Chapter Text
His stomach was pitiful, an aching feeling in his bones as he sits in the uncomfortable chairs waiting to be called up. He glares at the crowd, skimming the Familiar faces. Some looked so happy, some anxious, none like how he's feeling. That made him feel horrible.
"Craig Williams,"
He sits up, waking down the aisle clutching his graduation gown as everyone was staring at him. It felt like he was getting married, like he was a bridesmaid walking down. But instead of a glorious day of love, it was a hell that Manifested in his gown sent to personally make Craig feel worse about himself.
The Principle hands him his diploma, a nice slick cover that that golden print of the schools name. He rubs his hands against the lether material. He looks up and sees the principle grin at him.
"I know you will do great things Craig Williams."
He wouldn't, and he knows that. He grips tight against the other man's hands, then he sits back on his chair. Draining in his thoughts as person by person was called up.
"Holy shit Jason! I can't believe we are out of school." Stacks grinned, holding tightly against the matching diploma.
"Thank God honestly, feels refreshing you know?"
Craig was slyly following the other two, staring down at his diploma, gripping it so tight that if he squeezed it hard enough. somehow it will shatter against his hands. But it didn't, just a burning reminder that he's out of school, and still not knowing what to do with his life.
So Craig? You excited for your trip." Stacks asked. Craig looks up, he didn't say anything right away, like the answer was a Complicated question.
"Yeah, I am."
Jason playfully Elbows him, getting Craig to grin a bit.
"You doing something fun while I have to figure out how to afford a stupid Apartment at this day of age."
"We," Stacks corrected, which confused Craig alot. We?
"Right, forgot." Jason laughed. Craig was puzzled but didn't want to ask.
He walked out of the school and meet with his parents, both of them held flower. Smiling wide as Craig come over.
"Hay.." He said, a tone sharp. Not his usual bubbly voice, which everyone faced shifted slightly, catching his different Demeanor.
Everyone choiced to Ignore though, which made him shift uncomfortable. "Congrats." Bernard said patting his brother pack, Craig grumbles with Annoyance with the gesture.
He steps back slightly, not eyeing them fully.
His parents hands him his flowers and hugs him tight.
"Proud of you Son."
"And no matter what, we will support you fully."
They let go, then shifting to their car. Craig follows and opens the car door. A medium size book meets his eyes, he unzips his gown and folds it, then placing his hat along side it.
Jessica open the trunk of the car and hands him his travel case.
"Have a nice trip Craig, make sure you call me a bunch." Then hugs him tight, Craig frowns and hugs her back.
Beep
"Come on Craig!" Kelsey said, hitting Jp trunk, Craig can hear jp panic voice telling her to stop that. Craig smiles, he heads over and puts his cargo in the trunk of Jp truck. He gets himself in the back seat and closes the door. He looks out the window at his family, their faces unreadable but waving at him. He bites his lip as they get smaller in his view.
He lays his head down at the seat, thinking for a moment. He doesn't know why he's feeling..bad. He shouldn't but an dreadful feeling blossoms in his chest. He just gulps and puts those feelings down for another day, its supposed to be a fun trip. Not something to overthink from.
He looks up and sees the other two talking and giggling about something, which Made himself anxious from. He feels slightly guilty as a growing jealousy starts to swarm him like bees, as if one thing will set him off.
"Where we heading off to first?" He asked.
"Well." Jp replied.
"We are headed to Pennsylvania, just a small detour, then try to head to Minnesota."
"So? Pennsylvania then cutting to Ohio?"
"Yep, pretty much" Jp shrugging.
Craig nods, then puts his palms against his head, watching as they pass through Herkleton. He sighs as he puts his ear buds in.
Craig jumps up from his sleep, which made the other two jump in surprised.
"Holy Craig...scared the shit out of us." Kelsey said breathless. Craig apologized with the random out burst. He turns to the window and sees the outside turning into a dim hue. Damn how long was I out, he thought.
"We're reaching to a bar, ghen after a hotel." Kelsey pointed, "shouldn't be long."
"Alright.."
He glances at his phone, a few Notifications from Jason was in the homescreen. He looks at Jason messages, sighing he reads them
Hay man! Hope your having fun right now. I'm packing a few things with Stacks.
He taps his jaw.
Thanks, have fun with that
He cringes with the dry text, but he wasn't really in the mood to fix the message. He just pushes send and lays his phone next to him.
He closes his eyes, he wasn't tried, just exhausted. He listens as the radio plays softly and his friends chat about something he quite can't catch himself.
He glimpse at the window, they where pulling up to a joint that looks like average bars that would appear in kid movie. Maybe there would be a bar fight, he joked smiling to himself
He leaves the car and his back was killing him, like needles sticking into him. He stretches his back and a loud satisfying pop, comes with a refreshing sigh.
"Why a bar?" Craig turns.
"Nothing open in this hour, and it doesn't have bad reviews so why not." Kelsey replied, shrugging.
Entering, it smelt sweaty and Alcohol. They make their way to open seats. It was quiet, just tv playing soccer and small hushed conversations from other people.
"Here you are." A lady around her late 30s says politely, handing them their menus.
She taps her finger in another paper. "We also have specials for tonight." Handing them the extra choices. Jp wiggles his fingers and grabs the specials. She smiles then looks at them collectively. "Drinks?"
"Sprite"
"Coke"
"Root beer"
The women writes in her notepad then clicks the pen, putting it behind her ear. "Alright! Shouldn't be to long."
They all said thank you, the lady smiles and heads her way to help the other attenders.
"The spicy special sounds good." Jp grinned. "And I'm craving something tangy." As he rubs his stomach.
"I'll just get a regular Cheeseburger with the fries, to late for anything spicy." Kelsey swishing her hand around, like she is sweating a fly.
"Yeah, I'll probably get the chicken strips. I don't want anything to heavy. It fucks up my sleep." Craig said, Scratching his arm.
The lady comes over and hands them their drinks, and writes down their order then leaves again.
"Kelsey? Wanted to ask but. What's the deal with Stacks and Jason?" Kelsey sips on her drink, clicking her tongue then looking at Craig. "What you mean?" With a confused tone. "Well? They are talking about moving in together, I never knew they where that? Close..."
Kelsey raises a brow. "Dude? They been planning that for a while?" She explained. "Their going to the same college, and they just decided to rent a place for themselves."
Craig was..shocked. kelsey sounded like this was old news? Jesus, know he probably sounds dumb.
"I never knew wow."
It's crazy how much he...missed out with his friends business, him and Stacks aren't that close so he will miss stuff with her. But Jason? Their close, so he should of know about this, but it seems like he doesn't care.
Craig bites his cheek.
Jp taps his glass with his fingers. "It seems like alot of people are moving away! It's crazy!" And Craig felt even worse.
He starts to overthink before-
"Here's your food!" Putting the plates onto the table, a huge smile on the lady's face. They thanked her and begined to eat.
Jp was munching on a cpisy spicy chicken burger, while the other two just had a more smaller serving meals.
"I haven't really? Looked for schools lately"
"Wait? Seriously? That's all you talked about during high school." Jp said surprised. Craig cringes, yes he knows.
"Well. I don't know what to really..Take?" He shrugged, his tone sounding unsure. "I don't want to go to the same school Bernard took, and honestly? I don't want to waste another 4 years of my life with school right away."
"Fair." Kelsey Replied.
Craig knew that he wasn't telling the whole truth to them, hes...scared what's coming next after college. He takes another bite of his chicken strips, picking thr skin off and placing it in his mouth.
"I'll pay! Sense I picked out the place." Said Jp placing money onto the table. "Least I can do."
Everyone packs up and heads back to the car.
"Hay? Is it alright someone takes the wheel, put hotel isnt for another 2 hours and im getting tried."
"I'll take! Dont worry."
Craig takes the passenger seat while kelsey takes the wheel.
Jp was sleeping in the back peaceful, laying his head against a pillow he brought. Craig glances at Kelsey, her face unreadable.
"Craig.."
"Hm"
"I'm really glad you came." Shyly said. Craig plays with his sweater strings.
Kelsey slumps herself against the soft bed. "Ohh its so nice." Placing her face against the pillows. The other two follow suit, laying ontop of their beds respectively. They rented themselves a three bed hotel. The room wasn't extravagant, but it was nice. Craig places his luggage into his bed. He grabs himself some pajamas, then heads to the bathroom to Freshen up.
Jp didn't even change, his heads hits the pillow and gets knocked out Immediately.
After Craig was done, kelsey gets herself ready for bed aswell.
Craig gets himself on his bed, he scrolls on Twitter for a bit. Kelsey comes out and leaves the room, Craig thought it was weird but didn't think hard about it.
But after a while, Kelsey didn't come back. Craig starts to worry. Kelsey can take care of herself, but just incase....
He leaves the room.
The hotel was quiet, the dim lights making the aura erie. He skims around, looking everyone for his friend. Checking every corner and hall.
Then, he sees her. She was outside, her phone pressed against her ear. Craig couldn't make out what she was saying. He opens the front door slightly, cold summer air breezing against his face. He was going to greet until.
"Have you noticed he's been acting...weird?"
Craig freezes, his heart starts to speed up ever so slightly.
"I don't know? I know he's been super— distant during school but.."
The other side talks for a moment.
"Right—"
Kelsey sighs.
"Thanks for the talk Omar, night."
Kelsey hangs up and places her phone onto of the car's hood. Laying her back against the vehicle. Then she gets up and heads back to the hotel, Craig swifty leaves the area unnoticed.
"Damn? Your still up."
Craig hums in response.
Kelsey grins "Make sure you get to bed, have a long drive tomorrow and it's your turn next." Pointing to him.
Craig nods. "Don't worry I will, just finishing up this video."
Kelsey nods and rolls over, getting herself comfortable.
Craig lays his head on his pillow, he thinks for a long while. He feels horrible, like really horrible. Maybe it wasn't about him? Then he slaps his head out of stupidity, of course it was about him, who else would it be. He takes off his glasses and places it on his nightstand. He let his thoughts overlap in his head, his wasn't sleeping anytime soon.