TW: Small self harm mention, small self deprecating thoughts.
^^What Jack drew in green highlighter
Albert scrambled for his phone. An unknown number was displayed on the screen. Albert answered anyway and was met with someone shushing someone else. "Hi is this Albert?" "Uh yeah," "Hey Albert I was wondering if you would like to maybe come to a meeting with the Newsies just so you can get to them before you join," Albert was flattered they'd thought about him but if he went he'd half to talk to Race. "Uh actually-" "Great see you at West End diner four tomorrow okay?" Jojo insisted "I uhm okay," Albert managed to spit out before Jojo hung up on him. Albert sat for a second before glancing down at his arm where the paint has been smeared a great bit most likely the result of that phone call.
Albert wouldn't say he was looking forward to the Newsie meeting. His mom had gotten more of his anxiety medication and after being off of it so long he felt like he was going to throw up in English class. It was three o'clock and Albert was weirdly calm but a little ball of dread was tightening in his chest. The Newsies wouldn't know Race was his soulmate except for Specs but Specs wouldn't tell them... hopefully.
Albert had a chance at more than one friend he was not going to screw that up with the soulmate business, however a part of him still wondered what Race would do if he found out. Once Albert got home he changed out of his school clothes and into a random tee white shirt, his favorite flannel (to hide the paint) , and a pair of torn black jeans cause he's an edgy™ teen. The West End diner had been known for its air of comfort. When you ate there it felt like you were going to visit an old friend. Jenny was a waiter there.
The Newsies had somehow managed to convince the staff to put three booths together for their group. Jojo smiled kindly when he saw Albert. Albert took a seat next to Specs who was looking very bewildered most likely by Race. Who was standing on a chair practically shouting "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." He bowed dramatically and the table next to the Newsies clapped. The other boys were chatting calmly. A waiter hurried up asking to take their order. It was Jenny. She scanned the group, Albert sunk down in his seat as Jenny asked. "What can I get you boys?" Race was the first one who piped up "Hi sweetheart can I get a chocolate shake," Jojo playfully smacked Race on the back of the head. Specs just glanced at Albert who was staring at his lap. Jenny nodded ignoring the sweetheart. She nudged Albert "What can I getcha?" Albert hadn't even looked at menu. "I'll take a Dr. Pepper thanks," Jenny nodded completely ignoring the fact she knew Albert which Albert was grateful for. The rest of the boys went around with their order. Then Jack stood up and the side conversations stopped. "This here is Albert he's gonna be a Newsie," Albert's eyes met Race's and he smiled a smile that made Albert want to curl up and die. Albert got comfortable with the boys and even participated in the boys' conversation a bit. Then Albert made the mistake of taking off his flannel. The painting on his arm was long gone but he knew it was still risk.
Jenny brought out two trays of drinks at once being the queen she is. Race winked suggestively when she handed him his drink. "Antonio Higgins, I am the gayest person you've ever met besides yourself keep your winks for Albert," she said poking him in the chest. Albert didn't think it was possible for anyone to embarrass Race but he just stared at her opening and closing his mouth searching his brain for a response. The bill came a few minutes later. Jack wouldn't let anyone else pay for it. A bright green highlighter came attached to the little pad. Albert failed to notice when Jack started drawing on Race's arm, he was too invested talking to Romeo. Then without warning Buttons knocked his drink over and Elmer choked on his french fries. Button's clasped his hand over Elmer's mouth. Every single head turned towards them. "I'm sorry, I just have to talk to my boyfriend really quick," Buttons' murmured sheepishly, grabbing Elmer's hand and dragging him outside.
The boys dismissed it and Jack continued drawing on Race's arm. Albert noticed this time and almost fell off his seat. He turned to look for his flannel but it wasn't there. From across the diner Albert spotted Jenny holding his flannel and smiling. "Son of a-" Then Jack abruptly dropped his green highlighter. "Are you finished?" Race asked. "Actually no I don't really like it," Jack answered his voice a higher pitch. "Wait but it looks good just finish it," "No I really don't think I should," Jack insisted his eyes fixed on Albert's arm. Albert quickly hid his arm under the table. It was definitely beautiful no doubt about it, a patch of olive trees twisted beneath a relentless sun, it reminded Albert of something he couldn't quite place.
Then Albert stood up determined to get his flannel back, momentarily forgetting about his arm he let it to his side. "What's um on your arm?" Henry asked. The world stopped. The table went silent and Albert was so glad he had is back turned to the boys. The door slammed open and Buttons and Elmer stepped inside. "Sorry about tha-" Elmer trailed off noticing the table's silence. Race was staring at his arm an undetectable look on his face. Thoughts raced through Albert's mind most of them something like 'why are you kidding yourself no one like Race would want you' his eyes clouded with a thing veil of tears the next he thing he knew he was apologizing. For everything, that he was Race's soulmate, that all of them had to put up with him, that he existed in the first place. Then he was out the door.
The restaurant's over all noise dropped to almost nothing. Jenny approached the table. "Where's Albert?" No one responded. Then Finch was pushing Race towards the door. "Those scars on your wrist, those are his, GO," Finch instructed. Race didn't need to be told twice. Albert was sitting on the curb his back turned to Race. Race plopped down next to him and looked actually looked at Albert for the first time.
His ears and cheeks were tinted by the cold wind. Soft tears clung to his eyelashes and his eyes oh his eyes, they took Race back to laughing until you're breathless at the most plain jokes, to when your backyard was a jungle instead of two trees and a bush, they were running through the rain with your best friend, they were innocence but still held darkness held... knowledge .They were like copper against honey, a stolen midnight kiss, they were liquor when you hold it to the light, they were knowing the pain but refusing to take it, and if someone ever told Race the color brown is ugly he had a million ways to prove them wrong. (I have brown eyes and I'm tired of people writing about blue eyes.)
Race involuntarily reached out wiping the tears from under the boy's eyes with his thumb. Albert was staring at Race with those eyes and Race couldn't help leaning forward and kissing him, the boy he'd known for so many years finally right under his thumb.
Then it started to rain, pour actually and Albert was laughing because this is what had happened the day they'd met. Race pulled away, Albert's hair was flat against his forehead, and he was smiling the smile that would forever be imprinted in Race's brain. It rained the day Race and Albert moved in together. It rained at their wedding so much so they had to go back and have the outdoor wedding indoors. It rained the day they adopted their first kid. It poured the day the became grandparents. Then when Albert was gone when he left Race alone it didn't rain, it didn't even sprinkle. The next time it rained was the day Race left as well. The town flooded the day they met again.
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Woah there it is.
-Alex
