oh, you waste it all (aka running away from camp for cheap thrills)

"I'm making rules." Benjamin snaps, scowling. "You are not to call me any sort of nicknames. This is not up for discussion." He then turns back to his planning, lips pursing slightly. Benjamin has enough money that, if they wanted to, they could take an aeroplane to Los Angeles. That would completely useless. Maybe if they had a mobile home? Benjamin doesn't like the idea of sharing a living space with Taleis, but c'est la vie.

"It's hardly a master plan." Benjamin scoffs disdainfully. "We'll get an RV." He says finally, nodding once.

I'm not whole.

Benjamin's lip curls, and he wants to strangle Taleis. He really should turn back now and try to do something scientific with Victoria. Then he realises that that's probably Taleis's plan, and a wide smile blooms on his face. He sidles up to Taleis, a sugar-sweet smile pulling the corners of his Cupid's bow lips up.

"Of course, darling." The word almost dies in his throat, but he forces it out. "I expect nothing less. And these legs of mine would fit into any bed with you in it." Benjamin winks suggestively, and then steps away from Taleis, resuming his stride.

I'm not whole.

Two can play at this game, Benjamin thinks. What would successfully unnerve Taleis enough that he would stop? Ian made Benjamin rather uncomfortable, with the touching... Benjamin doesn't say anything for a while, and then he slows down again (honestly, can't Taleis go any faster?), walking alongside Taleis.

He scoots close to the shorter boy and wraps an arm around his shoulders, fingers pressing into his arm. "Well, sweet," he bats his eyelashes right back, and deepens his voice just a tad, "it's rather simple--uptown Manhattan." He doesn't let go of Taleis, merely uses his free hand to pull his phone from his pocket. He taps away on the screen, searching for an exact place. Hopefully Taleis will jerk away, any time now...

I'm not whole.

“Ugh,” Benjamin’s lip curls, and he shoves Taleis away. “You’re disgusting.” So yes, maybe disgusting was not the correct word, but it doesn’t matter. Taleis doesn’t matter. “Besides, that much stupidity is unforgivable.” He adds on, but he doesn’t put any real emotion into the scathing remark, because he’s busy scrolling through his phone. He finds a good RV (but for the love of god, couldn’t they have one where there were two beds? Apparently not), and taps on the phone number. He prefers to text, but it really can’t be helped.

“Hello, I’d like to reserve the type C RV—yes, that one. As soon as possible. No, I’ll come for it myself. Thank you.” He flicks off his phone, slipping it back into his pocket. His fingers tap against his thigh as he walks, and then he turns to Taleis.

“If anyone asks, I’m twenty years old. Got it?” He says. Just to make sure he won’t slip up.

I'm not whole.

Benjamin narrows his eyes at Taleis. He's pretty sure that Taleis won't give him away (what good would it do him?), but he's not 100% sure. Taleis is more annoying than Louise or Ian ever were, but Benjamin thinks he's clever enough to go along with the ruse, as long as it benefits him. He looks away, sinking his teeth into his lower lip thoughtfully.

"How old are you, anyway?" Benjamin asks. He thinks the shorter boy is about Benjamin's age, but then again age is a tricky thing, and although he'll never admit it, he's been wrong before. He remembers Erin, and how the premature wariness that was clear on her face aged her. She was younger than he'd thought, but it didn't really matter to him because it didn't change her in his eyes at all. He fights against the tiny surge of affection that threatens to pull the corners of his lips up.

Taleis can't see that, he's not allowed to.

I'm not whole.

Benjamin watches Taleis kick a rock childishly, something like a pout on his face. He smirks smugly until Taleis says how old he is. Damn. He's older than Benjamin by almost a year. Benjamin's not sure why that upsets him, but it just does. Like a gnat, buzzing too close to his ear. He shoves the annoyance away, taking a sharp breath of the cool, crisp air.They walk in silence for a long while, and Benjamin's glad--it gives him time to think.

Soon, however, the dirt path widens onto a road, and the road leads to the city. Bronx, if Benjamin is correct, and he is. Clearing his throat, he tells Taleis so. "Bronx is up ahead. We'll take a bus to Manhattan, upper east side. That's where we'll pick up the RV." He slips his fake ID from his pocket, wiggling it between his fingers. "Normally, the service only rents to people of twenty years of age or higher, but I can get around that." He puts the ID back in his pocket and hesitates.

In a rare show of charity, he tentatively offers, "I can get you one if you'd like. For, you know, drinking purposes and whatnot. I've got a contact in Queens." He can't quite keep the shyness from his tone and expression, but he's pretty sure Taleis won't pick up on it. The only people who could (probably) are Victoria, and maybe Erin. Mark could, too, but. But that was insignificant now anyways.

I'm not whole.

I'm not whole.