cigarettes and chlorine [fruk]

Chapter 20

"What's up, Pegs?"

The girl behind the bar beamed when she looked up. "Ah nothing new, how about you Art?"

The so called bar/café was warmer and cozy from the inside. Francis liked it here, the lights dimmed and the seating looked very comfortable. Walls were decorated with pictures of everything, buildings skies, cities, and pictures of people, which Francis found very odd but didn't question it, and also some Christmas light were. Flowers were set in vases on each coffee table that was there, the smell of the flowers were in the air and Francis liked it. He followed Arthur like a lost puppy. Arthur fist bumped the girl with the curly hair behind the bar, she was wearing a bright yellow shirt with a lemon on it. "I'm doing great!"

The girl narrowed her eyes at Arthur face.  "You're a great liar, Art." She said pointing at his face, she pursed her lips sighing knowing that he had just gotten out of a fight, she was friends with Arthur for long enough that she knew when Arthur's face bruised. "Do you want an ice pack?" Arthur let himself fall into bar stool. Francis answered for him.

"That would be great!" The French had taken a stand next to Arthur with a concerned yet relieved look. The girl vanished for a moment but returned with an ice pack, she handed it to Francis, who pressed the pack against Arthur's swollen cheek. "I'm Francis Bonnefoy, by the way." Francis gave the girl a grateful smile after he took the ice pack.

"I'm Peggy. I don't want to nosy but Arthur and I are friends so...are you two dating?" Peggy asked with a raised brow and a smirk while cleaning up a glass.

"Pegs!" Arthur grimaced but shook his head at the same time as Francis did. The two's cheeks turned pink when the question came up. Francis chuckled shaking his head one more time after calming his cheeks. Peggy put her hands up in the air defending herself.

"Alright! Alright!" The girl said with wide eyes but a grin formed on her lips at the funny expression of the two boys. "Want something to drink?" Francis shook his head while Arthur nodded.

"Vodka." Arthur said with a deadpanned face and Francis choked on his own spit but Peggy laughed.

"Yeah sure when you get yourself a real ID, young man." Francis sighed relieved and punched Arthur in the arm slightly, who also let out a chuckled. Francis huffed sitting down on the bar stool next to Arthur rolling his eyes. "You go school with Arthur?" The question was directed to Francis.

"Yes, I just moved here this year." Francis answered polity with a smile on his lips.

"Cool." Peggy commented before going back to organizing the table in front of her.

"Does Arthur come often here?" Arthur turned to Francis with frown on his lips but the ice pack was pushed more firmly against him making grumbled "I'm right here" under his breath when he was forced to look away.

"Yep, he does. He actually play guitar on Saturday, sometimes at least. You wanna play tonight?" Peggy asked with a raised eyebrow, she was now looking at Arthur. Arthur shrugged his shoulder not really sure if he actually wants to play since Francis was with him. Francis instead gasped.

"You play guitar?" Francis asked. Arthur nodded. "I would love to hear you play." Francis was beaming with excitement. Arthur watched Francis feeling a smile tug to his lips but instead he groaned when Francis slung his arms around his shoulders. "Oh pretty, pretty please!" Arthur rolled his eyes but felt his cheeks turn a pink and his heart accelerate just a little bit. Peggy watched laughing.

"I don't think you have choice, Art." Arthur groaned when Francis's face was closer than expected.

"Please!!" Francis cooed. Arthur then pushed Francis was nodding his head.