bigger (richbone)

chapter 6

The guys get ready to head to Florida in the middle of the day. Howie hesitantly knocks on the door to Kevin and AJ's hotel room, the other guys standing with him.

"Guys, we're leaving soon."

Howie says softly. He hears a faint knocking sound from inside, and again feels like asking Brian and Nick if they could just leave them alone for a few more minutes.

There's no response, and Howie sighs.

"Like I said, we should really just wait a bit. They're clearly not ready yet."

"Well, they're gonna have to get ready, because we're leaving!"

Nick says, almost shouting the last part to make sure Kevin and AJ hear. A few moments pass, and Kevin finally answers the door. Nick laughs at his disheveled state, and Kevin just rolls his eyes.

"You and AJ had fun in there?"

"Yes, Nickolas, as a matter of fact, we did. Now please, stop yelling at us so we can get ready."

Kevin closes the door in Nick's face, plain frustration in his voice. Nick laughs, only slightly offended. Back in the room, AJ is still lying down, smiling up at Kevin. Kevin leans over him again, pressing a few soft kisses to his lips.

"We should actually get ready now."

"Ugh. I don't even wanna get up. Let's just stay here and not go to Florida."

"What about Disney?"

AJ groans again, sitting up. Kevin smirks and heads over to the bathroom, starting the shower.

♡

On the bus, Kevin and Brian are hanging out in the front lounge. They're sitting across from each other on the couches, not talking about anything in particular.

"You got anything planned before the show tonight?"

Brian asks.

"Oh, yeah. Me and AJ were gonna visit some of his family after we head to Disney."

"That's cool..."

Brian trails off, shaking his head.

"What?"

"Well, you've kinda been spendin' all your time with him lately, huh?"

"Well, yeah. He is my boyfriend."

"I know that, and I respect it too. You know you got other friends though."

Kevin is about to respond when AJ walks in.

"Hey baby."

"Hi, Kev."

AJ smiles, walking over to Kevin and sitting in his lap. Kevin wraps his arms around AJ and gives him a quick kiss, not even looking back at Brian as he talks.

"So, what were you saying, Kev?"

"Uh, we were gonna go to Disney."

Brian looks away, trying to mask his annoyance.

"Right, well, that's great," He says, knowing that his conversation with Kevin is basically now doomed.

Kevin grins at AJ and turns back to Brian, his eyes glazed over as he puts his arm around AJ's waist.

"Yeah," he said distractedly.

Brian could feel the irritation rising inside of him. He forces a smile and manages a nod.

"Anyways, I should probably get going before things get too, um, cozy in here."

"Wait, you don't have to leave."

Kevin says just as Brian gets up.

"I don't wanna bother y'all."

"You're not bothering us at all. Right, Alex?"

"Hm."

AJ gives his response, and Kevin narrows his eyes at him.

"Nah, it's fine. You guys enjoy yourselves."

Brian says before he heads to the back of the bus. As he leaves, Kevin looks at AJ.

"What?"

"What's with the attitude?"

AJ doesn't say anything, instead just buries his face into Kevin's neck. Kevin sighs and rubs AJ's back. They're both silent for a while.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to sound rude."

He finally says.

"No big deal. You okay?"

"Yeah. Just a little..."

AJ's sentence trails off into silence, so Kevin speaks up.

"Is this about your family?"

AJ nods.

"It's not like I don't wanna see them. I'm just... I don't know. If I should tell them about the whole... gay... thing."

Kevin hums quietly in thought.

"It's your call... I'm not saying you should or shouldn't."

AJ sighs, somewhat dramatically, and slides off of Kevin's lap to sit beside him. He lies his head on Kevin's shoulder again.

"Whatever. I don't wanna get into this, really. Any more than I really have to."

"Okay. We should be stopping in around an hour, anyway."

Just then, Nick emerges from his bunk with a huge grin on his face.

"What are you looking so goofy for?"

"I heard you two were going to Disney. I'm in!"

"Nick, you can't just invite yourself-"

"You know what, we should just all go. I figured that's what was gonna happen anyway."

Kevin says, and AJ rolls his eyes in an attempt to look annoyed- but his smile gives it away.

"Sweet! When are we going?"

"Soon, Nickolas."

"Okay, I'll tell Brian and Howie."

Nick goes again to the back of the bus, but bumps into Howie, who's on his way there already.

"Howie! We're going-"

"To Disney? Yeah, I know. Got room for one more?"

Howie asks, looking past Nick to smile at Kevin.

"Actually, we're just gonna all go together."

Kevin says.

"I mean, it was gonna be just me and Kev, but I guess..."

AJ sighs, very obviously feigning his frustration.

"Oh, that's okay. We'll let you two have time to yourselves."

Howie says, and Nick nods in agreeance.

"Right, now that that's all settled, someone wanna tell Brian about it?"

As Kevin says this, Nick is already heading to the back of the bus to find Brian.

♡