Salubrious part three

Allan felt very accomplished that he finally made Charlie smile. So why did he feel so weird, bad and a little angry? It was as though the fact that his mission was very important made it feel more real than a lot of the interactions he had with others.

Relationships for Allan felt like a whole another universe he couldn’t step into without feeling disoriented, completely lost and unable to stand correctly or speak without stumbling.

Romance was the worst. He didn’t understand it yet he was enthralled at the expression of it. The last date he went on, a gorgeous woman named Natasha, turned out to be his landlord in disguise. A man, who was literally insane, trying to concoct deadly and illegal means to, “hang out with him,” which to Allan was a detestable thing.

He barely could entertain dates beyond a night or two, a tryst with some unknown woman or man he met at a bar… and graying, listless one night stands that felt like a death sentence to his love life.

He meant what he said to Charlie about why he was trying so hard to make him smile. But now, he was reimagining the whole situation from start to finish. He hated the fact that Charlie was constantly on his mind but he felt compelled to keep going.

“Never mind. I was only trying to create a salubrious feeling of aliveness to your sad face. I guess my multiple attempts were stale. You didn’t look pulchritudinous in your knight attire, after all, either. Pim showed me a picture, you merely looked boyishly handsome. Good bye,” he had said to Charlie. His whole body felt on fire. He noticed Charlie’s look of curious shock and he didn’t think about what it all meant but now he knew.

Charlie was on his mind, all the time, and it was freaking him out. More like, pissing him off. It was like he wanted Charlie’s smile to be only because of him… and that felt scary and only confused him further. He was still trying to make sense of everything in his mind as his heart felt like a fly, and he kept swatting at its own rhythm.

He was still wearing the dress and the wig when he saw Charlie and Pim about to leave for a job.

He had asked Pim about coming along to the job as he had been a, “Smoling Frond,” once but he advised against it.

“Give Charlie some time. He needs to decompress. Like, to chill,” Pim says softly. “You know he loves you. We all love each other!”

Allan nods, knowing Pim’s overly sensitive and hyper-positive attitude was honest but also not fully realistic. “But what about my dress? Does it look form-fitting-uh? Does my wig look straight?” Allan stands up straight, turning around in a model type way.

Glep mumbles gibberish which means, “Nothing about that wig ensemble says straight.”

Allan gives Glep a dirty look, “Don’t be an asshole.”

Pim diffuses by getting in between the two, smiling, “Ah, Allan, Your wig looks amazing! No doubt. Just, give the two of you a bit of space, that’s all.”

Allan gives a daring look at Glep. “See? Pim says I look fabulous.” Glep sighs.

He mumbles out an apology, saying in a softer gibberish, “Yes, you do look fabulous, sorry Allan. I was just… uh, jealous! You know I like to dress up too. Especially for the anime con stuff we do together!”

Allan nods, “I knew you were just-uh jealous, Glep. Ha, we can buy you something next time,” he says and Glep nods in approval.

Charlie comes in, clearing in his throat. “Uh, Pim, you ready to go? We gotta get to that job. Mr. Boss made it seem very urgent, or something.”

Pim nods to Allan, saying to Charlie, “Oh? Urgent is it? Someone is in an emotionally distressed state and in need of some relief! Let’s goooo on a new adventure!”

Pim takes Charlie by the arm, pulling him out of the room.

Allan and Charlie have direct eye contact, making Pim pause a moment. Charlie’s legs feel unstable suddenly, making Pim go off balance.

Allan usually wouldn’t intervene during similar situations, but something about Charlie’s half-lidded gaze made something pull his entire body forward.

Allan attempts to catch Charlie as all three friends tumble to the floor. Allan is laying on top of both Pim and Charlie.

“You-your wig… it’s kinda tilted,” Charlie says, fixing it gently without thinking. Allan moves in closer unintentionally, making their faces touch for a brief moment. Charlie freaks out, realizing how intense the close proximity feels but he tries to find his bearings, hurriedly moving away to stand up in a furious fashion.

“Why, thank you Charr-Lyeee…” Allan over-pronounces the name, biting his lip.

“So, if, uh…” Charlie starts but stops talking as the other two stand up.

“Yeah?” Allan asks.

Pim’s watching but realizes it’s a private moment, “Charlie, I’ll be outside. See you soon!”

Charlie nods to Pim, looking at Allan.

“Hey, man, though your methods might be like, seriously unorthodox I did want to, you know, thank you for trying to cheer me up. I’m a tough customer. I know that,” Charlie messes with his hat, nervously. “You wanna get a drink after work later? It’s on me.”

Allan frowns, “I may not be able to. I have a lot of work today. I will have to stay at the office late. So we can get that drink another night if that’s okay with you.”

Charlie look falls but he tries to maintain composure. “O-Oh. Okay. Well, see ya around man. Talk to you later.”

“Your body was squishy and warm when I fell on you just now,” Allan blurts out, making Charlie blush.

“Ok, man, like this is what I’m talking about! Ugh, like you talk all normal most of the time but then you do crazy things like murder random goblins and give me homemade socks, and say that weird stuff to me about my body… I mean? What is going on? We’re already friends, seriously …. What is this, man?”

Charlie’s voice is strained, stressed and broken as he goes up to Allan, getting closer to him.

Allan looks distressed but not backing away.

“I… I like what happens when I make you smile. It’s…” Allan bites his lip, looking down. “I like that’s it was my fault that you look like that.”

Charlie scoffs but then chuckles, “Oh God. This is insane. You’re really certifiable, you know that? You are driving me crazy..”

“I’m sorry but the look of crazy suits you, man,” Allan teases.

Charlie is quiet for a moment, then resigns. “Maybe it’s a good look on you too.” Charlie turns to leave, looking red in the face.

He waves to Allan shortly, leaving the break room and Allan to his thoughts. Allan sits down with his lab top. He wants to start working but is left feeling unfinished. Like something is missing. The anger fills him up as he punches the table.

“Fuck! Why can’t I just leave him alone? Fuck it,” Allan says under his breath. Glep comes over to pat him on the back comfortingly.

“You just need to figure out what you’re feeling… maybe?” Glep helps in a string of gentle gibberish.

Allan scoffs, taps at his lap top, idly, as he closes his eyes, daydreaming of things that make his belly feel twisted, his heart strangled and his body feeling unstable. Not to mention, he wanted to throw up.