Soaring Bird

Chantel opens her eyes and sees Rex looking down at her smiling.
"Morning beautiful" he says stroking her hair
"Morning."
Rex reaches into the hall to grab their clothes and they get dressed the best they can. They go to the front area and see Frankie has helped himself to the toaster and pop tarts.
"Oooooh, those are Allen's," Chantel says, "he is going to be crabby"
Frankie laughs and Chantel is puzzled.
"What's so funny?" Charlie says joining them, Zeke still loudly snoring from their bunk
"Chantel thinks Allen will be cranky this morning." Frankie informs while laughing harder.
"Why is that so funny?" Rex wonders getting annoyed at the loud laughter this early in the morning with a small hangover
"I am the only one who didn't do anything last night." Frankie says
"What?"
"Go check Maddox and Allen's bunks"
Chantel runs to her friends bunk and pulls back the curtain, not their. She pulls Maddox's curtain back and his bed is empty too. "What the hell?"
"I told you!" Frankie shouts from the front room
"Explain everything you know, now."
"Well like I said, I was the only one who didn't get any last night. Those two love birds, "he begins gesturing to Charlie,"and you guys were the first ones to go at it, and while you guys were busy I had to piss, so I went to the bathroom and from the back room I heard some um... noises."
"Oh no... Allen..." Chantel plumps on the couch
"Allen? What about Eric?" Rex says
"I know... Allen is going to hate himself..."
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Sunlight breaks through the small window and Allen wakes up.
"Why am I on the floor?" he says sitting up
He looks around and spots a naked Maddox next to him still peacefully asleep, and that is when last night hit him.
-Oh God, what have I done? Eric? My sweet loving Eric. He can not find out. Oh I'm so horrible- Allen thinks to himself
But last night was so nice, yes they were drunk and Maddox might not remember any of it if Allen leaves the room before he wakes up, but something about last night felt right.
"Morning." Maddox says from the floor, a smile on his face
"Hey"
"Look, about last night, we were drunk, and I know you have Eric so if you want to pretend it didn't happen."
"I mean, yes we were drunk, but I don't think I will forget last night."
"Me either, but,"
"No buts," and with that Allen leaned down and kissed Maddox, "Eric is back in California at college, and right now I am here with you, so as long as you don't mind knowing I have him?"
"So you want your cake and eat it too? I don't know Allen... I..."
"I know, your ex, I'm sorry."
"I can't. I like you, but, I will not do that to Eric, at least, not again."
And with that they got up and put their clothes on.
"You think anyone will know?" Allen asks
"Please with how much noise the other four were making?"
"True"
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Just then the door to the back room opened and Allen and Maddox walk out fully clothed.
"Allen..." Chantel says
The sound of her voice is all Allen needed to know that she knew, they all did. He ducked into the bathroom, and Maddox walked into the space where everyone was.
"Maddox," Rex says looking at his band mate, "did you guys really?"
"I... We... I..."
"Dude." was all Charlie could say

Notes