FIELDHOUSE

Yes, I think you can. But you should only date one at a time. Unless you like poly-games.

It was amazeballs. We went to T.G.I. Fridays, and they were playing a song that I like!

“gotta say, i wish you hadn’t told me near these amazing rocks… hard to deal with so many emotions at once,” he jokes flatly. asher couldn’t lie and say that he struggled to make friends with people, he connected with others easier than most but troy had became his best friend so quickly and was about to leave even faster. “then you should probably go,” he agrees. he would. pulling his bottom lip between his teeth, he thinks for a second. “but you will come back, won’t you? you won’t be gone forever?”

-

Troy let out a soft chuckle. Sorry. It just came out.” He hadn’t planned to tell Asher this here and now. He hadn’t even thought about how he would tell him, but it was out now. “Yeah. I’ll come back as soon as I can.” Though realistically it would probably be until the start of a new semester. “I’ll miss you buddy!” He tackle hugged the other even though they were still in the car. “Okay, let’s go see these magical rocks up close.” He smiled, and off they went. 

“Why are they free? Are they any good?” Money was not an issue for Iris, and she was skeptical, assuming you get what you pay for. “I guess it could be cool to check out, there could be an up and coming artist that’s good or something.”

“Because they want you to have fun and not worry about going in and out of a venue.” He nods, sure of his answer. Though he doesn’t know. It seems like a place to have a good time and drink.

“The food is spicy and has four point three stars? Consider me ready to go chow down,” he nodded, excited for some actual spicy food. Missing the salsas he loved from his home country, excited for a new cuisine. “Take me there.”

“Okay.” He nods, lifting his phone to order an Uber. “So, what other kind of food do you like? I’m a foodie so I already made reservations for hella place.” 

“i mean, i like cats too,” he adds just in case anyone thought he didn’t. maybe rocks were his own version of pets. he was quite organised in his collecting, meticulous in ordering the things that he found whether that was rocks, puzzles, snow globes or photographs but he kept that to himself. “with the right equipment you can trace them back thousands of years,” he tells troy, information that had amazed him the first time he had discovered it. glancing out the window at the open planes of desert, he can’t help but be amazed. he’d never actually seen the desert before in real life. “you know,” he turns back, “it’s so cool i met you right before break because now i can’t even imagine a world where you weren’t my all time best friend.” 

-

“They’re both pretty cool.” Though he can’t say he’s spent much time around either. But the passionate monologues definitely make him a fan. He exits the highway, and you can see the large colorful figures a short distance away. “There they are!” He points out the rock statues. “So, that’s what you want to do, study their history? Learn from all the different rocks about the earth?” He asked, smiling. Troy listens to Asher speak about their friendship for a moment, biting his lower lip. “Yeah... I’m really glad I met you too, dude! Although, I still don’t know if you’ve gotten that person to like you, yet.” He chuckled, referencing their first conversation. “I should probably tell you something though.” He paused. “I, uh, I think I might have to defer next semester... And go back to Australia.” Which didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends, still. Just that they wouldn’t see each other as much.

bodhi: now you're speaking my language. i'm always down to see the love of my life ❤️

bodhi: you seem to speak HIGHLY of him and it's not like he's not attractive. i'd hit it 😁

bodhi: asking me to tell everyone is not gonna end well for this party but HELL YEAH

Troy: Okay, we'll start there! Where does she DJ?

Troy: Because he's the life of every party! You haven't seen his Heely's! Also, he's my good friend! I speak highly of my friends! He can't handle you.

“they’re just interesting, like, there’s so many different things about them and so many different types. some are just part of the earth that’s been around forever… they’re natural,” he describes, tugging his seat belt to look at troy properly, enthusiasm clear. “some rocks are hard, some are softer… some have layers that make a big difference. there’s some that are beautiful that people collect and polish, make into jewellery and wear everywhere. there’s rocks that people think mean special things, troy, did you know that?” he’s genuinely asking but it’s just a pause in his monologue, talking about the things he’s most passionate about. “i love the earth, i love all the things we built through every single empire. we built our world from nothing but you know what was there all along? rocks. they’ve seen cities rise and fall, they’ve been shafted through centuries… reclaimed… used for weaponry… building.. so many things and they’re still a huge part of life… and i know that most people don’t really care but i do, i think rocks are just awesome. especially the ones that aren’t special or important to anybody… i collect them because they’re history, man. they’ve got a story to tell and one day when i’m out there analyzing shit in the lab… i’m gunna tell them all.”

-

“So they’re like cats.” He says simply because this passionate monologue reminds him of the time his cousin described why he loved cats so much. Troy nods along as Asher continues. He loves hearing the enthusiasm in his voice. “Like crystals?” Was that even the right word for it? He had been to one of those stores that sold different gems and crystals to help people with different things. “Yeah, I totally get you.” He's now thinking back to a video he saw in grade school explaining how old some rocks could be. By the time Asher finished, they were on the highway, desert surrounding them on both side. “You’re gonna tell the rocks that they’re special? You don’t have to wait until you’re in a lab to do that!” 

bodhi: rude.

bodhi: you wanna fuck him or something?

bodhi: PRACTICE SAFE SEX, I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT. you know i'm free anytime for a good party.

Troy: It would help if I knew her better. Why don't we go see her when she DJs?

Troy: NO! What makes you ask that?!

“Keep talking. I might just be convinced if I hear more about this Thai food. Consider me intrigued at the prospect.”

-

“I… uh… It’s…” He stammers. Suddenly feeling under pressure, like he’s being quizzed or something. “Thai food…. Spicy….” His voice lingers. “Yelp says it has four point three stars.”

“yes! exactly. can’t remember the name of it for the life of me, but they seem pretty useful,” mia exclaims. as they continue walking, she tilts her head at the idea of a decorated necklace. “that necklace idea would be really cute too. they could sell ‘em at the gift shop. you’re definitely onto something here, troy.”

-

“Key card chain…?” He guesses with a small chuckle. “I don’t know.” But then shakes it off. “We should make our own. Show people so we can get some buzz going. It can be like that episode of Zoey 101 where she makes cool custom backpacks.” He remembered that American show. “But anyway, how’s everything else going?”

“no and i’m definitely never watching that,” while troy said he would protect him, asher was vividly remembering hauling troy back to his room when they were in LA and it didn’t seem too likely. all the same, he grins at his friend who seems to have planned some type of adventure for the two of them, “rocks? really? that’s awesome, i love rocks!”

-

“It’s pretty creepy.” He replies in an agreeing tone. Troy will 100% protect his buddy from anyone that looks at him the wrong way. Hashtag: Protect Asher. “What do you love about them?” He asks curiously, driving away from the strip.