What Really Happened with the Tapes

Chapter 5

Chapter Song: Hey Soul Sister- Train

The phone was ringing, damnit. It was defiantly ringing. Why did he have to dial the number? Why did he have this stupid idea anyway? Ugh. Maybe Carlos wouldn't answer, and he wouldn't have to go through with talking--

"Hello?"

Crap.

"Hey Carlos..."

"Cecil. It's two in the goddamn morning. It'd better be important."

"Hehe. Ya..." Cecil glanced out the window. He had barley even noticed the fact that the sun hadn't come up. The future radio host was up all night planning this stupid idea, so he had momentarily forgotten the fact that almost everyone else in the world had a sleep schedule.

He took a deep breath and started again sheepishly. "I was wondering if you wanted to come over this afternoon, watch some movies, spend the night, that sorta thing...?" Cecil trailed off awkwardly. This sounds like I'm inviting him over to do do the do! What the hell!! He scrunched his eyes shut and waited for an answer.

"Sure. Sounds great." The lovely voice replied. "Now, remind me why you had to call me in the middle of the night to ask?"

Cecil was so giddy with excitement he almost forgot to answer. "Oh, ya know. Sometimes you just can't wait."

...o0o...

Snacks? Check. Plenty of pillows? Check. Large pile of horror movies? Check.

Cecil went over the list for what felt like the millionth time as he straitened the purple constellation sheets on his queen sized bed. Everything had to be perfect. It also had to be non-romantic. Otherwise it would be weird, not to mention awkward.

Cecil plopped himself down on the bed. It was large enough for two people to share without touching. Besides, the floor was rather uncomfortable, even with the plush violet carpet. It seemed wasteful to drag an air mattress all the way upstairs just to haul it back the next morning. Plus, they were just friends. Friends can share a bed, right?

He was shaken from his thoughts by the sound of the doorbell ringing. With a small adjustment to the pillows, Cecil nodded to himself and headed downstairs to greet his guest.

"Well hello there," the blonde said as he opened the door to a sheepish looking Carlos holding a pillow and a toothbrush.

The two headed up the stairs to Cecil's bedroom. Upon entering, Carlos dropped his stuff. "You did not specify that we would be watching horror movies" he exclaimed, gesturing to the pile of discs in small plastic cases in front of the television.

Cecil threw back his head and laughed. "I didn't specify otherwise either." He paused. "What, are you afraid?" Another round of laughter escaped.

His friend blushed. "N-no! I'm not scared. I-it's the science in them. So inaccurate." Unfortunately, Carlos's sweating hands betrayed him.

One final wave of giggles escaped Cecil before he sat down on the bed and gestured for Carlos to follow. "Alright then. If you're oh so brave, you won't mind watching them after dark?" With the last two words, he raised his hands and wiggled his fingers to signify creepy-oogey-boogeyness.

Carlos gulped. "Of corse not."

...o0o...

Of corse he did. The evening was spent by one individual completely engrossed in the films, while the other watched snippets between fingers. Every time Carlos shrieked, Cecil would collapse in a fit of laughter at his friend. Once, when Carlos left for the bathroom, the blonde crawled under the bed. When the dark-skinned boy retuned to climb onto the bed, he reached out to grab Carlos's leg, which in turn lead to another fit of screaming and a geyser of giggles.

By the time the evening had drawn to a close, the pair had watched 4 movies, 3 of which after the dark, and the clock was quickly approaching midnight. Of corse, that didn't meet anything, since clocks around there didn't actually work. They sat on the bed in silence for a moment before Cecil said something that surprised Carlos.

"Truth or dare?"

"Cecil, isn't that what girls do at sleepovers? As a way to get dirt on each other to gossip about later?"

"Just pick one."

"Fine. Truth."

"What do you think of Night Vale?"

It took a moment for Carlos to find the right words. "I think it's the most scientifically interesting community I've ever been in."

"But like, do you like it here?"

"Of corse." He thought back to the Wisconsin. How he'd never really thought of it as home, despite being born and raised there. How he always thought there was a better place for him. "I feel like, I don't know, I was meant to live here or something."

There was another pause. "Well, your job plaque says you will probably work here one day. Maybe you are destined to be here or something."

Or something, Carlos thought.

"Truth or dare?" It was Carlos this time.

"Truth."

"Tell me something you wouldn't generally want to tell anyone."

"Hmm. I'm mostly an open book... Oh! I'm ticklish..."

It was Carlos's turn to laugh. "That should come in handy" he stated slyly.

"Oh no you don't."

...o0o...

Apparently in the middle of the night, Cecil had curled his body around all of the sheets and blankets, bunching them together. In turn, Carlos had spread out like a starfish and accidentally forced Cecil onto the floor. In the morning Cecil looked down at the bundle of linens in his arms. Glad that wasn't Carlos. That woulda been a bit awkward, he thought, as he made his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

Surprisingly, the evening had been a success, and the two had learned a lot about each other.

God. I'm falling even more in love with this guy. Cecil chuckled around a mouthful of toothpaste foam. I'm such an idiot. Even so, he was smiling.

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