Page 34 of Solo Stan

Kai

It didn’t take long for the bus to fill up, and then the driver took his spot, and away they went.

Kai absentmindedly stroked Elias’s hair as the bus ticked along down the road toward home.

Eventually, his eyes started to close. He was someone who could sleep almost anywhere, Bobby would say.

If they were in the car, Kai was out within a minute.

If they went to the movies, Bobby would always have to explain the end to him.

If they were in class, Bobby had no choice but to wake him up because there was no way to cover up the sound of his snoring.

This time, however, he tried to stay awake so Elias could get some sleep.

He didn’t mind; he felt rested just watching the way Elias slept peacefully against his chest.

He found himself getting angry at the unevenness in the road and resentful of anyone around them who was talking too loudly. He used his arms to shield Elias from the overhead lights and tried to surround his body more in a weak attempt at blocking out some of the noise.

The bus station back home sat behind an abandoned restaurant.

There was grass growing from every crack and crevice in the brick and concrete, and there was a full-grown tree that had broken through the windows.

Despite it being the time for the sun to rise, the rainy weather from the night before persisted.

The sky was still dark and the air muggy, lightly misting their skin as they zigzagged through the shared parking lot, dodging potholes and broken asphalt.

Elias’s eyes were barely open as he trudged along behind Kai.

He had remained asleep throughout the entire ride.

It was only a short walk back to Moodie’s shop, so without hesitation, Kai stooped low and gestured to his back, signaling for Elias to hop on.

Apprehensively, Elias jumped up, and Kai hooked his arms around Elias’s legs before straightening up and adjusting his weight.

Elias slumped completely over Kai’s shoulders, his light stubble creating a delicate abrasive sensation against his own cheek.

The closeness and shared warmth of their skin made it hard to focus on anything else.

Their clothes brushed against each other in movement.

“Do you think we’ll make it to work today?” Kai asked.

“We’re surrounded by caffeine. I think we’ll manage,” Elias replied, his morning voice low and husky, as he absentmindedly swung his legs.

The two continued along the charming Main Street.

The converted row homes, made of brick, had cobblestone sidewalks that were uneven under their feet.

Kai pointed out his favorite record store, where he used to spend time after school, a few places where he liked to people-watch and sketch, and the only other bookstore in town that Moodie considered competition.

It was his home, but it somehow looked different to him today, like he was seeing it in a new light.