The ride

CHAPTER 1

COLE

Ten minutes has passed and no talk at all... His way of talking sounded a little funny though, but he seems so shy... I don't care, I will give it a shot! So I tried.

"So... Who are you?", It sounded better in my head...

"Hum... The name's Victor", he replied.

"Nice. I am Cole, but you probably knew it, right? Everybody knows who I am", I said, with a grin on my face, more stating than asking

"And why should I know who you are?", Victor asked me calmly, putting his laptop on his lap.

"You kidding me, right? Every self-respecting Canadian knows who I-", but Victor cut me off

"I am not Canadian, I thought you could tell it by my accent. Everybody at the airport could tell it... I am from Brazil", he replied, with a voice that sounded soft on my ears, while he was writing some things I couldn't tell in what language.

"Yeh, I see, but I totally forgot. Sorry, my bad. What's a short name for Victor? Can I call you vic?", I asked, trying to initiate a small chit chat.

"Yeah, sure, whatever...".

Yep, failed, totally...

*

The road trip ran in silence, Victor wouldn't open his mouth. Apparently he was a little stressed and in a little pain from something I couldn't see. He was trying to hide it, but I could see it. I know that feeling.

FILL WITH SOMETHING ABOUT COLE'S PAST – SOMETHING ABOUT HIS FAMILY... TRY NOT TO BE VERY CLICHÉ, OKAY?

While I was driving and wandering in my thoughts, I saw that Victor was still in pain and getting worse.

"Hey, vic, you alright?" I asked, getting a little concerned.

Nothing. Talk to me, man!

"Vic?"

Nothing. He's not going to answer me? Is he even listening to me?

"Victor?"

Nothing.

I looked at him again and saw his face clearly burning with fever and in pain.

"Dude, you okay? Let me get you to the hospital, you don't look good", I said with worry.

"It won't be necessary. I'm fine, thanks though", Victor said gently.

"No, don't worry about it, there's a hospital in the next city, we'll get there in about five or maybe ten minu-".

"I said I'm fine!", said Victor angrily.

"No, you're not!", I replied, putting my hand on his forehead confirming my suspitions. "You are burning like hell, man. I am going to take you there! Just hold on, I can't miss the next entrance", I said unquestionably.

"Stop the car", Victor asked.

"What? Why?", Cole replied confused.

"I am not... going to a hospital, I don't need it so stop this fucking c...", he couldn't finish that statement because a lot of cough, I could clearly see the fatigue going through my passenger. I won't let him do this to himself, I gotta help him in some way...

"Okay, we are not going to a hospital, but we are going to stop driving for today, okay? We'll find a place so we can stay overnight and tomorrow we keep going if you're alright", I finally concluded

"Sounds good to me", Victor mumbled.

"Great".

It was about 11 PM and almost everything was closing. I couldn't understand this country sometimes. How could everything close so early? Okay, my time sense is a lot different from most people, but I love the night. Sometimes I get mad because I can't do anything except practice my sport at night. The bars I usually frequent – the ones no one knows who I am – close at midnight. Someday this country is going to drive me crazy!

After searching for a good place, I finally found one that looked good for both of us to stay, so I parked in front of it. Victor was still suffering from whatever he's got and he sounded like he didn't want my help. When I left my car I could see Victor doing the same thing, but something was wrong with him. Yes. More than I could tell. He was about to faint, and I could clearly see he was having some spasms

I ran to catch him before he could fall on the street and I could only hear a low whisper leaving Victor's mouth in some werid language.

I just nodded affirmatively – but confused – right before he faints, though I knew it probably wouldn't end well.

***

After checking-in at this hotel that I found, I carried a fainted Victor to our bedroom and put him on the only bed that I could see.

The check-in at the hotel wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, considering the fact that I was carrying a fainted guy. But it was simple: the girl at the front desk was almost falling asleep - it was only 1:15 AM -, but when she saw my face, she immediately recognized me and got all excited. I just had to explain her that my 'friend' was feeling sick and needed a room with two beds – A good thing of being famous is that everybody wants to make a good impression, so no one would ask any kind of questions if they knew it would make things harder to be explained –, I thought it would be better if I keep an eye on him, in case something happens. The sad part is she had only rooms for couples, and I wasn't feeling like going through the hotel hunt thing again.

Victor seemed better after a couple of minutes, he wasn't as pale as before and stopped sweating, thanks to that wet cold cloth on his forehead that I put right when I laid him on the bed.

Well, I clearly didn't feel like sleeping, and Victor is on the bed, I guess I should get something to do... I wonder if that fan of mine – the receptionist – is still interested in me... Well, that's only one way to find out.

***

"Hey, lady! Sorry, I forgot your name", I approached smirking at that hot receptionist. Oh, God, how didn't I notice her beauty before?

"Oh, hey! I am... uh... Lauren", the receptionist replied, "Do you need something, Cole? I mean, Mr. Whinny", Lauren asked, trembling from excitement.

"Oh yes, dear...", I whispered some words in Lauren's ear and we started kissing. Well, easier than I thought... After a couple of minutes kissing, when things started to get hotter, Victor appeared out of the blue in the reception room.

"What happened? Where are we?", he asked confused.

We stopped the kissing immediately and I said, recovering the breath "Oh, you're up, great! Do you feel any better? Why don't you go back to sleep? You need to rest, you weren't looking good like... in the whole trip, what do you have?" I throw him a bunch of questions and it seems he realizes it.

"Yeah... So many questions...", Victor said quietly, "Thanks for helping me and didn't drag me to the hospital and-", he said quickly.

"Oh, don't mention it", I interrupted him waving my hands, saving his thanks.

"Yeah. I uh...", Victor cleared his throat, "Better get going, thanks for the ride anyway. I'll just go get my bag and.-"

"Are you leaving? Are you crazy? No, we stay overnight and tomorrow we will get back on the road to Vancouver", I said, sounding more desperate than I wanted.

"Okay, then, thanks again. You can use the bedroom for anything you want now", he said looking at Lauren. "It's past 2 AM and I don't think I'll get any sleep again, like, at all, I'll wander around the city and get to know the places, although everything must be closed".

"Well, if that's your wish... Be careful and try to not get lost. Although this town is pretty small." I assured him "I think we could go use the room, right Lauren?", I said looking in a kinky way looking to my future one night stand partner and to wave a bye to vic, but he had already left.