Author's Note: Welcome to Night on the Road, my continuation of the Night in the Woods gang's story! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please review, the feedback helps.
~K
Part 1
Before the Fall, but in the Winter
Chapter 1 - Good Plans and Good Tacos
"So what are we playing?" Angus asked, looking around at his three friends around him. Everyone was looking at him, but their gazes soon moved between one another.
"No matter what we play, I probably won't know it." Mae huffed from the place where she was sitting on the stage.
"You're the leader, Gregg," Bea said, looking at the orange fox sitting next to the cat. Lately, the alligator had been using dummy cigarettes to try and quit smoking actual cigarettes, and this time was no different. An almost realistic cigarette hung out of her mouth, held in place by her teeth when she spoke.
"I'm thinking Bea, I'm thinking," Gregg said, then turned his head to the cat. "Mae, should we play something old or something new and raaaaaw?"
Mae shook her head. "I don't know. Mayb-"
The fox jumped up suddenly, causing everyone to flinch. "I GOT IT!" He smiled and paused a bit.
The bear blinked from behind his glasses. "What is it, bug?" He asked.
"Die Anywhere Else." Gregg said. "After recent events that we won't speak of, the lyrics of that song have never been more relatable." Everyone nodded their head.
"Agreed." The other three said in unison. Gregg nodded and began walking toward where his guitar was in the Party Barn's office. "So then it's settled." He broke into a run and disappeared behind a corner.
Mae hopped off the stage. "At least I've been practicing this one!" She ran off after him.
Angus and Bea didn't really say anything to each other as they got onto the stage. Bea got her computer and software running, and Angus did his vocal warm-ups after testing the mic. It didn't take long for Mae and Gregg to return. Soon, the group was all set up and ready to jam.
Gregg looked at everyone. "You guys ready?" With a confirmation from each of them, the band began to play.
Die Anywhere Else
Dust on this tired old street
Mark corners where we used to play
Dust trace our tired old feet
In circles as we pace our time away
I just wanna die anywhere else
If only I could die anywhere else, so
Come with me let's die anywhere else
Anywhere
Just not here
Stuck on this dead end street
Where all the new kids come to play
Stuck- Where past and future meet
Watching all our autumns drift away
I just wanna die anywhere else
If only I could die anywhere else, so
Come with me let's die anywhere else
Anywhere
Just not here
And if they ever here my name
Will they know I walked alone?
Around these dusty streets
My tired old home
And will they ever stop to think
What was here before, no
They won't remember
That I'm gone
I just wanna die anywhere else
If only I could die anywhere else, so
Come with me let's die anywhere else
Anywhere
Just not here
Oh no
"Pretty good!" Gregg said after a moment of silence so that the end of the song could sink in.
"Yeah, that was okay." Bea said.
"Um, that was pretty much perfect. I told you I've been practicing. Every night!" Mae exclaimed. Gregg applauded her.
"Istilldon'tbelieveyouactuallycommittedtosomethingbut that was pretty spot on." Gregg said, pulling his guitar strap off his head, and leaning his instrument against the wall. "That was some good singing, babe." He smiled, looking at Angus admiringly. The bear's ears went up as his mouth formed into a precious smile.
"Heh heh. Thanks, bug." He came down from the stage. Gregg was immediately by his side, and Angus's arm went around him.
Bea shut her computer down and stepped off the stage. Mae still had her bass around her neck. The sound of her stomach growling filled the silence for a moment. "Pizzaaaaaa." She groaned.
"Yeah! Pizza!" Gregg cheered.
"Yay. Pizza." Bea said in her typical monotone voice.
"Hooray for pizza." Angus said, still smiling. "Are we really going to go eat that crappy diner pizza though?"
"Oh yeah. That pizza was okay." Bea said. "I don't know if I really want it again."
"But the Pizza Scale says that it's not inedible. Pizza good." Gregg explained, looking at Mae for reassurance. Mae had a look of realization on her face. "Uh...Mae?"
"Tacos." Mae said. The group blinked.
"...What about them?" Angus asked, pushing up his glasses.
"Oh, right. A new taco place just opened up recently. What was it called again?" Bea asked.
"Taco Buck. They have pretty good reviews. Might be better than crappy diner pizza." Gregg said. Mae looked at everyone hungrily.
"Tacooos." Mae hummed.
"I think it's safe to say that Mae is pretty set on tacos." Angus said. "I'm fine with that if you guys are."
"Never hurts to try something new." Bea said, looking at Gregg.
"Heck yeah, tacos!" He cheered. "Mae get your damn bass off you weirdo."
Mae looked down and blinked. "Oh shit, I didn't realize I still had it." She pulled it off from over her head and set it down on the stage. It's not like anyone was going to step on it or anything. "God, I'm so ready for tacos."
"Agreed." Angus said.
"These tacos are actually pretty great." Bea said. "I am generally enjoying them."
"Bea's enjoying something and Mae's committing to things? What is this?" Gregg asked jokingly from where he was leaning against Angus.
"I can commit!" Mae argued. She thought for a moment how she couldn't really commit to a relationship with Cole, or commit to college, or Mr. Chazakov's class...
"Not to be rude, Mae, but you commit to things as much as I love working for my dad." Bea said, biting into her taco.
Mae also bit into her taco. "It's time to talk about something else now. So, what are everyone's plans for this weekend?"
"I actually have time off, believe it or not." Bea said, chewing her taco. "So I guess I'm free to do whatever."
"Angus and I are going to make out at art museums." Gregg said casually, kissing Angus's cheek. The bear blushed and waved his hands.
"We're not really!" He said. "We're just going to stay home and laze about. I might play some Sword People Online, and Gregg has to do the laundry."
Gregg's ears flattened and he sighed. "I lost a bet."
"You poor, poor, creature." Mae said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Dig me a hole, I don't think I'm going to make it." Gregg said, bringing a dramatic hand to his forehead.
"Ugh, don't ever talk about holes again." Mae said. "I don't want to see another hole forever, fivever…" She took a bite of her taco.
"Mae, there are literally holes all around you." Bea said.
"They're basically unavoidable." Angus added. He was using his free hand to eat his taco, somehow not getting any sauce or contents on Gregg. True love is this.
"Plus, everyone has-"
"Okay okay, I get it." Mae interjected. "I just can't stop thinking about what happened, and I wish I could." She sighed, looking at her taco disappointedly. Not because it tasted bad, of course. These were effin' good tacos.
"Yeah and Casey…" Gregg frowned.
"I thought we agreed not to talk about it?" Bea said, putting her taco down and wiping her hands with her napkin.
"I'm pretty sure I told you that was going to be impossible." Mae said.
"She did." Angus nodded. "And I'd have to say I agree. As much as I still think those people got what they deserved, I can't just never talk about it again."
"Plus Casey was our friend, Bea. How can we just ignore what they did to him?" Gregg asked, almost angrily.
"Woah, calm down. I guess I just never wanted to think about it again." The alligator said, taking a sip of water.
"Well, we never said we wanted to think about it." Angus explained. "It's just that it's kind of impossible not to."
"Yeah, Beabea." Mae said. "I wish I could forget everything that happened that night forever, but unless you're secretly part of the Men in Black, then that's not going to happen."
"Well, we could do what people on TV do and find something to distract ourselves." Bea suggested, grabbing her taco and eating again.
"Like what?" Gregg asked.
"Ooh, we could go on one of those road trip things!" Mae said. "I heard that Brian Anderson had a shitty week so he went on a road trip with his dudes and he came back a changed man."
"You do realize it's just going to be us sweaty adults in a car for days." Bea explained.
"Aww, you called me an aduuult." Mae smiled. "And I'm pretty sure we make stops and stuff."
Bea scoffed. "I know that. I just don't think you and Gregg will be able to handle it."
Gregg looked shocked. "How dare you, Beatrice Santello."
"I think a road trip is a great idea, Bea." Angus spoke up.
"Um, it was my idea." Mae pointed to herself. The bear nodded.
"Sorry. I think a road trip is a great idea, Mae." He corrected. Mae nodded in approval. "Where would we even go, though?" He asked, pushing his glasses up with a finger.
"Um, rad junkyards obviously." Gregg said. He repositioned to be more comfortable against Angus.
"No thanks we already live in one." Bea said. "And even if we didn't, how is that fun?"
"Junkyards are fun! You can climb the piles of trash and find a ton of cool shit." Mae explained.
"But they smell bad." Angus said. Gregg craned his neck to look up at him.
"I don't get it, Angus. You know I smell and you still like me!" He said. Angus chuckled softly.
"You at least shower once a week." He said, ruffling the fur on Gregg's head, causing the fox to push his hand away and fix it.
"Whatever. I still think junkyards are cool." Gregg said. Their tacos were finished now. Mae leaned her head on her paw.
"Maybe we should take some time to think about it. After all, the weekend isn't for another three days." Bea said. "And please, don't think of something ridiculous." This got eye rolls from Gregg and Mae.
"Let's meet at Angus and Gregg's apartment on Friday." Mae said. "Then we can pitch our ideas."
So the group agreed that they would think of some places to visit while on their road trip. After talking a bit more, they paid for their food and walked out of Taco Buck.
"So Beabea, are you free tomorrow?" Mae asked, turning to face the alligator, who was getting a dummy cigarette out. Bea shook her head.
"Nope. Gotta go fix an AC." She said, sticking the dummy in her mouth. Mae frowned a bit.
"Oh. Well, what about you, Gregg? What are you up to tomorrow?" She asked, now turning to the fox.
"Was thinking about heading over to the abandoned glass factory." He said with a smirk. "I bet there's a lot of things we can break there."
Mae's eyes widened. "I can't believe you haven't thought of this amazing idea before!"
Angus pulled Gregg's ear a bit. "Um, how about no? Gregg there's going to be like broken glass everywhere." To this, Mae and Gregg burst out laughing. Angus raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Mae and I smash lightbulbs all the time." Gregg explained.
"Yeah, and all the two times we've done it Gregg hasn't gotten injured, and there were glass shards flying at his head!" Mae said.
Angus had a blank expression for a moment. "You do realize you could have like, lost an eye or something."
"But I didn't." Gregg said.
"Gregg, that's not the point." Bea said. "You should really be more considerate to how Angus feels."
Gregg huffed and looked down. "Sorry, Angus…" The bear turned him around and took him in both his arms, squeezing. This created a loving smile on Gregg's face.
"It's okay, bug. Can you and Mae try to like, hang out like normal people?" Angus asked.
"But normal people are booooring." Mae whined. "What do normal people even do?"
"They don't break light bulbs and cause shards of glass to fly at each other." Bea said. Mae groaned.
"You guys are buzzkills." She said. Angus was still hugging Gregg.
"I guess we could figure out something "normal" to do." The fox said.
"That's good enough for me." Angus said, letting go of him. "It's getting late, we should get home." Gregg nodded.
"Good night, guys!" Gregg said, grabbing Angus' paw.
"Night, Grangus." Mae said.
"Ugh, don't call us that," Gregg said.
"G'night you two." Bea said.
Angus waved at her. "Bye, Bea."
"Okay night everyone!" Mae said and ran off toward home.
The rest of the group watched her disappear down the hill, then went their separate ways.