Bones sat and watch his Jim pack his suitcase, he would be leaving for summer break tomorrow.
"I can't wait to get back home, my dad's gonna be there until at least late June. And I get to see my brother before he leaves for school this fall, and swimming and hanging out with friends, and cruisin' and-"
"Cruisin'?" asked Bones.
"Yeah, cruisin'. Me and some old friends, sometimes my brother, pile into an old car that my dad owns and lets us use, and we just ride around, acting dumb and picking up girls." He shut the suitcase and looked at Bones.
"You know, that invitation's still open. You can come home with me. You could leave on Friday if you send in the form today. My parents would love to meet you."
"Thanks, but no. It'd be weird and you've got people waiting to see you, I'd be the way."
"No you wouldn't. It's a farm, Bones. It's meant to have a million poeple all running around doing stuff or working. It'd be fun."
"No thanks." said Bones.
"Okay, if you're sure." said Kirk. "But if you wanna drop by later this summer, feel free. I told Spock the same thing." Kirk shut his suitcase. He was gonna miss Bones and Spock this summer, but they both seemed bent on staying in California.
Spock looked at his computer screen. James had left three hours, eight minutes, and thirty-nine seconds earlier. Spock was currently talking to his mother.
"Are you sure you won't be coming home at all this summer?" she asked him again.
"It is currently winter on Vulcan." he said.
"Yes, but on earth, it's summer and you are allowed to take a break." she said. "You didn't come home last time you had a vacation either."
"Mother, I believe we are both perfectly aware that my returning to Vulcan would not have desirable results."
She sighed. "Yes, you're right, I know. But you ought to patch things up with your father, and soon. Also, it doesn't seem healthy for you to spend all your time on campus, working. You really should go and do something. What about your roommate, James? You mentioned in the letter you sent me that he invited you to spend the summer with him."
"Yes. However, my roommates have already caused me to 'lose my temper', as humans put it, once. Spending time apart from each other is best for all of us. I most likely won't see much of Leonard this summer either."
She smiled. "Alright, Spock. Don't work to hard though. And stay warm. And don't forget to meditate. Oh! And-"
"Is it a trait of all human mothers to fret as much as you do when their children are not present?" asked Spock.
"Yes it is, and don't be cheeky. Goodbye, Spock."
"Goodnight, Mother." He cut off the transmission.
Leonard slammed his book shut. He had been doing schoolwork for the last two hours. Spock had gone off somewhere, he had no clue where, so he was alone. It had been almost three weeks since Jim left.
He looked around. He was used to being alone in the room but this seemed different. He felt like he Jim should burst through the door, laughing. He'd flop onto the bed tell them all about his perfect evening and his hot date (sometimes it was Janice, sometimes not). Then he'd blare old pop music until Bones was ready to scream at him.
He was so BORED. He wouldn't have admitted it before, and he wouldn't be telling Jim when he got back, but life was way too quiet without his hyperactive roommate. He and Spock hadn't even had a good fight in the last week.
Bones walked over to the window and looked out. He thought about his first day at the academy, he had known absolutely no one. Then a crazy farmboy and a hobgoblin had burst into his room and they had baisically been his life since. He had other friends, but he was closer to his roommates than he was to anyone else. With him and Spock haveing schedules that meant they hardely ever saw each other, and Jim away, it was going to be a long two months.
Bones looked down into the gardens outside. Some peopel were milling around. He saw a blond haired girl walked with another student, she was smiling. The other student was just talking.
Wait.. isn't that Spock... and Christine?
"My brother thought I should've come home this summer, but I didn't really see why to go home. I'll see them lots during the spring semester though because I'm going to be working on Mars, what about you?" asked Christine.
"I am still considering my options, I was planning to take the position at the base in New Berlin."
"Good spot."
"Yes." They walked in silence.
"Spock, are you cold?" asked Christine
"Why do you ask?"
"You ears are turning green." she said. "I'd imagine it's rather cold for you all the time on Earth. and it's starting to get cold now."
"I have grown mostly acostumed to Californian weather." said Spock.
"That's good. I should probably go inside, it getting late and I have early classes tomorrow. It's been so quiet around here lately with almost everyone gone, so thanks for walking with me."
"You're welcome. It was... pleasurable." said Spock. he had wanted to say 'I enjoyed it' but that wasn't what had come out.
"Goodnight." said Christine. She gave him a peck on the cheek and ran off. He walked back into his building and went to his room.
"I saw you and Christine Chapel last night." said Bones the next morning.
"Yes, I suppose we would have been visible from our window." said Spock.
"What were you doing?"
"Taking a walk and discussing various things. She and I have spent a sizable amount of time together this summer, since she is one of the few cadets I know personally who has remained here." said Spock. "I am planning to put in a request for new curtains, the ones we have are stained from when Kirk put a drop of warp plasma in a bottle of soda for a science expirement."
"Don't change the subject. She kissed you." said Bones.
"On the cheek, yes."
"Well, doesn't that say anything to you?"
"I am aware that she has had romantic feelings towards me in the past. But she and I have agreed to remain only friends."
"Only friends?" asked Leonard, Crossing his arms and leaning agains the wall.
"Yes. We decided that a while ago."
"That's good." said Bones. he turned and faced the shelves, seeming to look for something. "Because I was going to ask her out."
"What?" said Spock, giving his full attention to his roommate.
"You know, on a date. I like her. Maybe I don't love her but I don't believe in fairy tale love anyway. Neither of us is dating anyone right now, we get along well, we're both medical students, plus she nice and caring and friendly."
"Unlike you." said Spock.
"Only towards you and Jim. I know how to treat a lady. Hey, if we're lucky, things will go well between us and we can become and actual couple." Bone sturned back toward his vulcan roommate. "You wouldn't mind, would you?"
"Not. At. All." said Spock.
"Good. Not like you would have ever had a chance with her anyway. She would have walked away after just one date with you. No, if she ever like you it all just a crush caused by over active hormones that would have died pretty quickly anyway. I think I'll go ask her right now."
"She had early classes today." said Spock.
"You sure? She was probably just saying that so she wouldn't have to see you. Hobgoblin."
That was how the two boys ended up rolling around on the floor, fighting.
"Hey! What the heck, Spock? What happened to logic?"
"Like you ever cared about logic! All you ever do is bait me!"
"How do you know I was baiting? Maye I am goignt ot ask Christine oot! She's pretty a hot babe."
"Don't talk about her like she's an object!"
"Why would you care? Because you love her that why! Hobgoblin!"
"Neanderthal!"
"Computer!
"Ape!"
"green blooded-"
"Pink skinned-
"pointy eared-"
"rude-"
"uptight-"
"brainless-"
"MORON!" they both yelled, still fighting.
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?" yelled someone. The two boys stopped fighting and looked up form where they were on the floor.
"Jim! Your back." said Bones.
"Yeah, I am Bones. Just in time two, looked like you two were going to kill each other." Jim dumped his stuff on his bed. "Chris is going to early orientation and mos tof my old friends were going on vacation now, so I came back early." He pulled Spock up.
"So, what made you crack?" he asked the half-vulcan.
"Leonard and his baiting." said Spock. Spock explained the whole thing. Kirk whistled.
"Whoa, you finally break up beyond just punching Bones once and it's over a girl." said Kirk. "Bones, you're not really gonna ask Christine out, are you?"
"No, I was really just baiting." he said.
"She's really nice. I never dated her because I figured that it would hurt Spock. Nice to know I was right."
"Leonard, I apologize for hurting you." said Spock, who appeared to have control over his emotions again.
"Yeah, me too." said McCoy.
"I'm gonna unpack now." said Kirk. He turned on some music. Bones and Spock immediatly recognized it as being by an old artist called 'Lady Gaga.' the song was called 'poker face'. The boys all set to talking about their summer so far, and life seemed to be back to normal.
I'm gonna miss this so much when were done at the academy. Thought all three of the cadets.
Hope you enjoyed it! My sister and I are working on a story called 'TwentyOne Chaotic Genres'. you can check it out over in the 'The Next Generation' archive. Thanks for reading.