Running out of Time

Part One–Chapter Two

Dave woke up and silently stood, his head foggy with needed sleep. He reached for his shades and slid them over his eyes easily. Not knowing the time, he reached for his phone and looked. It was barely noon. Unlocking his phone, Dave sighed. He had never gotten a reply from John. And then it hit him all at once. The move. Tomorrow, which was today. Dave swore loudly. Egbert was moving today and he wasn't even able to see him to say goodbye one more time. How could he have forgotten something so important? He wished he could have stayed asleep, at least then he wouldn't have to face this horrid reality. His dreams had been better, too.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep anymore, he shot John a message.

TG: sup egbert talk to me once you can

Dave knew he probably wouldn't get a reply until much later. John would have packed his computer, and his phone was still broken as far as Dave knew. So with not really anything better to do he pulled on the hoodie John had given him for his birthday and walked out of the hotel room.

Walking around town for three days he generally knew were most things were. So, with nothing else to do, Dave walked to a store that was farther from the hotel instead of the one that was only a few blocks away. But he wasn't in a hurry and there wasn't anything he could do at the hotel anyway. On the way his phone buzzed, a new message. He didn't get his hopes up at the hearing of a new message, and he was right not to. It was Rose.

- tentacleTherapist [TT] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] -

TT: Hey Dave.

TG: sup rose

TT: I heard that John was moving today. Today is the correct day, right?

TG: yeah

TG: whats up did you need something

TT: I was going to ask how you were. Seeing as how John's moving and I'm pretty positive you haven't told him of your feelings and all.

TT: How are you holding up, Dave?

TG: all irony aside im pretty fucking shitty

TG: thats how im holding up im not

TT: I understand. You won't be able to visit him and nor will you see him a last time, not to even say goodbye.

TT: I know you have a strong disagreement to telling John on pester chum how you feel about him. So, in this case, there is nothing I can do to help you with this.

TT: However I can listen to you and help with whatever I am able to.

TT: Feel free to talk if you want.

TG: rose i appreciate this but it wont change a damn thing

TG: hes probably already on a plane to his new fucking house on the other side of the world

TG: but i cant let him go because you know

TT: I know, Dave.

TG: cause i love him rose

TG: ive loved him for so many fucking years and he doesnt have a clue

TG: but hes fucking gone and hell never know and now i wont be able to see his face ever again

TG: part of why we moved is cause i wanted to see john in person and not in pictures

TT: I know, I was the one who sent you his pictures.

TG: dammit why couldnt i have just told him the day we moved in

TG: we cant fucking move again cause bro has a good fucking job

TG: rose what the fuck do i do

TT: I suggest talking to John as much as you can today and every other day. Until you are able to I suggest doing something to get your mind off of it.

TG: thanks rose I gotta go bye

- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] -

Dave couldn't do it. He couldn't talk about John with anyone without pain filling his heart. John Egbert. He was Dave's best bro and the guy he loved. He had loved John for the better of three and a half years. Two years ago he had moved in next door to John. The memory of the day they had met in person made a small smile play on Dave's lips.

He remembered messaging John while the boxes were being moved from the moving truck to the yard and the house. John had surprised Dave with news that he had just got a new neighbor. Dave had smiled and they had talked about the neighbor. John had tried to stalk Dave, not knowing it was Dave. He had found it cute and amusing Egbert was so air-headed. So Dave had played along as John tried to stalk him and take pictures of this new neighbor. He had play flirted and flirted with John for real and John had given up on the neighbor. He told Dave he was leaving, so naturally he had put on the hoodie John had gotten him and waited in front of John's door for him to come out.

When he did Dave had asked John why he never came to say hi. He had told John that it was him and all this other stuff, he had been speechless to Dave's explanation. John had said he needed to sit down and Dave had invited himself in, sitting down next to John. He asked John why he was speechless when for the past years they had talked about everything every day on pester chum and he couldn't say a single word to him in person. Eventually they talked and Dave still couldn't get the courage to tell John. So instead, he flirted with John, making him blush.

Dave smiled and wished he could go back to that day and tell John that he loved him. But now it was too late and John was gone and he would never see him again. Frustrated and upset, Dave ran his long pale fingers through pale hair and sighed. He turned the next corner and came up to the store, the doors slid open in front of him and he walked in, cool air conditioner touching him. He shoved his hands in the soft pocket and walked around the store until he found what he had came for. He carried the bottle of apple juice to the checkout and waited in line. It didn't take long before he got to the cashier and paid for the drink and walked out.

It was only a little past one thirty, Dave still had all day. Knowing that he would have to pack eventually and finding no other stores the least bit interesting, he began walking back to the hotel. He kept to the quieter streets, which took and extra twenty minutes before he saw the hotel. In the lobby they had leftover lunch from sometime before two still lying on platters. He picked up a mini muffin and ate it in the elevator up to his room. The elevator dinged and opened, he was glad to be out of it, the music was irritable and only making him in a more sour mood.

In the room Dave hooked his phone up to the speakers Bro had brought and found the bags on a shelf in the tiny closet. Dave's music blasted in the room, almost drowning out his thoughts of John as he packed Bro and his things. He walked around the room, finding everything and placing it in a bag. The only things he left out were Bro's speakers, both of their helmets, and his keys. When Dave was almost finished putting everything in their bags, the music cut out and 'Hot Mess' by Cobra Starship started playing. He instantly knew he was getting a call, but how? John's phone was still broken, wasn't it? Nonetheless Dave stumbled to get his phone off the speakers and answer it. When he answered Dave's heart almost died.

"Hey, Dave. My dad got me a new phone. ." John's voice filled Dave's head and he could barely breathe as he answered John.

"Sup Egbert?" Dave played off his breathlessness with being casual and cool as usual.

John's voice hinted a slight happiness, but was layered with sadness when he answered. "I wanted to call you. Ha, I'm an idiot. I don't even know why I called, really. Guess I wanted to hear your monotone voice," John laughed drily, bringing forth and awkward silence between the two.

Dave was so happy he was hearing John's voice, but he was surprised his mind was drawing a complete blank on what to say. He couldn't hide the emotion from his voice, hearing John like this made Dave lose his cool and his monotone. "You're not an idiot, Egbert!" He blurted out. He heard John laugh on the other end and Dave barely smiled. "Eh, yeah. I'm actually really glad you called, man."

He could hear shock in John's voice. "You are..? Wow, Dave, you leave me for four days and you're full of emotion when I talk to you. What's up, Dave? What changed?"

Dave squeezed his eyes shut and pulled off his shades and fell a few tears run down his cheeks. "Egbert. . You're moving! Of course I'm gonna show emotion! Did you think I was an emotionless robot all this time or something?"

John's voice was sweet and sad in Dave's ears. "Hah, of course not. It's just. . You never show emotion to really anything. I mean, you do sometimes, but not a lot of the time. I guess it's just weird to hear so much emotion in your actual voice for once."

To this Dave almost couldn't answer. "When was the last time something like this happened? I mean, this is big. You're moving half way around the world today. Who am I kidding, you're probably already half way to your new house. My point is that nothing ever happens, you hardly hear my voice anyway."

"That's true. I guess I am pretty stupid that I didn't think of that. How've you been Dave?"

The question was actually harder to answer than he thought. He didn't want to tell John he was pretty shitty, that would only upset him and he didn't want to lie to him, either. So he went for the best possible answer he could think up. "I've been. What about you, how've you been, man?" But before John got a chance to answer, Bro's ring tone sounded in his ear. "Hold up man, Bro's calling."

Dave answered on the third ring and heard Bro's monotone voice. "We're having lunch. Get your ass to the address I sent you now." Dave said okay right before the line went dead.

Sighing, he put John back on. "Egbert, I gotta go for like two hours or some shit. I'll call you later. Bye." Thinking he wouldn't be able to bear hearing John say bye, especially if there was sadness in his voice, Dave immediately hung up without a word from John.

Grabbing his keys and his helmet, Dave pocketed his phone and jumped down the flights of winding stairs until he got to the lobby. He casually walked out and put his helmet on. It only took him a few minutes to get to the ending of the parking lot and finding his bike. He swung his leg over the seat and turned the key in its ignition. The bike rumbled to life and Dave left the hotel, zooming between cars on the street he got to the place Bro was within ten minutes. Dave parked his red bike and pocketed his keys, the lanyard to hold then John had given him dangling out of his back pocket. It was rainbow colored and it said "gaytastic" in bold letters.

Dave took his helmet off and carried it inside the small diner, Bro wasn't hard to find. He sat across form Bro in the other booth seat and placed the helmet next to him. Bro was drinking a glass of orange juice when he looked up and saw Dave.

Bro's voice was monotone as usual, "I got you apple juice, disgusting, but I didn't order for you. So get your food, we have something we need to talk about."

Dave nodded and went up to the counter and turned around to lean against the counter after ringing the bell. After a few minutes a girl with big brown eyes and light brown hair came up and asked for his order. Dave answered and told her he wanted a chicken burger and a regular one. Instead of immediately answering with anything, she stared at Dave until he walked back to Bro's and his booth. Dave and Bro waited in silence as they waited for their food to arrive. When it did, the brown eyed girl stayed and stared at Dave.

Bro watched with amusement when the girl asked, "Uh, I was wondering if you would want to go out with me later tonight?"

Dave saw Bro smirk at him before he answered. "Yeah, no. I can't. You see, I don't like girls, I'm gay." The girl looked slightly disgusting before walking off angrily.

Dave heard Bro slightly chuckle before he picked up his burger. Dave at the burger before Bro decided to tell him why he was there. "I can't leave until tomorrow night. You, on the other hand, can go whenever the fuck you want. You have your house key and you have your money. I'll give you the general direction, after that you're on your own. Hell, leave at four in the morning if you want."

Dave was surprised. He knew Bro was fine with him leaving whenever he wanted and being home alone, but to drive two hours alone, that was new. "Alright, Bro. Anything else, I was packing when you called." Bro shook his head and Dave finished his food before getting up.

Grabbing his helmet, he said bye to Bro and left. Once he was on his bike, he thought of where to go. He wanted to talk to John, but he said two hours, he still had an hour and a half. So, because he had nothing better to do, he rode around, trying to find a store that looked interesting enough. Dave knew he wouldn't be able to give it to him in person, but still he wanted to get something for John.

After forty minutes he finally found and old store whose name was worn off of the sign in the older part of town, Dave parked his bike and once more pocketed his keys, carrying his helmet inside. Inside the shop there was random things, none of them were tourist items like most of the stores, either. There were shelves on each wall except one that had hooks and rods that held old clothes. There were things all over the store, everything was old looking and Dave decided this is where he would get something for John.

Walking around, Dave saw multiple things that Jade would like, same as Rose. But so far he found nothing that seemed good enough for John. While still looking, he decided he would send something to Jade and Rose. So he picked what he thought would be best for them and carried them around the store. After searching almost the entire store, and old man that was probably ninety something came out of a room towards the back wall. Seeing Dave, he walked up to him and smiled.

His voice was raspy and his words hard to breathe out. "Welcome, young man. If you're still looking I can keep those things on the counter." Dave nodded and set a large book and a crystallized frog on the counter. Dave looked around and the old man asked him, "You seem to be having trouble, is there a certain type of thing you're lookin' for?"

The old man coughed before Dave answered. "I'm trying to find something for a special friend of mine. But I don't know."

The old man smiled at him and his eyes almost closed when he did. He smoothed his white beard and opened the door to the other room. "Come this way, son. This was my great grandfather's collection. He told me to only give these things to people I thought were worth their while. You seem to be. Look around, tell me if you think something would suite your friend."

Dave smiled at him and he nodded, walking back out, leaving Dave alone in the room. In here was even more strange and cool things. All of them were obviously years old and Dave wondered how some of this stuff wasn't known about. Almost to the back wall, he still hadn't seen anything that seemed good enough. But Dave stopped in front of a short glass case and bent down on his knees to look at its contents. Behind his shades, Dave's red eyes went wide and he stood, navigating his way back to the main room to find the old man. When he did, he led the old man to the back of the side room.

"Sir, in this case, that stone, is it for sale?"

The old man looked slightly surprised and leaned down to look at the stone with Dave. Crouching, the old man told Dave, "That stone is older than even my great grandfather, it's been in my family for years. It's rare, I can tell you that, but I don't know what kind of stone it is. What I can tell you is that it's s'posed to be a ring. I was told that it was a token of love and that of protection. The story was that once, a long time ago, a man fell in love, with a man a woman, it doesn't matter. But he found this stone and fashioned it into a ring and gave it to the one he loved, sayin' he wanted to be with them and protect them for all his life. Tell me son, why do you need a ring like this?"

Dave was stunned by the old man's words. The stone was a dark red that was darker than blood that played across a black and red. Knowing he had to answer, Dave breathed out. "It's for a special friend. I love him. . And he's leaving. That's why, sir."

The old man looked at Dave and smiled, his wrinkles intensifying and his teeth showing beneath his lips. "You can have it, son. You're the only kid I've ever seen who's proud and not ashamed of their love. You take it and give it to that boy."

Dave smiled and repeatedly thanked the old man as he opened the glass case and pulled out the ring and put it in Dave's palm. He followed the old man to the counter and watched as he put the book and frog in a paper bag and handed it to him. "Now you take those things and you take that ring. You deserve it, it has no use if it got no one to be on. You take 'em things for free, son. Be happy. Bye." The old man smiled and walked back into the side room before Dave could protest.

Dave smiled and walked out the door. He opened the seat and put the paper back in it, the ring, he slid it onto his finder and put his helmet on. Still smiling he looked at the time before starting up his bike. Two hours was almost up. He zoomed off the rode and onto the main road. It took his a good thirty minutes to get back to the hotel. By the time he got to the room it was already ten passed seven. Wondering if he would answer, Dave called John. On the third ring John's sweet and goofy voice came through and made Dave smile despite everything.

They talked and talked but Dave didn't tell John that he had gotten him something. They talked about everything that had happened and they talked about random things that came to mind. Three hours later John told Dave he was off to sleep finally and Dave told him he missed him. He could hear the smile in John's voice as he said bye and hung up.

Without much else to do, he set his phone alarm to one forty in the morning and took a shower. He changed into clean clothes before going to sleep. He had to be up in nearly four hours, so he decided sleep was the best thing until then.