betsy: Day One

Lars stepped into the airport. American air smelt different. It felt thicker, as if the air itself tried to breathe in the population and all the opportunity. Or maybe it was just pollution, he couldn’t really tell. He breathed in deeply, his pale green eyes scanning the surroundings.

“WOO! LARS!”

A small skinny male, yelled and lifted his shirt as if his chest would be something to recognize. There was a small tuft of hair there that Lars did recognize.

“LARS! LOOK HERE!”

Lars squinted to see his name spelt across River’s chest. He wasn’t sure a brown marker was the best choice when his skin was already so tan.

Lars shyly approached River, trying to ignore the gaping eyes of the other people in the airport. He could feel his cheeks burning, and River quickly wrapped his arms around Lars neck. Lars felt the light weight of River as he completely leaned against him. River kissed under his chin, groping Lars’ extensive rear.

When Lars opened his eyes after the kiss, he stared into River’s red-stained blue eyes. He was stoned. Why would he want to be stoned the first time he saw Lars in America? Lars pulled down River’s shirt and felt River crawl up his body. He ultimately shat on Lars’ hunched shoulders, leaning on his head.

“Let’s get your luggage!” River announced as if it would be a grand adventure.

“Okay,” Lars said, trying to be enthusiastic for River.

Lars hobbled, carrying River over to the luggage. Lars grabbed his suitcase from the baggage carousel, and he grabbed River as River tried to climb on. River whined. “Come on,” River said. “Let’s play on it.”

“It was a long flight,” Lars said. “I kind of just want to crash.”

“Do you want to crash with me?” River asked, leaning back against Lars, kissing his chin.

“Sure,” Lars said quickly.

River curled back against Lars, wrapping around him as if Lars was wearing a backpack on backwards. He had a hard time supporting River while carrying the suitcase. “Hey, I don’t know where I should go,” Lars said.

River jumped off of him. “Let me lead the way!” he demanded. “Follow me.”

River kept his arms in the air, helping Lars see him through the crowd in the airport. He had to keep a quick pace to follow him, and he found himself out of breath. His cheeks burned from the pressure, but as he stepped out into the (somewhat fresher) air, he saw River holding onto a cab. “I don’t have any American money,” Lars said.

“I’ll pay for the cab,” River said, simply.

Lars watched the cab driver help him with the suitcase. River already was sitting in the cab, the car moving up and down in tune with River’s vibrations. Lars worried River would try to make out with him in the cab. He wasn’t sure he could handle the cab driver watching them through the rear view mirror.