Here's chapter 5! I've been fixing a lot of things, so I hope you all are still enjoying this story! I also hope that everything seems to run a bit smoother together as well as make better sense!
The early morning drive was more peaceful than it had been yesterday, Greg put it down to the fact that most of them were probably still half asleep. Manny even got the middle seat while Greg was once again stuck with Rodrick in the back seat. This time though, Greg was smart enough to take the window seat and not have to go through what happened yesterday again.
Rodrick kept poking and jabbing at Greg throughout the whole trip, but sometimes he could feel Rodrick slide his fingers underneath his shirt to slightly stroke and tickle his side. A few giggles erupted from Greg during those times, but he kept swatting his older brother's hand away and glaring at him in the process, only for the taller male to give him toothy smirks and sharp eyes.
It was around noon when they finally arrived at their destination, Salt Lake Camping. It was a cute little place, Greg would give it that. Groups of people, families, were milling around talking and laughing as small children were playing around in the playground as they drove in. They kept driving a few ways before they came upon this little blue house, mostly the same size as all the other with a bit of a screen porch.
Greg was looking out the window at the small house. He always thought when camping was involved; it either required a tent or a small trailer. The fact that basically, the camping place was tiny houses made him feel like they could have just stayed home.
He suddenly remembered the reason why none of this should bother him. Holly was here, and, as far as he was concerned, that's all that mattered. With a burst of enthusiasm and a big grin on his face, he bolted out of the van and started helping his parents unpack their things.
He could tell Rodrick was confused and slightly skeptical about Greg's sudden burst of energy and dutifulness. He could see his older brother lazily get out of the van and looked around, not even bothering to help them. Gregory snorted, not like it was anything different. Rodrick always had to be told to help, or else you wouldn't get anything out of him.
"Thanks a lot, Greg, for your help; we'll take everything from here. If you want, you can go with Rodrick to look around. They have a lot of activities here, and this is a good way to make friends." Their mother said with a smile as she carried Manny inside, their father following soon after while trying to juggle a handful of suitcases, crouching over like a crab. Gregory didn't want to go anywhere with his older brother alone right so, so he just nodded and started heading out. Rodrick following behind him, of course.
No words were passed between the both of them as they trailed their way along the path. Seeing people mingling with one another, children squirting each other with water guns and lit BBQs for lunchtime. Greg, with his dashing good luck, got sprayed by a little girl. She yelled out a 'sorry' before they kept running away. Rodrick was laughing hysterically next to him as Greg started airing out his shirt, a scowl on his face.
"Shut up; it's not funny!" Gregory bellowed out, why couldn't Rodrick just not laugh at his expense for once? Greg's pace turned slightly faster, face morphed in a mouth with his arms crossed over his now wet shirt. Rodrick kept up with him, his long legs carrying him, coming to walk beside Greg. Curse his height. Their arms slightly brushed up together, sending a tingling jolt up his arm. Why was Rodrick walking so close to him?
"Greg?" Greg didn't even need to turn around to accurately know who that voice belonged too; he only kept thinking about since the first time he met her.
"Holly! Wow, it's good to see you! Who knew I'd find you here?!" Gregory ran up to her, a smile on his face. He had to play it cool as if he didn't know she would be here, which of course he did, but no need to make it visible least Rodrick makes fun of him for it. Holly giggled with a small smile on her face. 'Gosh, she's so cute.' Greg thought to himself, goofy grin on his face as he looked at her. They chatted some more about how random it was for them to both be there, feeling the presence pressed up against his back as he went slightly rigid. A small glare being directed to Rodrick as he craned his head around to look at him. Greg wasn't entirely sure if they both met each other, or even talked to one another before. A mild hesitation at introducing Rodrick to Holly. Greg had a feeling like he should keep his older brother away from his crush, lest he wants to lose her to his Rodrick, like everything else.
"Holly, have you met my older brother before?" He inquired, which in turn he got a shake from her. "Rodrick, Holly. Holly, Rodrick." A curt way of introducing them to one another, which was fine with Greg honestly, the least information either of them got the better.
"It's nice to meet you." Greg blinked his eyes at Holly as she smiled brightly at Rodrick. She seemed fascinated by Rodrick, which didn't bode well with Greg at all. Especially considering Rodrick was looking at her with a completely different look in his eyes as if he was calculating a problem that he was the only one who knew the answer too. He didn't like that look, not one bit. Jealousy ripped through him, confusing him, considering Greg wasn't correctly able to pinpoint who this jealousy was for? He liked Holly, right? So shouldn't Greg be jealous of her looking at Rodrick like that? This jealousy thing was bizarre, and he didn't like it, so he backtracked.
"We're going to go look around a bit; I'll catch you later, alright. It was nice seeing you!" Strained smile and a wave before he started walking away. Holly waved back towards him as he turned away, catching his arm just in time to let him know that she was having a campfire late with friends and that they should join her. He couldn't help but agree to go, getting invited by Holly was still really special to him, despite his mood slightly dampened at the moment.
"Are you jealous?" Rodrick didn't even wait until they were farther away from Holly before he strolled beside him and asked him that out of the blue. Gregory whipped his head around and stared at Rodrick, expression screaming deer caught in the headlight, mouth opening and closing like a beached fish. Did he already catch on? Was Greg that obvious? Trying to calm his features into that of calmness, he shrugged his shoulders absentmindedly.
"What are you talking about?" Trying to make his voice come out as calm, but even Greg could hear how bad his voice sounded, he still could never get rid of his voice going high as he tried to play dumb. Rodrick saw it and heard it. He was very much used to it. A feral grin spread across his older brother's features, and Greg couldn't help but swallow his nerves.
"Oh, don't play dumb Greggy. I saw your face when your little friend was looking at me with that star-struck expression of hers. I guess it can't be helped. It's so cute seeing you get jealous, though, but I wonder if you're more jealous of her, hmm?" Rodrick said as he pinched his little brother's cheeks, earning a disgruntle protest from Greg.
"It's not what you think!" Greg's voice raised again before he huffed out and turned on his heel, stalking off in a direction that didn't involve being around Rodrick.
Greg wasn't looking forward to this trip anymore, even with Holly there, more confused now then he had ever been before. A dread coiling itself around his heart, grabbing hold and not letting go.
He wasn't just pleased; Riveted. Rodrick hadn't expected the girl that Greg liked to be here, but he could make this work. Jealousy not only brought out the worst in people but it sometimes even brought out hidden truths.
Rodrick trailed behind Greg, hands stuffed into his hoods pockets as he kept a short distance from his little brother. Eyes were staring at the back of Greg's head and making sure that the shrimp didn't get out of his line of vision. Gregory had this strange way of being able to sneak away undeleted, which irritated him to no end when he was trying to find him. Rodrick didn't know why he had this fascination with his little brother, or why he enjoyed annoying the shit out of him so much. Touching or punching him, either was fine as long as Rodrick was able to be around him. It was a feeling he never really understood, but he did know that it started getting progressively worse, and he began to get even more impatient. The only thing was that Rodrick wasn't sure what he was anxious over. Greg was able to bring this kind of fire out of him that no one else really could, not even the girls he had dated. His little brother constantly fought him on things, always thinking he was better because of how well he was able to get out of sticky situations, how Greg's friends seemed willing to do anything for him despite how annoying and judgmental he was. Greg just had this way of making people enjoy his company even if he didn't have anything to add but complaints and excuses.
It had started naturally enough; Rodrick enjoyed getting a rise out of Greg, from calling him short to annoying. Seeing the full range of emotions that we're able to pass across Greg's face when he was angry or sad and everything in-between. It sometimes baffled him and left him wondering what his little brother could be thinking. Greg was like an open book to Rodrick, and yet the pages still never seemed to stop entertaining him.
Rodrick used to hate Greg because he never felt good enough to be his older brother. He was the fuck up, the wicked child that always did wrongs and made everyone upset. Greg messed up just as much as Rodrick had, and yet people steel seem drawn to him, still wanting to help and support him. It was something he never really had, and he always resented Greg for it. But as time went on, a small part of him started to adore Greg, and it only kept growing from there the more that Greg grew up and functioning less like a spoiled kid and more like a rebellious teenager. It made the squirming, biting remarks and outbursts he got from Greg all that sweeter. Because he was the one that brought all of that out of him, he was the one now on Greg's mind, and as far as Rodrick was concerned, he'd make himself the only one that kept crossing his little brother's thoughts.
Cats were known to play with their food before they savored it, after all.
