Chapter two- Bar night. Preparing for a road trip.
Later that evening, Ulrich entered the local bar looking grim.
"Well, well. The reclusive Ulrich Stern decides to grace us with his presence." A voice called from the bar.
"Hey Odd. Sorry I'm late guys." He said sitting down.
He kissed Yuma on the cheek and ordered a beer.
"Bad day?" she asked.
He nodded sipping his bitter beverage.
"Did you get the extension?" She asked.
"Bow chicka wow wow." Odd giggled. He was already pretty tipsy, so they ignored him.
"Yeah. West was pretty lenient. Gave me till the end of spring break to finish it." Ulrich said.
"Well that's good. You've decide what to write about right?"
He nodded.
"I'm heading back up to Arkham to research our family tree. I have an uncle that still lives up there."
"Arkham? Where's that?"" Aelita asked.
"Massachusetts. Close to Newberry Port."
"And you're going alone?" Jeremy asked.
"Of course. I'm not gonna let you guys ruin your spring break because i'm a dumbass."
"And were not gonna let you go on a six hour drive alone. We're coming with you whether you like it or not." Yumi insisted.
"Road trip!!!" Odd bellowed.
Ulrich laughed softly.
"Thanks guys. Thanks a lot."
The night carried on like this, until finally it was last call and they helped a very drunk Odd stumble out of the bar. Aelita and Jeremy who don't even touch alcohol simply clicked their tongues as Odd emptied the contents of his stomach onto the pavement.
"Azga goma hunil?" He muttered.
"Yeah, I've heard that." Ulrich said helping him to his feet.
"I'll take him home."Ulrich said.
He led Odd to his car and helped him in the back seat. He had a small waste basket in the back just in case.
"See you at home?" Yumi asked.
"Yeah."
Ulrich kissed her on the cheek. He heard Odd vomit again in the back seat, the dull sound of vomit hitting plastic confirmed his aim to be true.
"He'll be in bits tomorrow." Jeremy said.
Ulrich chuckled and got into his car. He turned the ignition and the engine roared to life. He waved to his friends and drove off into the night. Odd lived in the Miskatonic university dorm rooms, his fine arts scholarship had defiantly paid off. His roommate, Howard buzzed them in and helped Odd settle into the bathroom, saying he'd be damned if Odd vomited on his bed again.
Ulrich stayed with Odd until the worst had left him and started back home to his modest two bedroom apartment he shared with Yumi. They shared one bed room and the other was a computer room/study. Yumi was already asleep in the bed when he walked in. Ulrich crawled into bed next to her, being careful not to disturb her. He yawned and fell asleep almost immediately. That night he dreamed again. This time he was diving, nude, deep under water. The ocean was freezing, cutting into his flesh like knives. He had no control over his body, no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop himself. He kept swimming deeper and deeper through the dark ocean until-
His alarm went off snapping him out of his slumber. He opened his eyes and saw the early morning sunlight shinning through his window, a welcoming beacon of hope after a night of reluctantly exploring the deep of abyss that was his mind. He clicked the alarm off and rolled over to see Yumi starting to stir.
"Morning doll." He said.
She smiled at him and yawned.
"What time is it?" She asked.
"About seven. I'm gonna spend the day gathering everything we need, maps snacks, and then leave tomorrow morning. Sound good?"
"Sure. If that's the case I'm gonna sleep in today."
She stretched and laid back down as Ulrich rose to take a shower.
When he got out he called Odd to see if he was conscious yet. Odd answered on the third ring, sounding like an angry grizzly bear.
"How you feeling man?" Ulrich asked.
He knew it was a stupid question to ask, he just liked to twist the knife a little.
"Like a million peso's." Odd muttered.
"Well be leaving tomorrow morning around eight, is that okay?"
"Going where?" Odd asked.
Ulrich sighed.
"Figures." Ulrich thought.
"Just through some shit into a bag and be here around eight. We're going on a road trip."
"Oh. Cool. Later man, I'm gonna pieces of my stomach."
Ulrich chuckled, hung up and went into the computer room. He logged on to the internet and printed off map quest directions. He then went shopping for road snacks and other supplies. Something he noticed as he shopped was that certain people stared at him in the store and on the street. They had a blank look in their eyes, like they were looking through him, not at them. He shrugged it off, thinking he was simply being paranoid. It was around six when he walked through the door and saw Yumi sitting on the couch in her pajamas, working on a nursing assignment. She was the only girl Ulrich ever met that looked as gorgeous in a white t-shirt and Dr. Pepper sleep pants as she did in lingerie. Her hair was pulled back with pencils, acting as make-shift chop sticks.
"What?" she asked as she caught him staring.
"Oh, nothing. I uh, got the provisions. Ho Ho's, Twinkies. Basically, anything and everything to send ourselves into a diabetic coma."
"Nice. Do me a favor and stick me a Twinkie in the freezer?"
"Sure."
"I took the liberty of packing our bags. Jeremy and Aelita called earlier, they said they'll be here at about seven thirty. He's bringing his cousins 'shag wagon'."
"Ew, the one with the fluffy carpet?"
"The same."
"Well, it'll be roomier than the fire bird I suppose."
He walked out of the kitchen and plopped down next to her. She closed her book and snuggled next to him. They spent the evening watching television, Ulrich politely suffered through two hours of Grey's anatomy, as Yumi politely sat through an episode of Robot Chicken, which to her was longer than Grey's. Finally, it was time for bed.
Ulrich, who had been expecting another bizarre nightmare, slept soundly that night. Whether it was Yumi cuddled up next to him, or the powerful sleep aid Ulrich took before bed he wasn't sure, but for one night, the hounds of hell let him be. He slept dreamlessly, unaware that soon, nightmares would be the least of his problems.