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: 1100
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.
Jerome awoke the next morning to the sun streaming through the window. He checked the clock. 8:30. With a groan, he pulled the covers back over his head.
On the other side of the bed, Mitch's eyes fluttered open. "Biggums?" he called out quietly, his voice hoarse from sleep. "What time is it?"
"Early."
Mitch pulled the covers off of himself and walked into the bathroom. "Jerome, we didn't bring toothbrushes. Or combs. Or underwear."
"Uggggghhhhh," Jerome's groans increased in volume and resonance.
"We have to go shopping. Like, now." Mitch walked back over to the bed and ripped the covers off of his friend. "Get up, loser, we're going shopping." When Jerome didn't move, Mitch pushed him out of the bed. "Now."
"Fine, fine." Jerome hopped up and stumbled into the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face while Mitch changed into a spare t-shirt that Jerome had picked up yesterday and styled his hair with his fingers. A minute later, Jerome appeared at his side. "I'm ready. Let's go."
They walked across the store to the Walmart. Jerome grabbed two pairs of swim trunks (sharks for Mitch and palm trees for himself), a six-pack of boxers, and two more t-shirts (one with a turtle and one with a crab), while Mitch got the toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, deodorant, and sunscreen, which Jerome put back. "Second rule of vacation: get a sunburn," he told the taller solemnly.
"But - "
"I don't make the rules, Mitch, I just enforce them."
Mitch winced as he saw the total price of their groceries but whipped out his credit card anyways. "I'm paying this time, and there's nothing you can do to stop me," he declared as he punched in his pin. They carried the plastic Walmart bags back to their room and busied themselves with personal hygiene activities.
Thirty minutes later, the two were ready for action. "What time is it now?" Mitch asked as he donned his new shark swim trunks and crab t-shirt.
"10."
"Should we eat breakfast before we go to the beach?"
"Nah, let's just bring the trail mix and chips and eat out there. You grab the towels; I've got the food." Jerome grabbed the canvas bag containing their minimal food supplies and deposited a room key in it before heading out of the room. "Let's go!"
Mitch clutched the towels and ran after him. Their motel was right on the beach, so they walked past the pool and there it was: the magnificent Atlantic ocean. An idea formed in Mitch's mind. "Race you!" he shouted suddenly, tearing off across the pool deck, despite the 'No Running' signs.
"No fair!" Jerome laughed as he chased after the taller. Predictably, Mitch won, and started laying out the beach towels across the hot white sand. Jerome collapsed onto the towel, chest heaving with laughter. "Cheater."
Mitch threw an almond in the shorter's face. "That was uncalled for."
"The truth is uncalled for?"
"Shut up and eat your breakfast, Mr. Vacation Expert."
"With pleasure." Jerome plunged his hand into the bag of nuts, raisins, and M&M's and pulled out a handful. "So, Mr. Vacation Noob, how has this experience been so far?"
"It's been pretty great. We haven't been away for 24 hours and I already feel so much better. She really couldn't have dumped me at a better time. A week ago, and we still would've been taking exams. God knows how I would've done on those if I'd been moping around."
They sat and ate the entire bag of trail mix, and then cracked open the chips. By noon, both bags were empty. "Wow, such a nutritious breakfast, Jerome."
"Indeed it was. Come on, let's go play in the ocean." Jerome grabbed Mitch's hand and dragged him towards the water. If he'd looked back, he would've noticed Mitch was blushing. Or maybe it was just sunburn.
At about three in the afternoon, Mitch proclaimed that he was done with 'dirty sea animal poop water' splashing him in the face, so they retired to the sand and started on a castle, which quickly fell apart. 'Making a castle' quickly evolved into 'balling up sand in our fists and flinging it at the other person.' The sunglasses were largely responsible for the fact that neither boy lost their eyesight.
They stayed on the beach for about seven hours total, and Mitch couldn't remember the last time he had this much fun. As the temperature began to cool, they packed up their belongings and made their way back to the room. Jerome noticed the time on the clock as he was getting ready for a shower. "It's five o'clock? Wow, I had no idea. Mitch, are you hungry for dinner?"
"Yeah, actually, now that you mention it. Wanna take showers and then decide where to go?"
"Sounds good. I'll be quick." Jerome turned on the water and used the next fifteen minutes to rinse himself of all the sand, ocean water, and shell bits stuck to his skin. When he got out, he wrapped a towel around himself before heading into the main room.
"I'll be quick," Mitch mocked playfully as he took Jerome's place.
"Shut up," Jerome replied flippantly, "The hot water felt amazing. You'll see."
After Mitch's shower, which he did have to agree, felt amazing, the pair dressed back in their traveling clothes, but with new underwear. "Where do you want to eat?" Jerome asked.
"Somewhere close. I don't want to walk too far." Mitch toweled his hair dry. "I'm pretty open as far as the type of food."
"How about Subway?"
"Is it close?"
"Right across the street."
"Let's do it!"
They grabbed their sandwiches and returned to the room. Jerome turned the TV on and flipped through the channels aimlessly. "What do you feel like watching?"
"I don't care. See if there's a movie on."
Jerome nodded and located the movie channel. "Aw, sweet! They're playing The Hobbit! Sound good?"
"Sounds great." Mitch bit into his sandwich and moaned. "Oh, my sweet Jesus, this tastes amazing."
"Glad to hear it, biggums, glad to hear it." They ate their sandwiches slowly, often forgetting to chew because they were so wrapped up in the movie. After The Hobbit finished, The Fault In Our Stars started. "Want to watch this one, too?"
"May as well. There's no bedtime on vacation. Or is there? I wouldn't know, seeing as I've been vacationing wrong all 21 of my years." Mitch poked Jerome in the side.
"No, you're right there. Let's watch."
They fell asleep halfway through the movie.
