Two Player Game

~Chapter Thirty-Nine~

They get there and the park is absolutely beautiful. Evan is starstruck at the sight. It's no Yellowstone, but it's gorgeous.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes. I love it." Jared smiles wide. He can practically see stars in his eyes.

"We gotta get this over with so I can look at this place." Jared just follows him wherever he goes. He ends up speaking to several park workers and taking lots of notes on his phone. He's very focused. Jared doesn't bother him. He knows how important his work is. When he's finished Evan puts his phone away, thanks the worker for their time, and takes Jared's hand.

"C'mon, let's find something to eat, I'm starving."

"Alright." They walk back through the gorgeous park. Evan keeps looking at everything and sighing happily.

"Alright Treeboy. Where do you want to eat?"

"Not sure, I've never been out here..."

"Well I've only been here a week. I don't know it too well either." A week and already has a Princeton hoodie in his dorm.

"Well... Let's take a look then."

"There's literally everything you can find in Virginia."

"Okay, let's find... Let's find somewhere with sub sandwiches. An actual Jersey Mike's." Jared laughs.

"Michael's a Jersey Mike" Evan snorts.

"You're right."

"I actually think I see one."

"Nice." They walk in, order and sit down there. Eating and talking happily.

"And then, I swear to you, this man said 'what, like an acorn?' and I fucking died."

"Evan, that was me."

"no no no, There was a guy at Yellowstone that asked the same thing and it made me think of you."

"Well ain't that sweet. But like, remember that? When I said that? Your face was priceless."

"I do. On the bus."

"And, uh, Evan. The car insurance thing? Not real. That was made up."

"... Really?"

"Yeeeeaaahh, Sad enough my mom died when I was younger. So.."

"Jared, you told me your parents were just divorced and she moved out."

"I don't like to talk about it and If I told people that, they would just ask more questions."

"... All right." Evan takes his hand on the table, soothingly rubbing his thumb over his knuckles. "... I don't know my dad. Not well anyway. He left when I was young and... And now I just don't ever see him. Don't talk to him. Nothing." Jared's eyebrows furrow.

"So hey, it's sorta the same."

"Sorta. I guess I relate to the issue you have with your dad a little more."

"Yeah... well I mean- We have each other now, right?" Evan smiles warmly.

"Yeah.." Jared smiles slightly.

"When do you want to visit your dorm?"

"Later tonight? Jeremy's gonna be out of the hospital."

"All right, we can do that."

"Great. I'm sure he's gonna be glad to finally see the dorm."

"Oh yes, from what I saw through Skype it seems spacious."