The essential vacation comes to an end after a few more days of lodging in the house as a rain shower poured throughout the day and night.
Trip lies in his bed two days after arriving back in Connecticut and yawns widely, having just woken up from a twelve-hour sleep. He has needed to catch up on sleep and finally does.
A curse escapes his lips as he hears his ancient cellphone buzzing on the ground beside his bed. He flips it open without bothering to check who is calling and answers it.
"Hello," Trip says, his voice raspy and tired.
"Trip," Boss says and Trip sits up in his bed.
"Hm," Trip says, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah?"
"Where are you?" Boss asks.
"What do you mean? I'm at home," Trip tells him.
He hears Boss chuckle. "There's a meeting right now."
Trip's eyes widen and he's suddenly not tired anymore.
"Shit," he says. "I'll be right there."
The kind man on the other end of the call laughs again. "Alright."
"See you," Trip says and is about to close his phone when Boss speaks up again.
"Pick up Reed on your way here," Boss says. "It seems you're not the only one who slept in today."
Boss hangs up before Trip can reply and he shakes his head, scurrying around his room to find a change of clothes. He rapidly cleans himself up in the bathroom and practically runs outside to his bike.
He hops on it and pedals quickly until he reaches Reed's house. He lays the bike down on the ground and bangs on Reed's front door in an effort to wake him.
The door opens after a few moments and Reed stands on the other side, a disheveled mess. His white tank is hanging off of his shoulder and his hair is strewn about in every direction.
Despite just being awoken, Reed grins upon discovering his visitor.
"Trip," Reed says as Trip reaches out his hand and pulls Reed down the stairs after closing the door.
"Woah," Reed says, stumbling after him. "What are you doing?"
Trip picks up his bike and straddles it, waiting for Reed to stand on the bars behind him.
"We're late," Trip says. "Boss called."
"What?" Reed says, still half-asleep.
"There's a meeting," Trip says and waves him over quickly.
"Can't I get dressed?" Reed asks and Trip grabs his wrists again.
"Damnit," Reed says before getting on the back of Trip's bike and holds onto his shoulders.
The two arrive around fifteen minutes late to the meeting and receive stares from the other members of the organization. Trip takes a seat next to his brother and catches Moose snickering at him and Reed.
Gaze narrows her eyes at her partners and Reed plays it off with a shrug and his award-winning smile.
"Trip, Reed," Boss says as the boys take their seats. "Glad to see you've made it."
"Glad to be here," Reed replies with a grin as Boss remains hidden.
"Alright," Boss says. "Let's get started."
The members await to hear what Boss has to say.
"I asked you all on your first day here what your dream job was," Boss says. "And I want to share the results with you."
Many of them glance around everywhere and it's obvious that some don't want their answer revealed. Trip doesn't mind, though.
"Beginning with number two," Boss says. "Reed."
Reed smiles as the members stare at the mess that he is.
"Police officer."
Some eyes stay trained on Reed as the rest wait for Boss to continue.
"Number three, four, and five," Boss continues. "Flynn, Astro, and Gaze. Police officer."
Trip looks around and catches Reed's eye. The older boy simply crosses his arms and listens to the rest.
"Number six, seven, eight," Boss says. "Moose, Frazier, and Mina. Police officer."
Beck nudges Trip in the side. "Is that what you chose?" he whispers.
Trip nods his head.
"Number nine, ten, eleven, and twelve," Boss says. "Beck, June, Stix, and Trip. Police officer."
Many voices sound and Boss hushes them when he wishes to speak again.
"You all have something very special in common," Boss says. "And I'm going to make sure your dreams come true."
This time, everyone stays quiet.
"And that is all. You're dismissed."
It takes a while for the place to clear out because discussion arises between partners as excitement fills the air.
Trip walks out next to his brother and Beck follows him to his bike.
"Overslept?" Beck asks as Trip pulls his leg over his bike.
"I guess," Trip sighs. He kicks the kickstand out from beneath the bike and prepares to leave when he remembers he's missing something.
Or someone.
He cranes his neck, looking everywhere for the twenty-three-year-old who he brought and cannot find him anywhere.
"Who are you looking for?" Beck asks him.
"Reed," Trip says. "I gave him a ride here."
"Oh," Beck says, assisting in the search. "I don't see him."
"Jesus," Trip says, beginning to get off of his bike.
"It's fine," Beck says. "You can go home. I'll bring him back."
Trip raises an eyebrow at his brother. "Really?"
Beck shrugs as if it isn't a big deal. "Sure."
"Thanks," Trip says. "He's heavy."
Beck laughs. "No problem."
And with that, Trip pedals away as he cannot wait to hit his bed again.
Though, finally after a few more minutes, Reed walks out of the building and looks around for Trip. When he can't find him, Reed scrunches his eyebrows together and purses his lips.
"That kid left me," Reed says as Beck slowly walks over.
Reed lifts his eyes as Beck approaches and Beck shoves his hands into the pockets of his shorts.
"Need a ride?" Beck asks.
Reed runs a hand through his messy hair. "Where's Trip?"
"He left," Beck says.
Reed laughs. "Of course he did."
"Mhm," Beck mumbles. "I can take you back."
Reed breathes out a long sigh. "I don't want to be a burden."
"It's fine," Beck says. "Really."
"Well," Reed says and offers a small smile. "If you insist."
The two climb into Beck's small, red car and ride in silence after Reed tells him his address until Reed is itching to talk. And so, he does.
"Hey," he says, his voice deep.
"Yeah?" Beck asks.
"Do you still think I have a thing for you?" Reed asks.
Beck coughs. He's taken aback.
"No," Beck says. "You never did. Remember?"
"I refuse to believe neither of us felt anything in that relationship," Reed says. "Even if you say we were in it just for the sex."
Beck stays silent for a few long seconds.
"Why bring this up now?" he asks.
"I want to make sure you know I no longer feel the way I did back then," Reed says. "I just want things to be normal between us."
Beck grips his steering wheel.
"I'm not sure if I can do that."
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hi, sorry if this chapter isn't good
i'm tired lol but your comments keep me going (,: