We all die in the end

Chapter 1

It was a typical dull day at the run down dying mall in the small town Victoria called home. Less and less people shopped there as their used to be favorite stores ran out of money and closed down. You can occasionally see a few highschoolers walking around looking for a cheap afterschool snack or a mom dragging her kid into stores for new clothes. Basically the only things keeping that place from being condemned was the movie theater and the Macy's that the aforementioned moms would shop in. Of course it was only a matter of time before those places closed down too and the mall would be torn down to make way for something new and actually useful. For now though Victoria worked in the hot topic in a dark corner of the mall, also getting barely any business. They regularly got a group of excited teenagers that typically leave disappointed since the store had been taken over by Disney merch and none of the things they actually wanted were there or were overpriced. They also got some grandparents looking for shirts for their anime obsessed grandkids. Sometimes a middle schooler would come in looking to attempt to steal a cheap pin of their favorite oversexualized anime boy. Victoria usually put a stop to them, not that she really cares about the pins but this kid probably already has enough merch and needs to stop feeding into their own delusions. Sometimes however a single mom that seemed like she was having a hard time getting back on her feet would try and pocket a pin or two for her kid. Victoria didn't hesitate to turn a blind eye to this kind of stuff for obvious reasons. Because of this, and other things of course, Victoria considered herself to be a good person overall. She didn't care too much to be a pain in the ass and didn't care too little to be an apathetic pain in the ass either. She also had great friends so she couldn't be that bad could she?

Speaking of Victoria's friends, Michael also worked at hot topic. He was her favorite (and only) co-worker. He made sure that everything was clean and organized while Victoria was the perfect typical edgy hot topic employee working the counter. Michael was much nicer, more sensitive, and more empathetic than Victoria so the managers would prefer if Michael worked the counter at times but he's also very shy and hates confrontation and Victoria understands that its not something he can just get over so she does the part he hates. Michael enjoys making sure everything is where it should be anyways, its calming for him in a chaotic, loud world. Michael also enjoys talking that's for sure. When he's not organizing or cleaning he will chew Victoria's ears off about his new favorite video game or how he couldn't get his hair to look right that morning. He was on his usual rant about something... Vocaloid I think it was? when the bell rang on the door indicating someone had walked in. Michael hid in the back as he usually does when someone comes in and Victoria heard an all too familiar voice.

"WHERE'S MY BAE AT?!" shouted a tall, pale, muscular man with a weird black eye who couldn't have been over the age of 24.

Any normal person would have already called mall security at this kind of grand entrance but Victoria was not any normal person, not to this guy anyways.

"GREYSON!! MY DUDE!" Victoria shouted back at him excitedly.

She ran around the counter and hugged him, feeling very short in his arms.

Pulling away from the hug he asked "So you're a chick today, huh?"

"yeah"

"That's too bad, you mad cute as a guy" Greyson flirted

"shut up! why are you here anyways dude?" Victoria asked, not that she minded him being here or that he doesn't visit often, he just always has an excuse.

"Matt and I have a hot date tonight and I thought I'd grab some pocky." Greyson explained

"oh well you can grab some and I'll ring you up"

Greyson picked out his boyfriend's favorite snack, strawberry pocky, and paid for it at the register. Victoria then invited him behind the counter to talk and watch tiktoks together. Greyson and Victoria had been two peas in a pod since middle school. Funny thing is that the way they became so close is how much they hated each other before making peace. They both have dominant personalities to say the least and hate to lose. This became a problem in 7th grade when Greyson absolutely destroyed Victoria at HORSE during gym and was a little too cocky about it. Victoria wasn't having it and challenged him to a rematch and beat his ass. Greyson got upset and it ended up with many heated games of HORSE and when Greyson won one last time because Victoria had tripped and missed the shot, then proceeded to make fun of Victoria for it, she got up, stared him the eyes and lunged at him. The fight was real nasty, gave them both a reputation, and it wasn't their last. Somehow their bickering and their constant need to go after eachother for everything only made them closer. They graduated highschool as best friends and have stayed that way ever since. Greyson works as a trainer at a gym so they don't get to see each other often on work days since they are both exhausted but regularly call and hang out on the weekends. Greyson goes on a lot of dates with his boyfriend Matt so they cant call every night or hang out every weekend but still make sure to make time for each other. Matt is a really sweet and cool guy and Victoria is really happy for both of them. They make a really cute couple and make each other really happy. Greyson makes sure anyone who is transphobic to Matt becomes a radical leftist and Matt makes sure that Greyson is never bored if you know what I mean.

After hanging out with Victoria for a while Greyson needed to get back home to get ready for his date. He said his goodbyes to Victoria and shouted goodbye to Michael since he knew he was hiding in the back. Driving home he went through his head how the date was gonna go. Pick him up, take him to his favorite restaurant, go see a movie, go to the park, drive him back to my place, and spend the night together. He was smiling from ear to ear just thinking about it. That was exactly how their first date went, and it was perfect. They'd been together for about 4 to 5 years now and he couldn't have been happier. Greyson wanted to spend the rest of his life with Matt and he knew that Matt felt the same. He wanted to grow old and watch his love's silky brown hair turn dry and gray. He wanted to give Matt the love he never had growing up and more. Maybe one day they might even adopt kids together who knows? one thing that Greyson knew fore sure though was that he was in love with Matt. More in love than he had ever been before.

He got home and executed his plan. The date went perfectly. Greyson looked amazing, Matt looked even more amazing, the food was amazing, the movie was amazing, and they were on their way to the park. The park was a little far away from the movies so they had to drive but it was worth it. It was always never too cold or too hot there and the trees allow for just enough moonlight to come streaming in from between the leaves. Their favorite spot was a park bench on a hill overlooking the water. The town they lived in was on the other side of the large lake on the edge of the park and the view of the town was perfect from that bench. On their first date they had sat there for about an hour, Greyson's arm gently wrapped around Matt, when Matt fell asleep leaning up against him. Greyson was able to carry him back to the car and take him home to let him sleep in his bed without even a yawn.

"You know this date seems awfully familiar... You're not planning anything are you?" Matt joked

"Whaaaat? nooooo" Greyson said sarcastically

"oohmygod please tell me what it is!" Matt started his cute annoying begging thing he did

"what are you talking about, there's no surprises..." Greyson said cheekily

"Greyson pleaaaaseeeee I wanna know, you know I hate surprises!"

"no you don't, you just say that so I'll tell you. You hate secrets not surprises."

"SO YOU ADMIT THERE'S A SURPRISE!"

"no?? when did I do that?" Greyson said, looking over at his other half

"I don't know I just wanna know the surprise Greyson pleaaa-"

Matthew Miller 8:38 pm 07/25/2022