From the top! TedXHidgens

Part 18

Ted was meeting Paul at Northside diner for his birthday. Ted had brought his gift with him. Paul's either going to love it or fucking hate it.
"Hey Ted," Paul was on time for once!
"Happy birthday man." Ted pulled paul into an awkward bro hug.
"Thanks" paul pushes open the door to the diner.
"Paul! Happy birthday!" Rosie already had paul in a bear hug. "You're table is open. You're order is being made now."
Ok so Paul an Tad might go there a lot. Rosie is family to Ted. There's not a problem with going to one restaurant a lot.
"Thank you Rosie." Paul and Ted headed over to there corner booth.
"You having a good birthday?" Ted wanted his friend's birthday to be nice. There is nothing wrong with that.
"Yeah everything's been great."
Rosie brought two sodas to their table.
"You're a saint!" Ted called out to Rosie as she walked away,
"Can I open my present now?" Paul picked at the box. Ted really hoped that Paul would like it.
"Go for it."
Paul tipped open the wrapping paper like a little kid on Christmas.
Ted had gotten paul a mug with the Beanies logo on the side. They didn't actually ever sell mugs at beanies, and everyone who had any real authority in the business is dead. So Ted had to go to there old website, screenshot the logo and get it custom made.
"Just something to remind you of how you and Emma met." Ted shrugged.
"I love it." Paul smiled at the mug.
Rosie came back with their burgers.
"Thank you Rosie!" Paul smiled Rosie as she set down the food.
"Paul your meal is on me," Rosie turned to Ted, "you still have to pay. By the way who was that man you brought in here last week. He was handsome. Way out of your league." Rosie laughed.
Paul raised his eyebrow. Cheeky bastard.
"Just a friend." Ted didn't really want that to be true but whatever.
"Based on the way he was blushing I don't think that's true." Rosie got back to work.
"Soooo" paul smirked.
"Fuck off" Ted started eating his fries.
"Does our little Theodore have a boyfriend?" Paul was a little to proud of himself.
"Don't call me Theodore." He was barely ok with Henry calling him Theodore.
"It was Henry right?"
"Yes." What does he gain if he lies about this?
"Soooo" Paul faked innocence.
"So what?" Ted was not about to give him the satisfaction of being embarrassed.
"Tell me more about him." Paul had gone full little kid at this point.
"He's a talented guy. I don't know we just out for dinner after a class a couple of times." Keep it vague.
"A couple of times!" Paul was way to excited.
"Twice." Ted loves paul like a brother, but like an annoying little brother who you want to kick but you're not allowed to.
"So were they dates?" Paul was smiling sweetly. What an asshole.
"One if them was, one of them technically wasn't." Ted liked talking about it but you know he's not gonna let paul know that.
Paul was smiling really wide.
"So when's the wedding." Paul acted like this was the best line since Shakespeare.
"I could ask you the same question." Throw the smug back at him.
"Ted it's only been four months." Paul suddenly grew serious.
"I'm just joking, damn." Ted wasn't really expecting that reaction.
"Happy birthday to you" Rosie walked up holding a small cake with a single candle on it.
"Happy birthday to you" Ted joined in with the singing. Paul looked pretty uncomfortable.
"Happy birthday to Pa-ul,
Happy birthday to you!" Rosie placed the cute little cake on the table.
"You're the best Rosie." Paul smiled at Rosie.
"You need to bring your girlfriend round here sometime. I need to meet her." Rosie immediately went into mom mode.
"She doesn't like diners! I've tried to make her go here." Paul shrugged. Rosie picked up their empty plates.
"Ok ok. Tell me how you like that cake it's a new recipe." Rosie walked off.
It was a fucking delicious cake.
They said goodbye to Rosie and were out the door. Paul texted Emma.
"Oh you're good friend Henry is there." Paul was way to smug.
It's going to be nice to see him again. But today is about paul. There will be plenty of time to hit on Henry.
"You know I think he's actually really good for you."  Paul switched from smug to genuine.
"Yeah ok." Ted didn't want a lecture from mister healthy relationship. He really liked Henry but he didn't need paul to tell him why.
"No seriously, he'll make you branch out and open up." Paul patted Ted on the back, "Never in my wildest dreams did I think you would ever take singing and dancing lessons." Paul chuckled.

They arrived at the apartment after a short train ride. Thank god for public transportation.
"Hey babe." Paul and Emma immediately kissed as they walked in the door.
"Wow that is quite the sign." Ted's eyes were immediately drawn to the most glittery sign he's seen since kindergarten. Did they just spill glitter glue on it?
"That's what I've been saying." Oh Henry. Ted's heart skipped a beat. It's not like he had been thinking about Henry nonstop since the date. It's just really nice to see him.
"Well I like it." Paul smiled at Emma. Ted sometimes couldn't stand being around there cute couple shit.
"Thank you." Emma flipped off Henry.
"So what do you have in store?" Ted wanted to get down to doing things. It'll be easier to resist Henry's attractiveness if he's doing things.
"We could watch a movie." Not the most exciting birthday activity but whatever.
"Sure" Paul shrugged.
"Well the birthday boy should choose the movie." Ted patted paul on the back.
"Oh uh, I don't know like Casablanca I guess."
Ted had never seen it but based on the fact that Henry looked pleased by that decision, Ted assumed it would be a good movie.
Paul and Emma set up things for the movie while Ted and Henry got comfortable on the couch.

Holy shit there's a lot of music in this. Ted was really surprised that paul chose this movie.
Henry was sitting very close. So Ted's only real option was to put his arm around Henry. Ted made sure not to look in paul's direction knowing he would be smug. Ted just glanced at Henry every once in a while.
"You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss" Fuck you movie!
"A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by" it's a good song though. Sounds familiar. Oh Sinatra did a cover of this song of course.
"And when two lovers woo
They still say, 'I love you.'" Ted instinctively looked at Henry. He thought about how he feels for Henry. It's to soon to tell if he's falling in love or if it's just lust. Ted wished he knew. Ted wished he didn't start thinking about this n
"On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by" the song in the movie played. Really a great song.
"I want to learn this song next." Ted whispered to Henry. Henry's cheek grew a little red. God this man. Henry leaned into Ted.
"It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by."