When we were Wallflowers

Chapter 23: Happily ever after

Over the many years Brent and Ezra had been friends, Brent was sure that he had never been so nervous to be alone with Ezra before. Even when they were first became friends and Brent had invited Ezra round for a sleepover for the very first time, he was so worried that they would be unable to make conversation and that the entire night would be awkward that he nearly cancelled the whole thing. The night turned out to be a resounding success as it turned out that they were both gaming nerds. There was no time for awkward silences or lulls in conversation when Assassin's Creed Origins takes over seventy hours to complete.

This time was different, there was a serious conversation to be had over the horizon and no Assassin's Creed game to save them (they'd completed Valhalla months ago through a series of all nighters). It was a little nerve wracking waiting for Ezra to drive round, although, he'd seemed happier recently. Either something good had happened to him or something so so so so terrible had happened that his brain had shut down and he was now in a state of shock that caused him to look happy but he was actually in severe mental distress. Oh God, what if Ezra was having a psychological breakdown and Brent hadn't even noticed!

There was a knock on the door and Brent wasn't given the chance to answer it first.

"Hi Ezra!" His mom greeted.

Brent came downstairs and greeted Ezra as well. His mom ushered them into the kitchen where she casually whipped out some cookies she'd made earlier. It was obvious to all in the Moyo household that his mom was in a creative mood this morning as she had tossed her long blonde hair into a bun and had put on her durable paint stained overalls. She was either going to paint, bake or write somebody a love poem. She did all three. His mom compared Brent to the brightest sunflower of the summer and he was very flattered.

"It feels like it's been forever since you've come round." His mom said as she moved the warm cookies from the baking tray to a plate.

"Sorry, Penny. It's been one hell of a month." Ezra replied.

"Oh, bless you. Is it your dad again?"

Brent was surprised when Ezra answered honestly. "Yeah, we had an argument and he kicked me out the house." He said it so matter of factly that a random listener may have thought that being kicked out didn't bother Ezra at all.

One of the cookies broke in half as his mom dropped it on the floor. What a waste.

She gaped slack jawed at Ezra. "You're kidding?"

"Nope." Ezra reached forward and took a bite out of one of the cookies. "Great cookie, Penny." He complimented.

"Thanks. Why... um... why did he do that?" His mom asked. Ezra's nonchalant attitude had confused her, as if the news was not shocking enough.

Ezra hesitated for a moment. "I'm dating someone... I'm dating this guy actually, turns out my dad wasn't very cool with that." Ezra laughed, but his mom didn't.

"What year does he think it is?" Brent joined in, the awkwardness that he had feared had come far faster and far sooner than he had anticipated.

His mom recollected herself. "Well, where are you staying now? Stay here if you need, I insist."

There it was. As if willed into existence, his mom asked the exact question that he was hoping she would. It would work perfectly. Brent and his entire family were used to Ezra having to stay multiple nights round their house. Ezra tried for a while to avoid getting other people involved in his family drama, but Brent had worn down those walls. Every time Ezra and his dad would fight or when Ezra became so lonely by himself as his dad would sometimes not come home for days on end, (before Ezra could drive) Brent's family would come pick him up from wherever he was and take him back to their house. They were one agreement away from being permanent roommates.