Falsettos College AU

Arriving and Unpacking

Cordelia

By the time we get to the cottage, only about two and a half hours have passed, but it feels like it's been days. I managed to get just under fifteen minutes of sleep, and I just woke up, so I'm not in a very good mood.

"Marvin!" Whizzer calls, getting out of the drivers' seat. "Get over here and help me unpack the car."

Marvin pays him almost no attention. It looks like he's still stressing about the text he sent his parents. "Why did I send that?" he cries. "I wasn't thinking. I was sleep deprived. Oh my God, I shouldn't have sent it. Mendel." He runs to Mendel and grabs him by the shoulders. "Mendel. Is there Internet here? Did my text send?"

"Yeah, your phone probably would have picked up a connection by now. It's not great, but..."

"Oh, my God," Marvin says again, draping himself over the hood of the car. "I can't believe I did that. I should have thought about it more."

"Yeah, that's what I told you!" Whizzer shouts from behind.

I shake my head. "Relax, Marvin. At least you told them. Anyway, listen to your boyfriend and come help unpack the trunk. I want to set up my bed and go to sleep," I tell him.

Trina gets out of the car next, rubbing her shoulder in pain. "That was the most uncomfortable car ride I have ever experienced in my life."

"Tell me about it," Charlotte complains, climbing out the other side. Marvin's still half-lying on the hood, which is probably scalding hot from the sun, but he seems to care more about the text.

I walk over to Marvin and pick him up. "Come on," I try to reassure him. "They'll at least be glad you told them the truth. Now get your mind off it for a few moments and help us unpack so I can go inside and sleep."

"Fine," he groans. When we reach the trunk, Whizzer takes Marvin by the hand and kisses him.

"Everything's going to be fine," Whizzer affirms. For what's probably the first time today, Marvin smiles, and he helps the rest of us unpack the car.

Once we get inside, Charlotte is quick to claim a bedroom for the two of us to share with Trina. Mendel is obviously indignant because it's his own parents' cabin, but nobody else really cares. She finally picks the biggest room, showing us a spot on the floor where Trina can sleep on an air mattress. Personally, I wouldn't want to sleep on one of those for a week, but Trina will probably take anything over rooming with Mendel.

To my relief, the rest of the day is more or less relaxed. Mendel's helping Trina set up her air mattress for a bit, so I hang out in Marvin and Whizzer's room and read a book while Marvin goes back to worrying about his text.

"I shouldn't have been so straightforward," he's saying. "I should have eased them into it."

"Marv, I think you were anything but straightforward," Whizzer jokes. He looks at me for a laugh, and I think it's funny, but I also think it's not the time.

Marvin starts wringing his hands. "I should check my phone. See if they said anything. I sent it to both of them at the same time. Maybe I should've taken turns—"

"Okay, calm down," I tell him. "You can't go back on it now, and let's be honest, they probably suspected you were gay anyway. So get over it, and find something to do that's not stressing out while the others get set up."

Whizzer nods. "Yeah," he agrees. "What she said, Marvin."

"I know, I know," sighs Marvin.

"Hey, you know what? We should go to the lake. See if it's really as cold as we think it is." I grin. "Are either of you up for that?"