These Days

Chapter 9- Hotwire

JJ spent overnight at the hospital and was released the next day. He had a black eye, several bruises, and a nasty bump on his head; but he'd been in worse conditions. Drake had told his parents that it was impossible for JJ to have done anything. His mother and father both believed him. Shirley hugged JJ when they got back, apologizing for something she didn't do. JJ felt very happy in that one hug. Like he was part of a family. Shirley tugged on his arm and made up the couch for him with fluffy pillows and blankets. When he got situated, she tucked him in. JJ smiled. He'd never been treated like this before. Shirley ran off and came back with hot cocoa. JJ sipped it idly as she patted him on the head and left.

Drake chuckled after she left. "She adores you," he noted.

JJ smiled in his mug. "She's sweet." JJ put down his hot chocolate. "And to think I was scared of her the most."

Drake laughed. "Oh, yes. Be scared of the big bad mom." He frowned. "Except she can totally read everyone's mind.

"I experienced that firsthand."

Drake swatted at JJ's leg to tell him to move over. JJ scooted over as much as possible to allow his lover on the couch. "Gimme a pillow," Drake demanded. JJ laid back on the pillows and refused. "Dammit." He tried snagging a part of JJ's blanket, but JJ held on tightly. Drake huffed and crossed his arms across his chest.

JJ giggled. "Here." JJ lifted up the blanket and his lover scooted underneath and curled up to JJ's side. Drake rested his head on JJ's boney shoulder. He couldn't help but stare up at JJ's injuries.

"We need to get even," Drake said.

JJ shook his head. "No."

"Yes. Hmmm….what should we do?" Drake furrowed his eyebrows in thought. JJ's mind wandered off to Christmas carols. "Ah! We should wrap up something…um, I dunno…but it has to be gross and send it to them," Drake suggested.

JJ grunted. "What are you? A child?" Drake tossed that idea away and continued to search him mind for a fitful revenge. JJ continued to mind-sing 'Oh Holy Night.'

"I got it!" Drake exclaimed. "You remember how we escaped my wedding day?"

"…yeah…"

"And you told me what you did as a hobby when you were a teenager?"

"…yeah…"

"We should do that!"

JJ pondered this. "Hotwire Aaron's car?"

"And Isaac's so we can crash derby this time!" Drake smile split his face.

JJ couldn't help but laugh. "All right. But we do it late."

Drake kissed his cheek. "YES! And you have to teach me!"

"Okay."

Their entire plan was set and they waited until midnight. Dressed all in black and heavy attire, they draped bags full of supplies over their backs. They set out, Drake mumbling instructions to get to his brother's house. It was a very short walk, only two streets down. When they approached all the lights were off. Drake pointed to two nice and brand new cars. "Them," he whispered. He led the way to the black car. JJ surveyed it.

Drake watched as JJ examined the car. JJ laughed quietly. He went over to the driver's side and clicked up the door handle. The door swung open. "This makes my job a while lot easier."

Drake grinned. "What a moron leaving his car unlocked."

JJ sat down and began dinking around. Drake leaned in and watched carefully. JJ explained step-by-step what he was doing. Drake nodded his head every now and then, showing he understood. The car roared and JJ grinned. Nervously, Drake looked up at his brother's house. No lights turned on. Mission 1: accomplished. JJ got out and shut the door quietly. They strolled over to the white car. JJ peered in.

"Do people not feel the need to lock their doors here?"

"Not here. Different from NYC, eh?"

"I'll say." JJ opened the door, but his time he didn't sit down. Instead, he pushed his lover in and handed him some tools. Drake stared at JJ. "The only way you learn is to do it yourself." Drake took a deep breath. JJ instructed him to do the things he had just done. Drake struggled but it was all worth it when the engine started.

"Woo hoo! I did it!" Drake earned a hug and kiss.

"All right," JJ said. "I'll take the black one and you can have this one. I'll follow you to the place you know of." With that, JJ shut the door and Drake waved goofily behind the glass. JJ ran over to the other vehicle and got in. Drake started off and JJ followed. JJ couldn't help but giggle. What a flashback. Drake led them far away to a desolate area. JJ couldn't wait. There were few trees and it was mostly clear. A thick blanket of snow covered the ground. This was going to be fun.

Drake had stopped and JJ drove up next to him. They both lowered their windows. JJ yelled across, "Put on your seatbelt, Sweetie. It's gonna be a bumpy ride." JJ giggled. "Let's have a little competition. Whoever's car runs the longest wins."

"Wins what?" Drake questioned.

"One slave day," JJ answered with a sly smirk. Drake gave him the thumbs up and rolled up his window. He drove off and began to do donuts on the empty land. JJ put up his window and blasted the radio. He revved the engine and took off toward the camouflage car in the snow.

He gained speed quickly and soon lost control and spun in a circle. His heart jumped, but he was not scared. When JJ looked back out his front window, he could barely see the white car heading full speed toward him. "No way am I going to be a slave…I have too many ideas for you…" JJ put the car into reverse and hit the pedal hard. He fiercely turned the wheel and swung around before his lover could hit. He hit the brake.

Drake began to turn around. JJ launched at the white vehicle and collided with the back. Both spun in the snow. The trunk of Drake's car was smashed in, but the front, right side of JJ's car was damaged as well. Drake was quicker than JJ, and pulled away and slammed into the side of the black car. JJ was forced against the door. He rubbed his head while he assessed the damage. The right back door was caved in.

"Shit," JJ swore. He was about to pull around, but was rear-ended. "Double shit." JJ turned around and saw Drake smiling broadly. He flipped him off. Drake waved and backed away. Immediately, JJ pushed on the gas and headed off to the other car. They collided in one forceful blow. JJ shaded his face with his arm when the glass shattered.

Drake backed off slowly, his car sputtering. JJ tried to restart his engine. It gave a few weak grunts and it quit on him. JJ hit the steering wheel. He looked around for Drake. He couldn't spot the white car anywhere. He was about to unhook the wires and try to mess around with them to get it to start back up, but he caught scent of something burning. He shot up straight in his seat and saw smoke rising from under the hood. He unbuckled his seatbelt and ran out of the car. He stood in the snow, shivering as he watched flames creep from the car.

JJ searched all around for Drake. He was nowhere to be seen. JJ ran off, following the tire tracks out of the empty field. He began to walk along the street, slipping and sliding on the icy cement. He wrapped his coat around himself tighter. There were no street lamps, so he had no guide of where the road was leading him.

He saw lights off in the distance. The closer JJ got, the more he realized they were headlights of a car on its side. JJ's heart skipped a beat, hoping Drake wasn't in that car. He rushed over and saw a silhouette of a man standing in front of the wrecked car. The man turned around and spotted the other.

"JJ?"

JJ pulled his cap down and lowered his head into his coat to try to disguise himself. "Who?" he mumbled in a lower voice.

The man crept closer. JJ got a clear view of his face. It was a man that had been in Drake's wedding…Kyle. He backed away. "Sorry," the man said. "I thought you were someone I knew."

"You looking for someone?" JJ asked, still masking his voice.

The man sighed. "No. I was out at the bar and then my car slid. Now I'm stuck."

"Sorry to hear that."

"Where's your car?"

"Got in a car accident too."

"It wouldn't happen to that blazing inferno over there, would it?" Kyle pointed at the place where bumper cars had been played.

"Uh…" JJ saw the flames must've ran over to the trees and caught them on fire too. "Nope. It was further down the road." JJ's eyes were still glued on the raging fire. He felt eyes staring at him.

"You are…" Kyle stepped closer. "I would recognize those blue eyes anywhere, even if they had the reflection of flames in them."

"Look, Kyle," JJ began, "I'm here with Drake…"

"I know. I heard." Kyle frowned. "But I'm glad to see you."

JJ looked at him suspiciously. "Yeah. You too."

Kyle still wore a frown. "Where's he at?"

"I don't know. We were--" JJ shut his mouth. "He left me out here."

"Shame." Kyle didn't seem too sympathetic. He motioned to his tilted car. "Do you mind if you help me out here?"

"Uh, sure." They walked over to the car and positioned themselves to push the car back on its wheels. With both of their efforts, they succeeded on shoving the car over on its wheels. Kyle thanked him. JJ pointed at the car. "I don't think it's going to start."

Kyle opened the driver's door with some difficulty and tried the keys. Nothing happened. "Great. We're out in the freezing cold, miles away from real civilization. And the forecast for tonight was snow." JJ shivered. He was already frozen to the bone, and the blaze that he started was looking good. A warm body pressed up against him. JJ knew it was wrong, but he was so cold he allowed it. "We should either stay in the car or begin the walk into town," Kyle said. There was a light snow falling. The temperature was low. Toes were frozen and frostbite would soon set in. "The heater still works," Kyle informed with a sly smirk.

JJ pushed Kyle away and got into the car. The heater did indeed still work. He pulled off his gloves and stuck his hands close to the vents. Kyle also got in and did the same.

"The only reason I'm in here with you is so I don't freeze to death," JJ stated.

"Yeah, yeah." Kyle leaned back and closed his eyes. "So how is he anyway?"

"Good." JJ's teeth began chattering.

Kyle opened his eyes to stare at him. He snuck an arm around the other man. JJ didn't seem to object. He rubbed his hand up and down to create a friction of heat. Kyle brought the blonde closer. JJ looked as if he was about to fall asleep. "Your lips are turning blue…"

JJ smacked Kyle hard across the face before Kyle's lips got any closer. Kyle jumped back and hit his head on the window. "Don't try that again," JJ warned.

Kyle rubbed his cheek. "I was just trying--"

"To hit on me."

"No, to warm you up."

"I don't need to be warmed up anymore." JJ's teeth were still chattering and his body was trembling, betraying his words. Kyle moved in closer.

"You're still shivering."

"If you try something, I'm out of here."

Kyle sat back and closed his eyes once again. JJ watched him until his breathing evened out to a slow and heavy pace. JJ had to admit he was cute, but there was no comparison between him and Drake. JJ wondered where his lover had driven off to. He hoped he was okay. JJ was tired, and it didn't take long before sleep overtook him.

JJ jumped out of sleep when a hand swept across his face. JJ was about to yell out, but realized who had done it. "Drake!" JJ leapt out of the car and into his lover's arms. "Where were you?"

"I was driving around and I guess I was driving on the frozen lake…I guess ice doesn't hold cars…"

JJ snorted with laughter and kissed Drake. "Did it sink?"

"Sorta. It's bobbing ass-up."

JJ smiled. "I'm glad you got out safe."

"And you with your hellfire." Drake pointed at the car. "And also you with him."

"Oh." JJ shrugged. "I was cold and I ran into him."

Drake shut the door quietly to not wake the other man and led JJ away. "Let's go home."

It was a long walk, but not as cold as JJ anticipated. Drake's warmth was more than enough. JJ actually enjoyed the continuous stroll. He never realized how beautiful the falling snow was, or how the roads and trees glisten. He had always hated snow, having been raised in southern California. But at this particular moment, he thought it was amazing.

When they reached the house, the two men stopped at their own car and made sure it was locked. Coats and boots were replaced perfectly as if they had never moved. They snuck up to their room without a sound. Curled under the blankets, they smiled to themselves. For now, they were content. Later, they may not be.