The Long Way Home

Thirty Three

"We're you up all night?" Lars asked when he woke up to the sound of a screaming alarm clock.
Matthew was lying across his bed, letting his pen fly across his notebook, spinning tales that he would have been screaming to write a few weeks ago.
"Mhm." Matthew mumbled. He yawned softly. Was it really morning already?
"We have to pack and catch our plane. Do you need to shower?"
"Nah. I showered yesterday, remember?"
"But airplanes..."
"I'll be sleeping the whole time anyway." Lars shrugged and slipped out of bed, stumbling into the bathroom. As soon as the door closed, Matthew heard a scream.
"WHATS WRONG?!" Matthew rocketed upward, running toward the bathroom.
"MY HAIR!!!!"
"What?!"
"We're you playing with my hair?" Lars poked his head out of the bathroom, glaring angrily.
"Oh shit."
"Matthew...?"
"Haha no. It must have been how you were sleeping."
"Sleeping does not morph my hair into a penis shape."
"It was fairies. Yeah."
"It was a stupid fairy named Matthew."
"The name is just a coincidence!" Matthew quickly ducked behind the closest bed while Lars threw a bottle of shampoo at him.
"Meanie!" He stuck his tongue out at the editor.
"You're the mean one."
"Mleeeeeeh!" Matthew continued the tongue waggling.
"Just hurry up and pack. We have an hour." Lars sighed, closing the door again. A few moments later, Matthew could hear the shower running. He quickly tucked all of his things in his bags and changed into come comfortable airplane riding clothes.
When Lars stepped out of the shower, Matthew almost choked to death.
"What's with that face?" The Dutchman asked.
"Your hair..."
"I left my gel in my bag."
He looked so much younger with his hair down in his eyes. Mathew didn't think it was as long as it was but it almost covered his eyes.
"I can't handle this. It's like when you grow up and your dad never shaves so he always has this stubble on his face but then when your mom kicks him out and he gets a new girlfriend who wants him to shave he does because he's kinda a tool and then he looks all bald and weird for a while after."
"That sounds oddly specific are you okay?"
"And then he marries this woman and you don't know they're married until a year later also they have five other children together which is cool or whatever because he's not really part of your life anymore but then shit gets real when he gives one of the daughters the same middle name as you..."
"Matthew what the fuck are you talking about?"
"JEAN IS MY MIDDLE NAME. MINE! I don't care if your mom had that middle name and died. You already have a child with that name."
"I'm hiring you a therapist when we get home."
"Fair enough."
"Now let's get to the airport. Our car should be out front by now."
"Do you need help carrying luggage?"
"With your tiny arms?" Lars scoffed.
"I've been a hockey player since I was five, Lars. I think I can lift a few extra bags."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"Let's not prove that theory. I don't want you to throw your back out." Lars lifted his one suitcase and grabbed the handle for the rolling one. Matthew did the same except he also slung his laptop case over his shoulder.
"You ready to go home?"
"I've never been more ready."
"You avoided going home for a decade so you don't really have a point."
Matthew only winked and moonwalked out of the hotel room.