Four – Awkward Moments

As Lucas and Vaughn struggled to assemble the girl's new futon, they heard laughter coming from the second bedroom.

"Glad someone is having fun," Lucas grumbled as he dropped yet another screw. Vaughn didn't trust himself to answer. They'd spent all day helping the girls get their new place set up and Marshall and Corrine seemed to be the only people having fun. Vaughn all too clearly remembered the conversation he'd accidentally eavesdropped on when he'd gotten back from his afternoon with Corrine.

"Why didn't I tell you I moved? I didn't think I needed to run everything by you, Corrine," he'd heard Marshall yell into the phone. After a pause he said, "It isn't that big of a deal! This is so like you! Why do you feel like you have to micromanage my life?" Another pause and then, much softer, "Corrine, don't cry. I'm sorry I yelled. The last thing I want is to make you upset."

Vaughn stopped listening after that.

The way they were acting today, you wouldn't be able to tell that they had a fight. Another burst of laughter and Vaughn paused to look at the closed bedroom door. What could they be doing in there?

"Did you know they didn't sleep together?" Lucas stated out of the blue, as if he could read Vaughn's mind.

"What?" he snapped, dropping the wrench he was holding. He scrambled to pick it up.

"Corrine and Marshall. That whole time they were in Europe, they stayed in hostels and slept in bunk beds, usually with two or three other people in the same room."

"Why would I care about that?" Vaughn said with a chuckled.

Lucas looked up at him and smiled. "I just thought you might want to know."

"Where's Josie?" Vaughn asked, desperate to change the subject.

"She's over at the college, enrolling in a couple of classes for the fall."

Vaughn just nodded and focused back on his work. After a moment, he asked, "Isn't about time you made your move, Lucas?"

This time, Lucas dropped his wrench in surprise. "What are you talking about?" he asked, not looking Vaughn in the eye.

"Come on, Lucas. I know I'm not as smart as you, but I'm not an idiot. I know you've been crushing on her for forever. I think it's time you stepped it up, talked to her about it."

"It's complicated," Lucas said, shaking his head.

"It's not that complicated. You're single. She's single. You risked your life to try and find her. You've already even kissed her."

"That was you in my body, remember?" Lucas corrected, referring to the science experiment on brain waves they were working on when the wormhole made it so they actually switched minds.

"Whatever. I just think it's time."

"Don't you think it's kind of weird, though? I mean, you're my friend and all."

Vaughn put down his wrench and gave Lucas his full attention. "I am you're friend and I'm the one telling you to go ahead. If you didn't because of me, I'd feel awful."

Lucas looked at him and smile. "Maybe," he finally agreed.

"I've got my eye on you," Vaughn teased, shaking his finger at Lucas.

That night they had pizza in the girl's new place. Though they just moved in, their choices in furniture and decoration already made it look much nicer than the guys.

"I think we're going to have to hang out here all the time. It's better," Lucas commented around a mouthful of pepperoni.

"You just want to eat our food," Corrine laughed.

Lucas just shrugged as he grabbed another slice.

"Josie, did you get the classes you wanted?" Vaughn asked.

She shook her head. "Half the ones I wanted are full. What I really want is to take some time off after spending all summer in school, but my mom says she'll only pay my rent if I'm in classes and with the alternative being staying with her, well, let's just say it's a no brainer."

"It can't be that bad," Marshall tried to argue. "I mean, Z is great!"

"Yeah, as a teacher, not as your mom's boyfriend! I walked in on them making out on the couch the other day." Josie shuddered and they all laughed.

"Well, I can't wait to get started," Marshall said, rubbing his hands together. "I've got three chemistry classes. It's going to be awesome!"

"You are such a nerd," Corrine laughed, shaking her head.

"That's why you love me," Marshall teased, kissing her on the cheek. Vaughn chocked on the bite he was taking and began coughing hard. Lucas slapped him on the back.

"Are you okay?" Josie asked. Vaughn nodded, still coughing, as he reached for his soda and took a long drink.

"This is pretty great. No curfew, no one roaming the halls telling us we have to leave each other's rooms," Marshall said, winking at Corrine. Vaughn suddenly wanted this night to be over sooner rather than later.

"Speak for yourself. I've got an early class in the morning and I don't want to miss is," Lucas said, standing up and stretching.

"Me too," Corrine said, scrunching up her face

"Me three," Vaughn threw in.

Marshall pouted. "You guys are no fun! Our first night we get to do whatever we want and you want to go to bed?" Marshall complained, standing up and following Lucas to the door. Vaughn fell in line behind them just in time to hear Lucas whisper:

"You just spend three months getting to do whatever you want."

"Not everything I wanted," Marshall bit back. Vaughn couldn't help but smile.