(oof sorry I meant to respond but got a little stuck on what to post)
Kaz didn't have much, so it only took him a brief moment to really pack anything. Afterwards he helped Vaughn with his things before standing up, stretching and yawning
(Lol. That’s fine. I know the feeling.)
Avery quickly packed her things up before dragging them out to the truck. She passed Dylan’s door and gave him a small smile, then walked to the back of the truck to set her things inside.
Dylan smiled back, punched the glass in a mock fist-bump sort of thing, and looked over his shoulder, through the back window at the stuff in the bed of the truck. For the first time, he was beginning to get a good feeling about the whole thing. Travelling, living in the moment and meeting people like Avery, these were the things that made Dylan's life. All of these things almost made up for the fact that his own self-identity had been thrown into some serious question. It made everything better.
He hopped out of the truck and followed Avery, smiling maybe a bit excessively for the moment.
"Heya, how are the boys handling? Took ya'll a little while to get up here."
Avery laughed a little and shook her head. She finished setting her things in the trunk before taking a step toward Dylan and leaning against the truck.
“I think they’re good. They were catering about something or other while we were on our way up, so that might have distracted Kaz a bit,” she explained with a small shrug. “No trouble out here, I’d assume?”
Dylan leaned on the truck as well, the hazel eye closed. He returned her short little shrug, "Nothing worth mentioning. I've got the laptop mounted to the dash, ready to go. Just waiting, now. How about yourself? Enjoying our little adventure?"
“Hm, yeah… I just love running around a continent I’ve never been to so that I can find some rocks that no one really knows what they do,” Avery said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She was smiling, though, so it was clear she wasn’t really bitter about it. “It would be better if I could talk to the girls… I miss them a lot.”
Aww, why'd you have to go and say that…
Dylan felt himself deflate a little again. The one split between himself and the others of the group was that didn't he have people. He had acquaintances, yes. Those he knew by name and not much else. But his great divisor, the one thing he didn't have was a group of people that he had left behind.
Where could he actually relate to her?
The idea of trying to say anything at this point daunted him. His eyes drifted down, unable to meet her gaze, and he didn't answer. He couldn't.
Avery watched Dylan as he basically deflated in front of her. Had she said something wrong? And if so, what was it?
“Dylan? Are you okay?” she asked softly, chewing on her lip as she watched him carefully.
Dylan perked up a little, just for appearances. The question burned in him, but he held it inside him for a minute until it dissipated. "Fine," he said, semi-forcing a smile, "Just thinking. Can't quite tell whether I'm supposed to be happy or confused. I don't know friends like you do, so this is weird. I'm happy to meet and know you all, and I'd kill for you, but that's still a far cry from where you come from."
“Oh. Right… Sorry, Dylan,” Avery murmured, glancing down at her wrists. She chewed on her lip for a moment before looking back up at him. “Would, uh… Would a hug help? I know it would help me…”
Dylan nodded, and without another word, they embraced fully. Dylan closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder. It did feel good, indeed. It did help. And he felt warmer for all of it. He wasn't the usual awkward hugger, he pressed himself to it completely.
Avery let out a soft sigh as she relaxed into his embrace, wrapping her own arms around him as she rested her head on his shoulder. It might not have been a hug from one of her girls, but this was almost better. He was warm, comforting… And it was nice to be in his arms.
(If Kaz and Vaughn walked out and saw this… Lol.)
(They should!)
(well I'm not entirely sure when des is gonna be back on notebook but I could ask)
(Okie-doke.)
(des says she's sorry for not responding and that she's been busy, but she'll try and get responses up at some point today)
(That’s okay! Let her know that it’s fine, and she can take the time she needs.)
(hey hey, sorry! i was vv busy and didn’t have time to come on, but i should be more active now! thanks sm for being lenient w this)
Vaughn headed outside with Kaz, carrying both of their bags. Though this way he wouldn’t be able to hold Kaz’s hand, something that calmed him when he was feeling uneasy or stressed, he could deal with it for the time. He put their things in the truck before noticing Avery and Dylan’s embrace. A little chuckle escaped his lips, a tiny smile on his lips as he shook his head.
“What’s so funny?” Kaz asked, not realizing Avery and Dylan hugging until he finally spotted them. At that he just rolled his eyes, chuckling as well. “Maybe we should give them some alone time,” he teased
Avery's sharp ears caught the sounds of the two talking, and she inwardly groaned. She just wanted to hug Dylan, was that too much to ask for? But, of course, the other guys were still there. And it was pretty unprofessional to be hugging like this, anyway.
She cleared her throat and pulled away, her cheeks burning bright pink as she avoided their eyes. "Sorry," she muttered under her breath to Dylan.
Vaughn looked away from them and over at Kaz when he made that comment about giving them alone time. He laughed a bit and nodded his head. “Maybe it might be a good idea. Let them do whatever. We’re in need of alone time as well, love,” he said, musing out the last bit as he winked at Kaz, flashing a wild and toothy smirk.
"Yeah? Don't tease me baby, I might do something embarrassing to you," Kaz purred, grinning ear to ear as he returned Vaughn's smirk with a grin of his own. He reached for Vaughn's hip, giving it a teasing little pinch before chuckling
Dylan chuckled, resting his hand on Avery's shoulder before turning towards the truck, "Don't be. For all we know, it'll be the really nice last time. Or the first of a million more. Or maybe just a hundred? I dunno."
He slid back into the driver seat and honked the horn, waving with his arm as a signal for the others to hurry on up.
Avery smiled and walked around to the other side of the truck, climbing in beside him. “I would hope it wasn’t the last,” she said softly, shooting him a quick smile.
Vaughn licked his lips at Kaz’s words. He chuckled and laced an arm around Kaz’s waist, leading him over to the truck. “Save it for when this mess is over,” he mumbled and got into the back with Kaz.