53

Winston doesn't have that many things. Most of his stuff collected throughout his life was left behind when his parents--threw him out. It was left behind, and he didn't feel like replacing them with meaningless copies, and so the only things he's really bringing to the Gary's place is boxes of clothes, a few second-hand mugs he's gotten attached to, and his electronics. The rest; the furniture, the sheets, the sole rug... it'll be left behind for the next tenant.

He doesn't need it.

But more importantly, he doesn't want it.

The four boxes stand collected in the middle of the apartment, and he carefully places down each and every thing he wants to keep. Makes extra certain any delicate objects are protected by cloth or bubble-plastic or both.

Jason put on music at some point, using wireless speakers to ensure the everybody could hear it, and as a familiar song starts playing Winston bobs his head in time with the music, humming the melody under his breath. He sways a bit as he stands, the blood rushing through his stiff body, and stretches. Bends down to properly close the box just as Gary comes up stand behind him, tossing his arm over Winston's shoulder. "Is that the last of it?" Gary asks, leaning forward.

"Yeah."

Gary hums, dragging out the noise to the longest possible point. Winston allows both the hanging and the humming, glancing at Jason emerging from the bathroom with a plastic bag. The single bag is enough for all his toiletries and Winston holds out his hand to receive it, but Jason pouts and instead holds it to his chest like it's a fragile little baby.

Winston raises an eyebrow. Jason stares at him challengly. Gary giggles.

"Fine," Winston gives in first. He rolls his eyes and says magnanimously, "You can carry that if it means that much to you."

"It does," Jason solemnly declares.

Winston's lips twitch. He turns his attention to Gary so he doesn't give away what an utter loser he is, which doesn't much help considering how obvious Gary's amusement is in his expression. Winston sighs, and allows himself to be maneuvered around by Gary when his door is kicked open and Liam saunters in, sunglasses on and a beanie on top, already clicking his tongue and scowling at everyone.

"Are you done?" Liam demands, not a shred of patience. He stomps over before anyone can answer and tears the toiletry bag out of Jason's hands, declaring imperiously, "I'm taking this, and you guys get your shit together. We gotta go."

Jason stares at his empty hands, eyes wide and forlorn. "Okay," he says, subdued, and Winston shakes off Gary to go to Jason. He pats Jason's arm, taking his hand, and Jason lights up like a torch. "okay," repeats Jason but in a markedly more upbeat tone. Winston smiles.

They carry down the boxes, and Winston locks the door, shoving his key through the mailbox.

Even if he's forgotten something, he's not coming back here.

In the car, Janet drives. She and Liam are sitting up front, and they both sing to the radio's various songs while Jason, Gary and Winston occupy the back and silently judge them. They're not good singers, and they barely even seem to know what the lyrics are.

It's kind of ridiculous.

But Winston doesn't mind. He holds onto Jason's hand, leans on Gary, and watches the view go by. It's not snowing, hasn't for a few days, but piles of snow can still be found in corners on the streets. Some more snow lingers on rooftops, while the roads are slushy messes, more water than anything else, and his boots already bare the evidence.

The car stops not far from the apartment Gary and his family lives in, and Winston ambles around outside the car while Janet parks it just right, barely managing to squeeze along the sidewalk, between a car in front and one in back.

Gary's jumping on his toes beside Winston, blowing on his bare hands every few seconds. It's barely three in the afternoon, but the chill is biting and the sun has begun to hide behind the city-line.

Janet emerges from the car, shaking her hands and sighing. "Alright," she says, Liam only now getting out and slothing his way around the car, dragging his feet so much it's comical, and Winston smiles. Janet declares, "Get something each, we're going up."

Liam smugly holds up his bag of toiletries and totters off. Winston laughs, raising a hand to hide it, and stands in line as Janet opens the large trunk of the car. He's already got his schoolbag, full to the brim and hanging off one of his shoulders. He eyes the band as he grabs for one of the boxes, his entire weight redistributing on his legs as he gets ahold of it.

Exhaling, he blows up his cheeks on the next inhale and holds his breath, moving backwards to make room for Jason.

"Careful," says Jason, placing a hand on Winston's back and supporting him as Winston stumbles around.

"Thanks," Winston breathes, already starting to wheeze. He does the wise thing and says, "I'll get going," before he tips over. He's not sure which box he grabbed, but it was a bad choice and he regrets it. Deeply.

Ow.

Stumbling his way up the stairs, he looks up near the second floor and sees Liam lingering in the middle of the staircase, tapping his foot. When Liam spots him, the kid clicks his tongue, announces "Loser" like it's a title and a declaration of profound disappointment all in one, and he stomps down to meet Winston.

Without another word, Liam grabs a hold of the other side of the box and together, they carry it all the to the apartment's door.

Afterwards, Winston's body is an aching mess from top to bottom. He sinks into the sofa in the living room, body loose-limbed and entirely incapable of doing anything at all now. Every minor movement hurts.

He groans, carefully putting his hand over his eyes, wincing all the while.

"You good?" Jason asks, settling beside him. It's the first time he's ever been here and Winston should be paying more attention to him, should be making sure he's comfortable, but he can't really move right now. The best he manages is a rough groan. Jason laughs a little, gently, and puts his hand on Winston's ankle, patting. It's warm, and Winston presses into it.

"Hungry?" Jason asks after a while, Gary puttering around them with Winston's things. Winston should also probably care about what Gary is doing with them; entirely taking over the unpacking and sorting.

He doesn't, though. He trusts Gary.

"Yeah," Winston mushes out, muscles flexing. His stomach is empty, but then Jason's touch more than makes up for it, and he'd quite frankly be fine just sitting here until the ends of time.

Liam walks passed them and gags.

It's kind of perfect.

"I-" Gary plops down on Jason's other side, Winston forced to pull his legs up to make room for him. His feet end up landing on Jason's lap, and Gary continues, "Have so many regrets."

"Same," Winston says.

"You've worked hard," Jason says, patting Gary's head perfunctorily. Winston bites his lip, delighted in Gary's annoyed groan, and he wiggles his feet a little on Jason. Jason, in turn, pats them without a word.

"I'll fix up dinner," Jason declares, patting both Gary and Winston at the same time. Liam, who is once more passing by and gagging, scoffs.

Jason doesn't react, already used to Liam being Liam.

Liam walks around the couch and sits on one of two armchairs in the living room, looking at them with narrowed eyes. "Isn't it weird?" he finally asks, and it takes Winston a second to realize that 1, Liam is addressing Jason, and 2, Liam's voice is absent of the usual contempt. When he gets no response, Liam rolls his eyes and adds, "Isn't it weird that your boyfriend is so close with another guy?"

Jason's heads slowly tilts, eyebrows furrowing. "They're best friends," is what Jason ends up saying in a decidedly confused tone.

Winston glances between Liam and Jason, trying to understand what the point of this conversation is, and finally drawls, "Liam's just confused because I'm such a cool guy and I could do leagues better than both of you." And he even sniffs condescendingly.

Jason snorts at the same time as Gary bursts into giggles.