Not my characters, and I make no money from them.

Unbeta'd.

Chapter 6

By the time they were stoppin' at a McDonald's in the middle of bumfuck nowheres, U.S.A., some of the boys had woken up and they were all talking to each other. Jack made fast friends with the boy in the seat behind them, Harold, who was hispanic, a freshman, and in the marching band playing third cornet. Ennis even talked to him, 'bout how the band director was doin'. Band director sounded like an ass to Jack, listening to them talk. Harold's seatmate was also his roommate, just like Jack and Ennis, 'cause that was how they introduced themselves. The seatmate was an engineering major name a P.J. Real average. Harold was a Criminal Justice major and wanted ta be a cop. Jack and P.J. talked about how sucky-hard physics was while Ennis and Harold talked band. The four ate lunch together too. Come to decide they four would room together down in Texas. Weren't no real assignments, just a certain number of reserved rooms, so that was fine.

That first night they got to the hotel in the early morning, and the whole bus full a people were dragging. They pulled their stuff into their room. "I'll take the floor," P.J. announced. If they was girls, Jack knew, they mighta shared beds, but knowin' well the ways of boys, and better yet the ways of him n' Ennis, Jack spoke up with a "me too." It earned him a look from Ennis, but Jack couldn't decide if it was disappointment, relief, or... jealousy? What the fuck.

Ennis gave Jack half the pillows and the bedspread, and hitting the floor Jack was out like a light in minutes.

When Jack woke up, it was well into the day. Game day already because this was a game trip and not really a vacation.

No one was in the room at all. Leaving, Jack found Ennis just standing out there, smoking. "Hey," Ennis mumbled.

"Where'd P.J. and Harold."

"They took a taxi downtown with some other guys to sightsee."

"Oh. You wanna do that?"

"Nope."

Jack was back inside the room moments later, learning all about what Ennis wanted to do. Ennis started real slow, pullin' Jack inside to hug him, stroke his cheek, kiss him. Jack kept his eyes fixed on Ennis's the whole time, imagining that this was a tank-you for trip. Then suddenly Ennis stripped Jack's pants, kneeled in front of him, an' showed Jack just exactly what he wanted. Jack was on an edge when Ennis moved the party to the bed, where Ennis did what he didn't do often (and Jack never much wanted to do anyway, the angles being too awkward) and took Jack face to face. Jack's eyes never left Ennis's face, even when Ennis had to squeeze his shut. Jack came first, but they kept moving, dancing to music only they heard, the only slow dance they would ever get, and it wasn't going all too slow. Ennis's gasping finally stilled, before it fell into sweet kisses, kissing away that baseball bat, saying, 'you're precious' in a language without words, and Jack felt precious then. He felt better about himself than he had in maybe ever. Good to know that even though he was a stupid fuck with bad grades, an attitude problem, an no place to call home, and even gay now, he could make this one man so happy. And maybe he did have a place to call home.

They woke again around 1:30pm. Jack woke first, hungry and a half. He kicked Ennis up out of the bed, barely sparing a thought for how lucky they'd been that Harry and P.J. hadn't returned to find them naked and cradling each other, spent, on the bed. Jack showered first, then Ennis. Afterwards, both dresses in Wyoming shirts in anticipation of the night's game.

They wandered down the street from the hotel to find a place to eat. Settled on a diner-type place that had a sign that said they specialized in pies. They shared cigarettes and pumpkin pie in the smoking section, then wandered around the local area. There was a strip mall with a Hallmark, an' Jack picked up a Christmas cards for his mom, turnin' back for a second one after a moment's hesitation. Ennis must a saw though, because the orphan boy was scanning the card section. Ennis silently picked out one of his own. They both paid and left, neither talkin' about it.

By the time they got back, the pre-game buzz was one. Soon they were all in the bus headed for the stadium. The game went alright. First quarter they were down by three at the end. Second quarter they got a touchdown off a punt return, an Jack managed to kick his cup of soda over onto the boy in front a him. Wyoming had a pretty mediocre quarterback, but their kicker was to die for, good as shit and NFL material for sure, though still yet a junior. Third quarter Southern Baptist scored twice, but missed an extra point, leaving the score sixteen to seven going into the fourth. But Wyoming had a deep bench, 'cause Southern Baptists's defense was losing steam, but the Wyoming offense wasn't, and they ended the game with a win, twenty-one to sixteen. Jack was so glad, 'cause it would a sucked to come all this way just to watch your team lose.

As they were leaving the stadium, J.P. whispered in Jack's ear about a party goin' down for Wyoming folks. Jack guessed Ennis didn't much like parties, preferring ta be alone, but he thought he'd mention it.

"J.P. says some sort a shindig goin' down, just a walk from here. Wanna go?"

"Huh? How we gonna get back if we miss the bus?"

"Take a cab."

"You know I don't like them parties."

"I know."

"You goin'?"

"I ain't decided."

"Well I am not."

Jack nodded and followed Ennis back to the bus. He had sort of wanted to go, this being a once in a lifetime deal, but he knew he'd just mope around and ruin it for himself and maybe other people, too. He could mope just as well back at the hotel.

But turned out he was wrong, because the four boys sharing the next room over, Terry, Bill, Dave, and Chaz, had spent their afternoon passing out invites and securing a keg. The news buzzing around the motel was that the party would start after the chaperones went to bed (chaperones being a loose term for a couple professors who were along to see the game themselves and make sure the trip ran smoothly), around midnight.

And it did. The music wasn't too loud, just someone's small stereo. The room was just a small motel room, but they crammed easily fifty people in there, and Jack was one of them.

Ennis refused to come. Jack was angry, and all he could think of to do was get hammered, so that's just exactly what he did. He was sitting on a queen size bed with about fifteen other people, an' they were telling sex stories. Jack knew enough to keep his mouth to himself-- well, to keep his words to himself, anyway.

The girl scrunched up next to him was takin' her liberties, leanin' in and gigglin', and she smelled so fine, like peppermint. No wonder 'cause she was suckin' on a candy cane, giggling between licks. He engaged her in a conversation, what was her name, what was her major (business, it turned out). And before he knew it, he and Lureen-- that was her name-- were doin' one of those drunken crowded make-out sessions that tasted like peppermint. It started slow, lips close, intoxicating smell...

Jack missed the knock, but sure as hell didn't miss it when he saw Ennis walk into the crowded, sweat-hot room. Ennis's eyes caught Jack's through waves of Lureen's dark brown hair, and Jack pulled away. Still, he felt the red lipstick on his lips like that red A that one woman had from The Scarlett Letter. Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit.

"Ennis," Dave chimed, drunk and happy to see a new face. "Ennis! Why are you here! What took you so long! This is my man, Ennis!" Jack was surprised Dave knew Ennis's name, but he remembered talking to Dave at the game, so. Dave had a pretty good drunken memory, he guessed.

Ennis looked like he wanted to turn and bolt from the room, and who could blame him. Jack felt suddenly a hundred time more sober. Dave was takin' Ennis around and introducin' him, though it was more like, "Ennis, this here's some drunk guy I don't know, and his chick who look at the boobs on her, and this... this is Chaz's friend I think, an' this..." In fact, Ennis stopped following him about two people in to the introductions, but the fact was lost on Dave, who continued around the room.

Ennis was approaching him, and Jack scrambled off the bed. "Lureen, Lureen, this here's my roommate, Ennis."

Lureen smiled up through hazy-drunk eyes. "Yeah?" She turned to Jack. He thought maybe she thought she was whispering from the way she said it, but she practically yelled, "He's cuuuute."

"Yeah." Shit, shouldn't have said that.

"Jack, you drunk, come on now..." Ennis went for his arm and pulled him up.

But too quickly, because Jack was suddenly floundering for the trash can. He needed to puke and quickly.

The slut, what was her name again?, was rubbin' Jack's back gently, soft words coming out of her mouth, as he hunched over the trash can. Ennis hadn't been too happy to walk in and see Jack necking with Lureen, but in a way it also made him feel better. Jack really wasn't queer. Still, he had no right...

At the same time, Ennis wanted so bad to rub Jack's back, to whisper something that would make him feel better. He couldn't, of course, but it did make him feel better that someone could. He hated to admit it. But right now, Lureen was what Jack needed.

When Jack was done, he swayed a little on his feet, and looked up, dizzy. When Jack's arm stretched out and he wrapped a strong, clammy hand around Ennis's wrist, Ennis felt like he might have a heart attack. Lureen was still clinging to him, though.

"I'm gonna take him back ta go to bed."

Lureen nodded. "You need help?"

"Nah, our room's just right next door." He braced Jack with a firm hand to the shoulder, and led him back to their room through the rather mild winter air. Jack gulped the air like he needed more.

Their room was empty, their roommates still at that other party. Ennis laid down Jack ont he bed and took his shoes off. Not able to help himself, he stroked a hand across Jack's sweaty hair. "You alright, bud?"

"Huh? Yeah, I... shit."

Ennis grabbed the trash can and put it by Jack in bed. "Sleep it off."

Jack never answered, passing out right before Ennis's eyes.

The bus rolled out the next day. Jack was silent and hungover, an headed off to sit in the bus while Ennis went to pick up breakfast. When Ennis got to the bus, Jack was sound asleep slumped in a window seat... and Lureen was settled in beside him. There was nothing Ennis could do about it that wouldn't draw attention to himself, so he sat n a seat next to some guy he didn't know, feelin' foolish 'cause he was carryin' two breakfasts-- muffins an' OJ. Ennis was plannin' on just finishin' them both himself, but eventually he managed to get over himself enough to stand and hand a muffin an' OJ to Lureen. "He, uh, might want there when he wake up."

"Oh, thank you. You're-- you're Jack roommate, right?"

"Uh, yeah."

"At home, too, or just on this trip."

"No, uh, we share an apartment in Laramie."

"Great, then if this lug never wakes up, you can give me his phone number." Lureen winked. "Your roommate here is a gooood kisser." She pried the breakfast from his hands without a second glance.

Ennis had no choice after that. He shuffled his way back to his seat, alone, wondering just how many people knew that Jack was a good kisser, and wishing to God he weren't one of them. But nothing to change that.

Jack woke up when the bus jolted to a halt.

"Oh good, you're awake," a pretty feminine voice chirped.

Jack pried his eyes open, the light outside still seeming too bright.

"We're stopping for lunch."

"Al... alright." Confusion was still filling his brain. He remembered this was the girl from the night before. He remembered kissing her... Was that why Ennis wasn't sitting with him? Ennis was probably angry. But Jack had been pretty drunk, an' he did sort a miss the scent of chick. Surely Ennis ought to understand.

"Where's Ennis?"

"Who? Oh, is that your roommate?" The bus was pulling around to park for sure now. "He brought you breakfast earlier." She handed him a mushed-up muffin that'd been wrapped in a napkin and crammed in a seat back.

"Thanks." Jack made a mental note to throw it out at earliest convenience. "Where'd he go?" Jack sat up to look around.

"I dunno, he's on the bus somewhere. So, does this mean you're rejoining the world of the conscious?"

Just then the hiss of the bus parking announced the end of their conversation, the main doors screeked open, and everyone was shuffling blurry-eyed towards the exit. Another McDonald's on another empty chunk of earth. As soon as Jack's feet hit asphalt, his eyes were scanning in the too-bright sunlight. He noticed Ennis standing at the outside of the group, hands in his pockets, looking down at his feet and with the dark eye cast of someone who had just lost his best friend. That was all the invitation Jack needed.

But when he showed up and Ennis's elbow, he found Lureen had following him. His intended words, something sweet and silly, something bright and tender, faded on his lips. Instead all he could say was, "Hungry, Ennis?"

Ennis glared up at him through his eyelashes, eyes squinting too, as though searching.

"Come on, guy, I'm hungry." Lureen pulled Jack's arm towards the McDonald's.

They were some of the last people to head towards the restaurant, and as he was being dragged, Jack managed a sappy smile and a snatch-and-grab at Ennis's jacket cuff. His hand slipped, and he kept moving towards McDonald's, but he mouthed a "help me" at Ennis.

It was all worth it to see the amused upturn of Ennis's lips, a smile that reached his eyes. Ennis shook his head, and Jack imagined what Ennis might a wanted to say, "You got yourself into this, you get yourself out."