Ready or Not

You Can't Hide

"Look at me, I'm Josh and I'm so cultured. I can frivolously spend money to fly around and try every flavor of dick." His tongue was sharp with jealousy. "Have you ever tasted a French man? Tastes just like an aged fine wine. Red though, not white!" he mocked with a sour tone. Vik was shocked by the aggressiveness so brazenly displayed.

"Does it really bother you that much?" But Simon ignored his question.

"I would just love to randomly wake up one morning and fly somewhere. Close my eyes, spin a globe, and wherever my finger lands I go." He spaced out at the blank, cream wall in front of him.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I'm pretty sure you have the money. Just do it."

"I'm trying to save up." he sharply responded.

"For what?" Vik doubted there was any truth to that claim.

"I-I don't know. I'm sure there'll be some emergency I'll need it for though."

As Simon opened his closet to find a fitting shirt, Vik stood in the middle of the room waiting. He scanned the well-kept area. No clothes on the floor, the bed was made, the window was closed and the curtains were drawn, and there were pictures - actually of Simon and his family - on the dresser and bedside tables. Similar to the rest of his house, none of the decor matched not even the pillows and bed cover. Vik stepped closer to the dresser opposite the closet. There were two pictures: one of Simon and JJ sitting on a dock at some lake, where JJ is giving a big dumb grin and Simon is smiling and waving to the camera; the second photo was of a man and woman at their wedding.

"Are these your parents, Simon?" Vik queried while picking up the frame to examine it closer.

"Hmm?" He glanced back, "Oh, yeah. That was them at their wedding. Obviously. I wasn't alive yet of course but I do adore this photo of them. Wedding dresses at the time were, honestly, hideous but my mom still looks stunning." he complimented. In the corner of his eye, Vik saw a hand holding a shirt. He set down the picture and began to change. Simon sat on his bed while he waited.

"How are your parents? Have you managed to move out yet?" Simon pondered with great curiosity.

"No. I'm still stuck at home." he grumbled.

"I'm sorry to hear. What exactly is the situation again?" he prodded.

"So, I'm trying to move in with Tobi, right? But my parents won't let me leave until I'm married. Well I obviously don't want that to happen. I mean, at some point I'm gonna have to but I'm not ready to now." He handed his dirty shirt to Simon. "Anyways, I keep telling them that here in America men move out before they get married. I say 'Do you want me to fully integrate? Then let me move out!' I hate to pull that card on them but... what else am I supposed to say?" Vik paused for a moment. A heavy sigh escaped him. Then he continued, "Now here's the kicker: Because I'm pushing so hard to move out, their answer is to get me married sooner. So now they're setting me up with girls."

"What're you going to do?"

"You think I know? I'm this close to just up and leaving. This close. But I don't want to do that to them. Cause then I'll never be able to show my face again." his voice quivered. Awkwardly Simon remained frozen unsure of what comforting words he could possibly offer. Instead, he could only hug him. Vik reciprocated the gesture; then he separated. "Thanks for the new shirt. Don't let me forget mine before I leave."

The two left the room silently together. Vik now sported a clean dark blue polo shirt. They rounded the corner of the kitchen. Both Tobi and Josh were loitering right around said corner. The other two joined them in watching the remaining three in the living room. Although JJ was comfortably sitting on his own, the couch was occupied by Ethan laying across it with Harry basically lying on top of him. Harry gently played with the opened buttons of Ethan's shirt.