(It's been a ridiculously long time since I've posted, I know, but hey, here I am now! I've finally gotten my schoolwork under control, for the most part. I've also discovered that they don't block wattpad at my school, which would make it easy to procrastinate by writing fanfiction during my free period.. Anyway, enjoy!)
***
"This is the most magical-looking forest I've ever seen," breathed Joey as he looked out at the vast span of trees that surrounded the road they were currently parked on the side of. Hope and Daniel made small noises, Joey assuming that meant they agreed with him. They sat in perfect silence, admiring the trees, which Joey was pretty sure were some kind of bamboo, until their peaceful quiet was abruptly interrupted with an entirely-too-loud honk from a passing car with an angry driver.
"We're in a pull-off station, you skank," Daniel hissed, inevitably making Joey laugh, even though he knew it was supposed to be malicious.
***
There were a few more days of their Hawaiian adventures left, and on that day, they'd decided to head off into the jungle to admire the scenery, as they found themselves doing at every second of every day the entire time they'd been there. Seriously. Looking out the window on a rainy day as they rode in a jeep from their hotel to a restaurant? Beautiful. A mud puddle next to a gas station? Gorgeous. A trash can? An actual trash can? Breathtaking.
There was just something about being in Hawaii that made them want to have to stop and look at everything, not wanting to miss a single thing to store in their brains as incredible memories. Or, to store in their cameras, as fantastic pictures, which they were indeed taking at any and every opportunity along the way.
Joey, Daniel, and Hope made their way along the path, nearly tripping over branches, and roots, and more mossy rocks than any of them had ever seen in their lives, eventually coming to the unbelievable pool of water they'd set out to find, a waterfall gently crashing into it on one side. The water was a deep aquamarine, a variety of different fish swimming peacefully just beneath the surface. Joey held on tight to his new sunglasses that he'd purchased at a gas station, not wanting to risk another loss.
Before Hope could even ask Daniel to pose for a picture in front of the scene, he'd stripped off everything except for his bathing suit, his body becoming a blur as he dove into the water. He came up laughing, spitting out just a bit of the water, which couldn't taste good, no matter how breathtaking it looked from above.
"How uncharacteristic of you," Hope let out a short laugh, shaking her head at the shivering figure in the pond. "Any other time, you'd be a complete camera hog."
Daniel just shrugged and dove back under the otherwise still water. He was such a fish, and Joey loved that.
***
Joey let out an inhumane screech during the fifth picture Hope was taking of him in front of the luscious green background that the trees provided, their leaves hanging down in complexly beautiful ways.
Hope, while kind of wanting to laugh at the ridiculous mid-scream face she'd captured Joey making, was understandably concerned, as was Daniel, both of them rushing to the distraught Joey at once.
"What's the matter? Oh no, are you hurt? What happened? Do you need anything? Jesus Christ, Joey, speak to me," Daniel breathed, still dripping wet from his dip into the pond, placing his wet palm on Joey's shoulder.
"A spider crawled over my foot," Joey murmured, his voice sounding small as he finally looked up to meet Daniel's gaze.
There was a brief moment of silence before an eruption of laughter came from Daniel and Hope.
"I-I'm sorry," Daniel laughed, wrapping his arms around Joey after he caught sight of the other man's slightly angry and annoyed face. "It's, it's just.. too funny."
The pair finally got their laughter in control a few moments later, Joey still looking unamused.
"It was really big."
***
Hope and Daniel stayed in the water for a little while longer, Joey accompanying them for a few minutes once or twice, still really scared that he was going to encounter more spiders.
After they'd gotten out and mostly dried off, it was back to the hotel to pack their things and go off to their third and final resort.
There, they discovered that the hotel was probably the most beautiful yet, the view from their window showing them a perfect view of the ocean, as well as some rolling green hills that were home to quite a few wild horses. The employees of the hotel had left them some delicious-looking snacks, which they were all especially appreciative of, as well as some sunglasses, especially for Joey, that said the name of the resort on the side. Joey spent approximately fifteen minutes excitedly squeaking about how amazing it was that someone from the hotel had seen his video about losing his sunglasses.
***
The next day, Joey, Daniel, and Hope set off to visit the Seven Sacred Pools, getting some directions and then getting in the jeep and going. They got there, only to discover that the Pools were closed, which was unfortunate, but they weren't going to let it ruin their day.
They went to a new waterfall and pond, not unlike the one they'd visited the day before. Joey just hoped there would be a lack of spiders this time. He raced Daniel over the slightly slippery rocks, both of them taking off their clothes as fast as they possibly could, diving into the freezing cold water. They raced to the other side, Joey winning, but only getting to have the glory for a few seconds before Daniel picked him up and threw him gently into the water. That led to a splashing fight, which lead to chasing each other around the pond, which lead to talking, and laughing, and okay, maybe just a little bit of kissing..
"I don't ever want to leave, Daniel," Joey mumbled, floating lazily next to Daniel, their fingers intertwined just below the surface of the water.
"I know. I don't, either," Daniel whispered, smiling as he looked up in the sky. The only sounds were of the birds in the trees, and the occasional splash when Hope inevitably tripped on something and fell. It was a pleasant little 'perfect paradise' moment that Joey wouldn't have any other way.
