"This movie was great!" Chris exclaimed after watching a feature animated film. Ana sat next to Eddie while Chris was to Eddie's left. They were all full from eating dinner together and after that, they watched this film which Chris wanted to watch six weeks prior. Ana just got a copy today as she lucked out in finding a copy online. All of these events would have been much more intimate and romantic if it weren't for the person sitting next to Chris. Buck.
"Well, I'm glad you liked it." Ana said, smiling while glancing at Buck.
Buck was just here on Chris' request as it was Friday movie night and that they were to watch and hang out, again. Since Eddie had started dating Ana, this wasn't the first time this had happened that all four of them were together. He's been over at Eddie's place the majority of the time over the previous six weeks, mainly at the request of Chris more than Eddie but Buck was just happy to spend time with the Diaz Boy's, even if it meant taking the glares off Ana, to which Buck doesn't get.
"Can we play a game of monopoly?" Chris asks looking up at Eddie then at Buck.
"Monopoly is a long game, plus it's nearly your bedtime." Buck states.
"I'm sure his father would let him stay up a bit longer, after all, it is a Friday night." Ana stated.
"How about a game of operation instead, not as long as Monopoly, come mijo let's go get it." Eddie says.
With a firm nod of Chris' head, Eddie smiles and stands taking Chris up in his arms as he walks past Ana. Buck notices the gentle brush of their hands and feels his heart sink a little but he paints a smile on.
"You guys have much planned this weekend?" He asks Ana.
"Me and Eddie got a date night planned tomorrow." She says then looks like she's thinking deeply, "Aren't you dating anyone? Eddie mentioned someone named Taylor? I'm sure you would rather be there than here." Ana said nonchalantly, but Buck picked up something of an edge on her tone.
"It's complicated between us, but I'm happier to be here with my family."
"Well, I'm honored to be considered to be part of the family." Ana remarks and there again Buck hears an edge to her voice, "Anyway, I'm sure you don't want to be a third wheel. I mean I know you haven't dated in a while but you know..." Buck watches as she gestures to the empty room spotting the roses on the side, he was trying to figure it out when it hit him
"Oh, sorry. I didn't know." Buck felt so stupid all of a sudden. That's why she seemed to be so awkward towards him earlier when he entered Eddie's house. And now all he wants to do is leave and save himself from embarrassing himself for much more.
"Didn't know what?" Eddie's voice states as he walks round the corner
"Nothing, but sorry buddy. The game will have to wait, something has come up and I got to go, but I promise we will play a long game of monopoly next time." Buck blurts out immediately as he just wants to get out.
"You sure? I mean you can stay" Ana says, raising her eyebrows.
"Yeah, Buck stay, I'll get you another beer if you like." Eddie adds, Buck looks up and sees the smile on Eddie's face. But Buck knows deep down if he stays, he would be putting pressure on this new relationship.
"Sorry I can't, it's Maddie. She needs me and you know with her being close to the day I can't risk it." Buck responds as he quickly hugs Chris and makes a beeline for the door picking his jacket up as he walks past the kitchen.
"Buck, is everything ok? Do you want me to come with you?" And there it was. For the previous months leading towards Eddie meeting Ana again, Buck kept on feeling something for Eddie. Like an itch somewhere in his body that just couldn't be scratched. It was so annoying and persistent that it made Buck question a lot.
And because of that persistent itch, he stuck around more with Eddie. That's why he was happy to say 'yes' to Chris whenever he would call Buck and ask if he wanted to come over. Was this just a phase or what? Never mind that, he needed to get out because everything was becoming so awkward for Buck.
"No, it's fine. I'll see you tomorrow on shift, enjoy your night." Buck says and quickly leaves not even waiting for Eddie to reply.
Buck wanders to his jeep which was parked around the corner as Ana's car was parked in his usual spot. When he got into his jeep, he sat back and then punched the steering wheel.
"How could I be so dumb?! What am I doing?" Buck thinks to himself as thoughts come flooding back to his mind. What was this even? Frustrated, Buck gets his phone, scrolls through his contacts then dials Maddie before speeding off into the night.
The drive to Maddies felt long shortly after he hung up from Maddie asking if it was ok to come round. He ended up scrolling through radio stations as each one he landed on, the station was playing love songs and at that point, he felt like the world was giving him a big sign saying that he should just stop being a fool and face it.
He pulls up to the apartment block and heads in, he didn't even know why he had gone to Maddie's. He should have gone home, it's not like he was ready to talk in detail about his feelings to Maddie, not now anyway. She was so close to her due date but he knew whatever he told her Chim would find out who in turn would blab onto Hen who then would make this whole awkward thing more awkward! Before he knew it he was at the door, so with a heavy sigh, he knocks on the door and waits.
"Evan, come in, and before you can say anything else you are going to spill your guts on the table." She says.
"First, Hi. And Second, gross!" Buck retorted out and rolled his eyes.
As he walks in following Maddie to the kitchen he looks into the living room and sees the wooden box that their parents had given Maddie when they visited and it hits Buck again at just how alone he was.
"Coffee or something stronger…?" He looks at Maddie realizing she had stopped "I'm sorry, I should have put it away."
"Maddie, it's fine, you should be able to enjoy it without worrying about me."
She pulls him in for a hug, he uses his tallness to hug her without being squished. As she lets go he can see some tears and he knows he's close to them too but he just smiles at her and gestures to go make the drinks. He moves past and pulls to cups out and grabs the tea from the cupboard and looks back at Maddie who was scowling.
"No Coffee." Buck jokes
"Yes! You have had your one cup allowance for the day so don't let her trick you into making her one!" Chim's voice echoed as he walked into the room.
Buck had forgotten Chim would be home, everywhere he went people had someone and he was alone, he smiles at Chim and gestures for a cup and he nods.
"Well no coffee for you either, he can tea with us." Maddie stated grimacing.
Buck wasn't about to argue with his sister, he wouldn't normally, never mind a heavily pregnant Maddie. He starts to let the tea brew then his sister fires the first question.
"So what did you want to talk about?, If it's personal I can ask him to leave." Maddie said quietly, hinting towards Chim.
"Him, has a name." Chim jokes as he joins Maddie on the other side of the kitchen island.
"Yeah. Coffee depriver." Maddie says which makes Buck laugh.
"No need. I mean he is family, and as long as it stays between us..."
"Oh great, another Buckley secret. Did you know how hard the last one was for me?" Chim gestures towards the box on the table, to which Maddie hits him and Chim raises his hands in mock surrender, "Okay, so what is it this time?"
"Well, lucky for you it isn't like that. Not this one." Buck starts as he fidgets with his fingers and Maddie stares at him because she knew that it was one of his tells that he's nervous.
"Buck? It's okay, take your time." Maddie reassures him and she reaches out to hold his brother's shoulders.
"So I was with Eddie and Chris today right?" Buck starts and they both remain quiet listening, "So I was there and so was Ana. Erm, and we had an awkward movie night."
"Ohkay? So what seems to be the problem with that?" Chim asks as he stands and starts brewing his own tea.
"The thing is, I thought the roses were just decorations that Eddie placed in so I didn't give much thought about it until Ana sent me a different signal." Buck continued and Maddie raised her eyebrow while Chim turned around awkwardly, "Not that kind of signal! Just that she was hinting that those flowers and the setup were supposed to be… For the three of them and I ruined it by being there."
"I doubt you ruined anything, Buck. If I remember correctly Eddie asked you to be there Chris wanted you to be there." Chim states and Buck had forgotten Chim was at work when he was asked.
"Yeah, but maybe he forgot Ana was coming and was just being nice." Buck responds.
"What did she say exactly?" Maddie questions.
"Mainly about that I should be out dating and not being a third wheel. I dunno I feel like I was intruding by being there and there's something about the way she spoke to me. It felt like she didn't want me there." Buck says.
"Well, that could be because you know, once Chris had gone to bed it would have been, or should have been, the two of them alone…" Chim states
"I get that! I do, and I'm happy for him. I dunno maybe it's me just being silly." Buck says.
"Or you're jealous because your BFF isn't spending as much time with you now?" Chim states nonchalantly.
"No, I think it's more than that isn't it Evan?" Maddie asks and this is why Buck hated his sister sometimes she could read him so well.
"More than been jealous?" Chim starts "Oh, you aren't just jealous, you actually like her?" Buck couldn't believe what Chim just said, why would he think that Buck liked Ana?
"For god's sake Howard." Maddie snarked, "He fancies Eddie. It's obvious, am I right Evan?" Maddie said and to that Buck froze. Did he really? Was this why he was so affected? Because he wanted Eddie all to himself? Did he really like Eddie?
"W-wait, what?" Chim asked flabbergasted, "Since when did you like men?"
At that, everyone fell silent, and all eyes were on Buck.
"Erm, since whenever… I just didn't tell anyone because I thought it wouldn't be that big of a deal." Buck explained and Chim just nodded his head.
"I-I don't know. I want to get it out there, on what I want but I don't want to be knocked back and lose so much in the process." Buck explains as he stares at Maddie's baby bump
"You will make a great uncle Buck, we have seen how you are with the others and you were always there for them." Chim says smiling.
"I do, and when this little one comes I'm going to be the best uncle and tell her no matter what, she can do anything she wants as long as she is true to herself."
"But you have to be true to yourself first, otherwise how can you ask your niece to do the same?" Maddie says.
Buck looked at his sister, yet again she proved that she knew him better and was using his own words against him, but she knew she was right.
"Ugh, you're right." Buck says quietly.
"Er, what was that? The baby didn't hear as you were so quiet" she jokes back to which Buck laughed at also.
"Should have known better than that Buck, Maddie is always right, I've learned that and so has Albert." Chim jokes
"Yeah, well I best leave you to rest, I'll head home." Buck says as he finishes up his tea.
"At least I don't have to worry about you going home into an empty apartment. At least you have Albert to keep you company." Maddie explains.
"That he is, but I can't complain either. He has been a really good friend, especially when he ended it with Veronica." Buck states.
"He did, so go enjoy a gaming session to take your mind off you know… and I will see you at work tomorrow." Chim says.
"Fine, but remember not a word to anyone." Buck quims.
"I will try my best, I promise, scouts honor." Chim salutes, "Emphasis on the 'try' Buck. Hen can sniff out anything if I am hiding something from her."
"No, you will do or you will wish you didn't open your mouth." Maddie smirks.
Buck watches as Chim squirms at Maddie's words, he turns to her and mouths a thank you. He places his cup in the sink, before picking his jacket, giving Maddie a hug and a wave to Chim before making his way out. As he gets in his jeep he looks at his phone and no messages at all, he thought Eddie may have texted him to make sure he had got home but obviously he was too busy with her .
He turns the ignition on and starts on his way home. He was going to be back way earlier than he planned so what Chim had suggested about gaming sounded like a great idea. Especially now he had a roommate. The drive didn't take as long as he thought the roads were pretty quiet as he pulled up to his parking space. As he made his way through the parking lot and up the elevator his thoughts turned to how he would deal with seeing Eddie and hoping Chim doesn't drop him in it with his Maddie lie, at least he was doing the long shift but knew he would have to listen to Eddie go on about his date plans with Ana, which in turn would set the rest of shift into a sulk. He autopilots to his door and opens it.
"Albert I'm back, you fancy a gaming nigh…" Buck is stopped by the sight in front of him.
"Buck, what are you doing back so early?" Albert asks as he tries to cover himself.
"I thought you two broke up?" Buck retorts.
"Oh is that what he said? No, we decided to pretend split, especially after the awkward double date with Taylor. He didn't want to hurt your ego." Veronica says hiding behind some clothes.
Buck didn't say anything and just turned heel and walked out slamming the door. He felt so betrayed and lied to. Ego? Buck knew he had a problem reading the situation sometimes, but he wasn't an egomaniac as Veronica's tone puts it. Albert was meant to be his friend and family and he did that to him? How could he? Buck stormed down the hall into the elevator and out of the building and started walking. God! He felt like he was suffocating, and the mask he was wearing wasn't helping at all.
His phone started ringing and as he looked he saw Alberts name and just hung up. He continued to walk hanging up on Albert several more times, ignoring the texts too. Eventually, they stopped and Buck sat down on a bench. As he let a sigh out his phone rang again and this time it was Eddie. Buck didn't want to answer as he was in no mood so left it to go to voicemail. Then a ping to say he had a voicemail he hits the button to listen to the message.
'Buck, Albert just called me he is worried and so am I, please call me'
Buck let another sigh out and placed his phone in his pocket and got up continuing his walk. He eventually ended up at the door of a local bar. He needed a drink to help him calm down, so pushed through the dark door and entered the bar.
Throughout the entire quarantine, Buck hadn't gotten drunk outside of his apartment so maybe this time he would.
Four hours later
Buck found himself lying down on something soft and warm. He reached around for a bit and he felt something soft and silky. Slowly opening his eyes he sees a very familiar lamp to his right, and then he recognizes it as his own.
He was in his bed, covered, and comfy. So with that, he didn't give it a thought and just went back to sleep.