Summary: After Mitch gets dumped by his girlfriend, Jerome shows up at his house and practically forces Mitch to get in his car and go on vacation with him to take the pain off of his mind. What follows is probably the best impromptu vacation ever. Chaptered fanfiction with eventual Merome. Non-Youtube!AU with Mitch living in America.
Chapter word count: 2000
Note: I'm doing something that I haven't done in a while, and that is writing a chaptered fic. I also haven't written Merome in a while, so forgive me if they seem slightly OOC.
"Get in the car," Jerome stated, rolling down the passenger-side window.
"What?" Mitch replied, shocked.
"You heard me, Mitch. I'm not just going to let you sit around moping because Jess dumped you. Now get. In. The. Car."
This time, Mitch did as he was told and hopped in. "Let's go." They pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road, windows down and wind roaring in their ears.
Jerome glanced at his phone and saw the familiar photo of his best friend as it rang. "Hey dood, what's up?"
"She dumped me, Jerome," Mitch sobbed on the other end of the line, "She said she thought she loved me but she didn't and she just wanted out. She freakin' dumped me!"
"Where are you right now?"
"At my house, why?"
"Stay there. I'll be there in five." He ended the call, ignoring Mitch's protests, and grabbed his keys.
"Where are we going?" Mitch shouted above the wind.
"Anywhere you want!" Jerome replied, also shouting.
"What if I don't know what I want?"
"Then we drive until you figure it out!"
About thirty minutes of driving around aimlessly later, Mitch spoke again. "You know, I'd really like to go to the beach. It's been a while, and people always say that it's very therapeutic to feel the sand and the ocean and such, but it's so far away and we're going in the wrong direction - what are you doing?" He asked as Jerome made a U-turn randomly.
"You want to go to the beach. I'm turning my car around so we can go to the beach," Jerome replied as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"But it's a six hour drive!" Mitch protested.
"I don't have a problem with that."
"You can't drive for six hours!"
"If I get tired, you'll take over. You haven't gotten your license revoked since the last time you drove me around, what, three days ago?" Mitch shook his head wordlessly. "Good. Then that's settled."
"What about clothes?"
"You're wearing clothes."
"Not beach clothes!"
"You don't think that beach shops sell beach clothes?"
"Well, what about lodging? Where are we going to stay?"
"You don't think that beaches have beach motels all along them?"
"Of course they do, Jerome! But why are you doing all this?"
Jerome turned his head to face Mitch square-on. "Because you're my best friend, Mitch, and you're hurting, and it's my job to help you back up when you fall down. That's what best friends are for."
Mitch's smile stretched from ear to ear. "Thanks, biggums. This really means a lot to me." Tears started to prick in the corners of his eyes.
"Now don't get weepy on me, Mitchell Hughes. This is a vacation, and the first rule of vacations is all smiles and no crying."
Mitch wiped his eyes. "Got it. No crying."
"I'm glad. Now get out your phone and Apple Maps some directions for me. Just because you got your heart broken doesn't mean you get to loaf around in my car and not help me," Jerome ordered with a smile. "And also you're DJ, since I'm driving. The AUX cord should be somewhere in the glove compartment."
Mitch chuckled and did as he was told.
"Alright, turn off on exit 49 and you should be able to see the ocean," Jerome directed. About halfway through their trip, they'd stopped for gas and food and switched drivers.
"Oh, there it is!" Mitch took his left hand off the wheel and pointed out his window. "I see it, Jerome! We're here!"
"Put your hand back on the wheel, Mr. Hughes," Jerome commanded in a false-serious tone, "And turn left here. This is where we're staying."
"The Driftwood Motel," Mitch read off the weathered sign. The motel was painted a light blue-green, with a white roof and shutters. Palm trees stood on either side of the entrance, and the door frame was decorated with sea glass. "Looks pretty nice."
"And the price is pretty nice, too," Jerome added, smiling. "Pull up to the front. I'll hop out and check us in, and you can park the car. Preferably close to the door."
"What if they don't have a room?" Mitch asked, worried, as Jerome hopped out of his car.
"Don't worry. I made a reservation. That's also why I'm the one checking us in, it's on my credit card. Now go park the car, Mitchell Hughes, and start enjoying your vacation!" Jerome smiled as he slammed the passenger door.
As he entered the front lobby, he took in the decor. The place was small but had great seaside charm. He located the check-in desk to his left and approached. "Reservation for 'Aceti?'"
The woman behind the desk punched the name into the computer. "Ah, yes. We have you booked for a single King bed." Jerome hissed internally, but smiled and handed her his credit card. "How long will you be staying with us?"
"I don't know yet. Can I just pay for every night individually?"
"Sure!" The woman handed him back his card, along with two room keys and a thin packet of papers. Jerome noted her name was Lacy. "Here's your room keys, phone listings, rules of the Driftwood, activity schedule, and restaurant menu. The TV directory is in your room, as well as the listings for several popular restaurants, shops, and the like. Will you need someone to help you with your bags?"
"No, I'm good. I really don't have that much luggage." Jerome refused with a small smile.
"Light packer, or spur-of-the-moment?" Lacy asked, returning the smile.
"The latter."
"I would've assumed so, since you made the reservation only two hours ago."
"Well, it all worked out, didn't it?" Jerome bantered, walking back out to the parking lot.
"That it did. Thank you for staying at the Driftwood!" Lacy waved.
Mitch was waiting in the car, parked only three spots from the door. Jerome knocked on the window, causing Mitch to jump. "We're in." Mitch smiled and opened his door. "Here's your room key. Can you pop the trunk?"
"Sure, but what's in it?" Mitch questioned. A second later, he answered his own query. "Towels, two t-shirts, two pairs of flip-flops, and two pairs of sunglasses? When did you pick this up?"
"When we stopped for gas at that tiny gas station, I grabbed these supplies. Figured it might be a bit easier for you to relax and have fun if some of the basic necessities were taken care of. I also bought chips, trail mix, and chocolate, which is sitting in the back seat, since the trunk would be too hot." Jerome smiled and clapped Mitch on the shoulder. "Come on, biggums, let's go have an awesome vacation."
"So, do you want to eat in our rooms, or eat in a restaurant?" Mitch questioned as he and Jerome threw their stuff onto the chair in the corner. "I'm really open to either."
"Well, seeing as chocolate, chips, and trail mix are not the most nutritious foods in the world, nor would they satisfy two very hungry adolescent boys, I say we try a restaurant. Lacy said there was a list of restaurants around here somewhere - here!" He located the piece of paper on the bedside table. "Do we want to drive or walk?"
"Walk, please," Mitch replied, laying back on the bed. "I'm done with driving."
"Alright," Jerome and scanned the paper. "Do we want pizza or seafood?"
"Is that even a question?"
"Pizza it is, then. I'll call Seagrass Pizza and see if they've got a table." Jerome fished around in his pocket and grabbed his cellphone. He dialed the number, his finger hovering over the call button, when he noticed Mitch staring at his own phone and crying. "Mitch, what are you doing?"
"I just miss her, Jerome!" He choked out.
"Alright, give me that." Jerome plucked Mitch's phone out of his hands and pocketed it before pocketing his own. "No cell phones this whole vacation. When we go down to the lobby, I'll ask the receptionist to put them in the safe."
Mitch gaped at his best friend, who grabbed the hotel phone and redialed the number for the pizza place. A minute later, he set it down. "Grab your jacket. Let's go."
The two made their way down the hall to the lobby and out the door, Jerome pausing briefly to hand over their phones. They walked the quarter mile to Seagrass Pizza and pushed open the door. At once they were assaulted by the loud music and delicious smells of pizza. A young woman approached the two and asked, "How many?"
"Just us," Jerome replied.
"Follow me." She led them to a table off to the side of the restaurant, with a view of the ocean in the fading light of evening. "Do you need a minute before you order?"
"Yes, please." Mitch responded, picking up his menu off the table.
"That's fine. I'll be back in a minute. My name's Jasmine, by the way, and welcome to Seagrass Pizza." Jasmine flashed them a smile and left. Mitch and Jerome perused the menu for a moment. "It all looks so good. Want to get two different entrees and split them both?" Jerome suggested.
"Sounds great." Mitch stared out the window.
Jerome snapped his fingers in front of the taller's face. "Hey. No moping. That's the first rule of vacation, remember?"
"Sorry. But I'm not going to get over her in a day, I hope you understand."
"Of course not. We'll stay as long as you need." Jerome smiled comfortingly. "I'm here for you, buddy."
"Thanks." Mitch returned his gaze to his menu. "I think I'll get the Hawaiian six-inch pizza as my entree. What's yours?"
"Probably the seafood spaghetti. I know we came here for pizza, but this picture is calling my name."
Jasmine returned and took their orders. "And will this be on one bill or two?" she asked after she was finished writing.
"One," Jerome answered before Mitch could. "I'm paying."
"Okay, well I'll see you guys in a few!"
"Why did you say you'd pay for it?" Mitch hissed after she was gone. "You're already paying for the hotel room!"
"Well, in my past experience, paying for a meal does not make you get over a girlfriend faster. However, immeasurable amounts of fun with your biggums does. So let me handle this." A new song came on the radio, blasting the entire restaurant with Paramore. "I don't mind, letting you down easy but just give it time," Jerome sang out, perfectly in tune with Hayley Williams. Mitch laughed as Jerome belted the entire song, finishing just as Jasmine brought their food out.
"That was quite some performance, Jerome," he chuckled as he sliced his pizza in two and slid one half onto Jerome's plate.
"Why thank you, good sir," Jerome returned as he divided his pasta, "I try."
They ate their meal in companionable silence, too busy shoving food in their mouths to have any sort of conversation. As they finished up and paid the bill, Jerome asked, "So, what would you rate this place out of ten?"
"Definitely … a pizza out of ten," Mitch grinned, pushing open the door and stepping out into the cool evening air.
"Wow, high praise."
"Well, they deserve it. That food was to die for."
"Ready to head back to the room?"
"Absolutely. I'm about ready to pass out standing up." Mitch fake-swooned from exhaustion.
"Well don't fall asleep just yet. We're still a quarter mile from the room," Jerome said, punching Mitch's shoulder.
"What if I do? Can I count on my biggums to carry me?"
"Absolutely not. I'd leave you in the street." That was all it took to send the pair into a fit of giggles that lasted almost the whole walk home.