#his favorite movie used to be twilight ironically and then he unironically started to love it

[goldenwaves]

“Are you going to have to work on Halloween?” Aster asks, picking everything bagel seeds off his bed with her long, manicured nails. 

Bruno would rather not think about her question, instead letting out a groan that he attempts to sound anguished, but comes out more on the side of pathetic. He was aware his first year of medical residency was going to be hell on earth, but nothing could have prepared him for the bone deep exhaustion he was feeling. Despite his annoyance that his friends were cutting into his sparse sleeping time, Bruno felt a wave of relaxation from their presence.

Bruno shoves his face deeper into his pillow and mumbles out “I’ve got two 14 hour shifts this weekend, so I’m booked.”

Aster’s nails turn their attention to poking his cheek. “How about Friday? The restaurant is getting a deep fumigation this weekend, so both of us are off.” 

The Laurent was the Irish-French-Russian fusion restaurant where Aster and Nico both worked. A pseudo fancy place that seemed to produce endless stories of rat infestations and staff circulations, yet still managed to get good enough reviews to get it featured in articles proclaiming it to be “probably” the best restaurant in Alphabet City.

He swats Aster’s hand away before she gets to the ticklish part of his ear. “I think I’m free that night, but I’ve gotta be home early so I can make my bedtime like a real adult.”

“We’re real adults too! We pay taxes!” Aster says, while accepting the pre-work blunt Nico had just rolled. 

Nico laughs, losing his balance on the unstable seat of Bruno’s deflated bike he was perched on. He tries to gracefully fall but instead flops sideways next to Bruno on his bed. The smell of Nico’s sandalwood cologne and Aster’s blunt fills his senses.

“Since we’ve got this weekend off, maybe you’ll finally work on our bet.”  Aster says, nudging Nico’s leg with her foot.

“What’s the bet this time?” 

Aster and Nico’s love language seemed to be based entirely on betting the other will do things for prices neither can afford, both monetarily or emotionally. The betting currency often ended with them getting into days long fights and silent treatments. Despite the impracticality of it all, the two still continued to make bets, refusing to listen to their friend’s interventions.

“I have to ask out Willem by the end of the month, or she gets all my tips for the next two weeks.” Nico groans out, “I’m regretting saying yes to this one.”

“It’s not that bad! And if he does then I pay for his metro card for all of November!” Aster protests, “Boyfriend and free rides, that’s a good deal!”

“Neither of you can afford to do this, can you?” Bruno asks, getting a slight headache from their stupidity.

As if to distract from the conversation, Nico shifts his body to curl around Bruno, wrapping an arm around his huddled form above the blankets. His long, silky hair brushing the tip of Bruno’s nose. 

For as long as Bruno knew him, Nico was never very good at staying casual with someone. Always torn between his hopeless romantic heart and the polyamorous nature of young adulthood. The cycle was always the same: meet someone exciting, agree to keep it casual, quickly develop feelings, risk it all, and then a two week heartbreak for someone he was only kind-of dating. Bruno was the only person to go through the whole cycle with Nico and end up actually staying friends. 

He hoped for Nico’s sake this one wouldn’t turn out like the others. 

“Do you know anyone who needs a job?” Nico muffles into the blanket.

“What kind of job?” He already dreaded the answer.

Aster sighs, “We need more busboys at the restaurant, we only have two right now and it’s making things a living hell there.”

“That, and the termites.” Nico adds.

Bruno wonders if he should even recommend that anyone get a job at The Laurent, but smiles and says, “I’ll inquire around.”

The two have already lost interest in his response, and have resumed their usual debates.

“Is busboy a gender neutral term?” Aster asks, with all sincerity.