All the Beautiful Things

V

"ALL RIGHT, when we enter, please be sure to remain quiet. My dad works from home, so the likelihood of him being on the phone is high," Everest explained softly before he stuck a silver key into the doorknob of his home. When the door was unlocked, he opened it and stood back to allow his guests the first entry.

The dark haired boy gasped upon stepping into the entryway. He took in the site of the polished wooden floors, high ceilings, and open layout of the large house. One of the walls was purely windows, and the sunlight flooded in through it, lighting the space in front of it. "Wow, your house is so pretty," the boy whispered, appalled by the sight.

Everest nodded and thanked him quietly, side-stepping when his second guest gripped onto his shoulder to steady himself as he tried to use his feet to get his shoes off. Aware of the boy's struggle, Everest held onto his shoulders to help him a bit more. Once their shoes were off, Everest led the two towards his room, tiptoeing past his father's office, waving at the man.

The blonde's father spun around in his wheeled desk chair, sensing his son's presence. He was dressed in a black suit with a black tie, his dress-shoe clad feet crossed. Everest's black haired guest gasped at the sight of the older man. He had a young-looking face and dark hair, accompanied by equally dark eyes. There was no resemblance to Everest whatsoever, and the guest had always pictured them to be very similar in looks.

"Welcome home, Everest Harold. Hello Calum...and other boy I haven't met," Estèban Tanner said, raising a brow at Everest. He wasn't expecting his son to have anyone over, especially not someone he didn't know. He wanted to be angry that he hadn't bothered to ask for permission, but Everest never really had any friends to bring home, and it was refreshing to see the two boys. The fact that Calum was a repeat visitor made the man happy.

Everest blinked at his father's words, then stepped beside the black haired boy and gestured to him. "Dad, this is Casper. Casper, this is Dad," he said with a nod. Estèban extended his hand towards Casper, gripping the boy's hand in a firm but polite handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, Casper. If you find yourself needed anything at all, do not be shy. You may ask for anything and I will do my best to get it to you." He told him, using the same words he had spoken to Calum when he had first met him.

"Thank you, sir," Casper replied kindly, smiling before being dragged by Calum towards Everest's room. The trio entered the bedroom and sat in a circle on the floor. Casper sat so close to Calum that he was practically on top of him, for he was too afraid of possibly messing something up in Everest's luxurious home.

Once everyone was settled on the floor, Calum smirked at the boys and spoke in a deeper voice than usual. "Let the games begin," he said lowly, his eyes narrowed as he leaned in dramatically.

--

"No! You can't just do that, Everest! How much do you hate me? This is unacceptable and I don't know why I'm even trying to be your friend anymore! You've said and done some questionable things but this draws the line. I refuse to accept this. I am at a complete loss for words. Never before have I met someone as disgusting as you. How jealous and spiteful are you of me, exactly? I can't believe you would do such a thing to me, after everything I have done for you. Whatever friendship we had here? Done." Calum spat angrily at Everest, up on his knees as he yelled loudly, his hands moving wildly with the gestures he used.

Casper entered the room just then, having returned from a trip to the bathroom, and stared, wide-eyed, at Calum as he yelled. He then allowed his gaze to flicker over to Everest, who stared back at Calum blankly, his cobalt blue eyes scanning the smaller boy's rage-infused features.

Silence filled the room for thirty seconds, each boy looking at one another before Everest broke the silence with his laughter. Casper looked from Calum's angry, tomato-red face to Everest's. While Calum glared angrily at his taller friend, the blonde buried his hands in his face, unable to control the sound. "Uh..." Casper said quietly, feeling awkward with the tension that Calum had triggered between himself and Everest. "What....uh....what happened here?" The black haired boy asked, nervously running a hand through his short hair.