Fix You ~Completed~

Act Seventeen

He thought my bones were cute. Eddie thought my bones were cute.

Did that mean he thought I was cute? Surely not. Eddie was straight. He was straighter than the sides of a triangle, or Budweiser beer. (I think that's straight?)

No, Eddie was just being nice. All he ever was, was nice. He was just purely nice. Him and Ale. Neither of them had a mean bone in their body.

The thought stuck with me all throughout the next week. When Karaoke Night came upon us once more, I was still obsessing over it. Eddie and Ale met me at the café right before the event was set to start, each of us promising we had no surprise guests, and we went to get our drinks.

"Jimmy, I need a double banana smoothie. Stat!" Gale begged, throwing himself over the counter. The thin boy chuckled and promised to make him the best smooth he'd ever had the pleasure of tasting. Ale was a smoothie freak, I found out. He would literally try any smoothie, including a kale smoothie. According to him, the only reason he drank it was because Eddie was so sure he wouldn't. He lost fifty bucks on that bet. Gale drank the whole thing. The kid was a nut job.

I giggled to myself at the mere thought, making Eddie turn to look at me. He smiled and nudged me. "What's got you so laughy-taffy?" he teased, and I explained what I was thinking about. "Oh god, let's never speak of that again. I still can't believe that weirdo drank a freaking kale smoothie. Who besides Californians drink kale smoothies?"

Jimmy raised his hand. "I know one! Your little girlfriend, Eddie!"

"Jesimae isn't my girlfriend," Eddie corrected quickly, his cheeks red. I nodded in agreement. Not sure why I did that, but I felt the need. "We're barely acquaintances. We just kinda know each other and we ran into each other and-"

"Dude, no need to explain. I was only teasing. My coworker can't get a man to save her life and, if she does, they always suck eggs. You're chill. She'd never be able to land someone decent like you," Jimmy assured him with a smirk. "Cinnamon lattes for you two?"

I rocked on my heels, "Of course!"

"Ooh, Clem! Love that confidence!" the boy shouted, throwing his arms in the air like the loon he was. I laughed along with him, repeating his actions awkwardly. Hey, I was trying! "Aw, you're so cute. Even though your boyfriend is a creep. You should dump him and start dating Eddie or something. Aw, yes! I definitely ship the two of you!"

Gale began laughing so hard he literally tipped over. Nearly the whole café turned and gawked at the lanky ginger kid in the penguin sweater rolling around on the floor.

I self-consciously pulled on my hoodie strings, staring at my shoes. Was it honestly that funny for him to think of Eddie and I as... as a couple? It was weird to consider and it'd never happen, but come on!

Noting my sad face, Eddie poked me in the arm. "Nah, Clem's pretty nuts about Kyla," he informed Jimmy. "Just because we all hate him doesn't mean Clem does."

"He's a lot better when you get to know him!" I promised, my voice lacking the conviction I know it needed. A bit ashamed, I rubbed my elbow.

Stifling more laughs, Gale dragged himself back up to his feet and tugged a twenty from his pocket. "I'll cover the fees tonight. It's worth it for that laugh!" he continued to giggle, walking over to hug me. "No offense, but I can't see that. Eddie is so... he's just so..."

"Ale, I'm bisexual."

"WELL, SHOOT ME IN BETWEEN THE RIBS AND CALL ME ALEXANDER HAMILTON!" Gale shouted, once again causing the whole establishment to give us questioning looks. "You're joking. You're not joking. Holy- and when were you gonna tell me? Me, you're best friend since kindergarten! I've known you since you were still in pull-ups! Yes, he was still in pull-ups when we were five. It's really not that uncommon, Jimmy, stop giving me that look!"