kickthestickz ~ the habit of pursuing happiness

chapter four

It surprised PJ how close he and Chris had gotten over just a few days. He came over again on Saturday and promptly complained about PJ's duvet, convincing him to go and buy him a new one. The bed was now made with a Tetris-like duvet— much more colorful than the gray one he had before. After they made PJ's bed, Chris stayed late and the two played video games and ordered pizza again. He left around midnight.

Similarly, on Sunday, he claimed to have left his watch at PJ's place. Now, both of them knew Chris didn't wear a watch, so it was not to the surprise of PJ that Chris ended up staying much longer than required, scarcely looking for the imaginary watch before the pair fell into the routine of relaxing on PJ's bed, playing video games or watching TV. Before Chris left, PJ told him that he didn't have to make excuses to come over. He had smiled in response.

On Monday, PJ was back at work. Now that he had something to look forward to after work, time seemed to slow to a stop. Mr. Boss Man wobbled his fat body up to PJ's desk, his face as red as a tomato.

"My office. now." He whisper-shouted. PJ tried to calm his nerves. This time felt more serious than the other times. Nevertheless, he stood up after the boss had gone, and greeted him in his office. He slumped into the familiar chair, trying not to look Mr. Boss Man in his beady eyes.

"Liguori," He tried to keep his temper under control. "I give you chance after chance for you to prove to me you aren't some kid, that you can be professional in a working environment and have some respect for what the workers at this company do. For what this company does for you. I've had it, Liguori, I really have. So, here I am. One last chance until your extenuating circumstances run out." PJ gulped, scratching the familiar wooden indent on the armrest.

"You like drawing so much, huh? How's this for designing. You should know the company logo by now— it's printed at the top of most every report you get. Take the logo and make it better. We're growing as a company and our logo needs to be renovated. Since you love drawing all over papers, I guess we're going to have to get you occupied on a project instead of taking it out on others' work. Improve the logo, present it to me and the board at the meeting on Friday. If you can't, and you continue to vandalize the work of your peers, I will have no choice but to fire you." PJ looked up to see if he was serious.

His eyes were unwavering on PJ, and it made PJ squirm.

"Y-yes, sir," PJ said, before standing up to leave.

Later, at the cafe, he tried to act as normal as possible, but he suddenly couldn't remember how he usually acts. Chris seemed to have known that something was wrong, and called him out for it.

"PJ, what's the matter?" PJ met his eyes for the first time all evening and shrugged. "Don't try that, I already know something's bothering you. What is it?"

"I have this... project I was assigned to at work today. I have to redesign the company logo by Friday and present it to The Board and my boss or else they fire me. Chris, I... I think he's serious this time."

"Didn't you say he used that line before? Peej, I don't think you need to stress this much. Just change the font or whatever and turn it in. You'll be fine."

"No," PJ said abruptly. "I don't think you get it. There's nothing holding me there except my mother's persuasiveness on the boss. I don't have any qualifications, and apparently, no more chances. I can't lose this job, Chris, I just can't." He heard his voice crack and cursed it.

"Hey, now, come on. It's going to be fine. It always is." He said, placing his warm hand on PJ's forearm across the table. "You can do it. You've been drawing before you could walk, probably, you can change around a few designs, yeah?" PJ shrugged and nodded. "I'll come over tonight and accompany you while you work on it, alright?"

"Okay," PJ agreed. "That would be a lot of help. Thanks, Chris."

"Of course. I have to work on something for my online class at home but I'll be over right after that."

"You take online classes?" PJ asked.

"Oh," Chris blushed. "Yeah, I enrolled on Saturday. You've inspired me, Liguori." PJ laughed.

"See you in a bit," He says, squeezing Chris' hand that laid on the table before leaving.

Chris didn't come over for three hours more, which surprised PJ. He must have really been taking his class seriously. Once he did come, however, they decided to play a couple rounds of Mario Kart before properly getting started on the logo. A couple games turned into a tournament, then a bet, and two hours later they had pizza delivered and were getting very competitive.

PJ was the first to break out of the trance and look at the clock. "Chris," He said.

"What?"

"It's ten-thirty"

"Wh- no it isn't, we've only been playing for half an hour." Chris didn't tear his eyes from the screen.

"Chris, I'm telling you," PJ started to laugh. "It's been two hours. I need to get started on the logo project."

He finally looked around. The room had grown dark with the setting sun, the only lights coming from the fairy lights and the lights near the table on the other side of the room. "Oh," Chris muttered. "It is late. Well, let's get started then."

For the next half hour or so, PJ and Chris laid on their stomachs, PJ's laptop in front of them. PJ mainly did most of the designing, as it was his project after all, but Chris did put in his thoughts. They had downloaded the image online and put it in Photoshop. It was a basic enough photo, with a minimal design of the text Hallgate, the name of the company, with two towers for L's.

PJ had an idea of what he wanted to do, but he was having trouble translating it into Photoshop. Chris didn't know the first thing about photo editing software, so he was really helping out with moral support. Nevertheless, PJ was glad Chris was with him.

Chris ended up making it hard for PJ to concentrate. PJ's heart was racing when Chris moved so their arms were pressed against each other. "You haven't moved the mouse," Chris whispered. PJ snapped out of his train of thought.

"S-sorry," he stammered, refocusing.

They decided to call it a day at eleven-fifteen—despite making little progress—and ended up watching The Simpsons for the rest of their time. Somehow, they ended up laying down shoulder-to-shoulder; closer than they had ever been before.

This is nice, PJ finally decided. Chris had laughed at the show and it made PJ's heart flutter in a way it hadn't before. So, that's how this is going to go. He thought to himself. And, for once, he decided to let his heart do what it pleased.

PJ was pretty sure Chris had fallen asleep. His head had rolled against PJ's shoulder. PJ felt himself nod off to sleep, and he almost did, until he remembered the reality of the situation.

"Chris," PJ whispered, trying to wake him up. To no avail, he squeezed his hand, which laid limply across his stomach. Chris had stirred, holding onto PJ's hand. When his eyes opened, and he realized what he was doing, he let his hand go with a deep blush and murmured a sleepy apology.

"What time is it?" He asked groggily, sitting up slowly.

"Almost one in the morning. Chris, maybe you should just stay here tonight." Chris nodded in response, leaning his head against the bed frame. "Though, I only have one bed, so we'll have to share."

"I'll manage," Chris yawned.

The two eventually got up and dressed in some of PJ's clothes—except underwear, of course—and crawled back into bed, assumed the position they were in before, and drifted to sleep.