Apartment 3B

21. Sandwiches

Kabir

I hadn't expected Jesse and Lainey to receive me at the airport but they did. Pushing my bags along and struggling, my eyes had found my name written on a white placard with different coloured flowers drawn in on the edges and my name written in bold red. I could see Lainey had made that effort and even my usually cold heart was warmed with that small gesture.

"Kabir!" Lainey screamed and waved.

Running over to their grinning happy faces, I took them both in a big bear hug. "I didn't think I'd miss your annoying asses this much," I laughed as Jesse took me in another hug.

He took one bag as we walked to the cab, "We have so much to tell you!"

Chatting away on our way home, I told them all about my festival and what we'd done. They told me about Jesse and his flirtation with Gabriel and he blushed like a little girl the entire time. Talking about Diwali with my family and their ordinary time at Christmas, I realized it was the 28th of December and Lainey wouldn't be going to an amusement park with her parents this year. My genius mind cooked up the best plan as we got off in front of our apartment building.

After freshening up, I asked them, "Do we have any plans today?"

"Eh, I don't think so. Do you wanna go check out the bar locations we'd short listed?" Lainey suggested

Jesse whined, "Nooo, he just came today. Let's just relax, ugh," We laughed at his childish tantrum and complained about him being lazy.

"Well, I've an idea but I need half an hour. Make some sandwiches and pack them." I almost commanded them.

Lainey asked, "But why? I thought we just decided we're relaxing at home."

"Don't fight it. Sandwiches. I'll be right back," and I took off.

Stealing Luna's keys to the bicycle lock, I quickly went up to the costume store and bought all of us the cutest outfits I could think of. Balancing that bag on the cycle, I ran back home and made it in 15 instead of 30.

"That was fast, what did you even go for? You just landed. Don't you need a nap?" Jesse asked when I set the bag on the kitchen counter.

"Ta-da!" I presented my shopping in a grand fashion. "We're going to the amusement park!"

Taking out the costumes, I shoved a bright yellow Pikachu onesie in Jesse's chest and handed a flowy blue Cinderella-esque dress with a shiny diamond-looking albeit plastic crown to Lainey.

"I'm sorry you couldn't have your family tradition this year, Lainey. But I hope you don't mind if we spoil you today!" I announced with my adorable charming smile.

Her eyes crinkled as a sole tear fell down her cheek, "You remembered? Oh Kabir," she sighed as she hugged me tight.

"Ah, don't sweat it," I told her as I patted her on the back awkwardly.

"Don't downplay this dude, you made her day," Jesse nudged my shoulder from across the kitchen counter.

Lainey hugged me once more, feeling visibly overwhelmed, "Thank you so much, you don't know how happy you've made me. I'm so excited." She squealed and it made me utterly ecstatic to see her reaction. Both of them changed into costume and Jess looked really funny in the Pikachu onesie, cute but funny. As Lainey and I laughed at him, he asked me, "Yeah yeah, I look amazing. What's your costume?"

Taking out a plastic gun and bow-tie from the bag, I asked them to wait till I completed the outfit. I went to my room and scrounged for the one single tux I owned for special occasions, I thought this was special enough to bring it out.