Lazlo had just came down the stairs, said a small ''hi'' to everyone and went directly to the kitchen to start his chores of the day which started with coffee. Cab, full name Caleb, who was the shortest of the group, followed him. Lazlo momentarily looked at him to see if something was wrong, the other looked worried. ''Are you okay?''
-Yes why would you ask?
-You look mad
-I'm not mad
Lazlo was looking back at him with a smile on his face, his eyes didn't smile though
-Are you sure?
-Why would I be mad? Lazlo started to have more intent in his voice
-I don't know I thought …
-Everything is fine right?
Lazlo interrupted him this time
-Lazlo you're scary
-Because I'm fine with being ignored then dragged around and being used …absolutely!
Lazlo started walking slowly in his direction
-What are you talking about …
-I've never been… better, everything is fine …
Lazlo was now just next to him, suddenly placed his two hands on the others shoulder, still smiling
-Or …. Is it…
-AAAAAARRRHHHH
The other coworkers who hear screaming went directly to the kitchen where they saw Lazlo laughing and Caleb in another corner of the room ''this isn't funny! You're terrifying!''
-What the hell happened here Lazlo don't scare my employees like that!
Dave texted Lazlo
-Hey Lazlo how are you doing? I was just wondering, how is it going between you and Edward? I know it's like a running gag with everyone, but even if you guys are not going out, didn't you use to be good friends at least? It looks as though something happened? Is everything okay?
Lazlo hesitated to respond, his first though was to deny they ever were close but he though, this is why people get confused with me, and … Edward became distant because he felt as though I was ashamed … because of lies like this
-Yes we used to go out, it was and wasn't a joke at the same time, but we broke up anyway
-What happened? I won't tell anyone
-It's okay, I screwed up … cheated on him to make it short
Dave looked at his phone, perplexed. Cheating doesn't sound like Lazlo at all, and most of all, Edward did mention to him that his previous relationships ended because his exes started seeing someone else, knowing this why would Lazlo do something like that.
-Why would you do that? It wasn't working out? You can tell me
-no … It was fine but, I've been working on a clown show for a while with an old friend and, one thing lead to another, I didn't really think about it and we kissed during practice, and well, Edward walked on us. This sounds like a stupid excuse, like … it was an accident, but, we were getting distant Edward and I and I thought, maybe he doesn't love me anymore and, the other guy was there and I didn't want to hurt his feelings… Wow I'm writing this and I realise what an asshole I am. I don't have any excuses.
-You two didn't hook up
-NO! No I would never do that, besides, I still love Edward.
Lazlo typed that without thinking about it and regretted it. Not only he told Dave that he was gay, also that he used to see Edward AND that he's a cheater AND … That he's still not over him ..Like a coward.
-Kiss someone not to hurt their feelings … that sounds more like you
-I'm a coward
-Kind of yes … but everybody makes mistakes. Are you trying to win him back?
-do you think I can?
-Maybe, how long has it been?
-2 months
-Do you still see each other as friends?
-No … not really … I tried but …
-He doesn't trust you anymore?
-I think he hates me
-Do you mind if I talk to him? I won't tell him I talked to you
-okay … thanks
-Don't thank me I haven't done anything and besides… you really screwed up
-I know
Dave looked for Edward on his phone and texted him about the same message he text Lazlo
-Hey Edward, how are you doing? I was just wondering, how is it going between you and Lazlo? I know it's like a running gag with everyone, but even if you guys are not going out, didn't you use to be good friends at least? It looks as though something happened? Is everything okay?
- No we're not close, it was just a joke
Dave though …'wow he's really mad at him', 'I have to think my strategy over'
-Okay good! Because we wanted to do a night out at the karaoke with the guys and since it seems Lazlo is seeing Patsy I wanted to invite her too and some girls, I wanted to make sure you weren't together or something.
-Lazlo is seeing Patsy?
'Victory!' Dave thought to himself
-Well I saw pictures on Facebook and they seem close, so, it's on Friday night are you going?
-I'll see
Edward responded a couple of hours later
-I'll be there, where is it?
Dave gave him the coordinates, told the guys to say they weren't coming last minute and basically, set Lazlo and Edward to meet each other alone without them knowing about it.
Edward was waiting in front of the station, got there by train this time, the guys were drinking like crazy every time he goes out with them and he didn't want to have to come back for his car the day after again. But it was getting close to the said hour and no one was there… He looked at his phone … they all backed off last second …
-Edward?
Except him of course
-Hi Lazlo …
-where is everyone?
Edward showed his phone to him, dentist appointment, called to work late …and
-Chip's pregnancy?
Lazlo laughed, Edward looked pissed, and he was seeing what was happening.
-Edward I'm sorry I think this is my fault
-You told someone?
-Yeah Dave, but I didn't think this would happen
-…
-Do you …want to leave?
-No … do you have an idea of something we could do?
-Yes!
Lazlo then took his hand and walked through the crowded area to the station, it was a reflex, he thought of letting go but Edward didn't try to take his hand away so held it until they got in the subway. Edward looked tired and exasperated. Dave set them up, did he even know why they broke up. Edward talked to him about his past relationships and, why they failed… Did he really think that Lazlo was different … or did Lazlo omitted to say why they broke up … Maybe he used the accident excuse or something …
They got out of the station, it was quite dark outside, and they were now in front of an amusement park …
-Is that where you used to work?
-Yes, this was my second job when I was in high school
-Second job?
-Yes, I wanted to prepare to move out because my father had to leave to take care of my grandma. I still wanted to go to school so I would work at the grocery store I talked to you about.
-The one that hired you before legal age?
-Yeah I was really glad about that actually. To make ends meets, during summer and holydays I would take extra jobs, which were, this park and painting contracts. Even if I started working early, my father didn't leave until he was sure I was okay so I was on my own around 17.
-That's really young to be alone (doesn't sound legal neither), why would you bring me here?
-I know it looks strange, but there is a new management recently and a lot of new things I want to see, also … I wanted to show this place to you …
Lazlo paid for two tickets, the girl at the counter seemed to recognize him but Lazlo was only looking at Edward and she didn't seem to want to interrupt. When they got away Lazlo said
-Since it's the end of the season, there won't be a lot of people here so … we have all the park for ourselves!
He then looked at him and smiled. Edward hated seeing him like this … Of course he still loves him but being there, in the place Lazlo met that other guy just hurts … 'is he doing this on purpose …' Edward thought, 'is this just to hurt me …' Lazlo simply said, as though he knew what he was thinking
-Don't think about it too much … I just want to have fun with you …
Lazlo then reached for his hand, held it, there wasn't anyone around so Edward didn't care too much
-I know things a quite tense between us recently but, you're still my friend and, I care about you
Edward felt pain in his chest, why did it have to be like this … He just tried not to think too much, brushed it off and let go of Lazlo's hand. With a more alive voice, confident Edward like tone, he said
-Okay … What do we do now?
Lazlo looked at him beaming. They went from an attraction to another, there were people in costumes, it was an end of season special but since it was quite cold outside there weren't a lot of people. Edward was his normal self again, making jokes and going around. They played wack a mole, Lazlo who played this game thousands of time in the past kept beating him, and Edward with his competitive mind set kept wanting a revenge and they ended up with a giant pink bunny to walk around with. There were fireworks at the end of the day, they even got places in the front, which you normally have to pay for, but the guy at the front let them in, Edward suspected that the manager who saw them around when they got there told him to do so and that he recognized Lazlo. No one stopped them to talk to him though. Maybe he's imagining things.
-Do you recognize people here?
-Yes and no, they know me but most of the time I didn't talk to them personally
-Why is that
-Ah, because I was a mascot, you know the big costumes we see? So they knew it was me but we didn't talk
-Is yours still around?
-No they had to throw it away, because someone smashed a bottle of something on my head once
-What?!
Edward looked at him in shock
''Yeah this place used to be really shady and not recommendable. Alex had big projects and wanted to be a comedian or something, well clown now, and we started out as cashers, cleaning up and arcade games, at some point I had the opportunity to become a mascot because someone got sick and didn't want to do it anymore. With Alex we thought we could do something fun with this and when he would be at the arcades we would have an act we would do, just fooling around basically. Kids loved it and it attracted a lot of people at the time. They gave Alex a clown costume and balloons to give out, and it became a small show in the park. Someone threw a bottle once because with the money the park made they increased the security to clean the park from trouble makers which provoked the said trouble makers (Lazlo let out a small laugh). They threw a bottle at me, it cut my forehead so I bled in the costume. I could have taken it off before ruining it but there were kids around and I didn't want to scare them, so I kept it on until first aid arrived. And you know the cutest part? A little girl stayed with us until then and put a band aid on the nose of my costume! It was adorable.''
Edward never heard of these stories before, Lazlo always said things like, 'I used to work there, I had a part time job there' but in the end, he always cared about what he did … It's not like how he says it, it wasn't 'just' a job. Maybe it was the way he said it, but how people treat him in the park just seems to confirm what Edward thought happened. The park got better profits because of the employees, better customers, better security and it got bought and restored and now it was a working and successful business. He was probably proud of that. Not to mention he helped his friend in his career. After all, Lazlo is building an act with him …
-How is your clown thing going?
-Ah I'm not doing that anymore
Edward looked at him surprised again
-Why is that?!
-Well... It never was my dream or … objective to begin with so …
Edward sounded concerned
-is it my fault?
-No! No … I … I found a job in the (made a dramatic commercial voice) ''tech support we buy and repair your computers shop!'' on the first floor of the studio where I live now. It's a bad name I know but … they're nice people … I'm not a clown or … a comedian, I think he called me because of the melancholy of it. I'm not really good either, well I could learn and the show looked fun, but… in the end I think this is the only thing that really kept me there.
Lazlo then looked across the water in front of them, some attraction were on the other side, all the lights were on, people were walking away in the night, laughing, holding hands, being happy. The place looked great, they had a great time.
-It just warms my heart to know this place is okay. There are a lot of great people here, and…
Lazlo looked sad for a second, Edward didn't understand why. This place is great, he has career opportunities, and friends who care about him, things to be proud of … he's popular with girls… and guys. He has everything he could want. Was he really seeing Patsy? Is he trying to 'make it work' like he mentioned before?
There was an announcement that the park was closing, they left and the last bus took them to the train station, where they had to split up.
-I'm going to walk home, Lazlo said
-Are you sure? You can come by if you want
-No, I'm fine, the weather is nice and I want to walk
-Do you want the bunny? You won it after all
-haha no, you can keep it
-What am I supposed to do with it?
-Maybe your niece would like it?
-ah she would love it! Good idea
Edward looked at the plush thinking how happy his niece would be and how angry his brother would look, not wanting the enormous plush in the way. Lazlo saw his evil grin and immediately knew what he was thinking about. He thought about how he loved seeing him with his brothers and how they got along, how proud he is when he tells stories or something he's done, confident. How he goes through his problems head on. If he'd been a little bit more like Edward to begin with, all this would have never happened, he would have found what was going on. He didn't try hard enough and now it was too late. He was going to miss this, he already was. He was happy he got to spend some time with him like they used to. He felt tears roll down his face and wiped them as fast as he could. Edward didn't seem to notice anything, it was quite dark after all. Edward's taxi arrived and he helped him put the bunny in the car seat (didn't fit in the trunk) and waved him goodbye. Lazlo started walking away. Only one thought kept coming back to him as he walked home. 'It's all over now'