Road Trip
By SugarHighNutcase
This chapter is for Dark Angel Kira, because her review made me want to update. Plus, she gave me the inspiration for the cute TroyRyan scene you're about to read. And thanks to those who gave suggestions for the song. I chose two of them. Enjoy!
Troy awoke the next morning with a start, expecting his alarm to go off. Looking around, he realized he was not at home, in bed like he'd assumed, but instead in his car. He tried to sit up, and found something was holding him down. Looking about groggily, he saw a pale arm slung across his chest. His eyes slowly followed the arm, only to find it attached to a body. Ryan's body.
Ryan's head lay on Troy's shoulder.
Ryan's head lay on Troy's shoulder.
Ryan's head… on Troy's shoulder.
Oh, boy.
"Hey, Ry?" Troy whispered, gently shaking the blond. "Ryan, c'mon; wake up."
Ryan groaned, slowly opening his eyes. He yawned. "T-Troy?" he asked sleepily. "Why are you in my bed?"
Troy smiled. "I'm not. We're in my car. Remember? We're going to Mexico."
"Right. Mexico." Ryan's eyes started to close. Troy grabbed his arm and shook it. "C'mon, Ryan. Wake up!"
Ryan opened his eyes a second time, seeming more alert. "Oh, hey, Troy." Realizing the position he was in, he blushed. "Um, I- I didn't-" He picked himself off of Troy and looked out the window. "Sorry about that."
Troy found himself unable to stop grinning. "Don't worry. You kept me warm." He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
You kept me warm.
You kept me warm.
Troy couldn't bellieve he'd said that. To Ryan, of all people. Avoiding Ryan's eye, he drove in silence for bit, until Ryan broke it.
"So, where to now?"
"Mexico."
"Well, aren't we going for breakfast? I'm hungry."
Troy glanced at him. Ryan was still looking out the window; his blond hair was messy, and he looked drowsy. Troy decided Ryan looked cute in the morning.
"We'll stop at the next gas station, okay?"
"Good."
Ryan leaned back in his seat, and turned on the radio. He flipped stations a bit before settling at one that was blaring a familiar tune.
"What is this?" Troy asked. "I know I've heard it."
Finally Friday night
Feelin' kinda good, lookin' alright
Gotta get movin', can't be late
"Come on, Troy." Ryan was grinning. "S Club 7! Honestly."
Troy laughed as Ryan began to sing along.
O-oh O-oh! Throw your hands in the air
O-oh O-oh! Like you just don't care
O-oh O-oh! There's a party over here
O-oh O-oh! There's a party over there
Troy felt the words coming back to him, and, looking at Ryan, he began to sing along. Ryan beamed at him, and Troy sang louder.
Wanna see Rachel do her thing
Then we got Jo, she's got the flow
Get ready everybody 'cos here we go!
"Dude, I cannot believe you know all the lyrics," Troy laughed.
"Me? You were singing, too!"
"S Club 7, Ry. Where've you been?" Troy smirked, and continued to sing.
Ghetto boys, make some noise!
Hoochie mamas, show your nanas!
The song ended, and Ryan quickly changed the station.
"Geez, Ry, can't you stick to one station?" Troy asked.
"No way," Ryan answered. "Gotta find the good stuff. Sing with me!" He'd just stopped at another station, and a new song was blaring.
A long, long time ago...
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
Troy glanced at Ryan, who was singing happily, and laughed. Although he didn't know all the words, Troy joined in.
So bye-bye, miss American pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry
"I haven't heard this in a while," Troy laughed.
"Neither have I, but it's catchy, isn't it?" Ryan grinned at him and kept singing.
Do you believe in rock 'n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
"Oh, hey, there's a gas station!" Ryan said. "Stop here, I'm getting really hungry." As if to prove his point, Ryan's stomach growled. Troy laughed at the look on Ryan's face.
Troy stopped the car at the station. As Ryan raced inside to get food, Troy filled up the tank, humming American Pie to himself. He smiled. Bringing Ryan along had definitely been worth it.
Ryan ran back to the car with an armfull of food just as Troy finished up with the gas pump. Getting back in the car, he saw that Ryan was already making his way through the food. Grabbing an apple, Troy started the car.
"So, how much longer to Mexico?" Ryan asked through a mouthful of who knew what.
"Not much. I don't know exactly, but I think we're close."
They were back on the road.
------
They'd been driving for quite some time when Troy saw it.
"Bienvenidos a Mexico" the sign read, and Troy didn't need to know Spanish to understand it. He smiled.
"Ryan," Troy said. The blond had been gazing out the window, lost in thought, and started at the sound of his name.
"Wha?"
"We're here."
------
Ryan checked his watch. It was nearly time to leave. He and Troy had wanted to do different things, and had split up for a few hours. Now it was time to go meet Troy.
He left the shop he'd been at, and made his way down the road, searching for Troy's car. After walking for five minutes, he saw it.
It was parked outside a bar.
------
Troy had never felt this happy before.
Everything felt so right. He felt like he was flying, like he could do anything he wanted.
Troy sat at a table near the entrance, several empty glasses in front of him. He felt elated. Nothing would go wrong today.
So when Ryan sat down beside him, Troy turned to him with a wide smile. And when Ryan said it was time to go, Troy just shook his head.
Because Troy was having way too much fun to leave now.
"Hey, Ry-Ry! Long time no see!" Troy exclaimed. "Wanna drink?"
"No, I- did you just call me Ry-Ry?" Ryan looked at him suspisciously. "How much have you had?"
"Not much, just-" Troy held up several fingers. "Like two. Or something. Hey, how cool is this place?" He swung his arm around, as if to gesture to the bar. "Hey, Ryyyyan. You're really pretty."
Ryan stood up. "Okay, Troy, that's it. Let's go. C'mon." He grabbed Troy's arms and hoisted him up, dragging him out to the car.
Troy giggled. "Where're we goin'? I wanna drink. Buy me a drink, Ry."
"You've had enough to drink," Ryan said firmly. "We're leaving. Come on, we're heading to Florida next."
"Forilada?" Troy asked as Ryan shoved him into a seat in the car. "Why are we going there?"
"We're going to the beach, remember?" Ryan got behind the wheel, and started the car up, pulling away from the bar.
There was silence for a while, until Troy, staring at Ryan with a huge grin, said, "Have I told you how beautiful you are? 'Cause you're reeeally pretty."
"Okay, Troy. If you say so." Ryan was starting to feel uncomfortable under Troy's gaze. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the brunet lean forward.
"You're beautiful," Troy said again. He was too close now; Ryan could feel Troy's breath on his skin. Troy came closer, closing his eyes as he did…
and promptly passed out on Ryan's shoulder.
