV, reading, painting and taking photos."

"What kind of shows do you watch?" I had no idea where this conversation was headed.

"Anime, Historical fiction, Romance and many others." I was done arranging my stuff.

"So, do you watch gay TV shows too?"

"Yes. I do." I blurted, hoping that this conversation would end soon.

"Why? Are they good?" His curiosity was evident.

"Yes they are good. You should try Heart Stopper and Young Royals. They are two of my favorites." With that, I left for the bathroom to take a shower.

******

I came out of the bathroom after about thirty minutes. The water was so warm and nice. I wanted to stay longer but the constant yelling and banging of the bathroom door by my new roomie, ended my bathing session.

"What took you so long in there?" He shot a question at me.

"I was showering while jerking off. Happy?" I blurted.

"Woah so he does have a dick after all. Thought he was a girl." He mocked, heading to the bathroom which he locked as soon as he got in.

I dried my wet body and shrugged on a pair of Mickey Mouse PJs. Before you ask, no this was not my idea. Mom insisted that I pack them.

"Aww...isn't that outfit the cutest on the planet?" Said the douche bag as he exited the bathroom.

"Tony, if you have nothing better to say then just shut your mouth." I yawned. Was literally bored of this conversation. My feet carried me towards the 6 by 6 bed.

"Stop! Where do you think, you are going?" He halted me in my tracks.

"To the bed to sleep coz it's midnight." A bored reply left my lips.

"I thought we had an agreement. That you would sleep on the floor and I on the bed." He chuckled.

"We had no such agreement. So if you don't mind I really need to sleep." A yawn gusted from my mouth and I stretched my arms a little.

"Fine. Then we are going to divide the bed. You sleep on the right and I on the left. And don't you think of crossing over to my side." This has got to be the pettiest thing I have heard all day. How old is this guy again?

"Okay, Tony." I watched as he placed a pillow boundary on the bed. He hopped on his side of the bed, pulling most of the covers to his side of the bed. Selfish prick.

I switched off the bedside lamp after getting into bed with the devil himself.

"I can't sleep with the lights off." Lamented the devil.

"Too bad for you, scaredy cat." I fired, pulling the covers to my side of the bed.

"I am not a scaredy cat and will you stop pulling the covers?" He groaned.

"You started this game Tony. I'm just finishing it." I stated, sinking into warmth of the covers I had managed to secure.

"If that's how you wanna play it then so be it." He declared and so the war of the covers began. It was childish and stupid fighting over bed covers but I didn't want to put an end to this stupidity. The guy was strong and I feared that he might win. But I didn't give up. Kept pulling the poor bedspread with all the energy I could muster.

"Fine I give up. You win." He stated, at last.

Just when I was beginning to enjoy my victory, he snatched the covers to himself. Leaving me exposed to the cold. I sat up in bed, annoyed to the core.

"Is someone sad? Don't worry, there is room for improvement next time." The devil rubbed it on my face. If only I could suffocate him with one of these pillows! It's clear to me now why Gavin hates this piece of shit.

Speaking of Gavin, I need to text him.

Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I typed a text.

Hey, you up?

Yes. Can't sleep. And you, why are you up? He replied.

Some piece of shit won't let me sleep. He is super annoying. I texted.

Knew I should have murdered that shit bag when I had the chance. Gavin texted.

You can still murder him. In fact, I will be your accomplice. I suggested in the text.

Text me when and where. And I'll be there with a knife and a shovel. His text triggered a chuckle.

Aye, aye murder captain. I sent the text and he replied with a laughing emoji. Anyway, what's your excuse for being up at this late hour? I typed.

I can't sleep so I am going through work emails and replying to important ones. He revealed in the text.

Can I help with the emails? I inquired.

No Carlito. You are tired. You should get some rest. Goodnight. He ended the conversation.

Goodnight, Gavin. I concluded then placed my phone on the bedside table.

"Could you please switch on the lights?" Tony whose presence I had forgotten about, spoke.

"Tell you what, I will switch on the lights if you share the bed warmers with me."

"Fine." He agreed to the terms and honored the deal.

Minutes later, sleep impregnated my eyelids as a yawn slithered past my parted mouth. Soon, I drifted to slumber.