Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used (besides the desk dude and the slut-chick ) Not my property, not my problem.
Summary: Charlie and Larry take a hiking trip thinking it to be the time of their lives, but before the fun can get started problems arise. NOT slash
Don WILL be in this.. but more so around the end. I don't want to blow any big surprises or anything, so you'll have to wait to find out. That is if I continue this. So... if you like Larry... and Charlie, then this is your one stop shop for... hiking and bees.
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It was a beautiful afternoon as Charlie stood up at a chalk board in the math department's lounge. A warm breeze blew in blowing some papers and carrying the faded sound of a lawn mower with it. He looked intently at the equation layed out in front of him and took a deep breath to enjoy the easy going day. Just 10 paces away, Larry sat engrossed in a book. His eyes shot from one side of it to the next in a level of reading that Charlie could only describe as "Larry-Level."
The younger man couldn't help but smile at the many expressions that passed through his friend's face at different parts of the book. He only realized he was watching him when Larry glanced up. There eyes locked and a comfortable silence shifted forward. That is until Charlie decided to make things interesting.
"Let's go for a hike." It wasn't a question and by the way Charlie said it, there was no answer.
"Well..." Larry began, placing a ringless finger into his book to keep his page and looking out the window.
"And I don't mean one of our normals hikes," Charlie continued, choosing to ignore Larry's hesative response. "I mean a big one. One where we may actually have to set up a camp."
The lawn mower in the distance faltered and then came to a complete stop, leaving an almost complete silence to drift through the room. If not for the fluttering paper and all-too-loud clock, the room would be silent.
"Come on! What do you say? Today is friday, that leaves us the whole weekend." Charlie said, leaping swiftly over a small coffee table and coming to a stumbling stop in front of the couch that Larry sat on.
"But the papers..." Larry said, trying to get out of another one of Charlie's ideas before it was too late. "
"The papers," The younger man said, letting a grin tug at his lips as he pulled Larry's book away playfully. "...Can wait." He finished and threw the book across the room.
"Charles," Larry said frowning. "My page."
"Oh you remember exactly what page you're on! Don't deny it." Charlie laughed, flopping down on the couch with Larry. "Now, we'll pack food and plenty of water," He continued as if never even being interupted. "And we'll travel far. We'll take a week off!"
"What?" Larry blurted out, noting that Charlie was definately crossing the line now.
"There're a lot of woods in Main," He whispered, ignoring Larry and causing the man to stand up in obvious distress.
"But the children; the teaching!" The older man said, throwing hands up.
"We deserve a vacation," Charlie countered, standing up also and crossing the room to erase the board. "I'm sure we can find two replacements, or I can get Amita to cover for me. She's more than qualified."
"I hardly call a week in the deepest-darkest woods with no comfort a vacation!" Larry whined, falling back onto the couch in a slumped position.
"It is if you want to be in tune with nature." Charlie beamed, brushing the chalk from his hands. "And besides, you make it sound like it will be hell."
"It won't?" Larry asked in disgust.
"Of course not!" Charlie called, packing his books. His relaxed demeaner showing in his voice.
"Charles, I can barely live through our normal hikes." Larry said, watching him as he moved around the room to collect his things, the bright afternoon sun lighting the room.
"We can have a guide. I'm sure we can. They sell them I think..." Charlie said to himself, showing Larry that he had already made up his mind.
"Well, I see I don't have a say in this," Larry groaned, standing again, but this time to retrieve his book.
"Good! Then it is agreed. I'll talk it over with my dad and make arrangments." Charlie said excitedly. "Where're we going?" Larry sighed in defeat.
"Oregon. Lots of woods up there," He replied, pulling his bag onto his shoulder and heading for the door as Larry again sat down with his book.
"Kinda far for a hike?" He groaned but knew it was no use. "Alright, but I am leaving all of the preparations up to you. It was your idea afterall." The older man said, flipping through pages to find the one he was on.
"I won't let you down." Charlie chuckled and walked out in a better mood than ever. He'd have to talk it over with his dad, and maybe Don would come.
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"Oregon," Alan said thoughtfully as they sat at the dinner table. A heavy cloud of cigarette smoke hung in the air from Charlie's dad's newest girlfriend. She was awful, and Charlie made a note to tell his father that later.
"Yes, Oregon. I would ask Don, but I know he won't be able to go." Charlie said, playing around with his food. He would eat it but it tasted like stale cigarettes. Eating was out.
"Isn't it going to be dangerous? I mean, just you and Larry all the way up in there." Alan said and Charlie knew his dad didn't need to worry about him and Don... so he lied.
"No! Of course not. We're going to be going with a group of people. Two of which are professionals. We'll be fine." Charlie said, not regretting his decision to calm his father's nerves.
"Yeah, my second ex-husband went on one of those once. He said that his team mate person got eaten by a bear or something." The woman said, coughing and putting her cigarette out in her drink. Charlie wondered if she would remember it in a few minutes when she wanted a drink.
"A bear?" Alan asked, truely shaken. Great...
"No dad, the area we're going hiking is closed off to bears and other dangerous animals." Another lie.
During the whole of their conversation, Charlie decided not to tell Don. Afterall, his brother was busy with work, and he didn't want to be disturbed. Well, the truth was they'd gotten into a fight and neither of them was ready to apologize, so maybe this was best. It was taking the silent treartment to a whole new level. Before the night came to an end, Charlie had succesfully convinced himself that Don wouldn't even notice him missing. Boy was he wrong.
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It took the whole weekend to make all of the plans and they departed on monday. The drive was pretty long, but once they passed into Oregon, Charlie knew it was worth it. They pulled into a motel just as the sun fell over the hills. As soon as he opened the door, he was greeted with a frosty blast of cold air and shuddered. He got his bag and made sure their map was secured in it; then they made their way across the parking lot.
Their feet made a soft crunching noise in the freshly laid gavel and it was almost the only sound in the night. They entered the motel and stepped into the dimly lit lobby. Furnature that reminded Charlie of Larry's house was pushed around the room in random places. A strange stain worsened the already ugly pattern of the rug on the floor and a thin layer of dust had settled over every wooden surface.
An old man sat at the desk with his head bowed and his eyes closed. A long white beard fell from his face and his head was a shiny bald. He snored lightly, and Charlie was beginning to think they should've found another place to sleep. That is before the man's head lifted up and he started in surprise. Did they really get that little of customers?
"Can I help ya' boy?" He asked, trying to focus tired eyes on Charlie who assumed the man was visually impaired.
"Yes, two in fact." Charlie answered, holding up two fingers just in case. The man squinted at them and then back at Charlie.
"What ya' need to rooms fer?" He shouted, an angry tone to his voice. Charlie stepped back, and looked behind him to make sure Larry was still there, and to his surprise, the older man... was not.
"Would you excuse me for a moment?" He asked, putting on his best fake smile and exiting the motel with haste. Now that Charlie was a little more awake, he noticed his surroundings. Trees bigger than anything he'd ever seen stretched through the air, hiding the sky. The little holes through their leaves were filled with shinning stars. An "out of order" vending machine hummed from around the doors of the rooms and bugs chirped loudly.
He stepped onto the gravel and gazed around the parking lot, looking through the darkness for any sign of his friend. With a sigh he walked back in to get their keys and pay. He didn't have time to deal with this.
He stepped back into the cramped lobby and approached the desk clerk. He looked more grumpy, sucking on a mint and tapping his fingers impatiently.
"Two rooms," Charlie repeated. "My friend is outside."
"Why dun ya' just share a room. They got more than one bed in 'em" The man said, spitting his mint onto the floor causing Charlie's mind to wander about how disgusting these rooms were going to be.
"I'm sure he would prefer privacy," Charlie retorted, trying not to let his frustration leak into his voice.
"Oh, suit yourself." He said, digging through a bin for some keys and Charlie marveled at how the man said it. He was paying for these rooms and the man was acting as if they'd been used to hide bodies and to have sex parties. Maybe they had been, he thought.
He retrieved the keys and payed the man for the one night they'd be staying. With that settled, he headed back out into the night air. This time it was much easier to find his friend for he was sitting on the back of the car, his feet dangling. Sometimes Larry reminded him of a kid; it was hard for him to actually believe Larry was older. He only went to him for advice when it was absolutely necessary and most of the time it was Larry that came to him. Besides, Charlie had Don for a brother. There weren't many things he couldn't talk to his brother about.
Charlie walked up to the car and hopped onto the back. He stared at Larry, waiting for the man to look at him and when he did, Charlie grinned.
"Leaving me with that guy? Was that your idea of being a good friend?" He said, but frowned when Larry didn't respond. "What's wrong?"
"I have a bad feeling about this," Larry whispered, his eyes staring at the hut of a motel. Charlie patted him roughly on the back and chuckled.
"This is going to be the time of your life! I promise." He said, standing up and beginning to walk to the rooms. After a few feet he turned around and threw Larry's key to him.
"I'm driving tomorrow!" He called out, understanding his lack of license but not really caring. In the morning they'd set out.
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This is really just, well... crap. I have had this whole "Larry and Charlie's excellent adventure" thing planned out for a while and never really thought about posting. It would be at most 5 chapters long and filled with their encounters in the woods. Depending on the feedback, I may continue... but I'm not sure people will like the idea of not much Don.