The Name's Jack Morrison

Gabriel just grinned as he tapped the steering wheel along with the music, a Journey song. As it came to an end he was already about to start singing the next song when he figured he’d explain the music situation.

“So, you know how this was my Pa’s car, right? well, along with smelling like cookies and popcorn it also has his CD’s stuck in the player” he said tapping the old CD Player.

“I can hook my phone up to it, or play music from my phone wirelessly with this thing I installed last year but it’s just tradition to listen to my dads old mixtapes whenever I’m on a long drive” he said lightly, “He was in the army, so he’d make mixtapes for Mamá and my sisters and I”

He wasn’t sure why he was telling Jack this, he hadn’t asked, Gabriel didn’t make it a point to reveal that much about himself with out prompting… but Jack was just easy to talk to and he was bringing him home.. so it was probably a good idea to share some information with him about his family.

Morrison didn’t know the lyrics to this one, but his head bopped to the beat, his foot every so often keeping time with the music. “Yeah,” Jack replied. He still remembered their small venture to the grocery store the first time around like it’d been yesterday, not months ago.

“Sounds like your dad was quite the guy,” the blonde smiled lightly at the shared memory. A comfortable silence seemed to settle outside of the tune that filled the interior--

“I cannot confirm or deny these theories” he said dead pan, “You might be an undercover cop, I’m not going back to jail!” he joked, tapping the steering wheel along with the song.

“Weeks.  Months.  Years.  Who knows? time is a human construct” he said as he tapped his phone screen to make it light up.  “Phone says four hours though”

The song came to an end and Gabriel turned up the volume for the next song, ready to start singing along, belting out the lyrics as soon as it started.

“Four hours, huh?”

Oh, boy.

Jack slid back, almost curled onto his side to glance out, would rather watch trees as they darted past then think on that. It was a joke, he reassured himself. Their talk a back and forth till one of them caved, always a touch playful, always a connotation of more.

But the volume peaked, music swung about the little interior. His roommate sung along and Morrison doesn’t fight the smile that threatened, perked at the corner of his lips.

“Yes and making me commit murder would definitely upset her” he agreed looking back to the road.

“No need to sound so disappointed,” he grinned raising an eyebrow, “If you want me to check you out just say so”

“I’m not convinced you haven’t killed someone before,” he grinned. “You seem like a guy that would be good at hiding the bodies,” roommate or not, at least if you were friends he might survive.

“I’m not--” shit. “That’s not, uh...”

The paper bag is suddenly balled into his fist, tossed harmlessly at Gabriel. “I was messing with you, dude.” He affirmed, tried to laugh. “Joking,” because you have to be joking with him too, there was no way--

“I swear to God, Jack, if you put that fry in my fan I’m going to McKick your ass” he repeated, giving the steering wheel a little tug to try and make his hand move off target.

“We have been roommates for Months.  You think I haven’t seen your ass in that time?”

“Fiiine, fine.” The proof was in his actions, a giant chomp to finish off the last of his meal. “I wouldn’t want to upset your mother,” also he didn’t much feel like being tossed in a ditch.

Gabriel smirked a little at that, “Reyes meand Troublemaker in Spanish” he said with a nod, humming a long to the music until Jack’s question caught him off guard.

“McDona- Don’t you dare” he said after glancing in his direction, “I will pull this car over and kick your flat ass, Morrison”

He didn’t believe that for a second, but that didn’t stop said fry from dangling against the grate. “Don’t what?” The fry wiggled between his fingers, Morrison barely suppressed a smile.

Gabe hopped a little as he was shoved, resting a hand on his chest in mock hurt.  “All I do is try to care for you and you abuse me this way.  So cruel” he sighed playfully.  

He didn’t bother hooking his phone up to the car, instead he just played the cd player.  It was a tradition of his on long drives, the CDs had been stuck in the cd tray since before the car had even come to him so he knew every song of by heart at this point and he happily sang a long to each and every song.

His quiet singing came to a pause at the question and he gave a little grin “Yep, give it a few miles and you’ll be able to smell popcorn too” he said then tapped the fans on the dash.  “When Angela, Natalie and I were little we crammed Popcorn in here while we waited for my parents to get back and then a few years later Zoe and Lucy decided to feed the car cookies”

“I cant wait to see what Jazmin and Sarah decide to feed her” he said then turned to glance at him “Hopefully they don’t because I’m not sure we’ll get lucky a third time”

“Popcorn?” Jack had squinted over at his roommate, burger stuck at the corner of his lips as he took a bite. He’d managed to swallow before a grin formed, “always the troublemaker,” Morrison stated matter of factly. “I’m starting to wonder if that’s less a Gabe thing, and more a Reyes thing.” If so, he was walking into a den of lions once this car ride was over.

The burger devoured, he reached for a few fries buried deep in the paper bag, scraped about till he managed to find them. He ate one, two...

The third, however, he edged toward said fans.

“Society dictates that I try to be nice to people this time of the year” he countered looking over at him, “I compromise by being nice to one person and that just happens to be you this year.  Congrats” he smirked.

“I knew I’d get you with burgers” he said getting to his feet again, “Lock the door!” he reminded him as he grabbed his suitcase.

“I’m honored,” Morrison replied with an exaggerated brow, eyes rolled as he gave his roommate a playful shove to the hall.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go,” the door closed behind him.

The trek to the car had been short and filled with banter.

The beginnings of their car ride had been little different. Jack had been passenger before; grocery runs, late night dinners, and even a small trip to a nearby amusement park to see the ocean. But the long haul was already played to be a touch different.

There was a music to the air that wasn’t anything close to punk or heavy metal, maybe soft rock at best. It was... soothing, almost. A soft sort of weight that clung to him like a blanket, warm and inviting. The softer tones of his roommate’s voice had coupled with the lyrics, all too familiar with every song as it played. The only distraction had been the drive thru, a greasy menu, and a smell that was seemingly buried into the car inside and out.

“I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I wasn’t sure” he rolled his eyes, “At the risk of sounding like I have feelings, you’re my bestfriend and it doesn’t sit right with me to leave you here alone”

“So don’t make me throw you in my trunk, Jack, I’d rather have you shot gun to keep me company”

“You? Feelings?” Jack pressed the phone back into his roommate’s hand with a flick of the wrist, he grinned. “Sounds fake.”

“Jackson Attackson Morrison” he said rolling his eyes back over to him as he put on a glare.  “My family ask about you more than they ask about me” he deadpanned. “And yeah, I know you don’t really celebrate Christmas but it’s still a sucky time of the year to be on your own… beside that I don’t want the thought of you eating left overs until I get back to ruin my Christmas.  Really Jack, how inconsiderate of you” he teased.

His phone buzzed and he glanced down to read the message before smirking and turning the screen to face Jack as it continued to buzz as multiple messages came through.

“So unless you want a sad Mamá Reyes to call you up in a few seconds I would agree so I can shoot her a text and tell her I have you in my trunk” he smirked.

A smile cracked, he rolled his eyes. "That's not my middle--" Jack was cut off, but he let his roommate continue, listened, laughed. "Hey, I'm getting better--" He didn't burn things half as much, well, maybe less..

But the phone slipped into his field of view, pressed into his hands and the thought was forgotten. Despite the reassurances, the jokes, he's quiet a moment.

“You’re coming with me, farmboy, Mamá is aware so you can’t say no now” he said sending the text faster than Jack seemed to register what he had said.

“Pack your things” he repeated putting the gift he had gotten for Jack ontop of his suitcase.  He can get it on Christmas now.

“I-- But.. It’s fine, I mean.” He pulled the sweatshirt from his face, “it’s been the plan. It’s not like I really celebrate Christmas.” At least, not with his mother. That had been Hanukah, and it’d always been a rather small occasion. Morrison had enjoyed Christmas with Sam and her family, sure, but--

Well, he didn’t have much excuse for that one.

“How dare you, sir I am a delight” he grinned reaching to get the gift from his bunk.

Then he paused and looked back at him.

“You’re not packing? … you’re staying here for Christmas?” he looked from him to the left overs then back to him.

“…Hell no.  Pack your bag Jack, you’re coming with me” he said picking up the sweatshirt Jack had just put on the chair and threw it back at him. “I’m already telling Mamá, you have no choice” he said already tapping on his phone.

“Says who?” Jack snorted, “your mom?”

He returned his focus to the empty depths of the fridge, there was probably enough to make a meal for tonight, at least. “Yeah? I mean, Sam’s gone to visit her mom out of country, so... Wait.”

“You that ready to be shot of me?” he asked glancing up from his phone, “You’re leaving it a little late to start packing don’t you think?… then again you do travel light” he sat up and pocketed his phone.

“I’m just about to head out actually but I-” wanted to see you before I left? wow Gabriel, “Wanted to make sure you were all set before I left” he shrugged getting up to stretch.

He also had you’re gift but he’d get to that.

“What can I say, it’ll be nice and quiet.” Jack replied with a smile that, as best as he could, tried to remind Gabriel of the time he jump scared him awake. Also the time he came back to their room with bruised ribs, and the time he dragged his drunk ass back--