Enjoy

Spock chose to get up earlier than normal on the morning of their departure for the Kirk's home. James had said they would be leaving as 'Early as possible' after all.

Spock should've realized despite that they wouldn't really be leaving that early. After completing his packing and getting ready for the day he went to James' room and knocked. No answer. he waited ten minutes then knocked again. Once again, no answer.

He chose to return to his own room and sent Kirk a communique.

James,

Please respond to this as soon as you are able.

Spock.

A full hour after That Spock decided to try a final method of contacting James. He grabbed a pair of shoes he had yet to recycle (there was a hole in one of them), took one and went to the window

THUNK

James was woken by the sound of something hitting his window quite loudly. it was such a bizarre sound to hear that he got up to see what it was.

He opened the window and saw Spock leaning out of his.

"What are you doing?" He asked the Vulcan.

"I wished to inquire when we're leaving."

"It's like, six in the morning..."

"you said we would be leaving early."

"...We'll leave at nine. meet me by the car..." Kirk rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "see you in a bit Spock." he shut the window and crawled back into bed, intending to sleep for another hour or so before getting up.

"Let's get this show on the road!" Kirk said, tossing his bag into the back of the car. It was nine thirty and they were finally leaving.

Jim got into the driver's seat and looked at Spock who had already been in the car when he got there. "You ready to go?" He asked the Vulcan.

"Yes. as I have been since Five this morning." Spock commented in reply.

"Great! Let's move out!" Kirk fished the key out of his pocket and start up the car. He turned on the radio, smiling at the old pop song that played as they took off.

I'm in control of my emotions. I'm in control of my emotions. It's fortunate because otherwise I would kill James...But I won't. because I'm in control. Spock told himself. It was almost ten that same night and they were looking for a place to stop for the night. A good thing since Spock had started this mantra in his head around seven that evening.

He had a few reasons why it was necessary: firstly, the music. Mindless song after song. He had attempted to talk about the lyrics with James as was reasonable to do with music so as to understand it but after only perhaps a verse Jim would tell him 'it's just a song! enjoy it!' but how could one find enjoyment in a song that had words without meaning?

Nevertheless the music played on and occasionally James would sing along.

Spock came to the conclusion James should not sing.

"there's a place." Kirk said, pointing out a small motel up ahead. "we could get a room there for the night."

"If I may offer an alternative." Spock said. "I can drive and you can sleep. I do not need sleep for several more hours.

"Do you even know how to drive?" Kirk asked.

"I'm sure something humans invented int he twentieth century can't be that complex."

"...i feel like you insulted my ancestors but I'll let it slide." Kirk said. "I'd rather just stop for the night-Scotty'll kill me if you crash this."

"I will not crash because I can drive a simple car." Spock insisted. "We have no need to stop for the night."

Kirk took a deep breath. "Spock. I want to stop and sleep in an actual bed tonight no the passenger seat of the car because I won't sleep because I'll be worried about you crashing even if you're the safest drive on Earth-I cannot sleep in cars. It's been a long day. I'm tired. So we're stopping. We have plenty of time to get to my parents." Kirk glanced over at Spock. "Besides. You seem stressed."

"I assure you that I'm not."

"I've known you long enough to know you definitely are. So we're stopping and both sleeping and tomorrow we'll like each other better." Jim concluded, pulling over at the motel he'd noticed a sign for earlier.

Spock didn't argue, knowing that-in this instance-James was correct...they'd both be better off sleeping through the night.

Another thing Jim said also proved to be true: in the morning they did like each other again. Kirk woke up in a great mood-the stress of driving all day and trying to keep up a conversation with Spock who seemed set on being particularly literal the day before had definitely put a damper on the fun trip he'd imagined.

But after they left that day seemed to go much smoother. they had breakfast at a diner-where Spock shockingly found something he could eat-and int he car they managed to talk without getting irritated with each other. The radio proved to be a bit of a problem again. so around noon Jim simply shut it off. he could live without his music in the name of keeping the peace.

Kirk even let Spock drive for a few hours. granted the human cadet was far more relaxed when he was the one driving but Spock called driving the car a 'potentially valuable experience' so he supposed he could stand letting his friend drive.

That night they did drive through the night. or halfway through it, getting to the Kirk's home out int he country outside of Riverside close to midnight. Kirk sighed with relief as they parked in the driveway. he got out of the car and grabbed his bag and headed t the door with Spock and knocked.

"You're finally here-your mom was starting to wonder." said the young man who opened the door

Kirk blinked then grinned.

"Bones! You're here!"

"Yeah, I got here yesterday morning." he said, stepping aside to let them in. "Hey Spock."

"Hello, Leonard. I was under the impression you still had classes for another week?" He questioned.

"I told you that. But I didn't. it's called 'lying'. And now i'm here-Jim, want to trade moms? I love yours-she made me cookies. And she can fish-she showed me how to gut them this morning."

Kirk laughed. "Too bad-she's mine. By the way where is she?"

"Asleep." Bones said. "Your dad convinced her to go to bed."

"...Oh yeah..." Kirk said. "...He's back...this is gonna be weird..." Kirk had grown used to his father's absence the last few years as he was gone on assignments. "Well. It's late. we should all head to bed." He smiled at Bones before heading up to his room and falling asleep the moment he was in bed.

Bones went to bed soon to, but Spock was awake for a while yet, considering the summer ahead of them and the school year to follow. their last at the academy. Hopefully it would be a fulfilling one for them all.