Chris kept his head cocked, not really retaining any of the words. Though, he did manage to take out the phrases, “bisexual” and “never be into you.” He couldn’t say that his heart didn’t drop, but he didn’t show it. He just gave another slight laugh.
“Honestly, your choice,” he said, trying to sound light-hearted. “I have a younger brother, and up until last year, we shared a room together. I know what sleeping on the couch is like— I’d really be fine with it.”
"I don't want you to be uncomfortable," Alex said, immediately balling up his flag and throwing it over his shoulder. He laughed nervously as the movers maneuvered around him. "Wherever you want to be is fine. I just… Um, yeah." Again, he took off his beanie and ran his hand through his hair.
“Alright, no worries,” he replied, gesturing a hand to the bedroom, where movers were headed with the bed frame. It was about a queen, but thankfully it could fit through the wider doorway. People carrying the mattress followed soon after, and then the movers exited the room.
“We can cross that bridge when we get to it,” he said, his words trailing off as he looked down to his watch. “Also, are you working tonight?”
"Uh, yeah, I am," Alex awkwardly put his hands in his pockets. "I start at six. What time is it?"
“Five,” Chris answered, shutting the door to the apartment. He took the keys from off the counter, walked over, and held one out for Alex to take.
“Gives us a while to move stuff around, unpack, and whatnot,” he said. “I actually play at Maple’s tonight, but a little later. Gotta be there at like… seven, I think.”
Alex took the keys, nodding. "I work til nine, so we'll see each other. Now, about decorating…" He looked around at the mess of boxes and furniture, plus his pride flag in a ball on the floor. "… What's the plan?"
Chris took a seat at the keyboard, turning it on and messing around with a bit of the keys. He changed the setting, checking the petals and hooking it up to the outlet. After the instrument was settled, he sat up on the stool, looking over to Alex. His eyes wandered the room, noting the mess and multiple bags, with a few pieces of loose furniture.
“Not sure,” he mumbled, scratching the back of his head with a raised eyebrow. “We have some string lights my sister gave me… we could hang those up somewhere. And I don’t have much in the way of decoration, but as for furniture layout, maybe we keep the bookshelf and dresser in the bedroom? And we can split up the dresser so the top two draws are mine and the bottom two are yours? Honestly, I’m open to any ideas.”
"I like that idea," Alex scratched his neck, the excitement of having a roommate returning to him. "I have some art my cousin made, we could put that above the couch, and these plants could go in the kitchen–" He pranced around the small home, excitedly rambling about what could go where.
Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. "Hey, what time is it?"
He watched with a smile as Alex explained his thoughts, just confirming the fact that this apartment had been a good idea. Chris didn’t have doubts, but this just reinforced his decision. He hoped the boy didn’t catch him staring when he turned to ask the time.
“Still like…,” he mumbled, looking down at his watch. “Five fifteen?”
"Hm," Alex said, puzzled. "I thought it'd been longer. I'm gonna put on my uniform, and then we can start unpacking." He grabbed a box labeled 'ALEX CLOTHES' and carried it into the bathroom, where he swiftly changed into his uniform of black dress pants and a dress shirt of the same color. Removing his beanie, he tried to adjust his slightly fluffy hair, and returned to the living room.
"Now, where are those string lights of yours?"
Chris smiled as he watched Alex walk back out in his fancy uniform, but after realizing his minor gawking probably wasn’t normal, he cleared his throat and adverted his eyes.
“Should be here,” he mumbled, his words trailing off as he walked over to one of his bags. A white label with ‘Things?’ scrawled across it in blue marker was prominent on the side, and it was clear that even Chris didn’t really know what was packed here. Thus the inquiring question mark.
“Ah— here we go,” he said, triumphantly holding up a box of lights. They had both a rainbow and plain white light switch, as well as individual colors, and they looked more stylish than regular Christmas lights. Slightly more girly, but his sister was young and they were a gift, so he wanted them up anyway.
He looked over to Alex, still holding up the box. “Any ideas? It comes with tacks.”
"Nice," Alex smiled at the lights, still messing with his hair, though he couldn't see himself in any surface. "Hm… Maybe we could put them around the art from my cousin!" He pulled a box towards him and removed three watercolor paintings, all of carefully done sunsets. "Uh, if you want that, of course."
“Those are amazing,” Chris breathed with a grin. “And you’re related to this person? That’s… so rad.”
He gave a nod, already beginning to open the box of lights. He stood upright from crouching, begininning to untangle the wires.
“And totally, we can put the lights up with the paintings,” he continued. “That’ll look awesome.”
He paused for a moment, smiling to himself. He felt like such an adult, here, interior decorating with a roommate. It was odd, but also quite enjoyable.
"This is fun," Alex admitted shyly. "I mean, here we are. Uh, decorating a home," already feeling a big more comfortable with Chris, he decided to attempt to bring up the elephant in the room. "So, um… About that flag…"
Chris had walked over and began to stand on the couch as Alex talked. He took a bit of the lights and a tack, trying to position it above the painting. When the other boy brought up the flag, Chris nearly dropped the tack.
He glanced back, cocking his head to the side.
“Yeah?” he asked, arm still outstretched to the wall. “If you’re going to ask me if I’m… against that… then absolutely not. You’re totally good by me, man.”
Alex laughed nervously, yet he felt relieved. "Good, good. Yeah, okay. But like I said, you're like… I mean, you're great, but I wouldn't like… Be into you or anything, so you don't even have to worry, like, at all, man."
Chris gave a sort of hollow solemn nod, turning back to the lights and hanging the rest. He took the switch on the wire, flipping through the colors and which one would best compliment the sunset. He finally decided on a light orange, giving the room a warm glow.
“Uh— yeah, okay,” he replied, although he didn’t turn around to speak. “No worries.”
Why did he feel bad about this? It’s not like he liked guys, right? … Right?
He shook his head, trying to push the thought aside.
"Cool," Alex nodded awkwardly. "The lights look good. Uh, maybe we should get going to work."
“Th-thanks,” Chris replied, hopping down from the couch and turning back to look at his work. “And sure, you can start heading over. I can meet you there— or, I can go get ready quickly and walk over with you? I mean it’s up to you.”
"You could walk with me, if you wanted to." Chris ran his hand through his hair again. "I'll wait for you."
He glanced down at his watch, quickly skipping up to grab his bags. There was a suit-shaped bag hanging on a hanger draped across one of his boxes. He gave a small smile to Alex as he passed, going into the bathroom and hastily changing into the formal wear. He slipped on the black dress pants and glossed shoes, buttoning his white collared shirt and slipping on the suit coat. He tied the tie with… a bit of trouble, but more than he’d like to admit. He fixed his hair quickly in the mirror before exiting, the blonde strands falling slightly the second he stepped out.
“Alright,” he said, slipping his keys on the coffee table. He put his phone back into his pocket, looking up to Alex expectantly. “Ready when you are.”
Alex subtly bit his lip. Chris looked good. "L-let's get going, then," he said, quickly exiting the apartment before he could start admiring Chris too much. "I think I know the way."
“Alright, then,” Chris began, walking through the door and locking it afterward. He slipped the key in his pocket with his wallet, looking back up to Alex. “After you.”
As the boys stepped outside, Alex tried to start up a conversation. "So, piano, huh? How long have you played?"
Chris walked alongside the other boy, his step holding a light skip— he was in decent spirits.
“Since I was… oh, gosh,” he began, stopping for a moment to think. “Twelve? So that’s like… what, 7 years?”