One rainy April evening, Jake and Albert sat at a dark polished table in the state of Massachusetts. They were talking about a party for Elijah and Ethan to celebrate their 21st birthday.
"I think we should have colorful streamers, hanging from there to there," Albert proclaimed, pointing at one cabinet in the kitchen to another, "and a few more for the other side of the room."
"Who said this was going to be in the kitchen?" Jake commented.
"I don't know, that's why we're here, isn't it?"
"We didn't make it clear,"
"Touché."
They both looked up to a knock. Elijah stood there, looking into the bright room.
"Whatchya doin'?" he asked as he pulled a chair out from under the table, spun it around and sat in it.
Albert shifted with discomfort. Not by what Elijah did, but just by him being there. Albert has had a crush on him for the longest time; but since he's only come out to Jake, asking Elijah out would be a turn for the worst.
"U-um, which one of us?" Albert managed to let out.
"Uh, you, I guess," Elijah smiled, teeth and all.
Albert caught himself staring into Elijah's beautiful hazel eyes for too long, and quickly responded. "Uh, we were just chatting."
"About what?"
Noticing Albert was about to have a mental breakdown as he looked for words, Jake saved him. "It's beyond your understanding." he playfully punched Albert's arm.
Elijah's attention went to Jake.
Thank god, Albert thought.
"Okay, Mr. Stupid Head. I was just leaving, anyways. Bye, Jake," Elijah responded grimly as he walked out of the room.
Albert gulped.
Elijah lightly touched the wall on the way out and pivoted to face them. "Bye, Albert," he smirked, and was off.
Jake grabbed Albert's arm. "Dude, thank god he left. You're as red as a beet right now."
"Thanks for the input," Albert scowled.
Off in the distance they heard someone drop something, and Elijah screamed. "NOOO!!!!!!!! MY PHONE!!"
Jake laughed and Albert couldn't help but chuckle.
"We should get party supplies,"
Albert nodded. "We should."
One trip to the dollar store later ........
When they finally pulled down their hoods wet with rain, the dim lights of the store didn't seem so bad. Various cheap products littered the shelves and the lady at the register couldn't bother to even ask if they needed help. Which, for the record, they didn't thank-you-very-much.
"What color streamers should we get?" asked Jake.
"Orange and blue, and pink,"
"Why pink?"
"I don't know!" said Albert defensively.
They both looked at each other dead in the eyes. "Flamingoes."
Jake laughed and looked back at the streamers, grabbing one of each color, plus an extra pink. They got plates, silverware, and even picked out presents. Well, Jake did. He picked out Ethan's while Albert complained about how he wasn't about to get his crush a birthday present from the dollar store.
As they were about to leave to go to another store for Elijah's present, Albert grabbed Jake's wrist and pulled him behind a shelf.
"Dude-"
"SHHHH!! They'll HEAR you!" Albert put a hand over Jake's mouth and looked back. His face full of dread, eyes hollow and not looking away. Jake saved Albert the pain and looked up.
Elijah was standing there. Laughing.
But with a guy neither of them have ever seen.
