It Was Always You

Hotter Than A Southern California Day

Blake doesn't think he's ever been this hot. His long sleeved button down isn't helping his desperate attempts to cool himself, only serving to further fuel the raging fire between his skin and the material. Who in God's name decided they should keep working with the air conditioning out on a day like this, he didn't know, but right about now he wishes he could knock some sense into them. He picks up his notebook and fans his face vigorously, looking off to his side at the others. Pharrell has managed to keep the calmest demeanor, displaying little outwardly signs of discomfort. Gwen has proceeded to follow Blake's example, fanning herself after catching Blake's eye and sticking her tongue out in disgust. Adam is sprawled hopelessly across his chair, head and limbs dangling loosely over the sides. Blake's never seen him so still. He idly wonders if he should go check on him to make sure he's still alive but decides against it, he's too hot to even bother. He's just glad it's almost time for their lunch break and they can go back to their air-conditioned trailers very soon.

***

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

Blake hurries over to join Adam's side, where he's standing talking to some of the show's crew.

Adam turns to face him. "The A/C's out everywhere!"

"Even the trailers?" Blake asks, not having yet had the chance to make it to his.

"I'm afraid so," a crew member replies, "but we're working to get it up and running again as soon as possible."

Adam mumbles something incoherent as they walk away. He lifts his shirt up to wipe it across his face, exposing an equally as sweaty midsection.

"This ain't nothing I can't handle," Blake chimes in.

"Oh please. This is way hotter than Boonville, Oklahoma so don't try and act all tough."

"Oklahoma's hot but this shit's torture," he admits. He rubs a hand down his face and grimaces when it comes back wet. "I honestly don't know how you do it all the time."

Adam shoots him a cheeky grin. "Ain't nothin' you can't handle," he parrots, matching Blake's accent.

"Hey guys," Carson calls as he walks by, "You've got less than an hour until we're back on."

"Just enough time to head back to my sauna and roast a little more," Blake says, making Adam laugh. When they make it outside, Blake can't tell if it's a relief or a condemnation from hell. There's hardly any breeze to help combat the sticky air and the sun is blazing down with no cloud cover in sight.

"Shit," he hears Adam hiss from a few feet away. He turns just in time to see his phone clatter on the ground.

"What kind of moron leaves their phone outside on a day like this?"

"I forgot where I left it," Adam says before bending over to pick it up and blow on it. He shows it proudly to Blake. "Found it." Blake shakes his head at Adam's carelessness.

"Thought you'd be needing that to send love messages to Blake," Blake hears Gwen tell Adam when he turns his back. He still hears them cackling by the time he makes it to his trailer. Inside it's so stuffy and the small quarters doesn't make things better. He crashes on the couch and unbuttons the top few buttons on his shirt, trying to get some air anyway he can. He would hop in his truck except the air conditioner's not too great in it either. He doubts he'd fit in Adam's sports car very comfortably.

Roughly ten minutes later he's up and back outside. He wanders around until he makes it to Adam's trailer. The door's wide open so he lets himself in. He almost regrets it.

"Jesus Christ, how do you breathe in here?" Adam's trailer is decidedly hotter than Blake's. On a day like today he can't tell if the door was left open or shut.