KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 46: Wait Stop We Need Another Bed (Eric C)

I set down my pen and stretched, grateful to be done with the French final which I think I might've actually passed. Bruce leaned back in his desk, flashing me a grin. "You ready for practice? Coach is finally gonna tell us who made the tournament." 

Yawning, I handed in my final and followed him out of the classroom, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Oof. I guess? I don't know, how much do I want to have to be here at three two days after Christmas?" 

Bruce smiled, shaking his head. "It's a fun tournament, I'm not going to lie, even if it does suck having to be here so early. I hope you get to go and I also really hope someone  didn't steal my spot," he said. I turned to find Gene falling into step beside us, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "I didn't steal jack, man. Either you're good or you're not. Anyway, you probably made it." 

Coach Elder walked into the room right on time, looking coldly at us as we stretched on the mat. "Alright, here's the list." 

I sat with bated breath, still trying to stretch out my legs as he read off the list of names. Please, please, tell me I made it. "Carr, Smith, you're the 125s." 

Bruce nudged me, giving me a wink. Thankfully both he and Gene made it too, so I wouldn't have to be alone. 

About a week later, I was starting to wish I hadn't made it. 

I looked at my phone and sighed, slumping against the steering wheel and closing my eyes. It was three in the morning, it was way too early for any and all of this. The door to my car opened and I looked up in surprise to find Bruce sliding into my passenger seat, dark circles under his eyes. "I want to die I'm so damn tired," he muttered, closing his eyes and leaning back in the seat. I'd probably feel nervous if I was actually awake myself. "Well good morning to you too," I grumbled, yawning. He grinned, eyes still closed. "Right, sorry, where are my manners? Good morning, Eric. How're you doing this fine day?" 

Before I could respond, there was a loud rapping at the window, and I slowly rolled it down to find Gene standing there, smiling. Somehow. At 3:07 in the morning. "Hey, rise and shine you two! The bus is going to be here in like five minutes so Coach said to get over there."

"Mmph wake me up in ten minutes when the bus is actually here," Bruce mumbled, nestling deeper into the seat. I slapped him on the shoulder, pushing him away. "Come on, man, get upppp. I'm not going to be late to my first tournament at Casablanca." He laughed, grabbing his bag and stepping out of the car. I reached behind me, snatching my bag from the backseat and opening the door. 

"Oh my gosh it is cold!" I shouted, breath frosting in the air as I stepped into the snow. Bruce flipped his hood over his head, pulling the strings tight. "Why did I sign up for this?" Gene was somehow still in a good mood as we walked over to where the rest of the team was huddled miserably. "I'm so excited to have like an actual tournament to compete in, some real competition, you know?"

Bruce shook his head, snuggling deeper into his hoodie. "Whatever, man. It's too early for this. When I'm actually awake  I'll find a way to argue with you." 

I stood shivering on the curb, feeling snow soaking through my shoes and into my socks. The bus pulled into the parking lot as more freaking snow started to fall. My mouth practically dropped as I walked onto the bus, looking at the nice seats. "Damn, you private kids really know how to get to places! Oh man they've got TVs?!" I cried. Gene chuckled, stuffing his backpack in the rack above our heads. "Pay the bills, get the nice buses, that's how it goes." 

Bruce walked past me, throwing himself onto a seat. "Here, Eric come sit with me! I'm tired of being stuck next to Gene." 

"Wow okay, I see how it is," Gene muttered, sitting in front of us. "Look man, you're huge, alright? There's not enough bench space for two people who're 6'2. But Eric, on the other hand, is like 5 foot nothing." 

I leaned against the window with a grin. "Here I was thinking it was because we were friends. I guess all along you've only put up with me because I'm short," I said, heart starting to skip like always whenever I had to interact with him. Shaking his head, he pulled his hood completely over his eyes, folding his arms across my chest. "Shoot, you cracked the code. Now goodnight. Tell Coach I'm here when he does roll call or whatever," he whispered, dropping off to sleep. 

I barely listened to Coach's speech about how important this tournament was and how we weren't allowed to do anything stupid on the bus before pressing my face against the cold glass and following Bruce's example, falling fast asleep almost immediately. 

There was the squeal of brakes and I pitched forward out of my seat, slamming against the back of the one in front of me with a groan. "Well, good morning sunshine! We're here, by the way," Bruce said, pulling me back onto the bench. I blinked, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and staring out the window at the hotel. "Wait, is that a casino?" 

Gene sat upright, stretching. "Hah, yeah. We stay at Circus Circus for the tournament because it's cheaper than other hotels. We might be rich, but we're still cheap. Come on, get your stuff. We have to go to our rooms then get changed since we have practice in an hour." 

We trailed after Coach to the front desk, following him and the rest of the team to like the ninth floor, where he handed out the room cards. "Alright, Simmons, Kulick, Carr, you guys are in room 980. Meet back here in thirty minutes for practice." 

Gene pushed open the door to our room and let out a sigh. "Aw man, there's only two beds, you've gotta be kidding me. We really went cheap this year." 

"We got a couch at least?" "Nope. Just two beds and the floor." 

Now I could feel the panic coming back. "So, uh, what's the plan?" "Rock paper scissors, winner gets the bed to himself." My heart dropped as we stood in a circle. "Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" I looked at Gene's scissors and the paper Bruce and I were holding and wished the floor would eat me. "Dammit, that's rigged. But I guess I'd rather share with Eric than you," Bruce grumbled, throwing his backpack on the bed and grabbing his practice clothes. 

"Haha yeah, I'm sure it'll be fine," I whispered, staring at the bed as Bruce walked past me, already stripping his shirt off. 

This is going to go terribly, isn't it. 

Gene elbowed me with a crooked smirk, halfway into his practice clothes. "Hey, stop staring at Kulick and get yourself ready. Elder's gonna be pissed if we're late." 

I sighed, rummaging through my bag as my face grew red. Terrible, terrible, terrible idea, coming to this tournament. Was it really that hard to get three beds for three people? 

Apparently so, which meant I was going to have to spend four nights sharing a bed with Bruce.

Oohhh boy this was going to be interesting.