Super Crush (BxB)

What Happens in Mexico (S2)

Clay lets out a deep laugh. This uncharacteristic reaction pauses my fear immediately. I know my mouth is slightly ajar but I can't help it. I'm retracing my memories of Clay, trying to think of other times he has laughed so freely. Though his laugh is sweet and welcomed, it isn't the first time over the past ten days that I noticed a change about him.

"Relax, spaz," he says, patting my knee again, "your dad is flying it remotely."

My mouth clamps closed and I take in the affectionate leg rub. Under other circumstances, his video game-like explanation of Dad controlling the plane from long distance would only bring up more questions of science and safety, but this time I am too busy wondering about this new Clay that sits before me. He is just as handsome as ever, but he has a new vibe. Kind of like he's gotten a system update and is running on a better version of himself.

I know the feeling. It doesn't take a genius to identify the origins of his glow-up: Abe. Being friends with Abe makes you feel good, feel special. Abe is a bit flighty sometimes, but his cool charisma and genuine care for the people he holds dear make those people in his circle feel like they are on top of the world.

This actualization sends an odd mix of emotions through my feeling control station. I picture the five little characters in my brain all fighting to lead my reactions. The red one is blowing his top while the yellow one jumps up and down in excitement. I ignore the other three, pushing the envy, concern, and depression I could let overtake me out the proverbial window.

Abe and Clay are legitimate friends. I smile.

Abe and Clay are only friends. I smile drops a little.

They are only friends, right?

"Mexico," I say before I even know I do. I thrust us into a sudden mission to know more about this novel situationship between two people who used to have nothing but disdain for one another. Whether Clay likes it or not, I need to know what happened to get both guys I have been heart-eyed emoji for to join forces.

Clay half smiles. Comforting considering. "Okay. I'll tell you about Mexico. But Abe can probably tell the story better since he was incoherent for all of it."

I shrug as a means to say go on.

"I will try my best," Clay says before launching into the story that brought him and Abe to Italy together.

There I was essentially dead in the rubble of the Times Square battle. Abe told me he had just said goodbye to you when he U-turned and flew back to the scene. I guess you were busy being shuffled into the aircraft by Tiptoe to see him hoist my lifeless body over his shoulder and fly us off.

Right away, Abe took me to a...medical friend of his. He said there weren't many people to be trusted by then, but he knew we could trust her. His friend got me patched up enough to stop the bleeding and bring me back from shock. She saved my life and was able to jumpstart my rock power. With it kicking back in, I would heal significantly faster.

Though I was off death's path, we weren't out of the woods. Abe's medic friend said she knew how to get us out of the country and we needed to lay low. She set us up with some supplies to live off of for a week or so and called in a favor. Forty minutes later, a stealth jet picked us up.

Abe had us dropped off in some old vacation spot his family frequented when he was a kid. Yelepa, a little hidden beach on the Mexican Pacific. There were only a half dozen tourist restaurants along a beach cove and a few houses scattered around the hillsides looking down over the water. Abe said Yelepa is often used as a day trip destination but relatively unbothered.