I see chemistry
Alex wasn't sure what had woken him up.
For a moment he simply laid there, frowning up at the silhouettes of the chairs in the studio ceiling, listening to Luke's quiet breathing next to him on the pull-out, shifting because Reggie's blanket had been wedged like a ball under his back-
Reggie. He wasn't here. Why wasn't he here?
Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic, he told himself, but of course his brain decided to ignore the don't-part and immediately started thinking about the time Caleb almost trapped them for eternity and what if something had happened and he swore to god, if Reggie wasn't just outside, looking for frogs or something, he'd wake Luke and-
As he stumbled outside, his eyes focused on the light coming from the Molinas' kitchen window. The one Ray always left on for them, just in case. And in the light, a familiar silhouette.
His shoulders sagged, panic disappearing just as fast as it had come. Of course.
"Hey man," Reggie said as Alex poofed in, sending him a smile from the other side of the table, "Didn't know you were up."
"Well, I wasn't, but then I noticed you were gone and… yeah, I saw the light."
"Oh. Oh. Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out."
"Pshh, I didn't freak out, I just…" and okay, maybe he needed to start practicing his deadpan looks because Reggie was starting to get better at them than him. Sighing, Alex looked down at the mess of papers and books on the table. "So, why are you sitting in Julie's kitchen at two in the morning… reading?"
Reggie let out a little laugh. "I'm not reading." He paused. "I mean, I kinda am? But just to look stuff up. Does that count as reading? Like, looking stuff up online isn't reading reading so-"
"Reggie."
"Right, whatever, doesn't matter. I woke up - like suddenly wide awake - and thought I'd walk around a bit to try and get sleepy but then I came in here and saw this, so… yeah."
"You couldn't sleep, so you're," Alex glanced at the cover of the book closest to him, "doing Carlos' chemistry homework? Okay. Makes total sense."
"Oh, this is much more fun than homework." His dorky smile back, Reggie held up a piece of paper with the periodic table on it. "I'm matching all of us with atoms. You know, like those personality quizzes on the internet!"
You would think after three years (well, technically twenty-seven) of knowing each other, Alex would have stopped being surprised by the complete randomness that made up Reggie's brain, but, "That's… okay."
"I'm not done, but you wanna hear I've got?"
Well, it wasn't like he was going to be able to fall asleep again anytime soon. Shaking his head, Alex sank down in the chair next to Reggie. "Sure, why not."
"Okay, so," Reggie leaned forward, visibly happy to have someone listen, "Julie's obviously helium."
"Obviously."
"'Cause she's a star, and stars are powered by the energy you get when you create helium. Like, at first people might underestimate her, but then she lets her power out and boom: supernova!"
… Wow. He'd actually given this serious thought.
"And have you noticed she's started doing our thing? You know, the thing that started as your thing, when you get embarrassed and your voice gets really high? Like you've breathed in helium?"
"I don't- My voice doesn't-" Alex cut himself off when it did just that. "Yeah, you've got a point," he said instead, ignoring Reggie's not-so-discreet snort of laughter, "Alright. Julie's helium."
"Mhmm. Now Luke: he's hydrogen."
"Hydrogen… Wait, that's the smallest atom, right?"
"Yep. Number one on the periodic table."
The corner of Alex's lips pulled up into a smirk. "Okay. Agreed. Luke's hydrogen."
This time Reggie didn't even try to hide his laugh.
"But tell me why anyway," Alex added. "Just because."
"So, like, you know how Luke always says he wants to connect with everyone?"
"Uh huh. Every time he launches into his music speech. Which is, like, ten times a day."
"Well, hydrogen's the same. It reacts with basically anything because it only has one electron. It lives its best life when it gets to bond with others and… and share its energy, you know? Like in water. Or carbon soda. Or in the sun when it fuses to become helium: Julie."
"Shine together, bright forever," Alex murmured. "Literally."
Reggie snapped his fingers. "I didn't even think of that, but yeah! Exactly!"
"I don't know if fusing two Lukes would make a Julie though. Just saying."
"... Okay, yeah, when you say it like that it sounds weird. But- but this also means Julie and Luke don't just ooze chemistry. They are chemistry."
For a second Alex could only stare at Reggie. Then he buried his face in his hands. "You did not just say that."
"What?" With the worst poker face ever, Reggie feigned innocence. "To be honest, Alex, this wasn't the reaction I thought you'd have."
Someone revoke Reggie's dad joke card. Please.
The grin broke through. "Kidding. I knew you'd react like this."
"If you keep making chemistry jokes, I'm gonna leave."
It was a half-hearted threat, Alex knew even as he said it, but at least it seemed to get the point across since Reggie turned back to the periodic table.
"Who you wanna hear next?"
"Who you got?"
Reggie leaned back, counting on his fingers. "You, Carlos, a few ideas for Ray, still thinking about Willie – maybe you could help me with that – Caleb, Flynn-"
"Caleb?" Alex raised an eyebrow, even as the familiar knot appeared in his stomach at the name. Why would Reggie give that creep any of his (limited) brain power?
Reggie wrinkled his nose. "Yeah. He's sulfur."
"Why?"
"Because he stinks."
The snort burst out before Alex could stop it. "Fair point."
"Ooh, I have to show you Flynn's!"
Bending over the open chemistry book, Reggie eagerly flipped the pages while still taking care not to bend any of them. Even though he'd never say it out loud, it was one of the habits Alex'd always found endearing - how careful Reggie was with other people's things. When Luke got excited it was best to keep your belongings at least ten feet away, but you could always trust Reggie to give back your English notes or Roxette CD or sweatshirt in the same condition as before (well, in the case of the English notes, with some added cowboy-hat wearing horses or something in the margin).
And Reggie's own stuff… a completely different story.
"Here! Bismuth!"
Before he knew it Reggie was shoving the book in his face. Annoyed words on the tip of his tongue, Alex batted it away… and froze as he caught sight of the image taking up the left page.
Metallic and pyramid-shaped. Filled with row after row of little square spirals like something out of one of Reggie's space movies. All shining in rainbow colors.
Rainbow. Freaking. Colors.
"That," he said, stabbing a finger at the page, "is the coolest thing I've seen. Ever. Did I mention ever? Because I mean ever."
"I know right?" Putting the book down, Reggie beamed at him. "That's why Flynn's bismuth. Because she's the coolest person I've ever met."
Well, no arguing with that. When it came to coolness, Flynn beat everyone in Sunset Curve combined. And with Julie added to the mix? Like comparing a massive glacier to a glass of water.
Alex glanced back down at the chemistry book. "Not gonna lie, kinda jealous I'm not the gay alien metal."
"Don't worry, yours is just as cool."
"Oh?" He looked up.
"Yeah. 'Cause you're not just one element…" Reggie paused for effect. "You're oxygen and potassium!"
"Oxygen and potassium? Why?"
But Reggie didn't elaborate. Only sat there, trying and failing to keep a straight face. Alex narrowed his eyes. Obviously something was up. Obviously he was missing something.
His gaze strayed over to the periodic table. Finding oxygen, its box marked with a big 'O', shifting over to potassium…
Really, Reggie? Really?
"Wait no, come back!" Reggie ran after him as he left the kitchen, pulling at his arm. "Come on, it was a bit funny, wasn't it? I mean, you say it all the time."
"Yeah." Alex put on his best annoyed face. "So funny I'm going back to bed."
"That wasn't your real one. Don't you wanna hear your real one?"
"Nope."
"I promise it's not a joke this time!"
"Not trusting you. Never again."
"I promise!" Reggie tugged at his arm again, pouting for good measure (okay, maybe Reggie needed to stop picking up cues from Luke too). "Come on, please?"
Pretending to think about it, Alex let out a dramatic sigh. "Okay fine. But only because we'll wake Julie up if we keep talking out here."
"Oh shoot- I mean," glancing towards the stairs, Reggie lowered his voice, "oh shoot, that's right. Let's…" This time Alex let himself be dragged back into the kitchen.
"So." In his chair again, Alex leaned back and crossed his arms. "Wow me."
"Alright, it might not sound cool right away, but just hear me out, okay? It's not an instant wow, more like a- well, that depends on what you think, but I just thought it fit and-"
"Reggie."
"-and I'm rambling, I know," he fiddled with his hands, "so I'm just gonna say it: you're coal."
Alex frowned. "Because… I pollute the air and everyone wants to replace me with something better?"
"What? No!" Reggie kicked his leg. "Stop being mean to yourself. You're coal because besides noble gasses, coal is one of the stablest atoms. Because it has four bindings, you know? It may not be the best at being alone and it reacts a lot, but it's also the atom that forms strong bonds with others - the atom that kinda holds everything together. Yeah, sure, it can be a bit smothering sometimes, like if there's too much of it in the atmosphere, but it can also give people warmth when they need it the most. And you can always count on it to be there. At least I know I can."
… Okay. Okay.
Alex opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Because that was unexpected and thoughtful and… well, wow.
"Coal's also the base of all life," Reggie added in a light tone, as if he hadn't just given Alex the weirdest, most wonderful compliment ever, "but since you're dead I guess you're the base of all afterli- Whoa! Hi. Okay. Guess we're hugging now."
"Yes, Reginald, we are," Alex answered even as he pulled him closer, "so shut up and hug me back."
And, huffing out a laugh, Reggie did.
A good while had passed by the time Alex pulled back.
"Okay, so," he began, clearing his throat, "where in that chemistry book did you read all this atom stuff?"
Reggie shrugged. "I dunno. Kinda everywhere? I just flipped to the pages with the coolest-looking pictures."
Alex shook his head. Of course he did.
"Other stuff I kinda remember from class. Why?"
"Because I need to find an atom for you, obviously."
"Alex, you don't have-"
"Uh, yeah, I do. If everyone's getting an atom, you're getting one. End of story."
Even as he focused on flipping to the index page, it was impossible to miss the grin that spread across Reggie's face. Alex smiled too. Such a dork, excited by the smallest things.
As Alex searched the textbook for a good atom, Reggie told him about the other atoms he'd given people. Carlos was wolfram, because wolfram powered light globes and light globes were often used in cartoons when someone thought of something smart. And Carlos knew all this stuff about technology and always beat him at chess and had figured out the ghost thing ("With a lot of help from a certain idiot," Alex interjected) which obviously meant he was smart. Add to that, he was always sure to brighten your day somehow.
With Ray, Reggie had narrowed it down to a noble gas, because they were stable and reliable and safe as they didn't react often with other atoms. He just couldn't decide which one.
"I mean, he can't be helium, because Julie's already that, and he's not radon, because that's radioactive and creates lung cancer, but between the other four? I don't know, they all have stuff that fits him and-"
Alex hummed in response, only half-listening as his eyes scanned the pages. Chemistry had never been a strong subject of his, but there had to be something here he could use, right?
"Okay," he finally said, cutting Reggie off mid-ramble, "this is not as good as yours, but I tried, alright?"
Perking up, Reggie gave him his full attention.
"So. You're oxygen. Reason one," Alex ticked them off on his fingers, "you're a total airhead. Reason two. Too much of you will make people sick. And reason three…" meeting Reggie's gaze, he forced the protective blanket of sarcasm away, "No one could live without you."
"Aww, thanks Alex!" Reggie beamed at him… before furrowing his brow. "Wait, we're dead. We don't need oxygen anymore."
"I tell you I can't live without you and that's what you think about?"
"Well, I mean-"
"Okay, fine, technically I can 'live' without you. But I don't want to, alright? Even though I'm dead I still keep breathing. Or keep feeling like I need to breathe. Whatever, you get it. I can't picture my life or afterlife without you."
This time the smile didn't slip as Reggie held out his arms and said, "I think this calls for hugs round two."
Alex huffed a laugh. "Sure. Hugs round two."
:::
When Alex came into the studio for their usual afternoon band session, he was happily surprised to find Willie there, wrapped in a conversation with Reggie.
Well, happily surprised until he realized what they were talking about.
"-so you're nitrogen, because nitrogen gives energy and makes everything - with you, more like everyone - grow in its presence. Okay, it also attacks the ozone layer and makes the Earth hotter, but you do it in a good way? I mean, at least Alex thinks so because he said you make every room you're in ten times-"
Alex lunged for Willie's arm and poofed them both away before Reggie could finish the sentence… but it was too late.
Willie grinned at him, the beach sun brightening the teasing gleam in his eyes. "So… you think I'm hot?"
With a groan, Alex covered his face with his hands.
Never mind. He could definitely picture his afterlife without Reggie.
So. Yeah. This is incredibly self-indulgent hahaha. But once I started thinking about what elements the JATP characters would be I couldn't let it go.
Also, Reggie and Alex's friendship is awesome and deserved more screen time!
