They were back in Sacramento, Spencer'd persuaded Billy to let him take a break from driving, so they parked Viper in a parking garage, and found themselves inside a small café in the middle of the city.

It was brown on the inside- the café, and there were tons of posters around everywhere, and there was writing on the wall. There were paintings everywhere; Spencer took a few pictures. It was the kind of place you only saw in photographs, the kind of place you never knew actually existed, but secretly hoped it did. It was a hippie thing, and even though Spencer wasn't a hippie, he still loved it.

"Look at this Spence," Billy practically yelled, poking his finger into a flyer. "It's a concert for local musicians!"

"I don't think you're a local musician," Spencer teased, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Pff, whatever," Billy scoffed.

His eyes suddenly got big. "But it's Friday night!"

"What about Oregon?"

"Who gives a shit about Oregon right now, we've got plenty of time to get there, but we gotta do this first!"

"You sure?" Spencer questioned.

Billy nodded eagerly.

"So I drank this coffee for nothing then?" Spencer asked amused.

"I'm gonna be up all night."

"Ahh, don't worry, I'll keep you busy 'til you get tired," Billy assured with a wink.

"Wh-whatever," Spencer stuttered, his face turning red.

"When we get to Oregon I'm gonna have to get a part-time job," Billy mumbled quietly to himself, going through his wallet.

They'd been on the road for 4 days, they should've been to Oregon by now, but they wasted time going back to his house yesterday, and now they were way off track; Billy had spent way more money than he should have.

There was gas, and food, and that stupid motel they'd stayed in Sunday, and even though Spencer could now help with paying, Billy still insisted on doing it himself.

Spencer felt a little guilty.

"Oh, yeah," Spencer recalled, trying not to focus on his thoughts, "how am I gonna get back home-after we're done?"

"Huh?" Billy questioned. He hadn't thought of that, he'd kind of tried to forget that Spencer was eventually going to leave. But he couldn't drive himself, and he wouldn't have enough money by the end of next week.

"We'll figure something out," he responded with a sigh.

They spent the rest of the day roaming around the city. They'd been there a few days ago, but there were still things that could be done, and places they could see all for the low price of free.

They mostly just did sightseeing- walking through parks, walking on the sidewalks, taking lots of pictures, recording a few videos, almost getting hit by multiple cars- but that was fine. Sightseeing is one of the best ways to spend your time in a new place. Only to end the day where they began it: in Billy's van.

"Where to?" Spencer asked, hopping into the driver's seat.

"I don't really want to sleep in this car tonight" Billy started, yawning, "So maybe we should just find a hotel, or something."

"Billy it's like 9 o'clock, and we're in the city, and have no reservations. I doubt we'll be able to find anything," Spencer explained.

"Don't doubt The Cobra," Billy instructed, "now onwards my trusty comrade."

Spencer rolled his eyes and hesitantly, started up the car, and then they began their what should've been short, drive.

Spencer was right, finding a hotel room, a cheap one at that, on a night like tonight, in a place like this, was going to be unbelievably difficult.

Eventually they pulled into a lot for a hotel- it wasn't too fancy, but nice enough to be in the city, and maybe by a miracle the place had a room available.

"I'll pay," Spencer announced, quickly stepping in front of Billy. A part of him knew that Billy wouldn't let him pay, but he wanted to. He was either going to pay now, or give Billy the money back later. He wanted to contribute something to this trip, and that was the only way he knew how.

Billy opened his mouth to oppose, but then decided not to; he'd ask about it later.

"Since I got the bed last time, you can have it this time," he decided when they made it up to their room.

"No, it's fine, I can take the couch," Spencer explained.

"But you paid for the stupid room, so you get the bed," Billy imitated.

Spencer didn't know what to say. "Y-you. Cant. Do that," he stuttered.

Billy gave him a smile, one of those smiles that made you want to punch someone in the face.

In retrospect it was kind of stupid to be fighting over something as stupid as 'who gets to sleep in the bed' but that's where they found themselves.

So that was it then, Spencer would take the bed, and Billy would take the couch, simple as that- except it wasn't.

Yes, this hotel was a lot better than the crappy one they'd stayed in before, but it was still a couch, and couches weren't nearly as comfortable as beds, and Spencer really didn't know what the problem was, but he wanted Billy to have the bed.

"Well then we can sleep in it together," Billy teased.

He honestly hadn't meant for things to go the way they did after that, but he should have at least expected it.

Spencer got all red and stuttery and nervous and confused.

"I was kidding," Billy blurted with a laugh.

"Oh."

"Unless you want to."

"No."

Billy felt both offended and amused at Spencer's choice, but at least their arguing would be over.

So Spencer, guiltily, took the bed, and Billy slept on the couch.

"Hey, Spence," Billy called from his spot on the couch.

The room was dark except for the light from the tv.

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so, I dunno, eager to save my money?" Billy asked.

Spencer was quiet for a moment, a long moment, so long that Billy had thought the boy'd gone to sleep.

"Because," he began, "I want to pay you back."

"There are so many more important things to me than stupid money, Spencer," Billy explained.

"Yea, but what else can I really do though?" Spencer asked, "I mean just driving you around isn't enough, when you're still paying for everything."

"So I figured I could pay you back, or at least split the pay a bit for the time being."

"You're gonna be living on your own, so you need the money, you shouldn't be spending it on an extra person."

Billy almost did a double take, this was the most he'd heard Spencer say, and sure he hasn't known the guy that long, but he'd figured he had a pretty solid grasp at who he was, but Spencer just kept surprising him.

"Spence, you're not a burden. I actually need you right now, so whatever I do is because I need to do it," Billy explained.

"It was kinda my choice to invite you along, and because of that I'm responsible for you and whatever happens to you. I gotta do what I think is best for both of us."

"I'm spending the money cos I have to, I'm doing it cos I want you to be okay enough to stay, I don't need you ditching me mid way through because you're uncomfortable, or something."

The two boys stayed quiet after that. Billy had hoped nothing he'd said had offended the brunette, but on the contrary Spencer felt fine.

He felt better than fine. Someone needed him.

He didn't mid if the need was for selfish reasons or not, the point was he was needed. Someone actually wanted him around, someone needed him around, so there was no way he could be a burden to somone who needed him, right?

Billy thought he was special, and he needed him, as of now, but Spencer thought that was fine.

He lay in his bed with his eyes closed, and a small smile. He was needed.

thanks guys for reading, sorry this one is p short, and also sorry for my tiny hiatus, anime is addicting, and so is drawing. I'll be on spring break soon, so I should be getting out more chapters soon, again soz for the delays, and thanks.