Bromance

Brownies

"Hey son" My dad greeted me as I got in the car; he finally let me sit in the front after numerous months of asking.

"Hey daddy" I mumbled as I got into the car.

"You seem awfully far away" He looked at me worriedly, "Something on your mind?" He asked gently as the engine of the car was brought to life.

"Nah, I'm just tired." I smiled weakly and faced the window before he asked anymore questions; I was surprised when he took the hint and didn't say anything else, instead opting to put on the radio to make up for my silence.

On the way home I couldn't help thinking about what Rita said just before she left, leaving me confused and rather uncomfortable. There's nothing wrong with hanging out with Alistair, especially if my family encourages me to and it hasn't caused me to land up at some unknown party-which is a bonus-and it's not like I had that many friends to begin with that I really keep in touch with. So what if I'm closer to him than everyone expected? It's not lame as everyone makes it seem.

"Hello baby!" My mom shouted through the house from where ever she was when I entered through the front door.

"Hello ma" I replied with little enthusiasm and I guess she could sense it.

"And then?" She popped her from the living when she noticed the tone of my voice, her light brown hair tied up in a high bun, "What's up with you?"

"Nothing" I shrugged and made my way to my room, "Just got a lot of homework to catch up." Which was true, but I probably wasn't going to actually do it because ew who does that?

"Alright" She didn't sound convinced one bit but she let me go, "Dinner will be ready in an hour."

"Okay" I mumbled and closed my bedroom door, falling face first onto the rock hard bed with a thump and I let my mind wander about random thoughts until it reached Alistair and focused on his almost white hair, and his vividly green eyes; I thought back to the time I slept over and wake up to him exercising shirtless-I remembered how jealous I was of his muscles but at the same time enjoying the view of his back muscles tensing and relaxing with sweat drip-

I jolted awake when I heard my phone buzz in my pocket and blushed in embarrassment when I realized it was Alistair calling,"H-hey" I coughed awkwardly as I answered, trying to smoothen out my voice.

"Hello Kyler" Alistair replied in his formal manner.

"Hey man, how are you?" I sat up on my rock bed and pressed my back against the head board trying to get comfortable on the damn thing because there is nothing comfortable about it.

"I feel enjoyable tired from the intense exercise and constant reoccurring matches, but today was my last match so I can finally relax, and yourself " He replied happily.

"That's great to hear; in other news I feel like I'm about to die, you're not missing out anything, trust me" I sighed heavily as I let his deep laugh fill me with satisfaction, "So what did you do today?" I asked once his laughter died down.

"After winning my last match of the tournament I took a well deserved shower and slept for about 4 hours, then I craved brownies but they didn't cater any so instead I had to make do with frozen yogurt and carrot cupcakes, and then I went to listen to classical music." He concluded. Usually this is the part where I bombard him with questions about why on earth he would settle for frozen yogurt and carrot cupcakes, more specifically how he was able to consume them and still have the capacity for classical music- but he sounded so relaxed and content I decided not to even bother about it, "How about you?"

"Oh nothing nearly as exciting as you- I just went to school, came back and slept until you called." I decided it would be best not to mention about how I was actually daydreaming about him.

"Were you waiting for me to call?" He sounded pretty smug.

"Pssht. No" I scoffed, "Why would I spend my afternoon waiting for your call?"

"Well it doesn't seem like you have anything better to do, other than completing homework, but why would you do that?" He teased me knowingly.

"Oh my" I pretended to gasp in surprise, "You know me so well Mr Karrington."

"Well, I do try Mr. Hansmen, I do try." Alistair replied, and suddenly I forgot about Rita's mysterious words and focused on my attention on Alistair's voice while he talked about his matches; I decided that regardless of whatever the hell she says I kind of like our friendship even if it started off on a bad foot-I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Well you seem in an awfully better mood" My dad commented as soon as I walked down for dinner.

"Like I said" I shrugged, "I was tired and I had a lot of school work to do, but now that's sorted." I made myself comfortable at the table.

"Well it's always good to hear that my boy is taking his work seriously this year." My mom walked in with a tray of smoked snoek fish mixed with potatoes, peas, avocado and onions, "But don't work yourself too hard okay?" She frowned at me in concern as she sat down.

"I won't Ma" I gave my most convincing smile and dished myself a considerable portion.

"Good." She finally sat back and we ate together in comfortable silence like we always do, and then an idea came to my mind in the suffocating silence of it all.

"Hey Ma?" I asked with my mouth full of fish.

"Yes Kyler?" She replied, a little annoyed by my table manners.

"Can you teach me how to bake your really nice chocolate brownies tomorrow?"

"Oh?" She looked at me blankly, "what do you want to make them for?"

"I just have an idea." I shrugged and went back to eating, my mom got the hint that I wasn't going to offer any more information and she didn't push any further.

"Okay, sure" She nodded with uncertainty.

"Thanks Ma, you won't regret it"

"I sure hope not." She mumbled to herself.