“Can I have a coffee and the burger with fries, please?” I ask the waitress serving us. We’ve stopped for dinner at a small diner a few miles from Yosemite National Park. It looks like the diners from the movies but grimier. There are even three grumpy truckers sitting at the counter eating pie in silence.
“I’ll have the same but the double burger, please.”
“Sure thing, boys,” she says, smiling widely before returning to the counter. For a slim guy, Noah eats even more than I do. He burns through a shit tonne of calories when he uses magic, so he’s constantly eating.
Spotting a sign on the wall with a WiFi code, I quickly connect my phone, and messages begin pouring in. It’s been a couple of days since I last connected.
Niamh:How’s your trip going? Miss you. Call me when you can?
Da:I know you’re an adult now, but I haven’t heard from you for a few days so check in, please.
Da:I mean it.
Connor:Can I play on your Xbox?
Connor:You took too long to reply. So I played on it. Nice collection of ‘Men’s Health’ mags btw. Didn’t know you were so into learning the top 5 ways to grow a six-pack.
That little shit. This is why I need a lock on my bedroom door. I quickly reply to Da, telling him I’m alive and well, and return to Niamh’s message. She was online ten minutes ago, so I try giving her a call.
“Hey, Niffy.”
“So he does know how to use his phone. I thought that vein in Da’s forehead was gonna burst if you didn’t pop up soon,”Niamh replies dryly.
“Sorry. Not had any WiFi since we left Vegas. Gonna be out of range again for a few days after this as well. I’ll let Da know so he doesn’t worry.”
“He’ll learn to chill eventually. Maybe. How’s your trip going?”she asks cheerfully.
“It’s goin’ well. We’re just outside Yosemite National Park right now. I’m lookin’ forward to bein’ away from the cities for a while.”
“Taking lots of pics? You and Noah killed each other yet?”
“Yes, and not yet.” I smile. “How’s things back home?”
“Well, Con got a boyfriend and can’t keep his thoughts to himself, so I’m refusing to run with him until he locks that shitdown. Will is having a mental breakdown about it but refuses to tell Con he’s in love with him, so he just moans about it down the phone to me every night. And I’ve got my first ballroom competition next week, so I’m a bit nervous about that, but I think it’ll be good.”She barely breathes and talks a mile a minute; I struggle to keep up despite a lifetime of practice.
“Who’s Con’s boyfriend? You’ll do great at your comp. Who’re you partnerin’ up with for it?”
“You know Kieron Cooper? Sarah’s brother? Painfully dull, but he has a pretty face, and I don’t get the feeling Connor’s in this relationship for the conversation. I’m hoping it’s a phase because there’s only so long I can pretend I give a fuck about ‘Football Manager’."
“Oi, dickhead; I like Football Manager. Kieron can stay," I interject.
“Nerd. Anyway, I’m partnering up with Danny Parker. I got a bit of a lucky break because Zoe Francis twisted her ankle a couple of weeks ago at cheerleader tryouts, so she’s out of action for at least two months. Hopefully, if Danny and I win this one, he’ll ditch Zoe for good because he’s really my best shot at going to regionals.”
"Well, that sounds like it sucks for Zoe, but I’m glad you’ll have a good partner for your competition. I’m sorry I won’t be able to go watch. Tell Da to film it on his phone for me?”
“It’s okay. Zoe’s a snooty cow, so I reckon this is just karma. I will do. I better go; Con's finally home. We’re going to the cinema to see Taken 2 with Will and Kieron. It’s gonna be hell on earth levels of awkward.”
“Can you tell Con to stay the fuck out of my room by the way? If he wants to play on my Xbox, he can set it up in his room.”
“He giving you shit about the magazines?”
“He told you??”
“Why are you surprised? When has Connor kept his big mouth shut a single day of his life? I’m ninety-nine percent sure he was probably yapping in my ear in the womb.”
I chuckle at that; it sounds about right.
“Well, tell Con that if he touches my stuff again, I’ll show his new little boyfriend the self-audition tapes he recorded when he was eleven."
