Illuminated Silence

7

The Vancouver skies were beginning to darken as they landed at the airport. Stellar finished off her bottle of vodka and stood up to stretch her cramped legs. She was happy now,her body and mind numb with the pleasant buzz of alcohol. She exited the plane with the other members and they each waited for their bags, then waited for a car out front. "So who's up for Italian? I'm starving. " The group agreed and waited for their car to arrive.  Minutes later, a small minivan arrived and they all packed in with their baggage, just fitting. "Oh yeah, hey man. Do you think we could order some food on the way to the hotel? Any Italian place'd be great." Pete said to the driver. They arrived at the nearest food place in moments. "We won't be long. Care to join?" The driver shook his head. "Nah, take your time. I've got a few calls to make. Anyway, the longer you take, the more I get paid. Win, win."

They all clambered out of the vehicle and inside the store. The place was a small Italian bistro, with small red booths every few meters or so. Maps and movie posters hung on the walls, with little other decor. They sat at a corner booth reading the menus, most of which consisted of pizza. Eventually a little man came out, thick Canadian accent prominent. "Yes?"

They looked at each other skeptically and ordered. Ten minutes later their food arrived, with Andy feeling the most ripped off. The most vegan thing they had had on the menu was a salad, which infront of him only came out as a few lettuce leaves and an olive. Despite everybody's grumbling, they all managed to stomach their food, even if it was crap. "Most amazing food I've ever had," said Joe sarcastically as they jumped back in the car.  Brendon yawned in the front seat next to the driver, and Pete cuddled up to Patrick in the middle, who didn't seem to mind. Stellar smiled slightly and turned her head to gaze out at the city lights. The sky was completely dark now, making the illuminated landscape stark against the nights shadows.  And soon she was asleep.

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Bright scarlet gingham pants set her down on a soft surface that felt like spongy white clouds. She looked at the crown of thorns surrounding the persons neck as they pulled away, leaving her back to peaceful slumber.

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Stellar sat bolt upright in bed and ran. Ran through unfamiliar surroundings to a bathroom she barely found, to a toilet she almost narrowly missed. Out went the contents of her near empty stomach, down into the white porcelain. She stood up and wiped her mouth, rinsing it with cold water.  She felt sick and groggy, head pounding like an unknown entity waiting to be let out. She walked out of the bathroom in yesterdays clothes, walking smack into a hard chest. Lack of coordination nearly caused her to fall on her butt before a strong arm reached out and caught her. "Woah sleepy head. Sleep drunk or drunk drunk?"

She rubbed her sore eyes. The room was too bright.  "Huh?"

"Never mind. How you feeling?" He let go of her. "Like a big pile of goo with a head that's about to burst. Got any painkillers?" He chuckled lightly at her misfortune. "No more vodka for you then. Follow me,"

She followed Pete into a small kitchenette, where he grabbed some aspirin off of the counter and handed it to her with a glass of water. "Figured you'd be needing these. You were out to it last night before we even got here. Had to carry you in coz you wouldn't even budge."

Her cheeks reddened slightly at the thought of someone having to carry her. How embarrassing. She avoided the statement outright. "Where's the others?" He jumped backwards onto the counter where he casually perched on the edge with a can of soda. "Err, Patrick's still asleep coz he's a lazy ass, Andy went looking in search of decent vegan food and Joe and Brendon left this morning to go catch their flights to wherever." He took a swig out of the can and made a face. "Ugh, I hate apple soda. Who's dumb idea was it to make this,"

She mirrored his stance and grabbed the soda off of him defensively. "How can you hate apple flavoured soda? Its amazing!" She took a big sip of it before sitting atop the opposite bench. "Ew your gonna drink that?" She looked at him in alarm. "Why? Do you have aids or something--" He shook his head and laughed, raising his hands up. "God no! Completely STI and disease free here baby," She raised an eyebrow. "Well other than that, I don't care about catching your cooties or apple mutations or whatever you tried to warn me about,"

He grinned. "I drunk out of that. You drunk out of that. Technically that means we kissed." He wiggled his black eyebrows up and down. She rolled her eyes. "How old are you. I mean really, doing that old trick again? And it 'technically' does not mean we kissed. Look it up Petey boy."

"Did so."

"Did not."

"Did so."

"Did not! You small brained idiot."

"What the hell are you two on about? Your whining woke me up,"  Patrick dragged his feet into the room yawning and rubbing his eyes. His amber hair was ruffled with sleep, glasses nearly slipping off of his nose. "Oh good Patrick! Your just in time, the funs only just beginning. Stellars arguing with me that we didn't just kiss multiple times,"

Patrick looked at the two sleepily, wondering whether he should even bother to find out. Stellar looked at Patrick for help. "Pat, if Pete drunk out of this soda can, and then I drunk out of this soda can, it doesn't mean we kissed does it. Tell him Patrick." He looked at a pouting Stellar and a smirking Pete, deciding not to get involved. "You kids have fun."

Pete jumped off of the counter as Andy came through the door. "Keep that can as some Pete Wentz memorabilia. Kiss it three times at midnight and maybe I'll just appear. Have fun peaches."

She threw the can at his retreating figure. "Whatever helps you sleep at night!"