One night was all it took to finally push Alexander into believing that maybe someone was destined to be with him. Maybe it was because of what was happening over these past few weeks. As unlucky as that person was, Alexander already found himself hoping it was one person.
John Laurens visited his apartment, like he usually did when Alexander wanted to hang out. There wasn't much room, so Laurens usually sat next to Alexander and watched him work, cracking jokes.
Today was no exception. With Thomas' latest disaster of spelling mistakes, it had left Alexander speechless. Laurens quickly muttered to him, "Maybe he does this on purpose to fuck with you. It's surprisingly effective at pissing people off." That was very likely, Alexander wasn't convinced that someone this bad at writing was a marketer. And strangely enough, that was exactly what Alexander had thought.
So they sat in silence, deciphering what Thomas meant slowly but surely. It was peaceful just laying next to Laurens. Normally, with his friends, he was a little more hyperactive and driven. But now Alexander got what Laurens meant when he said he was chill. In a way, just sitting with him was getting to know him in ways Alexander couldn't by talking to him. Alexander smiled. He found that figuring out things about people that even they didn't know was enjoyable.
"Hey, Alex," Laurens said, getting his attention off of his laptop screen. "We've been friends for a while, right?" Alexander already knew this was going to get personal. No casual conversations start with reconfirmation about a particular relationship.
"Of course, Laurens," he responded, trying not to show his nervousness. In fact, he could consider Laurens his closest friend. Which was pretty sad to him, considering he only met him a month ago. How did time fly by that quickly? He wondered how they became close in such a short span of time.
Laurens thought about how to phrase his question, which only further worried Alexander. He was trying not to tell Laurens to spit it out already, and he hoped it didn't show. "What's the deal with the gloves?" Laurens burst out. He held up Alexander's hand, with the aforementioned garment on. "I know it's personal, really, but it's honestly a bit surprising you wear them everyday."
The ice rink lie couldn't go on forever, Alexander supposed. Even though he had only spouted that lie once, and Laurens probably didn't even remember that. But still, the question lingered in his head. "You won't hate me, right?" Alexander asked, the words finally forming a sentence.
"Alex, whatever the reason is, I'd be a dick if I started hating you now," Laurens said, not really grasping how nervous Alexander was. But he still had a look of understanding.
Alexander sighed, tugging at his gloves, but not quite taking them off. "They're reassuring. I don't have to worry about looking for a soulmate when I have them on. I don't have to worry about people, really."
"So you're waiting for fate?" Laurens asked. The only thing Alexander thought about next was the fact that maybe fate was waiting for him. He only shrugged in response.
Alexander watched as Laurens fiddled with his hands. "Hey, Alex? Promise not to call me a weirdo."
"There's not much weirder than a person who sleeps with gloves on," Alexander admitted, "I have no room to discuss any of your weirdness."
Laurens got the question out quickly. "Have you noticed that we're getting super close?"
"We are?" Alexander asked bluntly, "I mean, I wouldn't know how fast friendships go." He had abandoned his laptop by now, having closed it a few minutes ago.
Laurens explained further, "I know this is what a high person would say, but it's like we get each other. We already know our boundaries. I don't have to say how I'm feeling, it's honestly a weird kind of close."
"Yeah, you're probably high. Good thing I'm not an undercover cop," Alexander said, laughing. "But seriously, it's cool. I get it. I'm surprised we haven't started finishing each other's sentences."
Alexander felt a twinge of happiness when Laurens smiled and said, "No time like the present." They sat in silence while Alexander clicked around.
Laurens sipped from his water bottle, and it was clear from its transparency that he was drinking coffee. Alexander looked at him and asked, "Can I have some?"
"What is with your coffee addiction?" Laurens retorted, "Do all people who go to college rely on coffee?"
Alexander said, "Hey. That is a harmful stereotype. Some of us rely on energy drinks. And one percent of us chase caffeine pills down with a mixture of energy drinks and coffee. That one percent is me."
"The fact that you're alive is a miracle," Laurens said, shaking his head, "Just take my coffee, it's getting cold anyway. On the house." He passed the bottle to him and Alexander chugged it.
Alexander felt a sense of comfort knowing that he wasn't getting judged. Like he was alone, but better perhaps. Or maybe that was the coffee talking. He tended to have idiotic thoughts alongside his brew. His laptop lit up, someone was apparently trying to video chat him. "Excuse me, I have to take this," Alexander explained with a smile, picking up the call.
"Oh, it's just Thomas," Alexander said when he saw who was on the other end of the call. He wondered what he could possibly want with him.
Laurens leaned over and whispered, "Is this your boss or something? He looks like a boss kind of guy." Alexander shrugged. Every time he's seen Thomas, he was in a suit. Whether that's uniform or just Thomas showing off, only he would know.
"He wishes he could be my boss," Alexander said, intentionally loud enough for Thomas to hear.
Thomas retorted, "Hey, I can fire you. So watch your mouth." Alexander found himself not worried about this. Any other day, he'd be begging for forgiveness. But now he realized that Thomas couldn't afford to fire him. He had some value as a person after all.
After staring at Alexander's stupidly confident grin, Thomas backed down and said, "Whatever. I just called to make sure you wouldn't just take the paycheck and run."
"Thomas, I have a thing called a reputation," Alexander said in return. It was true. He didn't have the privilege of skimping on a job. He couldn't afford to skip out on work.
Thomas shifted his gaze to him and said, "Says the person who didn't even bother to turn in a resume." Alexander shrugged, knowing he was right about that. But not that right. Thomas picked up the phone and started talking while Alexander waits patiently for them to continue their argument.
"Mhm, yep," Thomas said in reply, smiling in a sickly sweet sort of way, "Wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll get everything ready." Alexander used this moment to fake-gag silently and watch as Laurens cracked up. He hung up and looked at them blankly, then said, "Listen, I have to go. Don't forget you have a deadline."
Thomas hung up on him quickly after. Alexander scoffed, muttering, "He couldn't possibly miss the… idiot convention. And besides, deadlines are fine with me."
Laurens pointed to a message. "It's due in two hours. Are you sure you're fine?"
Alexander was confident as he said, "Doesn't matter if I'm finished." He didn't know how to answer the second question.
"Are you?" Laurens asked skeptically.
"Am I?" Alexander wondered out loud, still maintaining a calm air around him. He looked at the unfinished editing he had in front of him. "Laurens, I am, how the French say, screwed," he said, examining all of the mistakes, worrying that he was missing a bunch by frantically skimming the contents.
"Nah, you're not. Two hours is plenty of time," Laurens retorted despite knowing how many mistakes Thomas made. "See, dilemma's spelled wrong."
Alexander shook his head. "It's spelled with an N, I'm pretty sure of that." Spelling was not one of his strong suits though, and he seriously doubted that he was all that intelligent when it came to language. Still, Laurens was looking at him like he should know this stuff. "I went to school, got my grades, I don't need that anymore," Alexander said, "Got my overpriced piece of paper behind me and my grammar checker opened on my screen."
That look was still burning into him, and now Alexander felt like he said something wrong. "Do you also feel passionate about the issue of student loans?" Alexander asked, trying to guess what was getting under the other's skin.
Laurens sighed. "Maybe? I don't know, just feels frustrating to be where I am right now."
"Hey, I was there too," Alexander tried to comfort him, an odd sort of empathy unfolding within him.
"Did you have to finish highschool online?" Laurens asked, "Can you find the time to find a college who'll pick up the late bloomer who doesn't do much impressing?"
Laurens wasn't mad at him, Alexander reminded himself before he went and opened his mouth. "We've all struggled. I had to work for everything I have, and it still isn't enough."
"Yeah, but you know what you want to do," Laurens retorted, "You have a skill to fall back on. Me? I'm good at sketching, maybe I could excel in science if I really tried. I don't have this one skill I've mastered." He dryly chuckled. "You know that phrase? Jack of all trades, master of none?"
But oftentimes better than a master of one?" Alexander finished the phrase for Laurens. Somehow with the last part, the whole meaning is changed. There's a new spin on it, a new change. And sometimes change was good.
Laurens started laughing again. "And now you're finishing my sentences. But still, probably would've been better to have been born a writing genius."
"Laurens, my dear Laurens, don't call me a writing genius when I have a grammar checker and a person that constantly corrects my spelling," Alexander explained.
"Can I borrow your gloves?" Laurens asked out of the blue.
"What?" Alexander immediately responded, "Yeah, I guess you can." He took his gloves off and tossed them towards Laurens. The other took a solid few seconds trying to get it on without any mishap.
"Surprisingly comfortable," Laurens noticed. He turned towards him and poked his nose. "Boop," Laurens said. Alexander scrunches his nose up in a joking manner. Despite Thomas ruining the gesture, it was somehow revived. It was less patronizing and more endearing.
"Never do that again," Alexander asserted, trying not to laugh. Laurens then poked him again.
Alexander glared at him. Laurens then said, "All right, I'll stop. Let's get serious." He thought to himself on how to phrase the question. "Do you want to go out? With our friends, we're going to hit up a firework show and steal all the free food."
"Yeah, sure. I could use some free food," Alexander said, smiling. "And plus, I need a reason to get out more. I don't want to be like you, only hanging out with me."
"Hey," Laurens returned, "I have a life outside of being your friend. For example, yesterday I went to work…" There was an awkward silence as Laurens searched for something to say. "I need a hobby," he finally said.
Alexander smirked. "The tables have turned, it appears. Who's the boring one now?"
"Still you," Laurens said, "For example, I have dated two people. Take that."
Alexander pulled out a notebook from the side of his bed. "I've dated one girl for a few months. A girl for a year. That dude in college. One dude, only lasted for one night. I think there's more?"
"Last time I checked, I was the people person," Laurens stated.
Alexander then affirmed, "Ah, blame me for enjoying some alone time. You could use some, it does wonders." And besides, he has never seen Laurens alone. He just couldn't avoid people, and frankly, Alexander thought he wasn't even trying to avoid anyone.
He wondered what that was like, constantly being in the eyes of someone. Suppose he pursued that thought. But mostly, he was excited for the fireworks. Though it wasn't a holiday per se, he knew he couldn't miss it.
He knew he was changing. But this change was good, he was sure of it.
A special thanks to my friends, for putting up with me trying to push through this writer's block. As for chapter 5, expect sparks to fly. Sorry for the firework pun.