Senior Year (BoyxBoy)

5 | Realizations Happening

Brett Moon

It was around 7 p.m. when Ren's car horn blared out. "That's the third honk; are you ready yet, Hairstylist?" Eli asked. 

He stood in the doorway, watching me comb my hair in the mirror. 

"You can't rush this; it's an art," Eli scoffs with an added eye roll.

"Perfectionist," he mumbled. 

A light chuckle escapes my lips, and another honk blares out even longer, this time notifying us that it is our queue to leave.

"We're leaving, Dad," I said, walking down the stairs with Eli.

 Dad pauses his Grey's Anatomy to stand up from the couch and meet us at the door.

"Hold up," he says, holding his hand out to stop us.

"Do you have your phone? Is it charged? Do you have your keys and wallet?" 

I take the moment to check and fiddle with my pockets. "No, I don't have any of those," I joked. 

Dad tilts his head, and from his blank expression, I can tell he isn't amused.

"Eli?" dad asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Alright, you boys, be safe. Be back before eleven." Dad opened the door for us and waved at Sky and Ren. 

"Mmm," Eli hummed.

 I raise an eyebrow at him and ask, "What?" 

"You're lucky. Some of us must give our parents a week in advance notice." 

I consider his comment and nod. It's true. Compared to my friends' parents, my stepfather was more lenient. He'd say to return before midnight if I told him I was going anywhere other than Kate's or my friend's house.

"I guess he trusts me to make good decisions." I shrugged, and Eli scoffed.

"Says the guy who's going to a party to participate in underage drinking." We both share a laugh and get inside Ren's car.

"Took you two long enough," Ren commented and reversed out of the driveway.

"Sorry, Flynn Rider here had to make sure his hair looked nice," Eli gestured at me.

"You think I can compete with someone as handsome as him? I'm flattered." 

I pretend to be flustered as I tuck my hair behind my ear, and Eli shakes his head at my hijinks.

We've been driving for about ten minutes, and the only noise filling the dead air around us is the car's sound. Something about the atmosphere in the car felt moody as I glanced around, seeing everyone reserved to themselves with stagnant facial expressions.

"We're going to a party; what's with this low-spirited mood?" I asked. 

I eagerly unbuckled my seatbelt to reach for the dashboard to turn up the radio. The lively music flooded the car, injecting a much-needed vibrancy into this moody atmosphere. 

I moved along to the beat, playfully nudging Eli's shoulder with mine as I started to sing. A smile spreads across Eli's face as he sways his body to the beat. That's one. I leaned forward towards the passenger seat, singing to Sky.

I grab both of her shoulders, rocking her body to the beat. She tries her best not to smile at my antics, but eventually, she gives in and starts to sing along with me. Two.

"Ren?" I voiced it out, and our eyes met in the rearview mirror. It's always easy to put a smile on his face, so I wasn't surprised to see his mouth curling into a smile as he bobbed his head to the beat. Three.