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p_r_i_s_c_aTitle: Australia
Character: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Word Count: 708
Prompts: Australia
Finished: 17.03.2023
You can find a short version (350 words only) written for Empire Fandom here.
:::
„So,“ Zeke asked,“ you have changed your plans after graduation?“
„Australia,“ Casey answered, and his eyes sparkled.
„Australia,“ Zeke repeated, bewildered. „What's this supposed to mean?“
„I will go there for six months, maybe even a year. Travel around. Work on the farms for some pocket money. Board and lodging are mostly for free.“
For a moment, Zeke could only stare at him. Of course, he had expected Casey to leave Herrington behind after summer. Move to Bosten or maybe New York to visit one of the great colleges. But Australia? Thousands of miles away from home? The lump in his throat grew. No chance of visiting him. Maybe he would never see him again—a devasting idea.
He forced a smile on his lips. „This is a joke, isn't it? Your mom...“
„My mom is not happy about this change of plan,“ Casey admitted. „But she accepts it. Because it is what I really want to do.“
„What's with San Fransisco?“
„Postponed is not abandoned. Australia though... I always dreamed about it to go there for a while. But the flight alone was too expensive.“
„What has changed?“
„You know, my grandma died some months ago, and she left me some money. And a letter. Telling me never to stop following my dreams. "He smiled. "As if she was talking about going to Australia.“
„Understand!“ Zeke swallowed. „And maybe you will fall in love with the continent and never come back.“
Casey laughed. „Don't be silly. My family and friends live here; I could never stay away from them forever. But a tiny bit more distance for a while can't hurt. It's about time that I stand on my own feet.“
Zeke could hold back any longer. „And what's with us?“
„With us?“ Casey looked surprised. „Well, we agreed about what's happening between us, right? It never was a 'and they lived happily together forever' thing. We knew it would end after graduation.“ He frowned when he noticed Zeke's moody face. „Hey, you okay?“
„Sure. Just tired. Long club night yesterday. I might need some time to rest tonight, sorry.“
Ignoring Casey's stunned face, Zeke turned to the GTO, got in, and hit the pedal to the medal. He needed to get away from here, away from Casey. Before he would do something stupid like asking him not to go to Australia because he didn't want to lose him.
:::
Thoughtfully Casey stared after the GTO when Zeke put the pedal to the metal and rushed away. He wasn't sure what to think about this. Sometimes it was hard to know what was going on in Zeke's mind, even after all the weeks they met regularly. But as he said, it had never been serious, just some fun. They had never been close friends, just sex, and some fleetingly talk about movies and music.
At least, until he, Casey, had started to wish that it would be different. He had hidden his feelings from Zeke, well knowing that this would mean the end of whatever they had. But it had gotten harder during the last weeks; all his thought had circled around Zeke only; he hadn't even decided what college he wanted to attend in autumn. MIT had rejected him, but the Massachusetts College of Art and Design had accepted him. Not his first choice, but a good college. Columbia in New York had accepted him, too. Actually not a different decision if there hadn't been Zeke. It would be so much easier to come home from Boston than New York.
Then he got the money and the letter from his grandma. And suddenly, he had known what to do. What he needed was as much distance to Zeke as possible. No chance to go home for a weekend when he missed him too much. And then, one day, he would realize that his life without Zeke was so much easier. So much better. And he would finally be able again to think clearly and make wise decisions for his future.
Casey sighed. At least, he hoped so. For the moment, all he could think about were Zeke's lost eyes when he got into his GTO.
Character: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Word Count: 708
Prompts: Australia
Finished: 17.03.2023
You can find a short version (350 words only) written for Empire Fandom here.
:::
„So,“ Zeke asked,“ you have changed your plans after graduation?“
„Australia,“ Casey answered, and his eyes sparkled.
„Australia,“ Zeke repeated, bewildered. „What's this supposed to mean?“
„I will go there for six months, maybe even a year. Travel around. Work on the farms for some pocket money. Board and lodging are mostly for free.“
For a moment, Zeke could only stare at him. Of course, he had expected Casey to leave Herrington behind after summer. Move to Bosten or maybe New York to visit one of the great colleges. But Australia? Thousands of miles away from home? The lump in his throat grew. No chance of visiting him. Maybe he would never see him again—a devasting idea.
He forced a smile on his lips. „This is a joke, isn't it? Your mom...“
„My mom is not happy about this change of plan,“ Casey admitted. „But she accepts it. Because it is what I really want to do.“
„What's with San Fransisco?“
„Postponed is not abandoned. Australia though... I always dreamed about it to go there for a while. But the flight alone was too expensive.“
„What has changed?“
„You know, my grandma died some months ago, and she left me some money. And a letter. Telling me never to stop following my dreams. "He smiled. "As if she was talking about going to Australia.“
„Understand!“ Zeke swallowed. „And maybe you will fall in love with the continent and never come back.“
Casey laughed. „Don't be silly. My family and friends live here; I could never stay away from them forever. But a tiny bit more distance for a while can't hurt. It's about time that I stand on my own feet.“
Zeke could hold back any longer. „And what's with us?“
„With us?“ Casey looked surprised. „Well, we agreed about what's happening between us, right? It never was a 'and they lived happily together forever' thing. We knew it would end after graduation.“ He frowned when he noticed Zeke's moody face. „Hey, you okay?“
„Sure. Just tired. Long club night yesterday. I might need some time to rest tonight, sorry.“
Ignoring Casey's stunned face, Zeke turned to the GTO, got in, and hit the pedal to the medal. He needed to get away from here, away from Casey. Before he would do something stupid like asking him not to go to Australia because he didn't want to lose him.
:::
Thoughtfully Casey stared after the GTO when Zeke put the pedal to the metal and rushed away. He wasn't sure what to think about this. Sometimes it was hard to know what was going on in Zeke's mind, even after all the weeks they met regularly. But as he said, it had never been serious, just some fun. They had never been close friends, just sex, and some fleetingly talk about movies and music.
At least, until he, Casey, had started to wish that it would be different. He had hidden his feelings from Zeke, well knowing that this would mean the end of whatever they had. But it had gotten harder during the last weeks; all his thought had circled around Zeke only; he hadn't even decided what college he wanted to attend in autumn. MIT had rejected him, but the Massachusetts College of Art and Design had accepted him. Not his first choice, but a good college. Columbia in New York had accepted him, too. Actually not a different decision if there hadn't been Zeke. It would be so much easier to come home from Boston than New York.
Then he got the money and the letter from his grandma. And suddenly, he had known what to do. What he needed was as much distance to Zeke as possible. No chance to go home for a weekend when he missed him too much. And then, one day, he would realize that his life without Zeke was so much easier. So much better. And he would finally be able again to think clearly and make wise decisions for his future.
Casey sighed. At least, he hoped so. For the moment, all he could think about were Zeke's lost eyes when he got into his GTO.