Page 14 of Solo Stan

Kai

The sudden shift to complete darkness was disorienting, and the intensity of the stage lights was still imprinted on Kai’s retinas.

He blinked hard. When the flashes finally faded, he became aware of just how tightly he’d been holding on to Elias.

He loosened his grip slightly, but Elias didn’t budge, and his own fear ebbed away as he wrapped his arms around Elias again.

He strained his eyes in the darkness for any clue about what was happening, when suddenly, the greenish-hued emergency lighting came on, casting eerie shadows throughout the audience.

An emergency announcement blared through old, crackling speakers: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are currently experiencing a temporary power outage. Unfortunately, tonight’s event is canceled, and your admission will be refunded.

” There was a long, collective groan. “For your safety, we kindly ask you to follow the illuminated emergency exit signs and proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion. Do not use elevators during this time. Once outside, move away from the building and follow instructions from staff for further guidance. Thank you for your understanding.”

Kai faced Elias, holding the seat armrests to make a barricade around him when people next to him started pushing past to exit the row and evacuate.

My enemies are winning today, Kai thought to himself.

His body became a buffer for Elias, their clothes shifting together as he absorbed the rush of the crowd.

His shoulders and the backs of his heels took the brunt of it while Elias kept his head down.

When the row had mostly cleared, Elias finally looked up. Pressed against Kai’s chest, Elias suddenly seemed embarrassed by their proximity. He tried to pull back, but his earring snagged on Kai’s necklace, causing him to crash right back into him.

“Let go,” Elias said through gritted teeth, trying to forcibly yank his earring free.

“Stop moving so I can untangle it,” Kai hissed.

“You’re taking too long!”

Kai slapped Elias’s hand, and Elias looked shocked. “Just let me do it,” Kai insisted, taking a deep fortifying breath before easily unhooking Elias from his amethyst.

Elias brushed himself off, likely an attempt to wipe off the awkwardness that hung around them, while Kai stepped back to give them both space.

But with so little room, he nearly tumbled to the bottom of the stadium.

The fall would have been a welcome escape.

At least he wouldn’t have Elias staring at him like he’d just touched down from another galaxy.

“What are you doing here?” Elias asked in an accusatory tone. His eyebrows drew together, wrinkling his forehead.

“Same as you, I suspect,” Kai replied, crossing his arms over his chest, suddenly feeling exposed under Elias’s gaze.

“Let’s just go,” Elias said, looking straight past Kai at the ushers who were waving their lightsaber-looking glow sticks, directing everyone toward the exits.

Kai watched the muscles in Elias’s back moving beneath his shirt, noting how tense he seemed and how focused he was on keeping his shoulders as squared as possible.

Definitely didn’t do his stretches, Kai thought. He snorted, earning a cutting glare from Elias.

Kai followed him toward the doors, down the stairs, and out the way they had come in.

Hundreds of people stood outside—some with purple hair, accessories from wrist to elbow, piercings Kai had never seen before, and more than one person in black lipstick.

They had all been there for the same purpose, and now their purpose had been taken from them.

All they could do was stand on the street and stare at the venue, probably out of some false hope that the ushers would direct them back inside and the concert would go on like nothing ever happened.

But no. Police cars and fire trucks came barreling down the street, lighting it up purple as the red and blue spun together.

The faces in the crowd dropped one by one, including Elias’s. Kai could feel his disappointment.

“Did you take a bus here?” Kai asked after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence.

“Yeah, you?” he replied. His eyebrows lifted, and his eyes were bright. It was unclear whether he wanted Kai to say yes or no, but he got his answer when Kai said yes and Elias’s eyes immediately darkened again.

Kai had it in his mind that he would go alone, he would dance with his arms in the air alone, and then he would get on the bus alone, and then go home alone, and then go to sleep in his own bed—you guessed it—alone.

He didn’t invite Elias to the concert for a reason, and now as soon as Elias showed up, the entire venue died. Perhaps he was an omen of ill fortune.

Kai scoffed. He should have chased the candle around the backyard longer.

He contemplated saying goodbye and walking off, or even walking off without saying goodbye.

It’s not like he owed Elias anything. But what if they ended up on the same bus together anyway?

It would be like when you’re saying goodbye to a friend, and you know that you need to go on the same direction as them, but you can’t because it would be too awkward, so you go the opposite way and take the strangest, most elaborate route back to your house just to avoid the fallout.

It would be exactly that, except it would be a forty-five-minute drive inside of what was essentially an aluminum can on wheels.

No escape. And then they would have to see each other almost every day for the rest of the summer, if not longer. This was an introvert’s nightmare.

After carefully weighing all his options, Kai finally suggested, “Maybe we should walk to the bus station and go home?”

“This is some bullshit,” Elias said, taking an incredulous look around, as if he was waiting for someone to jump out and tell them that they were being pranked. “It’s all those light bulbs outside. This building was probably built during the Cleveland administration.”

Kai folded his arms, amused. “Which one?”

“The first one.”

“Are you deflecting because you’re embarrassed?”

“Why would I be embarrassed?” Elias asked, looking at Kai like he’d suggested the most absurd thing he’d ever heard.

“Because you looked like you were about to throw hands when I saved you from rolling your ass off the balcony, but then you clung to me like a baby koala the second the lights went out.”

Elias paused for a second before saying, “Let’s just get out of here.”

Admittedly, the moment touched him. Kai didn’t have any siblings, and usually, he was the one everyone wanted to protect.

“This is your first life,” Bobby would tell him.

Bobby would always be the one to drive him around, to say something if Kai’s order came out wrong, to talk on the phone if they were ordering takeout.

No one had ever sought out Kai for protection. It felt different. Good, even.

The walk back to the bus station felt infinitely longer than the walk from the bus station.

The ground was uneasy beneath Kai’s feet; he was intensely aware of every step that he took.

He didn’t want to walk next to Elias, but he really didn’t want to walk behind him either.

Or in front. There seemed to be no good choice that wouldn’t inadvertently send the message to Elias that Kai was either threatened by him, trying to exert dominance, or still wanted to be friends.

Therefore, the two danced around each other like ballerinas in a jewelry box throughout their entire walk.

The pervasive din of the city was much louder than Kai was used to. There were so many noises and sights and smells all at once. Frankly, it was overwhelming. Yet, Elias seemed right at home in the chaos and downright mournful to be leaving it behind.

The two finally approached the bus station.

Where it had been bustling before, it was now completely abandoned.

They were the only ones rushing back home after the canceled concert.

Everyone else would probably try to make something out of the night.

He knew that if he were with Bobby, Winter, and Emmy, they’d be exploring the city and eating absolutely anything and everything in sight.

The bus station smelled like mop water, and the lighting in there was so harsh that you could almost hear it.

Elias took a sharp right toward the lockers but stopped short when he realized the door to access them was locked.

He pulled on the handle again, only managing to wiggle the door in its frame.

“What the hell?” He groaned angrily.

Noticing a sign on the door, Kai put his hand on Elias’s arm to stop him from ripping the door handle off.

He pointed to the locker hours. A vein began to pulse out of Elias’s forehead.

“Why is the bus station open twenty-four hours, but the lockers are only open until eight p.m.? What kind of sense does that make?”

“The locker room opens at four a.m. Just come back tomorrow,” Kai suggested. “I’ll cover for you with Moodie. Or even if you tell him, I’m sure he’d understand.”

“No, my house key is in there. There’s no way I can get back into my apartment.”

“Moodie has a spare.”

“It’ll be late by the time we get back. He gave me a curfew that I’m deliberately defying right now. I can’t ask him for help.” Elias huffed. “I should have read the stupid sign. I’m not used to these country-ass hours.”

“Do you want to stay at my house, then?” Kai suggested.

Elias looked sideways at Kai. “Trust me, I’m not the kind of surprise guest that parents like.” He turned his attention back to the locked door. “How much force do you think it would take to break it down?”

“Probably enough to land you in jail.”

“That wouldn’t be too smart, would it? Our job really isn’t the kind you can do remotely.”

“At least you’d have somewhere to stay tonight.”

Elias let out a long breath. “I swear this is just my luck. I want to go home— home home. Moodie is on my shit, the electricity is acting up, this door is trying me, and I haven’t eaten since that stupid scone this morning, so even my own stomach isn’t loyal.

I have yet to be shown a drop of this Southern hospitality everybody’s always talking about,” Elias raged.

“Of course, this city block is powered by hamster wheels, but for some reason, this door is made out of reinforced fucking steel!”

Kai choked out a short laugh but quickly stifled it.

The way Elias spoke was entertaining; everything was so urgent, and he took every little thing so personally.

Elias rubbed his chest a few times. “What are you going to do?” he asked Kai, completely ignoring the fact that he’d just thrown a full-blown tantrum.

“I feel like I got to go back or my parents will make one of those T-shirts that has my face in the clouds,” Kai replied. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to kill time until this place opens.”

Kai was instantly conflicted. On one hand, Elias could most likely protect himself and make it back home in one piece on his own.

Yet, Kai didn’t feel right about leaving him there.

He wasn’t from the area, and Kai wouldn’t even walk his friends home without waiting to watch them go inside.

There was no way in hell he’d be able to get on a bus and travel forty-five minutes away from Elias and be able to sleep soundly that night.

He sighed; there was only one decision.

“I’ll stay with you,” Kai said, in a way that didn’t invite argument. “We can split a hotel or something.”

“Are you trying to get me alone?” Elias teased, his demeanor shifting into that charm that had almost tricked Kai. Almost. “Is that why you followed me here?”

“Followed you ? Aren’t you embarrassed saying stuff like that?”

“ You should be embarrassed,” Elias retorted, folding his arms over his chest. “How’d you even know I was going to be at the concert?”

Kai’s chin jutted back in disbelief. “I got there almost a full hour before you did. What kind of logic is that? You’re the one who bought my ticket. Did you follow me here?”

“Now, how was I supposed to know it was your ticket? And I didn’t even get to see any of the concert, so I want my money back.”

“That’s your late ass’s fault.” Kai pointed a finger.

“The concert was canceled for me, too, you know,” he shot back.

“And you’re talking like I’m the one who told you not to eat all day.

Or like I had something to do with the electricity.

You weren’t complaining when you were trying to jump into my arms.”

Elias had a meme-able expression on his face. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “I don’t like the dark. Especially in a place that big. Hold it over my head if you must.”

“I’m, like, a foot taller than you—I don’t think I have a choice but to hold it over your head,” he said, taking a step forward to close the gap between them. Kai bit his lip. After a thoughtful pause, he asked, “What will you do if I don’t stay?”

Shifting uncomfortably on his feet, Elias replied, “Probably sit at the bus station and wait. You know I don’t like the dark, especially alone. I need a big strong man to protect me.”

Kai looked all around in an exaggerated manner. “Is the big strong man in the room with us? Because I know you’re not talking about me.”

“Of course I’m talking about you. Don’t act like you didn’t save my life back there.”

“Why not? You’re acting like I didn’t. Did you even say thank you?”

Elias looked up at him, his gaze shifting from round and curious to playful and teasing, with a half-lidded allure—a transformation so seamless it should be studied. “Thanks.”

Kai put distance between them, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Don’t…don’t look at me like that, okay?”

“Why?”

“You know why.” Kai waited for Elias to respond with an apology, an explanation, anything.

But when the only sound was their breathing, Kai let out a deep sigh.

He threw his hands up in surrender and began to walk away.

“Forget it. I’m going home. Good luck! I hope you make it to work tomorrow. If not, it’s been nice knowing you.”

“Wait,” Elias said with a sudden desperation. “Stay.”

Kai had never actually planned to leave, but the look on Elias’s face made him feel guilty for even joking about it.

“Fine,” he relented.

They looked at each other for a moment until Elias’s warm brown eyes seemed to startle, their quick movements betraying a sudden awareness that he had ventured into vulnerable territory.

He did an about-face and started marching away, his bucket hat pulled low over his eyes.

“If you insist on staying, you’re taking me to dinner, and you’re paying for it,” he said over his shoulder.

“And if I see a piece of kale or anything made out of tofu on or around my plate, I’m calling Homeland Security. ”