Salubrious part seven

“Pim, what the fuck am I doing? Like, what is this? Is he… are we… oh my fucking God,” Charlie exasperated, wincing from the text he received from Allan a moment ago. He was gripping the coffee Allan bought for him, almost squeezing the contents out onto the table.

He passed his phone over to his best friend, looking mortified.

Pim saw the blatant text:

You look cute too🥰 drinking that coffee

Charlie put his hands over his face, sighing from fear, frustration and confused feelings.

“I thought we were just bros. Just chilling. This isn’t what I thought we were doing!” He grabbed his phone and lightly slammed it on the table.

Pim sighed, placing a comforting hand on Charlie’s shoulder.

“Well, I would think that texting him every night and morning would send mixed signals at best,” Pim commented, making Charlie scoff.

“Mixed signals? Dude, this is full on flirting! I’m fucked man!”

“I mean what are you going to do?” Pim asked, at a loss.

Charlie crossed his arms at the table as he let his head fall down hopelessly.

“I mean you do have a weird way of talking to people sometimes. Like with that Mip guy.”

“Ya but you were just jealous, Pim,” Charlie barked out, but it had no bite.

“I wasn’t jealous. But you were acting all goo-goo eyed over him. Because he kept singing that song about you being a hero…” Pim frowned, rolling his eyes at the memory.

“It was a good fucking song. I can appreciate art. Can’t a guy appreciate someone’s craft? I mean is that a crime, Glep?” Charlie asked loudly to Glep.

“It’s not a crime but it sure sounds like you had the hots for him!” Glep murmured out in assertive gibberish.

“That’s not fucking.. It’s not like I’m over here trying to jump into bed with anyone that merely compliments me…” Charlie bit his lip, “I know that it looks bad.”

“It’s not bad Charlie. But if this isn’t what you want… then you need to say something. It would be sort of mean to lead him on,” Pim said softly.

Charlie looked up, taking a short breath. “I’m not doing anything though. I haven’t lead anyone on.”

“You sound like you’re just trying to downplay something. Either way, it’s your choice.”

“I mean… look, I was glad Allan and I finally started actually talking, and stuff, but I didn’t know it would actually lead to something even weirder.”

Pim chuckled, “You like his attention being on you. Don’t you?”

Charlie snorted, scoffing loudly, “What? Pim, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Just do something nice for him. You have gotten to know him better, right?”

Charlie nodded, looking at Pim with a wide eyed expression that felt desperate.

“Do something nice for him. God knows he’s done a lot for you. Have you even thought of reciprocating?” Pim pushed.

“Yeah. I have. I just don’t know how to do it.” Charlie sighed. “I don’t know what this is. I don’t know what to do.”

“You literally said he was cute earlier. Like he acknowledged it. I hate to say this Charlie but you are in denial,” Pim added.

“You’re all just dogging on me. I don’t know how this happened.” Charlie sat up, looking tired all of a sudden. “Why don’t you or Glep go with Allan to the concert?”

Glep shook his head. “I have things to do this weekend. I can’t. I usually do my own thing with Allan anyway,” Glep mutters out.

“Like with Anime con?” Pim asked, and Glep nodded.

“Yeah and we go to raves sometimes. And go to brunches for tea,” Glep added.

“He looked great in that dress, didn’t he?” Pim asked, making Charlie perk up.

Glep grinned, “Yeah Allan really goes all out for those things. High heels and everything.”

“He-he was wearing heels? High heels?” Charlie coughed from the picture in his head. “Who was he dressed as?”

“It’s from a magical girl anime, Madoka Magica, I think,” Glep answered in a serious gibberish manner. “He kinda looked like a Sailor Moon character a little.”

“Cool,” Charlie said softly, though he was sweating. His pacemaker felt like it was malfunctioning, as his heart was pounding and climbing into his throat.

“Fuck. This is a lot. This is too much.”

Pim suddenly closed the gap between them and gave Charlie a tight hug. Charlie went slack, resting into the embrace with a soft petulant groan.

“You’re sort of a brat, ya know? You need to sort yourself out. As your best friend. You know that I only want what’s best for you,” Pim said, making Charlie laugh, hugging him back.

“I’m a brat but I know you know that I care,” Charlie said.

“Yes I know that, Charlie. So stop mucking around! Go make your smiling friend happy toooo!” Pim stood up, twirling around in a circle as he sang out his words.

Charlie cringed, “Uh, don’t do that again please.”

Pim laughed. “Okay, whatever you say!”

“I’m going to get him a cheese charcuterie board, is that good?” Charlie asked his friends. They all gave him a thumbs up.

The thumbs up made him feel better but his heart was still beating like it was broken. He wished it would kill him but it didn’t.

Fuck his luck.