𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫

[ 004 ] Back Together.

     

       CHARLES really didn't know why, but there he was, walking up to Jennifer and adjusting his hat. He smiles, "hey," he says, catching the blonde's attention quickly. "Hi." She said, looking up at him and he just glanced at the other two before looking back at her again. "So, um, I'm turning sixteen in three days... would you wanna come to my birthday supper? It'll be lame and just me and my friends... and some family friends and some family. But, um, it'd be nice if you came too." He says before he smiles softly at her.

That always worked. His soft half smiles. Apparently it does even now after three years since they last went out together, the girl blushing and smiling softly at him. "Really? You want me there?" She asked and he nods quickly. "It'd be nice..." He says and Jennifer nods. "Yeah, okay, just DM me the details, okay?" She says, sipping her root beer float and he nods quickly, grinning wider.

"Yeah, totally..."

"What was that about?" Gareth is grinning and wiping down ice cream from the counter with a grin when he returns to the couple. One of which was staring with a blank face. "Oh, nothing, it was nothing... uh, she kind of tipped me like five dollars for like two cones and a float so I insisted she takes at least half back." He says and Gareth wiggles his brows.

"So that totally wasn't you inviting her to your little birthday party?" He asked and Charles just chuckled awkwardly. "Okay, yeah, you caught me... I was actually inviting her." He admits, liking the way Will just glanced away, looking annoyed. He feels a little cocky about it. "Yep. Might get back together." He shrugs and Gareth chuckled. "Alright. So, there can be... quadruple dates. Will was mentioning El and Max are dating and so are Lucas and Mike?" He asked and Charles just smirks.

"Yup. Totally. Quadruple dates." He says and Will glanced up. "I'm gonna take my break." He walked away and Charles watched him walk off to the breakroom. Didn't Will want this? He feels weird about it. Will admits maybe he hasn't moved on. I mean, he kissed the guy like two days ago and going on dates with Gareth isn't exactly gonna make them go away or make him move on, so of course he's not over him. Of course he wants to be with him. He hates that he still feels for him.

After their shift today, Charles glanced down and stared at the conjoined hands between Gareth and Will. They fit so well together. Like two jigsaw puzzle pieces. He smiles faintly then glanced down, his smile fading away. "Hey, do you guys wanna do something?" Gareth glanced back at Charles then looked to the boy he's holding hands with. "Oh, I don't know, I'm kind of tired..." Charles yawned.

"You guys should... go, hang out, do whatever and I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?" He insisted, grinning as he starts heading in a different direction. "Well, at least let us drive you home." Will offers and Charles waves his hand. "No, I'm okay, I can walk home. See you guys tomorrow, alright?" He says and Gareth tugs on Will's hand gently. "He'll be fine."

And he was. Charles walks home, head down, earbuds in, all the way to his apartment, locking the door and getting into bed. Except he can't sleep. It's the first sleepless night he has in a long time, overthinking. What if Will likes Gareth around more than him? What if he's getting bored of Charles? It's endless. All the way until the next morning, where he ended up having to go to work, sleep deprived, more grouchy than usual and very very tired.

Will noticed it the instant he saw Charles, made a slight grimace but said nothing. Because what exactly could he say when Charles refuses to talk to him anyway? "Is something bothering you?" Gareth suddenly asked him and he looks over at his... friend? Boyfriend? "Oh, no... no, not at all." But honestly, this entire time, Will's been angrily washing the dishes that they've used so far all day. Gareth was worried that he was upset with the guy who he's going out on dates with putting him on dishes duty. "Why do you seem... hostile then?" Gareth walked over, softly touching his arm.