Chapter Text
“You can’t do that to me!”Inej cried out indignantly. She slammed her finger down on the spacebar on her laptop, pausing whatever Christmas movie Kaz had half- heartedly protested watching an hour ago, he didn’t actually know (or care) what she was making him watch.. Kaz shifted his weight to one side so he could face her.
“I can and I will”, he said matter of factly, “There is literally no reason for you to know about it”.
“But that’s not fair!”, Inej said, gesturing wildly with her arms, “I want to know!”.
“So?”Kaz said, turning his attention back to his own laptop, where he was working on what Inej liked to call “Super secret Kaz shit” or “SSKS” for short (she only called it that to confuse Jesper).
Inej let out an outraged sigh and pressed play on her laptop again. She didn’t notice him smile at her antics, and she definitely didn’t notice him slip a folded piece of paper in her bag, which was conveniently lying open beside him on the bed.
Kaz looked at the laptop , at which Inej was staring at transfixed in whatever film she’d elected, it took him a minute to figure out the big hairy green thing was the grinch. He remembered watching the grinch at the farm and how they’d all tease Jesper about being the grinch, even though he was the furthest from saying bah humbug out of all of them.
Kaz remembered one year, Jesper was so fed up with the comparison, he had made a powerpoint with 22 slides about all the reasons the comparison was “misguided and a form of bullying” if it hadn’t been so stupid Kaz might have actually been impressed, until Jesper blasted 22 by Taylor Swift through the entire presentation ‘just because he could’ and ‘there were 22 slides, I had to!’.
He smiled to himself at the fondness of the memory, he loved Christmas at the farm. He would never say it out loud, but he was excited to be going there for Christmas. He was also very excited to be sharing it with Inej for the first time. Kaz had a surprise planned for Inej for boxing day if all went according to plan. But it did involve trusting Jesper with his car, which could go many different ways. He tore his thoughts from the past and back to his work, but not before he noticed Inej shivering.
“Inej”, he said, his voice hoarse, “Are you cold?”
She looked over to him, still blatantly shivering, “No”, she said, teeth chattering.
He rolled his eyes at her, she was nearly as bad as him, “Are you sure about that?”
“What was the point of asking if you aren’t going to listen”.
Kaz pulled the hoodie he was wearing over his head and dropped it in Inej’s lap, “Don’t catch a cold”.
She pulled the hoodie over her head and it practically drowned her, Kaz couldn’t help but smile. It was a small smile, barely noticeable, but it was there.
“Stop it you”, she muttered, before wrapping the hoodie around herself and cuddling it. Her attention turned back to her movie and his back to his work.
After finishing up his work he decided he’d pay attention to the movie. He slowly closed his laptop, quietly so as to not disturb Inej. He left it on his bedside table and moved so that he was facing her laptop. He snuck a glance at Inej, she was curled up with her knees to her chest and she had her chin tucked into the hoodie. She was smiling softly to herself, the corners of her lips lifting up. Kaz’s gaze was lingering on her lips when she turned her head to look at him. His gaze snapped up and he noticed her eyes sparkling. She was grinning at him, holding back laughter. He dipped his head in acknowledgment. She let out a loud laugh and proceeded to clamp both hands (which were both covered by his hoodie) over her mouth, her eyes wide and guilty.
“That was loud”, she whispered, yet to take her left hand of her mouth, as if she didn’t trust herself not to laugh again.
“Nina’s going to kill you if you wake her up”, Kaz said quietly.
“I know Kaz”, she whisper-shouted at him, “What do I do?”. The panic in her eyes almost made Kaz feel sorry for her, almost.
“Flee the country”, Kaz suggested matter of factly.
“Kaz, I’m serious”, Inej was gesturing wildly with her hands and Kaz had to duck to avoid being hit in the face.
“Just bribe her with waffles, Inej”.
She nodded slowly, “Smart”.
They finish the movie, Inej shuts her laptop and jumps off the bed, “You want to play cards?” she asks Kaz, already pulling her favourite deck from his shelf.
Technically it was her deck of cards, but she kept them with his because she was too scared to lose them. They were last year's Christmas presents from Kaz, when he’d promised to teach her how to play. He’d taught her and he’d taught her well, she could beat any of them at cards except Kaz, but nobody counted him, he was impossible to beat.
Inej walked back over to the bed and handed him the deck to shuffle, she watched him do it, the master at work. They played a couple games of cards (Kaz won them all) before it was time to wake the others up.
Inej tasked Kaz with dealing with Jesper and Wylan while she tackled Matthias. Then as Kaz, Jesper, Wylan and Inej loaded Kaz’s car they’d make Matthias wake Nina. It seemed like a solid plan so Kaz left with no complaints to wake Jesper and Wylan. It turned out he didn’t need to, they had pulled an all nighter which was because (Kaz assumed) they just enjoyed making his life difficult. He regretted agreeing to drive them all down, but they all knew no one else would be allowed to touch his car.
Kaz herded Jesper and Wylan out of their dorm and towards his room to grab his and Inej’s luggage. That was when he heard Jesper whisper, “Do you think he’ll be mad when he finds out?”.
Kaz turned, eyes narrowed at Jesper, “What did you do”.
“Well Kazzle dazzle”, he said, smiling half awkwardly, half fearing for his life.
“Don’t call me that”.
“You see”, Jesper dragged his words out, “I might not have packed yet”.
Kaz stared at Jesper, waiting for him to laugh and admit he was joking, when that didn’t happen he let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair, “Go fucking pack Jesper”, Kaz practically growled at him.
Jesper didn’t need to be told twice. He fled as soon as Kaz had finished speaking. Kaz and Wylan were halfway through loading the car by the time Inej arrived, she was grinning as if she had just won the lottery, “Why are you so happy?” Wylan asked her, eyebrows raised.
“Remember how we were joking that Matthias would like the Rock’s song, the one that says it’s about drive or power or something”. Kaz and Wylan both nodded, so she continued, “Well I just found him listening to it on repeat and singing it”, Wylan let out a loud cackle and Inej giggled along with him. Kaz smirked, “I wish I had seen that,” he said.
“He’s waking Nina up now”, Inej looked around, “Wait, where's Jes?”
Kaz rolled his eyes and Wylan sighed good naturedly, “Someone left his packing until the last minute”.
“Oh no,he didn’t!” Inej exclaimed, shaking her head.
“Yes he did”, Kaz muttered, definitely not good naturedly.
“Is he done yet?”Inej asked.
“Probably”, Wylan said, closing the boot of the car, “He’s too scared of Kaz not to be”.
The three of them headed back upstairs to bring down the rest of the luggage. Once they reached the 4th floor Inej left to check Kaz’s room to make sure they’d both remembered everything, she joined them after 10 minutes of checking. Inej found them in Jesper and Wylan’s room, Kaz was standing in the corner glaring at Jesper arms crossed. Inej couldn’t help but snort. Everyone turned to look at her.
“What?” she said grinning, “How is that not funny to you”, she pointed to Kaz huffing in the corner, “It’s Hilarious”.
Nobody said anything in return, the boys resumed what they were doing. For Jesper, it was zipping up his suitcase, for Wylan it was writing something on his little handheld whiteboard (Inej assumed it was chemistry homework). Kaz didn’t need to resume anything, he hadn’t uncrossed his arms. Inej rolled her eyes and took pity on Jesper, she grabbed Kaz’s sleeve and dragged him with her.
“Where are we going?” he asked her, arms finally uncrossed, letting her drag him.
“To find Matty and Nina”, she knocked sharply on the door of her and Nina’s shared dorm and pushed it open. They stepped in to see clothes everywhere on Nina’s side of the room. Kaz couldn’t see an inch of the floor, it was completely covered in the sea of tops, skirts and jeans.
Matthias was sitting on Inej’s bed watching Nina try to shove clothes into her and Inej’s shared closet space (It wasn’t working). Kaz cleared his throat and they both looked up.
“We going?” Nina asked, already grabbing her suitcase.
Kaz nodded silently and Inej smiled and grabbed one of Nina’s bags. Kaz grabbed the one next to it and they stood in the hallway while Matthias grabbed a bag and so did Nina. Once they were all in the corridor Nina locked the door and Matthias grabbed the bag Kaz was carrying, Kaz turned to glare at him, “I can carry a bag Matthias”.
“Don’t look at me”, Matthias grunted, looking terrified, “Nina told me to”.
“Way to sell me out, thanks”.
“I can carry a bag Nina”.
“Inej told me to take it!” Nina exclaimed indignantly.
“Inej.Care to explain?” Kaz asked her hoarsely.
“Nope.”
“That’s not an option”, Kaz said, attempting to take the bag from Matthias.
“It is now”, she said, smiling sweetly.
Kaz had successfully taken the bag from Matthias when Nina snatched it from him.
“Come on Kazzle”, She said, “You’ll bust your knee carrying this down the stairs”.
Kaz let out a sigh, “Fine, but hurry up”.
*
Kaz and Inej had planned their journey out so it would take two days, with a stop overnight in a hotel halfway there. The hotel was called the Emerald palace and had been suspiciously cheap in Kaz’s opinion. Nina had been put in charge of booking arrangements and Kaz regretfully hadn’t seen any paperwork yet.
Inej leaned over to talk to him, his eyes didn’t leave the road. As she was whispering they heard a camera click, both heads swivelled back to find Nina smiling widely at them. Kaz glared at her and Inej flipped her off. She was more surprised Nina was awake than that she was being some sort of stalker.
*
6:04am
@NinaZenik posted!
[ photo of Inej and Kaz talking, Inej leaning over, hair falling to cover most of her face, small smile to be seen on kaz’s face, bottom half of the screen taken up by wylan’s hair]
@NinaZenik: ROADTRIPP!!!!!!! Seriously tho, Kaz is going to kill me for this photo.
#kanej feat: wylans massive head.
Tagged People: None
Liked by @Friendhsip(Jesper), @WylanTheScienceGuy and others.
Comments
@JordieIsBetterThanYou : #KANEJ #OTP. NINA YOU ANGEL, also r.i.p you xx
@WylanTheScienceGuy: my head is the main character in that photo, shut up
@Friendship(Jesper): you wrote it wrong nina, my boyfriends amazing thinky brain feat: some kanej thing
See More Comments
6:46am
@Inej.Here
[ photo of two cups of boba being held in front of a car, one light purple drink held by what looks to be Inej’s hand and a light orange drink held by a gloved hand, looks to be Kaz’s. Through the window in the car, the figures of Jesper and Wylan asleep are visible, as well as Nina and Matthias ]
@Inej.Here: Nina doesn’t deserve boba.
Tagged People: @KazBreaksThings
Liked by @MatthiasH, @KazBreaksThings and others.
Comments
@ColmFahey: That looks lovely Inej!
@Friendship(Jesper): YOU GOT ME NOTHING?
@JordieIsBetterThanYou: ugh now i want boba
@NinaZenik: HOW COULD YOU INEJ. I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS, WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE FRIENDS *violently sobs to make you feel bad*
@Inej.Here Replying to @Nina.Zenik: … we still got you boba, you just don't deserve it
8:12am
@NinaZenik
[ photo of two brownies on a napkin, lying on Nina’s lap. One has a bit taken out of it. There’s a hand reaching to grab the other. ]
@NinaZenik: No brownie for Inej. Feat:Jesper tryna steal my food.
Tagged People: @Friendhsip(Jesper)
Liked by @Friendhsip(Jesper), @MatthiasH and others.
Comments
@Inej.Here: I don’t want your stupid brownies anyway
@Friendship(Jesper): that was a gooood browniee
@JorideIsBetterThanYou: you saved one for me right?
@NinaZenik replying to @JordieIsBetterThanYou: …sure
*
It was just past five o’clock when they reached the hotel and Kaz finally heard about the sleeping arrangements, he knew now why Nina hadn’t said anything. She’d booked three rooms, reasonable, except she’d booked room one under her and Matthias’ names, room two was under Jesper and Wylan’s names. And room three under his and Inej’s. The six of them agreed to go unpack and check out the rooms before meeting again at six o’clock. While the others left to use the stairs Inej insisted Kaz and her use the lift because, “If you bust your knee I'm not taking you to the hospital”.
Kaz opened the door and they both hauled their bags inside. That was when he saw it, there was only one bed. He was going to kill Nina.
*
Nina practically ran to Jesper and Wylan’s room after she and Matthias finished unpacking. They hadn’t closed the door right and she burst through. She found them having a pillow fight. Jesper had commandeered a corner of the room and made a pillow fort and Wylan was using the bed for cover. They both looked guilty when they saw Nina.
“Jesper is a bad influence on you”, she pointed out to Wylan, making herself comfortable on the armchair in the corner.
“I’m not!”Jesper called indignantly across the room at her, he scurried to pick up the pillows and return them to their rightful places. Wylan did the same. Nina laughed at them.
Once they’d cleared up Wylan looked at her strangely, “You’re early”.
“Why yes Wylan. I am indeed”.
Jesper now had a similar expression, “Why aren’t you in your room sucking Matty’s face off?”
Nina scowled at him, “I don’t suck his face off”, she grinned, “Anyway. Kanej”.
Jesper and Wylan shared her grin, “What happened?”
“They’re rooming together and …drumroll please”.
Wylan and Jesper both started drum rolling, attempting to drum faster than the other until Nina stopped them, “THERE’S ONLY ONE BED!”.
Neither of them reacted. Jesper tilted his head to the side, “Nina, are you sure you’ve thought this through?”.
“Don’t worry, I checked with Jordie about Kaz and the skin touching stuff and I already know how Inej handles it”.
Wylan nodded slowly, starting to smile again, “Well if you’re sure…”.
Nina nodded vigorously, “Of course I am, I love that little rat!”, she waved her hand dismissively, “He sleeps under the duvet and Inej sleeps on top of the duvet with a blanket”.
Jesper grinned and stuck his hand out, “Operation kanej on three?”
The others nodded and stuck their hands in, “THREE”, they shouted together.
“TWO”.
“ON-” the door opened as they were halfway through saying one, they all looked towards the door, eyes wide. To see Matthias staring at them and once he’d come through and they were planning to restart the chant, Kaz walked through the door followed by Inej.
Kaz’s arms were crossed, “What is that racket about?”
Nina, Jesper and Wylan quickly shoved their arms behind their backs, “I don’t know what you’re talking about Kazzle”, Jesper said, winking at him.
Kaz sighed and rolled his eyes, “Fine. I’m only here to tell you I’m going to pick up dinner, what does everyone want and who’s coming with me to carry it.”
“Can we get mcdonalds?” Wylan asked.
“Sure. Who’s coming with me?”
Nina spotted Inej about to volunteer and shouted, “I’ll go! I'll do it!”
Kaz stared at her like she was crazy and slowly said, “ok. Grab your coat”.
She did as directed and sprinted to the door, “C’mon Kazzle”, she hooked her arm in hers and dragged him down the corridor. Inej was pretty sure she heard him say “Calm the fuck down Nina”, as she closed the door to the room.
Inej turned to the others, “That was weird right? It’s not just me?”
Jesper gave her a tight smile, “No comment”, he said a little too high pitched.
“Right”, Inej nodded slowly.
Wylan stood staring at her, eyes wide. What was happening today?
Matthias was sitting on the bed awkwardly smiling at her. At least someone was acting normal today.
Inej grabbed a pillow off the floor and sat where it had been lying, she clutched the pillow to her stomach and watched Matthais awkwardly stand and leave to take a shower. They watched him leave and once he was gone, both boys joined Inej on the floor.
“Truth or dare? ‘Nej? Wanna go first?”Wylan was looking at her.
She nodded, “Sure, uh truth?”
Wylan leaned over to Jesper and whispered something unintelligible. “Ok. So your raging crush on Kaz?”
Inej stared at him, waiting for it to get worse. “...Yes?”
“Are you ever going to actually do anything about it?”
“No?”
“Inej! You have to”, Jesper said, and he grabbed her hand, “Please don’t make me suffer forever”.
She laughed and shook him off, “Well…”.
“WELL?”
“I hugged him the other day”, she said, shyly.
Jesper slapped a hand over his mouth and pressed the back of his other hand to his forehead, “Wylan catch me! I think I may collapse”. He then proceeded to pretend to faint dramatically into his boyfriend’s arms. Wylan caught him with an amused smirk and let Jesper stay there lying in his lap. Inej watched Jesper peek an eye open and grin at Wylan and Wylan returned the smile.
“OK!”Jesper said, clapping his hands, “Inej, your turn to ask. Pick a victim”.
“Wylan. Truth or dare?”
“Truth?”
“You guys are so boring!” Jesper complained from the floor.
“Right uh. Oh I know! Is it true you pushed Kuwei into the bunsen burner when he asked you if Jes was single?”
“Will either of you believe me if I say no?”
“Not really”.
“No chance”.
“Yeah I did it. I don’t regret it either”.
*
By the time Kaz, Nina and Matthias had returned they’d completed too many dares and truths to count. Inej had gone and gotten them all drinks down at the bar ( Chamomile tea for Inej, hot chocolate for Wylan and a coke for jesper, as if he needed more sugar). Wylan had run up and down the corridor chanting lines from Twilight and Jesper had revealed a hilarious secret to do with Kuwei and a lake.
When everybody else arrived, Inej, Wylan and Jesper were found lying on the ground gasping for air. Nobody questioned it. Business as usual.
*
@NinaZenik
[ a picture of Wylan, Inej and Jesper lying on the floor rolling around clutching their stomachs and laughing like lunatics, Kaz in the background carrying a happy meal and Matthias trying to figure out the toy in his own happy meal]
@NinaZenik: Returning to see this mess? Not sure, might leave again.
Tagged: @Friendship(Jesper), @WylanTheScienceGuy, @Inej.Here, @KazBreaksThings, @MatthiasH
Liked by @Friendhsip(Jesper), @Inej.Here and others.
Comments
@KazBreaksThings: that’s Inej’s happy meal not mine.
@Inej.Here replying to @KazBreaksThings: you didn’t need to clarify, it's an easy assumption
@JordieIsBetterThanYou: KAZ AND HIS HAPPY MEAL AWWW
@Friendship(Jesper): my hair looks amazing with that carpet wow
@WylanTheScienceGuy
[ a picture of Kaz grumpily holding a happy meal and Inej laughing at him with pure delight]
@WylanTheScienceGuy: I think he knows…
Tagged: @Inej.Here
Liked by @NinaZenik, @MatthiasH and others.
Comments
@JordieIsBetterThanYou: I KNEW IT
@KazBreaksThings replying to @JordieIsBetterThanYou: It’s still not my happy meal.
@MatthiasH: haha good picture Wylan
*
Back in their room Kaz and Inej stood on opposite sides of the bed, not quite sure what to do.
“So-”.
“I co-”
“Sorry”.
“Sorry”.
They both chuckled slightly.
“How do you want to handle this?”
“I’ve no problem with taking the floor”, Kaz said, walking towards the cupboard on the side of the room, “They probably have spare pillows somewhere…”.
“We could share?”
Kaz froze. Could he share? Would he wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night? Would Inej wake up shaking? Was it a risk worth taking? He stood up slowly and turned to her, “What did you have in mind?”
*
In the end they made the decision that Kaz would sleep underneath the duvet and Inej would sleep on top with a blanket over her, a good setup overall.
Kaz stood near the door ready to turn the lights off.
“Night Kaz”, Inej whispered, her back to him.
“Goodnight Inej”,he whispered back.
Kaz turned the light off as quietly as he could and felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He reached for it.
Secret Swifties
11:59pm
Spider: <3
He stared at it.
“You coming?”, Inej whispered into the darkness.
Kaz’s footsteps were the only sound in the silence.
Inej’s phone lit up.
Secret Swifties
12:02am
Rat: <3