Chapter Text
“Chase!” Ross called over his shoulder as he and the other two began to walk away, “You coming?”
Chase shook his head, “I'm just going to stay here a bit longer. I'll meet you guys back at the room in about an hour.”
Ross shrugged and began chatting, making his way off the pier with Danielle, but Simon stayed behind and walked to Chase.
“You good?” He asked, his messy dark brown hair blowing around rapidly in the wind.
Yeah,” Chase said with a smile and nudged his friend reassuringly, “I just want to be alone for a bit is all.”
Simon gave him a questioning look.
“Seriously, I'm fine,” Chase said, “I just want some quiet for a sec.”
Simon nodded and pat Chase on the shoulder, “Alright, dude.” He said, and began walking away, “I'll see you back at the room.” Simon added over his shoulder, stuffing his hand in the pockets of his unzipped light grey hoodie, and began walking briskly toward Danielle and Ross who had stopped to wait just up ahead.
Chase waved to Ross and Danielle, who waved back, then watched as his friends slowly drifted out of view down the long, lamp lit pier.
Once out of view, he lowered his head onto his arms and sighed, looking down to the ocean water below.
He wasn't sad, so to speak. But this vacation felt rather strange.
He was happy to be spending it with his friends, but maybe he was a bit down because this was the first vacation he's had since his parents passed away.
Chase sighed again, rocking his head over to rest his cheek on his arm rather than his chin.
“Excuse me.” A deep voice said suddenly from beside Chase, causing him to jump slightly.
Chase perked his head up to look at the man standing slightly behind him.
“May I join you?” The man asked, his shoulders slightly hunched and head looking towards the end of the pier and not at Chase.
Inwardly, Chase groaned but outwardly he smiled and replied, “Sure.”
As he walked closer and placed his arms on the wooden railing of the pier, Chase took in the man’s appearance.
He was wearing an unbuttoned black polo shirt and black pants, and looked about Chase's age, or perhaps maybe just slightly older.
The man leaned on the railing about four feet from Chase and looked down into the water.
Chase just returned to looking in the water below, hoping the guy would leave soon.
After a minute of silence, the guy broke it, “I um know you, by the way. Chase Hollow, right?” the man asked.
“Yeah?” Chase said skeptically, eyes looking from the water towards the man, an eyebrow raised in cautious interest.
“I'm a follower of yours- on your VidTub account. I… um like your singing.” The man replied.
Chase's eyes went wide, shocked that out of his handful of fans/ subscribers he'd actually met one in real life.
Chase smiled, “O-oh! Wow! Yeah, that's me!”
The other man smiled back, “I thought so. It's nice to meet you in person.” the raven-haired man said, then looked back to the water.
“Um,” the raven-haired man continued nervously, “I also hope it's ok I'm here. I didn't expect to see you in real life, and I asked to join you to be sure it was you, so…” the other man trailed off.
“It's totally cool!” Chase said, “I've never met a fan in real life before.” He added.
“Oh, really?” The man asked, in slight surprise.
“Yep!” Chase said, “Never. I feel so famous right now!” The blonde beamed.
The raven-haired man grinned, and the wind blew their hair wildly around.
“So,” Chase began, “What're you doing here in Florida, anyway? You live here or on vacation or something?” He asked.
The other man's face dropped instantly. The smile faded and was now replaced with a serious, cold expression as he turned away from Chase, towards the ocean below.
“I'm here on work.” He said, coldly, as his nails dug into the wood of the pier.
Chase gulped at the sudden shift in mood, “what, uh, kinda work is that?”
The raven-haired stranger glanced over to Chase, his eyes now cold and piercing.
Before Chase could try to change the topic, the man's eyes softened with a sigh and returned to the ocean, “Let's just say I work for the government.” He said.
The two of them sat in silence, only the sounds of the ocean hitting the pier was heard, as well as voices from the few people left on the pier since it was about 45 minutes from closing.
Eventually, the pale man looked back to Chase, meeting the blonde's eyes which were looking at him curiously, waiting patiently for him to continue.
The stranger bit his lip and ran a hand through his hair as he sighed again, eyes looking away from the blonde, “I… subtract numbers.” He added nervously.
Chase tilted his head curiously, still confused, “Like… an accountant?” He asked.
The black-haired man scoffed, “That is actually my official job title, yes.” He replied, crossing his arms and gazing down to the black ocean below.
“What about unofficially?” Chase asked softly.
The man exhaled slowly, “Let’s just stick to my official job title.” he said, somberly.
The stranger slowly looked to Chase again after the silence dragged on.
Honey brown eyes full of warmth and care gleamed gently back at him, the lamp of the pier making those eyes so welcoming, like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night.
The man gulped, wanting to see to see those eyes more, briefly imagining a future where he could see those eyes every day and every night.
Every morning.
Instead of making up an excuse or trying to get away from this mysterious stranger- like any normal person should- Chase instead asked, “What's your name.”
The man's eyes widened, “Uh-” he stuttered, eyes locked in the embrace of the honey brown eyes, “C-call me… Buddy.” The raven-haired man replied.
“Buddy.” Chase whispered back, gazing into the light blue eyes of the other man. Blue eyes that were very bright and beautiful, unlike any kind of eyes he’d ever seen.
Yet, also so full of… sadness or coldness.
Loneliness?
Buddy gulped, his cheeks heating up at the false name he'd given and turned his head back to the ocean below.
“Listen, um-” Buddy began again after a minute, “I've got to get to work once this pier closes. Would you mind maybe um- well if it's alright- if you let me join you for a while longer? At least until then?”
Chase smiled at Buddy, “Sure,” he said.
A soft, sly grin spread across Chase’s face as he got an idea, “If you join me for dinner.” He added slyly.
Buddy jerked his head to Chase, eyes wide again. His pale face an even brighter red from before.
“Uh-” Buddy began.
“Oh, you don't have to,” Chase interrupted quickly, waving his hands, “And nothing like a date or anything, I just-” Chase paused as he considered exactly what he meant.
There was something about this guy he just wanted to know more about.
Sure, he seemed sad and lonely and that was Chase's type of guy, sure, but he also just- truly he just wanted to make sure this guy was ok.
This mysterious guy who made his teenage self swell back up.
This guy who was a walking red flag based on just how little he was giving Chase about his job.
This guy named Buddy who he was getting a soft spot for and wanted to hug even though he’d never met him, who seemed like a sad, lonely kitten lost in the rain.
But while Chase’s teenage past self was swelling up with interest in Buddy, his adult mind was thinking about Buddy’s job. Specifically, about how Buddy’s job made it seem like he wasn't happy, and if Chase could help him get out of that- or even perhaps get Buddy’s mind off of that- well, he'd be very happy.
And who knows, maybe they'd be good friends…
Or something.
Maybe.
“I just think you're cool.” Chase finished.
Buddy's face was surprised, “You think I'm cool?” He asked slowly, face lighting up in surprise.
“Well, yeah.” Chase said, chuckling nervously, turning back to look at the distant ocean, “I dunno…” He added nervously.
Buddy smiled, his eyes darting to the side as a small blush formed again, “Well, I'd love to join you for dinner, but unfortunately,” Buddy sighed, “As I said I've got work so, I’m sorry, but-”
“Oh, sorry,” Chase interrupted, “I meant tomorrow night.”
“Oh.” Buddy replied, “Well, then, yeah. I can do that. Do you have a place in mind-”
“Anywhere with a gluten free menu and with plenty of good reviews that it's actually celiac safe.” Chase said.
The man nodded.
A moment later, a sly smirk grew on his lips, and he leaned his head teasingly toward Chase, eyeing down at him, “So you want me to choose?” He asked, teasingly, “Despite the possibility of you dying? Sounds… dangerous.” Buddy purred.
Chase gulped, mouth agape at the pretty man who was… surely- maybe? - hitting on him.
At Chase’s silence and blushing cheeks, the man pressed on, “Not to mention the dangers of asking a complete stranger out on a date- especially one who just so happens to know who you are off the internet. For all you know, I could be your stalker.”
Chase leaned back, his mouth clamped shut and gulped.
Buddy’s sly grin faded immediately, replaced with worry.
“Ah, sorry. Too much?” Buddy asked, backing away from Chase and resting his arms on the wooden pier railing.
“I’ve never done this before and meant it…” Buddy said, trailing off and running a hand through his hair. “It’s so much… different.” He added, mumbling to himself.
At the man’s reaction, Chase rolled his eyes playfully, snapping back into how he and Buddy were acting before he teased him. “Yes. I'd like to see just how capable Mr. Government Job is.” Chase smiled and gave Buddy a playful, gentle shove on his shoulder.
Shockingly, that made Buddy chuckle, and he even gave a quick snort which quickly turned into a cough.
“You alright?” Chase asked.
“Think I swallowed a bug.” The man said.
After the coughing stopped, Buddy pulled out his phone, “If I may, what's your number?”
Chase’s cheeks warmed again as he began to recite his number but forgot halfway through and just stared at Buddy.
Chase, unable to remember his own number, began reciting different phone numbers he knew, stopping himself mid-way through each one as he realized it was not the correct one.
This caused Buddy to laugh and snort, which lead Chase to realize snorting was Buddy’s laugh, which made Chase start to laugh as well, which then made Buddy start to laugh even harder and snort even more until they both laughed at with other like two drunk people who thought anything and everything was funny.
After the two calmed down, Chase finally gave Buddy his number, and the two stood side by side staring out into the distance, listening to the waves and watching the twinkling lights of Panama City, Florida in the distance.
The remainder of their half hour together on the pier was spent between bits of silence, light conversation, and light laughter as the two now not-so-strangers enjoyed each other’s company until Buddy had to leave and they both left walking off the pier together until they reached the end.
On the sidewalk next to the pier, they exchanged awkward waves goodbye and Chase watched as Buddy disappeared down the sidewalk, passing hotels and fading out of sight into the night for his job before he began walking to his own hotel room.
Once inside, Chase toed off his flip flops and walked to his room, still smiling, even as he opened the door to the room he and Simon shared, where Simon was laying watching tv in his own bed, waiting for Chase as he had said he would be before he’d left the pier.