Christian (bxb)

A new kind of normal

(Christian)

I looked around at everyone standing close, feeling my chest tighten strangely.

They were all here, ready to support me, no matter how many times I ran or pushed them away.

And Pop—seeing him had been the last push I needed.

He just knew me in a way no one else did, a reminder that even when I felt lost, I wasn’t alone. I glanced up at him, his face soft and full of warmth.

For the first time in a while, I felt a bit of the heaviness inside me start to fade.

Pop gave me a light squeeze on the shoulder and looked around at the others, his expression shifting into something playful.

“Alright, Christian, now that I’ve made sure you’re okay, I’ve got an idea,” He whispered, leaning in close like he was sharing a secret. I tilted my head, curious.

“What kind of idea?” A mischievous grin spread across his face.

“How about we mess with the pack a bit? I was thinking of a little prank—nothing big, just enough to shake things up.” The thought of it brought a smile to my face, and I felt the excitement bubbling in my chest.

It had been so long since I’d felt like doing anything fun, anything that could make me laugh or forget the stress I’d been carrying around.

Pop was always good at that, at finding little ways to make things feel lighter, even if it was just for a moment.

He's thirty-six, but that didn't stop him from being playful most of the time. The perk about being immortal is that Pop looks younger than I am, which was weird to see sometimes.

We still celebrated our birthdays each year, but we never aged, and it was weird to look at him and know that he was that old.

“Alright, what are you thinking?” I asked, grinning back at him. The others watched us with curious eyes, but Pop was laser-focused on me.

He glanced around, leaning in closer so the others couldn’t hear.

“So, I’ve got this stuff that smells terrible—like terrible. I was thinking we could sneak it into their gear. Just imagine their faces when they open up their bags!” I let out a quiet laugh, trying not to be too loud.

The idea was so simple, but I could already picture the look on everyone’s faces when they figured it out.

It was stupid and childish, but maybe that’s what I needed right now—a little break from all the heavy stuff, a way to just be normal and let loose.

“I’m in,” I said, grinning.

Pop’s face lit up, and he clapped his hands together.

“Oh, this is going to be perfect! We’ll hit Mason first—he’s always so particular about his stuff. I bet he’ll freak out the most.” I opened my mouth to agree when I suddenly felt someone behind me.

Turning, I froze when I saw Dad standing there with his arms crossed, giving us both a look that said he’d heard every word.

The small spark of excitement faded as I waited for whatever lecture was coming next.

“You two,” Dad said, his voice low but stern.

“I don’t know what you think you’re planning, but unless you want me to do something about it, you’d better stop now. And, Micah,” He added, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“If you think I’m letting you drag Christian into one of your pranks, you’re out of your mind.” Pop groaned, rolling his eyes.

“Oh, come on, Landon. Lighten up a little. It’s just a harmless prank. No one’s getting hurt.” Dad didn’t look convinced, his gaze hardening.