"How about your house?" James offered. "I'm sure your family would be excited to see you finally out of the hospital."
"Us." Adrien corrected. "I'm sure they'll be excited to see us out of the hospital. Your as much part of my family now, as I am with yours."
"Yeah I guess..." James sighed heavily.
Adrien remembered his friend's parents' last, uncomfortable visit. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen were less than thrilled with their son's life-altering decision.
"Please understand me Adrien, I mean no offense..." James senior, Mr. Jenson, spoke. His face was a mixture of anger and sympathy. "But James... you threw your life away, without even speaking to your parents."
"I am an adult, not some kid! The doctor's explained everything to me; it was an informed decision, Dad. Adrien is my best friend, and I wasn't about to sit back and do nothing." he argued back.
"Saving a friend is admirable, but not when you destroy your own life." Mr. Jenson insisted.
"I haven't destroyed anything Dad!" James exclaimed.
"Really?! How are going to get a job?"
"I still have my job at the fitness center."
"Who will take a class with you now?"
"Some chicks find two-headed guys kinky."
"James, this isn't time to joke around." Sharon, Mrs. Jensen, spoke up for the first time since the argument began. "Your father is concerned."
"Sorry mom." He apologized. "This argument is mute anyways. Even if I wanted to, it is impossible for Adrien and I to be separated. We're bros for life now."
That is where the argument had ended between James and his parents. It had been just as uncomfortable for Adrien as he felt like a third wheel during the exchange, as he could not exactly leave the room. He had known the Jensens' for years; they were good people who cared for their son. And truthfully, he figured his parents would have had a similar reaction if his and James's rolls had been reversed.
"Dude, they will come around. Its not like they don't want to see you." Adrien said, trying to comfort his friend.
"Us." James corrected this time. It was something like a game that they had developed, to practice using grammar more appropriate to their unique situation. It was challenging to switch grammar to fit with their 'joint' status. Often, he or James would incorrectly say 'you' or 'I' when 'us' or 'we' should have been used in stead. One would try and correct the other if they noticed the mistake and mentally tally how often they corrected for the day.
"No, I think 'you' is right. Your parents are upset with you, not me; I'm just the victim." Adrien tried for a smile.
"Yeah well, if your life hadn't been on the line, I wouldn't have been put in a situation to 'sacrifice' my life for yours." He responded glumly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that." he apologized immediately.
"I know you didn't mean anything by it." Adrien tried to reassure him. "Since you don't want to face your parents yet, we can go to my parent's house first, like you suggested." Adrien then sighed, "Just be prepared to be bombarded with more questions by my kid sister. I'm sure she will ask which one of us wipes our ass eventually."
"Right... or she'll convince us to play hide and seek with her, with only one us being it. Not sure how that will work out." He then paused for a moment "Wait... isn't she technically my kid sister now too, considering I am apart of your family now."
"Fine, you got that point. Lets just get going." Adrien replied as he placed his fingers over the keys. He waited a moment before turning the engine on, to make sure that his friend had pressed the clutch down.
For reasons unknown to Adrien, James loved old trucks and driving with a clutch. It was a love that Adrien did not share, and a source of frequent arguments as they re-learned how to drive together. One of the upsides that Adrien saw was that he only had to half-learn how to drive with a clutch. He had dominion over the right half of their body, and the clutch was on their left.The other upside to learning clutch was that it helped improve their coordination. Seamlessly, they worked as a single unit to shift the truck into gear and pull out of the hospital parking lot. Within 15 minutes, they pulled to a stop in front of Adrien's family home.
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