Just Do It (TannerBraungardtxDylanMitchell)

3: A Bad Date & A Vacation

Tanner tapped his nails against the wooden tabletop. He was anxious, and itching to chew them, but knew he couldn't. The strawberry pancakes that sat in front of him didn't look appetizing anymore.

Paris wasn't much of a talker, and Tanner was afraid of saying the wrong thing, so they ate in silence. He hardly touched his food, except to cut it up into bite sized pieces to pass the time. He took her out today to smooth things over from last night. It was their third fight since the camping fiasco, a week ago. Paris was the jealous type, and felt that Tanner should be spending more time with her, and less with those idiots he was friends with.

But he hadn't even seen them since their traumatizing trip to the river. Dylan, whose mom had a few choice things to say about their adventure, was grounded until further notice. Quentin was spending some much needed time with his girlfriend, Breanna, who would be heading off to college soon. Tanner didn't understand his girlfriend.

"You're really gonna stay angry?"

The glare she shot him was the only answer he received.

Their waitress set the check down, and cleared their plates. Tanner threw some cash on the table, jogging to catch up with Paris, who had taken off. She slammed the door to his Challenger without a word.

"Do you wanna-"

"Just take me home."

Tanner's anger boiled over once he pulled into her driveway. He had apologized so many times. Still, she ignored him, and didn't even let him kiss her cheek goodbye. He punched the gas pedal, throwing dust and gravel into the air as he sped down the road with Linkin Park blasting absurdly loudly. It helped simmer his overwhelming emotions.

He swore, and punched his steering wheel. Realizing he was traveling at a speed of ninety miles an hour in a sixty -five zone, he released the pedal, and took a deep breath. It was shaky, but got better the more he breathed.

Once his anger was all vented out, the loneliness filled him. He wasn't used to being away from his friends for so long, especially in the summer.

"Facetime Seventeenth Steven." He said into his phone.

It rang and rang, but Dylan didn't answer. Tanner tried again. Still, no answer. He let out a heavy sigh. His friends sucked sometimes.

"Hey, Tanner. Are you okay?"

His mother was sprinkling shredded mozzarella cheese on top of a lasagna when he got home. He threw his phone on the ground, and plopped himself on a stool at the kitchen island.

"Yeah, just bored."

"Date with Paris didn't go well?"

He shook his head. "I don't understand what I keep doing wrong."

"Oh, honey, you aren't doing anything wrong. She just doesn't like your friends."

"It's not fair."

Kim gave her son a sympathetic smile. She loved him, but sometimes he was an idiot. "She's a bitch, Tanner. What do you expect?"

"Gee, thanks, mom. Great talk."

He slid off the stool and sauntered down the stairs to his bedroom. Tristan had made himself comfortable on a beanbag playing Fortnite on the Xbox. Tanner was secretly glad he wouldn't have to sit down here alone.

"Get out of my spot." He shoved his brother off the beanbag.

"Bitch, who pissed in your Cheerios?" Tristan spat sassily.

"Girlfriend." He muttered, yanking the controller from Tristan's hands.

"Ah, that's why I'm gay."

"Yeah, that's why."

Tanner's mood lightened after a few rounds of Fortnite, laughing with his older brother. He was almost happy, mind temporarily blocking out the anger and frustration he felt earlier. The distraction was a welcome one.

By the time their mom called them upstairs for supper, he was back to his normal, bubbly self. The Braungardts sat around the table in the dining room just off the kitchen. Family dinners were a rare occasion for them, one they all appreciated. Kim worked a lot. Tristan, Tanner, and Taylor were all busy teenagers, and they could come and go as much as they pleased.

"I have another business trip next week. Los Angeles this time. I was thinking maybe, you could come with and we could go house hunting, since you have your appointments set up, Tanner."

Tanner nodded, head hung. His siblings were all too excited about the trip, but Tanner hated even the subtlest mention of his mental health. He wanted to and knew it would be good for him to get away but he didn't want to be alone.

"Can Dylan go?"

"Sure, I'll talk to his mom."

Tanner was suddenly grateful to have such a chill mom. He appreciated her.

After supper, Tanner called Dylan again. Much to his surprise, he answered. Dylan was tired looking, with messy hair hidden under a hood, and heavy eyes. The only light came from a dim lamp in the corner.

"Hey, Tanner." He yawned.

"Hey, sleepyhead. Did I wake you?"

"Nah, I just haven't gotten out of bed today."

"You lazy ass. Why not?"

Tanner pretended he wasn't hurt that Dylan hadn't been busy, but didn't text him back or pick up when he called.

"Family sucks."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Anyway, did you need something?"

"Yeah, actually, my mom has a business trip next week, and we're all going, and well, wanna go to L.A.?"

"Uh...Sure?"

A sense of elation floated through Tanner. His mood suddenly felt one hundred percent better. A week with Dylan in the City of Angels? Awesome.

Dylan suddenly felt excited. A week with Tanner? Now that could get him out of bed. He hadn't left it much since his grounding. The restrictions his mother placed on him didn't leave him much choice but to sleep all day to pass the time. Some would call it a depression nap- he wouldn't, though. He merely didn't want to face his angry mother and brothers who always needed rides everywhere. Sleeping all day allowed him to avoid reality.

Dylan would hibernate under his covers for days at a time, ignoring every phone call and text simply because he didn't feel the desire to answer them. His mom would be on his ass the whole time, yelling at him to do this, and do that, and take his brothers there. Going to California would get him out of bed, and away from his family for a little bit. It was a win-win situation for him.

"Babe, are you listening?"

Dylan looked back at his phone. "Yeah, sorry. Zoned out."

"You good, bro?"

"Mmhmm, just tired."

After a lengthy one-sided conversation- Tanner did all the talking- of favorite attractions, and things to do on California, they hung up. Dylan was suddenly very much looking forward to going. He couldn't wait. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for him. Still, he couldn't bring himself to text anyone back.

Tanner was fucking ecstatic.

He couldn't wait to show his best the Santa Monica pier, the ocean, and his favorite west coast restaurants. Dylan had barely ever left Kansas. He had never seen a body of water larger than Milford Lake two hours away. He had never seen mountains or a city with a population greater than a couple hundred thousand. This trip would be full of firsts for him.

For both of them, really.