Christian groaned as the van glided out of the parking lot, nose raised toward the tow truck. His ride home. As if being equipment manager for the hockey team wasn't glamorous enough, now he needed to find a way to make the forty-five minute trek back to campus. He pulled his cell out of his pocket and stared blankly at the locked screen, not even knowing whom to call but fully aware that it made him look less pathetic to anyone who might be staring at him from the other vehicles in the lot. He heard a van door slide open and a baritone voice reverberate toward him.
"Hey man, do you have a way home?"
Christian peered up from the dark screen of his phone toward the source of the voice--it was Evan. The star hockey player peered out from the dimly lit interior of the van, but even under the weak wash of the overhead lights the hummed over the lot, Christian could see his dark eyes under the fringe of his matching dark hair. Evan's thick brows were knitted in concern.
Christian took a step toward the van, wanting to plead for a ride, but instead found himself attempting to wave off the invitation.
"I'm good. I was just getting my cousin on the phone," he called back, lifting his blank screen as if to prove his connection to a non-existent cousin.
Evan shook his head, his bangs sweeping his forehead. "Naw, you shouldn't be left standing here. We'll make room for ya." He beckoned with an outstretched hand.
Christian hesitated a moment. He wasn't sure he should smash himself into a van for nearly an hour with the boy he secretly had a crush on. He was pretty sure that he was securely in his closet, but he didn't need to invite any missteps. High school had been difficult enough. He didn't need to screw up his college career, too. He fully intended to take advantage of the fresh start--no one here knew him.
Evan detected the hesitance. "Come on, man. It's not that long of a ride."
Christian couldn't argue with the logic. He stepped up and peered into the van. There was literally nowhere for him to sit. The bucket seats were all occupied, the spaces between them stacked with gear bags, the overflow from Christian's van now occupied the other half of the bench that Evan perched on. Evan pushed himself against the duffels beside him, attempting to eek a few more inches on the vinyl seat, but the densely packed bags refused to compact. He turned and exchanged glances with Christian brushed his bangs from his eyes.
"Guess you'll have to sit on my lap," he said grinning. Christian and the rest of the van's occupants chucked in unison at the suggestion. "Thanks anyway," he nodded at Evan. He turned back to his phone.
"Seriously," Evan called out. "Get in here, man. We'll be back before you know it. Christian stared at Evan, dumbfounded, and felt a small fire ignite inside him at the possibility that this might happen. He was entranced and horrorstruck at the same time.
Evan beamed and smacked his thighs like St. Nick encouraging the audience of a small child. Christian shook his head in disbelieve as he stepped into the van and backed onto his lap. Cameron twisted from the comfort of the bucket seat in front of them and snickered.
"All comfy and set, boys?" he sneered.
Evan craned around Christian's head. "Will you just shut the fucking door so that we can get going?"
There was a slam to herald the triumph of squeezing yet one more occupant into the already over-burdened van, and they soundlessly began to roll across the lot, the densely packed cabin muffling all sounds and vibrations. Christian tried not to shift uncomfortably as Evan's thighs pushed into his rear. They were hard as rocks. He leaned to the side so that Evan wasn't breathing into his neck. The scent of his body wash from his recent shower enveloped him.
He rested his forehead on the vinyl backing of Cameron's seat and stared down, praying a speedy journey with no construction and few traffic lights. He could see Evan's Adidas high tops on either side of his feet, his white socks protruding from his jeans and disappearing behind the camo-patterned knit collars. They flashed in the passing brilliance of the street lights. He felt the flame inside him begin to crackle and leap as he took in the sight. Evan's legs shifted slightly beneath him, and his breath came warm against his ear.
"That can't be very comfortable, man. Lean back. It's fine."
