Two Player Game

~Chapter Fourty-Nine~

When Evan wakes up he's VERY confused. He's back at his hotel, when did he get there? Jared walks through his door with Starbucks coffee for both of them. Evan sits up and groans.

"Jared, when did we get back here."

"This morning. I carried you back. Hungover. I feel like a hero."

"You are a hero, I would've freaked out of I woke up in somebody else's house hungover." Jared chuckles.

"I know. That's why I did it, Treeboy."

"Well good to know I'm loved, that's you go through all that trouble for me."

"It's because I love you so goddamn much."

"Aw, I love you too."

"Sooooo you're flight is tonight. What do you plan to do today?"

"Not sure. Nothing to do with trees today though, I need a break. And an aspirin." he takes a sip of the coffee Jared brought him. "Some of the guys from the park invited me to lunch. Said they'd love to have a guy from Yellowstone around at this tavern they go to. They're all dorks, I think you'd like them."

"If you think so."

"Yeah. I mean, they're nature dorks, but they like other stuff too. Like the same kinds of games you play and they're funny and I think you'd get along really well."

"Do you want me to go to lunch with you guys?"

"Only if you want to. I'm not gonna make you go to lunch with a bunch of people you don't know just for me, Jared."

"I'll go. I'd like to be with you before you leave."

"Oh thank god. I'm really nervous."

"There's nothing to worry about, Ev. These people are just like you."

"I know but like... I fell like they're me but cooler. What if they don't like me?"

"Psh. If anything, they think you're cooler! Having a ranger from Yellowstone!"

"......I guess you're right.."

"It's going to be fine." He gives him some Advil. "It's all they had.."

"It'll do. Thanks babe." Later, they head out to meet the other tree freaks for lunch. They're all super friendly, just buzzing about talking to Evan and Evan has never felt so... Popular. Jared on the other hand feels a little neglected. He doesn't understand Tree talk. And God do these people like to talk. They seem to bring Evan out of his shell though, cause there he goes, talking right along with them. He's so excited to talk about Yellowstone and they're so excited to ask questions and to listen to him. Evans talking happily and Jared's just quiet. It's like their personalities have switched. It's crazy, Evan feels so wonderful, so alive. At one point the conversation shifts to Jared though.

"So what's the nature of you two?"

"Huh? Oh, you mean - you mean me and Jared. Jared's my boyfriend." you can see the disappointment on a few people's faces. Jared's confused. Did they actually think they were going to get with Evan? Evan doesn't pick up on it.