Derby Disaster

chAPTer NINe

"All set?" Will stood outside Rory's door, looking at the other boy. Their road trip started that day and by the next afternoon, the boys would be seeing Leo O'Callaghan. 

"Yeah," Rory had a backpack with him and he had told his family he was going to spend the weekend with some friends. 

With parents placated and the address punched into the GPS, they got into Ava Handler's truck and began. The cab was silent during the first hour and a half. Will was anxious, Rory was uncomfortable, and the truck smelled like hay. Neither boy minded the hay aroma, but Will was just dying to know what was going on underneath all that auburn hair. He looked over at red lights and stop signs, trying to guess. Was Rory uncomfortable with this arrangement? Heck, would they even be convincing as a couple? There was still over ten hours in the car together, they could talk enough so they seem like a plausible couple. Will took a breath. "So...we have to be believable as boyfriends. I have known Leo since I was three, would you mind playing like twenty questions for the car ride?"

Rory looked up from his phone. He had been playing some matching game. "Ummm, sure?"

Will heard the uncertainty in his voice and his heart cringed. "Okay. How old are you and what kind of music do you like?"

"I'm seventeen, and I like country," Rory broke into a shy smile. The talking eased his discomfort in this situation. If he hadn't agreed to help that miserable woman, he would not be in this truck of shame.

"Big Green Tractor is my favorite song!" Will beamed like a giddy toddler receiving a lollipop. 

"Really?" 

"Yes, really. I'll even sing it for you if you'd like."

"I'm good," Rory shook his head with his smile growing. He thought for a moment before turning to Will. "How old are you, and what are some of your favorite things?"

Will saw an opportunity; he adored Dame Julie Andrews. Opening his mouth, he began to sing. "Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens."

Rory could not keep in the giggles that rose in his throat. "Do you like the Sound of Music much?"

"I love it. It is one of my favorite movies," Will said happily. 

"I always liked how the Vonn Trap children got the mother they always wanted at the end," Rory nodded. 

Will smiled, but something clicked in his mind. Maybe that was why he loved the film. He had never known his mother, and although Aunt Ava was very much his mother, her name still had Aunt before it. She was not his mother. Snapping out of his musing, he found more to share from the depths of his mind. "I am seventeen too. I like tea, movies, musicals, my horse Jimber, soccer, swimming, spaghetti and breakfast food. You?"

"Soccer, horses too, movies but Jason Statham ones are the best, food with potatoes, and playing card games," Rory replied with a list of his own. 

"I have to ask," Will paused in hopes that this would be an okay query. "Why did you help that woman?"

Rory knew this question had been coming. He knew the lie he had told about jealousy was flimsy, and even saying he needed the money didn't explain it. "I...My family needs the money. My mom is really sick..." He choked up a little, and tried to hide it. "We can't pay all the hospital bills, so when this woman offered me a ridiculous amount of money to do that, I took it." 

Rory spoke so softly that Will had to strain his ears. After hearing the real reason, he understood. "I get it." Will said. "I'm really sorry that that is happening to your family."

"It's made a lot of things worse," he looked ahead at the darkening sky. 

"Would you want to talk about it? We have ten hours left." Will gently poked. 

"I really haven't told anyone, but why not? You're my boyfriend this weekend," Rory smiled but there was a sad tint to it this time. 

"That I am," the blonde nodded with a serious expression. 

"I have a twin brother, and he is good at everything. He does better in school than I do, so when the bills started to pile up, my parents sat us down and said somebody's college fund was needed to help Mom," He took a deep breath. "It wasn't even much of a discussion. They tried to make it look like it had been a tough decision. Niall is going to college, and I can't now."

"That is terrible," Will's gut twisted. "Couldn't they have shared what was left between the both of you?"

Rory shook his head, a pained expression gracing his slightly sunburnt face. He kept his eyes down, giving a small start when Will reached over his right hand and took one of his in it. He was grateful for the comfort. 

"I live with my aunt and uncle," Will shared. Since Rory shared something, he felt the need to share something of his own life. "My mom abandoned me, or so I have been told. Aunt Ava refuses to answer questions about it."

Rory gave Will's hand a squeeze. "Aw shucks, we both got short ends of the stick. Messed up family shit, and being gay."

Will's eyes went wide. "You...are?"

"I...uh...that was not supposed to come out," Rory pulled his hand away from Will's larger tan one. "Please do not tell anyone."

Will pulled off into the nearest empty parking lot along their route. He wanted to give Rory the support he had gotten from Molly and Alma. He put his arms around the smaller boy, and gave him a hug. "It is okay to be."

"Thank you," Rory whispered. 

A/N

Hello, have a lovely wednesday night 

vote or comment pls

#YOLO