Salubrious part two

“I saw in the close-circuited television that Charlie did not smile when I threw the cold fries at hiiim. So my mission continues,” Allan says proudly to Pim.

Pim looks at him nervously. “Ok, but maybe tone it down a bit, Charlie is not gonna smile if you hurt someone.”

Allan nods but looks unhinged, “Even if they are making him sad?”

Pim nods, “Yes. Even then.” Pim walks off huffing, “Oh jeez he just isn’t getting it!” under his breath.

Unbeknownst to the talking co-workers/friends, Charlie overheard this and got a little upset.

“Pim! Seriously!” Charlie yell/whispers to Pim.

“What?” He walks into the break room, getting a cup of coffee.

“Oh don’t what me, Pim. You basically told Allan to keep doing his creepy smile tirade.” Charlie sighed, it turned into a yawn. “I’m fucking exhausted enough.”

“Tell me about it. I am tired too, but I’m excited for another fun day making people smile!” Pim mellows but Charlie’s face is full of a hard energy.

“Umm… never mind…” Pim sips his coffee, walking to sit down.

Charlie sighs, going to sit down with Pim. “Sorry dude. I’m not feeling ok lately.”

Pim nods with a soft smile that feels understanding. “I get it. Rough breakups, goblin murders, Allan acting insane. Nothing too out of the norm, but…”

“And Zoey’s ghosting me. I know we broke up. And I meant it. I did. It is like,” he gets up and gets a cup of coffee. “I just kinda miss having someone to hang out with on the weekends.”

“You hang out with me every weekend,” Pim responds.

“But like that’s you. I mean with a girl. You know?”

Pim nods but doesn’t understand. “I have terrible luck in love, anyway.”

“And what was up with that goblin shit anyway? I get making me smile but that was psycho stuff.” Charlie sips his coffee, making a sour face, spitting it out on a napkin.

Pim notices, “What’s wrong? You don’t like the coffee—..”

Charlie hurries to cover Pim’s mouth.

“Shh! Shut up! Shut up, man! Allan will come over here to ‘fix the coffee’ and I’ll land in the hospital probably!” Charlie whispers.

Glep starts mumbling about how Charlie should handle it more directly but Charlie just gives him the middle finger. Glep returns the favor.

Allan comes running in with a double espresso and hands it to Charlie.

“Hopefully this will make you do an upside down frown…” Allan says to him, and their hands touch as he forces the coffee cup on Charlie’s hand.

Charlie chuckles nervously, “Thanks, thanks dude…”

Allan leaves but comes back in a nicely fitted red-head wig and a dress.

Mr. Boss comes in, looking at Allan interested. “Is that for one of those things, like the anime cons?”

Allan shakes his head. “Nope. It is for Charlie so we can hang out on the weekends like boyfriend and girlfriend.”

Mr. Boss just gives him a big smile. “Good for you two,” and walks out.

Charlie just frowns, but looks like he is holding back something. It looks like he’s catching his breath, or gagging but he can’t hold it in much longer.

“What is wrong? Do you need help to breathe? I can give you CPR mouth to mouth,” Allan says, coming over with his dress flouncing and wig tilted like a perfectly timed gag.

Charlie burst out laughing. It was so loud, Allan took a step back.

Pim gives his friend a concerned look.

“Did you also hand make me socks out of something insane and crazy?” Charlie laughs harder.

As if it was the magic password, Allan hands him a pair of new socks.

“No, I made them out of wool, wooly socks with no holes on the sides.”

“Um, the socks have a huge hole at the end?” Charlie notices, putting his hand through which makes everyone laugh.

“I guess I don’t know how feet and socks work!”

Charlie laughs again, “You’re too much man.”

“Also the coffee is mud.”

Charlie smiles. Allan smiles even bigger.

“You smiled,” Allan points out.

“Sh-shut up,” Charlie says but it doesn’t have any bite. They share a smile together, it feels a little too warm for Charlie but he gives in.

“Get over here you crazy bastard!” Charlie pulls him in for a hug.

“I feel like you’re taking advantage now. I have to go,” Allan says with a strange and wide eyed look.

He runs off. Charlie is still smiling. Everyone looks at them like they’re crazy.