The Road Trip Part III

They managed to sleep a little later than they had intended to the next morning. It wasn't an issue as they had scheduled themselves plenty of time for the day's journey. They would pass through three states that day, thanks to a quirk of geography, and end up back in the hillier landscape of the Ozark Mountains. They left heading north and east, heading straight away into a landscape where the land was a little less flat, and the countryside was marked with a number of lakes. As they passed the signposts for the town of Foyil, they saw something else that made a mark on the landscape, and they left the main road to go and see close up the collection of concrete totem poles that one man had constructed in this quiet corner of Oklahoma. They were stark, although weathered now with the passage of time, but they had made a convenient place to stop for a while. They returned to the road, eventually arriving at the small town of Vinita, and almost immediately spotted Clanton's Café, another venue mentioned in several of the guidebooks. It was still early, but they both agreed they should stop for lunch. They ordered burgers, something that had almost become their staple diet. They had pondered the menu, and had almost ordered the calf fries, until Thad had remembered in a moment of clarity exactly what they were. They were not stick-in-the-muds by any means when it came to food, and had tried some exotic things in their time, but both of them drew the line at willingly eating a dish of calf's testicles…

Beyond Vinita, they headed along the road in search of a particular stretch of the original road that was detailed in all of the guides. When the federal government had embarked on the construction of the original Route 66 in the late 1920s, Oklahoma did not have the money to construct their sections to the standard that they would have wished to, particularly in the rural areas at the edge of the state. Thus they had constructed only a narrow, single lane road, which had become known as the 'Sidewalk Highway'. Here in the north east of Oklahoma, a few stretches were still in existence, surviving the frenzied decades of improvements, and crucially not ending up buried underneath the new interstate that had replaced the old road in so many places. They found what they had been looking for near the community of Afton, and then proceeded to drive along it carefully until they reached the town of Miami, with its historic theatre. As they drove, they were both thinking the same thing; they should have been driving along it in a classic car from the time, not in a modern RV. By luck, they had met no-one coming in the other direction. After a brief photo stop in Miami, mainly to take pictures to place on Facebook, where it would no doubt confuse some of their friends when they glanced at their location, they headed on towards the state line.

The road took them into Kansas, which made their thoughts turn immediately to Flint, the one person that they knew that hailed from the state. They both wondered how he was getting on now that he was living apart from Beats; to go from having someone as a more or less constant companion for several years to not having them around had to be strange. In many ways, what he was going through was a precursor for their own situation. It was true that Flint was now sharing a place with the expert amongst them in the loss of a close friend, Ethan.

He had told Thad in a private chat one evening that he was missing Drew so much; it felt as if a part of him was missing. He was worried about the way that all contact between them had stopped, as it was so out of character for him. Thad was concerned about that too, not that he would publicly admit that to anyone, even David. After all, Drew was not a child, and he was capable of making his own decisions and choices in life. The thing was, Thad was not entirely convinced that the choices he was making at the moment were of his own free will. He had met Lucy just the once, at Sebastian's second wedding at Christmas, and she had sensed that she was not at all pleased to be amongst so many of Drew's friends. She had tried to drag him away when the venue had changed, and he had seen the look on her face when the former Warbler had refused to leave. She had thought that she was unobserved at the time, and so the mask had slipped.

The next day, Thad had seen the two of them in the lobby of the hotel they were all staying in. He had stepped out of the elevator, but they did not see him. So he had been unobserved as he watched as Drew winced as he set any weight upon his left foot. He had seen the beginnings of a black eye too. For a moment he had considered dashing in, asking what the hell was going on, intervening in the situation, but then a little voice in his head had stopped him. He had no proof that the injuries Drew was exhibiting were down to Lucy after all. His accusations, even if true, would be rebuffed in all probability, and the crack in the relationship between Drew and his bird brothers would have become a chasm. He couldn't risk saying anything, nor could he share his suspicions with anyone other than Wes. He had known of course, and they had spent a long time discussing the issue. He was glad to now that Wes had backed his choice, but still…

He realised suddenly that he had zoned out completely, so deep in thought; thankfully, David had been the one driving. He looked at his friend, concentrating on the road ahead, then down at the speedometer, showing they were doing a steady 60mph. He looked up, and saw a sign welcoming them to Missouri. "Sorry Davie, I zoned out for a bit there," said Thad. "And now, I don't think that we are in Kansas anymore…"

His words got him a playful swat on the arm from David, who just groaned, and then, like Thad, he started to chuckle at the absurdity of him quoting a line from The Wizard of Oz… They both sobered up though when they saw the signs pointing the way to the town of Joplin, a place which had been the scene of so much destruction only a few years before, when in the space of 10 or so minutes, 150 people had lost their lives as a series of tornadoes had ripped through the town. It was a far cry from Dorothy being spun off to the land of Oz. They had still been at Dalton at the time, and the fact that it had been the high school that had taken the brunt of the damage and been totally destroyed had just brought home to all of them how vulnerable humanity was to mother nature when she went on the rampage….

They drove on, the plains now giving way to higher ground, and the road they were travelling on was no longer straight and flat. They were heading to the outskirts of the city of Springfield, but had to pass through it first. There was companionable silence in the RV, both of them just happy to be in each other's company as the road took them onwards. They both knew that after tonight, they just had one more night together in the van, just outside St Louis, where they would leave Route 66 as it continued on north to Chicago, to head east through Indiana on the fast road, in the direction of Ohio and Dalton. Once there, they would part for a few days. The end of the road was approaching for them. Both knew that it the other had said "Let's not head east; let's go and see Mount Rushmore, or the other Great Lakes, or even Canada," they would agree on the spot - but neither made the suggestion for fear that the other would reject it out of hand.

So it was that they drove into Springfield, only stopping when they reached the Steak and Shake, another venue that was noted in their guides. Sure enough, as it was still daylight, they did not have to step inside to order. A waitress came out to the RV and handed them menus to look at. They did head inside to place an order, but then they headed back to the van, where the same waitress came to them with their food. As they ate at the little table in the RV, they both smiled happily at this little touch of nostalgia from the golden days of the roadside diner. They returned the dishes and cutlery, then headed off again, out of town, to stop for the night at the tiny site they had chosen; a spot that was quiet and peaceful. Their nightly routines over, they headed to bed, and soon were asleep, tired after another day on the road back to their spiritual home at Dalton.

The next morning Thad woke up before the alarm went off. David was still sleeping soundly, so he got out of bed quietly, and headed out of the van to just stand and admire the scenery. The air was crisp and clear, and the birdsong was joyful as they welcomed another new day. He tried not to think about how he would be able to hear such things all the time once he was settled in at Dalton, because it made him feel a little sad. He heard the alarm going off, so he headed back into the van to start the usual morning routine; a set of moves that he and David were now so well versed in that it took no time for them to be ready for the new adventure the day might bring.

They began their journey that day with a diversion off the main road again, this time to the little town of Mansfield, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home. They had read Little House in English class at Dalton, and to Thad the novel had summed up the life of the average American farmer as the nation had begun to expand and grow. The family had ended up here, in the apple business, and it was only when she was in her sixties that the author had committed pen to paper to record the story of her family for posterity.

From there, they headed cross country to return to the old road on one of the most scenic stretches of their trip, to pass through the heart of the Ozark Mountains on a stretch of the road known as the Devil's Elbow. They drove slowly on the old winding road, admiring the views that the route afforded to them, with new vistas coming at every bend in the highway. At times they could see the I-40 road, which had forced its way through the landscape, whilst the route they were on had worked with nature to pass along; they were both glad they had chosen to come the slower way. As they neared the end of that stretch of road, they both saw simultaneously a huge and unlikely structure at the side of the road - a 40ft high rocking chair. They had to stop and take photos of themselves with the World's Largest Rocker, before continuing on to the little community of Cuba for lunch, once more posting their location on Facebook to cause confusion. They ate more healthily for a change, swapping their usual burgers for the special of Chicken Pot Pie; for dessert they eschewed the tempting range of pies and cakes and selected some early, sweet Concord grapes. That way David would not be lying totally to Mercedes when he said that he had eaten healthily at lunch…

The afternoon brought them to the Meramec Caverns. These vast caves had been constructed, in part, during the extraction of saltpetre for the manufacture of gunpowder. It was a trade that was now long gone, and the caverns had taken on new uses over the years for the farmers in the neighbourhood; even church services had been held within them at times. They had times to spend exploring the vast and strangely beautiful spaces left in the hillside. Then Thad spotted the sign that pointed the way to the Zip Ride. David saw it a split second later, and for a moment he blanched at the idea - but then he recalled the bungee jump at the Grand Canyon. He had survived that, it had been fun, and this surely had to be a lot safer to do…

Ten minutes later he was hurtling through space down the wire, holding onto the handle above his head for all he was worth, and whooping with delight at the thrill of the air rushing in his face as he rushed along. Thad was not far behind him, relishing every minute. It was hard for him to imagine now that once upon a time he had had a morbid fear of such things, preferring to keep to the dull and boring. He had played it safe, but now that he had a certain knowledge that there was life after death, nothing seemed so scary. He had become a total adrenaline junkie, seeking out new thrills. When he got to the bottom he was surprised though to find David was waiting for him, asking him if he wanted to do it again. His daredevil attitude seemed to be rubbing off on his best friend… With a degree of sadness he had to point out the time, and reluctantly the two of them left, leaving the next new sensation to another day.

They were now driving down their final stretch of Route 66, approaching St Louis. Tomorrow would be all about hurtling along the interstate, to get to Dalton as soon as they could. There would be no time to admire the landscape, or to deviate off track to see any sort of attraction. So now they made the most of their final chance to enjoy a quiet stretch of road, and to watch the landscape unfold as they reached the end of the state of Missouri, and to suddenly see the might of the Mississippi in front of them. The course that Route 66 took once they reached the city of St Louis itself was torturous, but they still managed to locate Ted Drewes Frozen Custard stand, another venue that was mentioned in their guide books. Although they had not yet eaten their dinner, they still stopped to buy some, and sat happily side by side in the RV, enjoying the delicious cold dessert. Then it was on through the city to find the place on the outskirts where they would spend their final night in the van; a quiet spot right by the banks of the mighty river, with a diner right at the entrance so that they could walk to dinner. As they ate that night, their usual conversation was muted. Both of them were beginning to feel a great sadness welling up. The moment when their lives would diverge was fast approaching, and it was starting to hurt.

They both headed to bed at the usual time, but Thad found that sleep eluded him that night. He lay in silence, wide awake, listening to the sounds of the night - the noises of the nocturnal creatures disturbing the trees and bushes that surrounded them; the gentle roar of the river in the distance; and the rhythmic breathing of his companion in the RV. His best friend. A constant face in his life for nearly eight years, since that day that they had been introduced by Wes to each other as they had both waited to audition for the Warblers, the tryouts that year being held under the scrutiny of Connor and Louis. They had been through so much together over those years, although for most of that time, they had been a trio. Wes had been the glue that held them together, and had kept them close. He had been the one that had pushed Thad into attending UCLA, rather than heading to his first choice school of Harvard. He had resented Wes for that at first, feeling that it was a sleight, but he had come round in a few months. He did wonder sometimes what might have been had David been accepted at MIT instead of UCLA, and the three of them had been together in Boston. Would he and Wes have ended up as a couple? Would he have had more intimate moments with the man he knew was his soulmate - more than two kisses?

However, would he have been able to endure the pain of his loss after that, for Wes would still have left them… Could he have supported David quite as much as he had to if they had not been so bonded by living together? And if they had been in Boston, then David would not be with Mercedes… It was all an unknown quantity. All he knew for certain as he lay there, deprived of refreshing sleep, was that his heart ached, and he was certain that as he saw the RV disappear down the driveway at Dalton tomorrow, his eyes would be moist. He was also pretty sure that he would spend at least part of the first night in his new home sobbing his heart out, as he came to terms with being alone…

He sighed, and pondered getting up to make himself some warm milk, which had worked so well before. He knew that he could get up quietly without disturbing David, and he really did need to get some rest. Then his contemplation was interrupted by a new sound. It was a noise that he had not expected, and it made his heart ache all the more. He sat up quietly, got to his feet and headed across to the other bed. He knelt by it, and observed as David lay with his back to him. "Davie, are you okay?" he whispered, gently placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. A loud sniff was his answer, before David rolled over to reveal the tracks of tears down his face, and shook his head. "Me neither," said Thad, trying his hardest not to let his own tears fall as they wished. "The thing is, we just have to try and be. This is what life does to us all. It makes us move on to pastures new; it separates us from the familiar. But this isn't the end of us. We'll talk all the time on the phone or on Skype. You'll still be my right hand men in all of those issues related to that gang of reprobates that we signed up to all those years ago. You will always be my best friend, the person that I trust more than any other in the world. Some things are forever, and our friendship is one of those…"

"I know," sniffed David, "but it just won't be the same as having you in the next room."

"We can't stay together forever. Mercedes would find it very strange for a start, and when the gossip magazines found out her long term boyfriend insisted that his gay best friend had to live with them…" Thad paused as David chuckled, in spite of the pain he was feeling. "The thing is that as long as Mercedes has access to that private jet, you can come to Ohio anytime that you want. And come summer vacation, you will never see the back of me…."

"I will hold you to that one, Thaddie…"

"So, what say I go and make us both a mug of warm milk? It might help us to sleep." David nodded, and watched as Thad got up to carry out his task. He was right. He would not lose him just because he was going to be hundreds of miles away, not if he did his utmost to ensure that their friendship stayed intact over the distance between them.

Five minutes later the two of them were sitting side by side on the edge of David's bunk, sipping their milk, and discussing what they were going to do when they went to New York in a couple of weeks. "I think that Jeff has a big, Warblers only party scheduled for the beach house that weekend," remarked David.

"Yes, I think he has," replied Thad thoughtfully. "I am anticipating the usual train wreck, given the guest list. Factor in a beach, a pool and a hot tub and it is going to be unforgettable, that much is for sure. I just hope that he has been good enough to remember to invite Gabriel, Connor and Louis, because if nothing else, they will be a bit of back up in the maintenance of order and the avoidance of anarchy."

David chuckled, and Thad stared at him. "You obviously have never heard Wes tell the story about what happened at a similar Warbler event in his freshman year, when the car belonging to the then head of the modern languages' department at Dalton ended up upside down in the lake…" He stopped and laughed a little more at the look on Thad's face. "Of course, I don't know how it did for certain, but Wes said that it was allegedly masterminded by Gabriel and Connor when they were drunk. One of them might be named after an archangel, but he doesn't behave like one all the time. It does promise to be fun, so I suggest that instead of being the babysitters, you and I should just let loose for a change. Tell Skylar that he is the official Head Warbler for the weekend of the party, as the most recent one. We could even tell Seth he has to help him…"

"You and I both know that isn't going to happen," replied Thad with a wry smile. "I just start to feel maudlin these days when I drink, so I will be staying more or less sober, and if we are being honest, you will be too. We're getting older, and with age comes a sense of responsibility and a degree of maturity. Let's face it; Wes also stayed sober at all of the big parties. He was too busy keeping an eye on all of us to have time to drink himself…"

"Maybe he stayed sober for another reason. He had a façade to maintain after all. He stayed sober so that he never lost control of it, and gave you several minutes in heaven in a closet in Dalton somewhere, not that you would have complained about that. He was just worried that if he allowed that to happen, it would get back to his family, and they would have used it against him. In the end, I think that he should just have gone for it and darn the consequences. Instead, he died having been kissed properly three times in his life by someone that really cared and loved him, and that to my mind is a tragedy."

Thad nodded, and then suddenly stopped. "Wait a minute.. Three times? I only kissed him twice the night before he died, so when was the third - and who was it with for that matter?" Thad enquired.

"Thaddie, I told you a long time ago that on the day that Wes came out to me, I kissed him properly. I knew that I wasn't gay, but for me it was just an expression of all of the love and affection I had for the boy that had been like a brother to me for so long after I lost my own. It is just one of the many things that we have in common; we have both kissed Wes."

Thad nodded, remembering now that conversation he had had with David, so long ago it now seemed. "Wes was my only kiss, and that will never change now. It would seem wrong, like a betrayal, to let a complete stranger kiss me, and I doubt that anyone I know will ever give me a proper kiss. So in that respect, Wes has managed to do one better than me…" He sighed, then placed his now empty mug on the bedside shelf. David passed him his mug, and he turned and placed it next to his own, before turning back to speak again. Before he could utter a word, he felt lips on his own, and his mouth fell open in shock, allowing the kiss to deepen. As it did so, he let out a contented sigh…

When David pulled away from a still shell shocked Thad, he was smiling, but shaking his head. "Well, that makes you and Wes even in the kissing stakes, and seeing as it was me that kissed you, he can't really complain about it. Now, please tell me that you aren't mad at me, because this would be a really awful time and place for the two of us to fall out."

"I'm not mad. Startled and shocked, but not mad. Thankfully, there were none of the fireworks that I had with Wes, or we would be in big trouble! Plus, you will have to tell Mercedes what just happened, because I will never be able to look her in the eye again otherwise, and I might feel the need to blurt it all out at your wedding…"

"I guess that we can tell her, but back me up if I say that we were drunk when it happened. I am relieved that there were no fireworks, but a little disappointed too, if I'm honest…"

Thad chuckled at David's face as he said those words, and replied, "Oh, it was nice enough, and if anyone ever asks me I will be able to say, hand on heart, that you are a good kisser, but it wasn't the same as it was with Wes. You didn't rock my world, David Thompson."

David laughed now, and then, a hand on his own heart, he replied "I'm gutted! Still, I can live with being nice, and to be honest, it was exactly the same for me too. Pleasant, but nothing like Mercedes; more stubble for one thing. But I am not sorry that I did it, and so glad that I didn't destroy our friendship in the process of my gamble. You're like a brother to me too, Thaddie, and I can say truthfully that having you around for my college years made them bearable, and for the most part, fun. No matter how many friends I go on to make in my life, none of them will ever be able to replace you in my heart…"

"Right back at you, Davie," said Thad, his eyes getting moist. He got up, before he started to cry, and picked up the mugs. "Well, we do need to try and get some sleep. We have a long day ahead, and we will need our wits about us for driving on the interstate."

David nodded, and climbed back into his bed, watching as Thad washed out the mugs and turned them upside down to dry, before heading back to his own bunk.

Thad turned off the light, then whispered "Goodnight, Davie."

"Goodnight Thaddie," came his instant reply. Whether it was the warm milk, or the fact that their conversation had removed some of the pain from their hearts, a minute after the light was turned out, both of them were fast asleep.

The next day saw them involved in a very different kind of driving. On Route 66 they had gone slowly, savouring everything that they could see in the landscape around them. Now it was all about speed. After a brief stop to see the Gateway Arch, they headed for the I-70, and were soon cruising along at the maximum speed of 70mph. They drove to that speed for as long as they could, to ensure that they would reach Dalton at a reasonable time. David drove first, Thad eating a sandwich for lunch before they stopped at a rest stop halfway along. Then Thad took over and drove the last section of road into Ohio, where the place names began to be increasingly familiar. They had left St Louis just after 9am, and arrived at Dalton just before 4pm. As Thad pulled up at the side of the dormitory building that contained his new home, and turned off the engine, the road trip came to an official end.

As Thad had anticipated, there was a small reception committee of a sort waiting for them. He had told the Carmichaels what time he expected to arrive, and sure enough, they were waiting to greet them. Both men jumped out of the van to shake hands with their old Principal, whilst Mrs Carmichael refused anything but a hug. They had come to give Thad the keys to his new home, which was set on the first floor of one of the dormitory wings, set to the very end of the corridor, with the floor above stepped back so that he would not hear too much noise from the rooms above.

"Your predecessor, Mr Henderson, used to say that one of the few compensations for the unrelenting work he had to do as a housemaster was this little apartment. The new furnishings that were ordered have arrived, and have been fully assembled and put in place, more or less, but you must feel free to change things if that is what you wish. After all, this is your home now; it is so much more than just a bit of the school, and you must never lose sight of that. Principal Lefevre sends her apologies for not being here, but an aunt of hers in France had been taken gravely ill, and she was urged to pay a visit before it was too late. Young Dylan also sends his regards; he is back home in Vermont at the moment, helping his mothers with their scheme, which does seem a very worthwhile one. From what he tells me, young Cameron has also made quite the impression. I was asked quite a few questions by Dylan over the phone, and reading between the lines, I would say that there is a very good chance that Cameron will be related to Jeff by marriage one of these days," said Aaron Carmichael.

"I take it that you mean with Flora?" said David.

"Yes, and she is a charming girl from what I can recall from the one time we met her at a certain wedding at the New Yorker hotel. Cameron seems to have found his perfect niche up there; he is enjoying both the challenges of the work and the time that he is spending with the people. I don't know who it was that suggested that he head to Vermont, but they have done him a big favour after all he has been through," continued Aaron.

"Now we will leave you to unpack, Thad," said Mrs Carmichael. "I know that David will assist you before he has to head on to his mother's, as he will be anxious to see her. I'm sure you will just want to get yourself more or less settled without us getting in the way. I did take the liberty of placing a few items of food, just the essentials really, in the kitchen for you. However, if you would like, we would be delighted to see you for supper this evening. We will be eating at 7pm, but if you would rather have your own company tonight, then it's no problem. There is no need to let us know one way or the other; just be happy." As she uttered those last words, she patted him on the arm. True to her word, she took her husband by the arm and lead him away without waiting for an answer, allowing the two ex-pupils to unload the RV.

It did not take them long in the end, the two of them working together to carry up the boxes and cases that had partially filled the van for the duration of their trip. David had seen the apartment before, but it had been redecorated in a more contemporary style, and the new furniture was of very good quality, made in the style of older, classic pieces. He couldn't help but notice that there was a framed photograph of the Warblers from Wes' senior year hanging above the fireplace, and he also observed Thad reverentially place the photo of himself and Wes together in Central Park beside his bed, just as it had been in L.A.

The last boxes brought in and stacked in the right rooms, including a huge stack by the empty built in bookcase in the lounge, it was time for David to take his leave. He walked up to Thad and wrapped his arms around him, feeling his friends arms wrap around him every bit as tightly. "Now if you need me, just call, day or night. That stands for all time, okay. I will try not to be too busy to pick up right away, but if I am, then I will always call you back. It's what best friends do…"

"Likewise Davie," said Thad, in a voice that seemed to echo with his tears. "So, I think we should say our goodbyes here, rather than by the RV. It is best for the both of us that we are not observed clinging to each other in public. I mean, I do have a reputation to maintain…"

David chuckled, but made no attempt to swipe away the tears that had formed in his own eyes. He let Thad go, and stepped back. He gave him a fake salute and a smile, which made Thad smile back. "Okay, I will see you soon…"

"Call me to let me know you got home safe, okay?"

"Yes, mom!"

"Cheek! Go on, get going!" said Thad with a grin.

With that David left. Thad ignored the immediate urge he felt to follow him anyway, but he did head over to the window so he could at least wave to him. David saw him, and smiled, before climbing into the RV and starting it up. With a quick blast on the horn, he was gone….

Thad was alone - only he knew that he wasn't really. Wes was around, somewhere, watching over him as he always did. He opened a box, and found the little clock he had taken from Wes' place in Harvard; he wound it up and set it on the mantelpiece. Its ticking was a reassuring, familiar noise in this, his brave new world. He made up his mind that he would go and unpack his clothes and get them all hung up - Kurt would approve of that choice - and then he would take up the Carmichaels offer of supper. This was his life now. He was Mr Harwood, housemaster and teacher at Dalton Academy, but above all else, he was Head Warbler. He had a lot of traditions to maintain, and standards to uphold, but he was determined that he would do so.