Chapter 98 Chapter Ninety-Four
Chapter 98 Chapter Ninety-Four
Omniscient Narrative
By evening time, Alex was ready for their date
But now he was standing outside the apartment building holding flowers like someone in a romance movies.
He had classes today and after the classes he had gone to a friend’s dorm to shower and get ready then he went get flowers.
At first he felt the flowers were stupid, but he wanted this to be special for Demi.
He checked his phone for the fifteenth time.
7:02 PM.
Demi was late, he had messaged him to be outside the apartment building by 7.
Alex leaned against the car and exhaled sharply, then the apartment doors opened and Alex forgot how breathing worked.
Demi walked outside adjusting the sleeve of his dark green sweater, head tilted down slightly while he fixed his watch. He looked up halfway across the sidewalk and stopped dead.
"Oh” Demi said softly.
Alex's brain short-circuited.
Because Demi always looked good. Alex already knew that. But this time it was different.
Tonight Demi looked beautiful on purpose, he looked beautiful because of him.
Alex felt heat rush up his neck and Demi noticed immediately.
That stupid, knowing smile appeared.
"You're staring at meeee” he dragged the last word, the smile never leaving his face.
"You look…” Alex cleared his throat. "Really nice”
Demi's expression softened unexpectedly. "You too mr handsome”
Alex looked down automatically at his own black button-up. "I spent forty minutes choosing this by the way”
"I know” Demi laughed which made Alex smile at his laugh
"You know?"
"You forgot we’re best friends?” Alex’s heart began beating fast as Demi said that ‘best friends’ has Demi given him back that title?.
“I’ve seen how you get when you go on dates”
"Oh, shut up” Demi laughed quietly as he walked closer, then he noticed the flowers.
"Oh my God."
Alex immediately panicked. "Too much? It's too much. I knew it was too much."
"No!" Demi grabbed them carefully, eyes wide. "No, these are adorable."
"Adorable wasn't the goal” he nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well, you achieved it anyways”
Alex groaned while Demi buried his face in the flowers dramatically.
"They match my vibe” Demi announced.
"You have a flower vibe?" Alex rose his brow at his best friend.
"I absolutely have a flower vibe”
"I think your relationship with Chris has really messed up your head”
Demi swallowed as he said that. He hasn’t told Alex that he and Chris relationship was just a facade and a way to get over him and Chris, a way to get over Kyle.
"Let’s just go”
…
The restaurant Alex chose sat near the riverfront, small and warmly lit with strings of golden lights hanging above the outdoor patio.
Demi looked impressed the moment they walked in.
"Alex” he whispered as the hostess led them to their table. "This place is fancy”
"It's not fancy” Demi gave him a a look
"There are cloth napkins” he shook one in front of the other boy.
"That means nothing” Alex shrugged as he stared at Demi.
"There's a man playing violin."
Alex glanced over. "Can we just enjoy the vibe of the place? Who cares if it’s fancy”
“Sometimes I keep forgetting how rich you are” Demi shook his head.
“FYI, I’m not rich, my parents are”
“Uhuh” was all Demi said.
Alex grabbed his water immediately. "So how have you been?”
Demi had an amused look on his face as he heard the awkward question.
“I have been good, aside from school and hating you” he smirked at Alex.
"Yeah, sorry about that” Alex apologized as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"You’ve apologised enough, let’s just go through this date without that” Demi said as he offered him a small smile.
"I know Chris said he was fine with this but are you sure he’s actually okay with us going out?” Alex asked the question that had been on his mind.
As much as he wants to be with Demi, he didn’t want to hurt one of his closest friends, especially one that had opened his home to him after the incident.
“I don’t think he’ll have a problem with it” Demi said before he took a sip of his water.
“Chris and I weren’t actually in a relationship, I only asked him to pretend so that I could get over you” Demi admitted. Alex stared at him with wide eyes.
He couldn’t believe he spent months hating on their relationship when it was fake all along.
“What?"
Demi felt his face warm up.
"It was all pretend and Chris kinda has feelings for someone else” he shrugged .
“This is crazy” Alex said still processing it. “Are you sure that was the only reason?”
“Yes” Demi rushed out.
“It wasn’t to make me jealous?” Alex smirked at him. Demi rolled his eyes at the other boy.
“Were you jealous?” He rose his brow.
“Yeah I was” Alex admitted without shame.
Demi just laughed at his exaggerated response.
“Well I’m happy I was able to hit two birds with one stone”
“I know you said I shouldn’t, but I really want to apologize for not only hurting you with my fist and my words but for hurting you deeply”
“If I had known that would happen, I never would have pursued you to get into that situation ship with me” he had a guilt look on his face and that made Demi’s heart ache.
“It’s fine Alex, it’s my fault too. I knew what I was getting into, having sex with a guy who claimed to like girls and then catching feelings for him”
“We’re both at fault here so let’s put it all behind us please”
“I’ll love that”
….
Dinner turned out perfect in the effortless way good moments sometimes become perfect without trying.
They shared food because Alex always wanted "just one bite" of whatever Demi ordered.
Demi complained dramatically about olives, he has never liked them.
Alex mocked Demi's inability to pronounce gnocchi correctly.
At one point Demi laughed so hard at a story that he made a scene at the restaurant.
After dinner they walked along the riverfront, the city glowing around them in blurred reflections across the water.
It was colder than expected. Demi shoved his hands into his pockets dramatically. "I'm freezing."
Alex shrugged off his coat before he could overthink it.
Demi blinked. "Alex”
"Take it” Alex said as he extended the coat to Demi.
"You'll freeze” Demi tried to reason with him.
"Just take it” Alex dropped the coat over Demi's shoulders anyway.
For a second neither of them moved, Demi looked small inside the oversized coat, he had to look up at Alex since he was shorter.
Alex's chest tightened painfully, he actually loved Demi. Why was he so much of a coward back then.
They kept walking slowly, shoulders bumping occasionally.
Then Demi spoke. "Can I ask something?"
"Sure”
"If this doesn’t works-“ Demi hesitated. "Does that mean we’ll have to go back to strangers?”
"No, because I was your best friend and I’ll want to keep being that forever” he admitted.
Demi nodded like he expected that.
"Me too” Demi smiled.
Then, after a tiny pause, he slipped his hand into Alex's. Alex forgot how to walk.
His entire body malfunctioned, because he'd held Demi's hand before, technically. Pulling him through crowds. Helping him climb things. Casual contact.
This wasn't casual, their warm fingers threading together.
Alex looked down at their hands stupidly.
Demi squeezed lightly. "You okay? Should I leave your hand?”
"No, keep it like that” Alex answered honestly. The two walked back to the car, drove home and laid in bed cuddling until they fell asleep.