The Gray Case

thirty

"This is completely wrong, Ryan. I said blue flowers on the dining table and white ones everywhere else," Alexander says, exasperated as he gives Ryan instructions.

"Fuck you Alex, what are you even doing? Alicia cooked, Kevin and I are basically doing everything else. Are we your slaves?"

"First of all, I'm the creative director of this whole thing, that means I have the right to rest for a little. Second of all, I'll take all of you out for dinner so you, my friend, better not complain," Alexander replies, taking a bite out of his sandwich before putting it down.

"Creative director my ass," Kevin mumbles and Ryan laughs, being careful that Alexander doesn't hear them.

Alexander is now standing in the middle of the room, looking at every little detail that is there and will be there. His heart pulses a few beats faster—he wants everything to be perfect.

Ever since he kissed her once, and twice and then again and again, the thought of her permeates every space he's in, every place he's outside of.

She deserves so much more than what Alexander has ever given her and that's why, he's decided that tonight is going to be their night.

He looks at the scene in front of him, at Kevin, at Ryan, at Alicia with hints of sour nostalgia. He wonders what Joseph would have thought about taking Maya out on their first formal date, if he would've helped, if he would've given him advice.

He's not here to see Alexander plan everything for the girl he's given his heart to, and he will never know if it's a blessing that he's gone or it's a curse—no one knows and that's what makes the unproven truth sour.

He sighs and snaps out of those thoughts—there isn't time nor space for reminiscence.

"So, are you going to make it official or have you already done that? I really hope that you going out of your way by renting this room, decorating it, planning all of this is not going to go to waste," Kevin says, while helping Alexander and Alicia light up the candles.

Alexander shrugs. "Well, I'm setting this up just because I want to do something special for her. I think that by now she already knows what we are, I don't really need to ask her to be my girlfriend, right? Like... she knows that she's mine and I'm hers."

"You think that she already knows? What the hell? So you are telling me that you've been in a four year long relationship and you still don't know that you have to be crystal clear with girls? I'm disappointed," Alicia says.

"Tell him, Alicia," Ryan agrees, shaking his head.

Alexander gives Ryan a dirty look at first, before softening his face and smiling. "Alright, alright. I'll ask her."

He grabs his phone from the table and goes up to the mirror to look at his reflection.

"I will piss my pants laughing if she says no," Ryan says, now sitting on one of the two chairs next to the table.

"As much as I'd love to see you piss your pants I'm afraid that won't happen. Who says no to Alexander Gray?" Alexander replies, fixing his hair with his hands.

"Rachel from the third grade. Remember her? She didn't want to hold your hand even though you literally begged her. You got rejected, boy."

Kevin laughs and everyone else joins him as well. Alexander's lips curve in a small smile.

Like this, right now, while everyone is happy and the atmosphere is serene he is reminded of how good life is.

That moment will never cease living beyond time, beyond space.