oneshots: legacy edition (jalex)

Bad Luck 1

People don't camp in tents as much as they used to, or maybe that's just what Alex has noticed over the years. He's seen people in trailers and motor homes and, well, buses and tricked out vans, but tents are more of a novelty these days.

Yeah, some people camp in tents, but usually they're survivalists or something. Living off the land is all well and good, but Alex hasn't gone actual camping in forever.

Which is why Rian accused him of being 'out of touch with reality' whatever that means.
Jack had then agreed with Alex, which led Rian to bet that the better looking half of All Time Low couldn't survive three days in the wilderness with just a couple of tents.

"Why not one tent?" Alex had asked.
"Because sharing a tent is gay."

Yeah that seems like a thing people would think of, sure.

One thing led to another, Alex bet they could go a whole week, Rian promised an extra hundred bucks for every day they manage to stay, and that brings us to right about now, where Jack and Alex are pitching a tent.

Alex's tent.
Because Jack brought his own tent.
Because sharing a tent is gay.

The fragile masculinity in this place reeks.

Boy Scouts are a shit show at best, and Jack didn't learn much from his time as a scout—though his sister learned a lot in her girl scount troop—so they're basically following the directions word for word.

Or picture for picture.

The masculinity is fragile, and the brain cells are lacking.
Sounds like the average guys' trip.

*****

Muffled cursing rings out from the camp site as they struggle to follow the instructions. The metal rod that's supposed to keep the tarp piece in place is gone somewhere, and Alex is pretty sure his best friend hid the piece just like he did for the last piece he needed.

Why's Jack of all people his best friend again?

When the first tent is finally up—nearly an hour after their arrival—Alex moves all of his shit inside and lays down on his sleeping bag. Jack should really start pulling his own weight or this camping trip is going to suck ass.

"Alex," Jack calls from outside the tent, "there's only metal pieces in here."

Alex groans and leaves the tent, re-emerging into the blinding light of the blazing afternoon sun, to see Jack looking through a box.

"The fuck do you mean?" It's clear the older of the two men is exhausted. He'd driven nearly six hours here already and Jack had proved to be of little help since they left Baltimore.
"The tarp and fabric parts aren't here," Jack explains. "Just the metal pieces."
Alex pulls the box closer and digs through it. "You didn't check it before you left?"
"My brother said he did!" Jack is frustrated and sounds almost as though he may cry. Almost. "I guess he lied." Jack sits down at the picnic table and leans back so his head is on the table.

He's obviously exhausted as well. They both are. It was a six hour drive up in blazing heat and no air conditioning. They're only on this trip to prove to their family that they can survive a week in the wilderness. This was such a bad idea.

Alex sighs as he stands up and walks back to the car in search of the missing tent pieces. Maybe they were in a different bag somewhere?

No such luck. An hour of searching later and all they've done is make a mess.

"Screw it," Alex says. "We'll just share a tent. Just make sure you shower tonight."
"Yeah. You too."

*****