race and albert have been the closest friends since kindergarten. they were playing on the monkey bars and race fell off and albert happened to be close by. so he ran over to the crying boy and kissed the bloody scrapes on his face to make him feel better. since then they've been inseparable.
but lately albert had been jumping from group to group. race didn't say anything, of course albert had the freedom to hang out with whoever. but he missed their time together. how albert would constantly take his mushy lunch food just to spite race. or how he would kiss his cheek and run off for about five minutes before returning.
it just wasn't like that anymore.
albert would rarely even make eye contact with race anymore. he constantly wondered what he did wrong but could never think of what it was. he couldn't recall doing anything that would hurt alberts feelings. so, he just sat with jack, davey, katherine, and a few other of the boys during lunch instead. they noticed that race wasn't quite himself but they never mentioned it.
though there were always the day where race and albert found themselves relaxing at one of their apartments messing around like they would. never have they not gotten into a pillow fight that resulted in someone falling off the bed and the other laughing until they couldn't breath—then they would help them after their giggle fit.
it was the good ol' days.
"albie," race had his hands under his head, relaxing on his friends bed. "whatcha doin'?"
albert was over by his desk. "makin' a flower."
"hows you going to make a flower? don't yous have to grow that?" race sat up, confused.
"stupid, i is foldin' it." albert revealed his paper flower. "with these old papes 'ere. i learned how to do this in geometry today."
race got up, intrigued by the scene. "oh, huh." albert had been making them for the past fifteen minutes so he ended up making quite a few.
"take some," he grabbed a few and handed them to race. "i don't need them all."
later that day race skipped home with the brightest, love sick smile on his face. albert had made him flowers! on his bed side table sat a little locked box and he set them around it. that box was special to him, just like the flowers.
but the next day at school albert had made a whole bouquet for elmer. race's heart dropped to his stomach and he felt sick. his world spun and he had to sit down and just breathe. he needed to avoid albert.
albert clearly had something with elmer.
it broke race's heart. he knew this would happened though. no one would love poor old racetrack higgins. and the only person he loved was occupied giving his heart to another boy.
race didn't think the day could get any worse until the weather reflected his mood perfectly. heavy wind and rain that he would have to walk home in. he tried not to think about what he saw earlier for the rest of the day but it was impossible.
what happened exactly?
did albert ask elmer out?
the thought caused shivers to trail up and down his spine. he grunted to himself, trying his best to focus on his work which seemed like a jumbled mess.
he was relieved when the bell rang and he could just leave. maybe he wouldn't even have to see albert.
though not seeing albert for long periods of times hurt and burned a hole through his soul. he needed albert.
on the way out of campus albert tried stopping him but race walked on past like he heard nothing. he knew albert looked disappointed and hurt but he couldn't look back. he couldn't say anything. it was like someone had their hand over race's mouth and held him down. he had no escape, he was in too deep.
