trading time

“But when you shave,” Wallace rubbed at his own chin for good measure, “you fit right in with those little sixteen-year-olds.” His smile was warm, a strong contender for the overwhelming summer sun. “Can’t believe you’re a married man with a baby, Miles. God. Time flies, man.” Wallace stalled at Miles’ question, still facing forward as his memory filled in the landscape before them like overflowing paint. Nothing changed in Wallace’s world. Miles was forever 23 and the bakery across the street still sold overpriced bagels. But his nose knew better and Miles was quick to remind him of his birthday every year. “Well,” Wallace ran a hand through his hair, “it’s going. I’ve been trying to keep up with my cooking skills actually. I know that sounds weird, but Mom helped me label everything so I don’t dump garlic powder instead of cinnamon–which has totally not happened before,” he laughed. “Um. I… finished this audio book? The Art of Racing In The Rain. It made me cry like a bitch. I fully recommend. And,” he ducked his head in embarrassment. “I think I might’ve met someone. Maybe. Don’t quote me on that or anything.”

“I know. That’s what I’m saying ― I’m an old man now.” Miles shook his head, then added, “And married to Nick, no less.” The passage of time really did blow his mind; Miles could still remember his single, sad self spending every day with Wallace while Nick was away dealing with his own stuff like it was yesterday, not several years ago. “Hey, that’s awesome, man. And even if you did, you know I’ll try anything. Gimme all the garlic-infused mistakes you got.” He paused to take a sip of his drink and raised his eyebrows. Miles knew he couldn’t see the borderline offended look on his face, but Wallace knew him well enough to pick up on exactly when he was being his dramatic self. That didn’t mean Miles wasn’t still going to flat out tell him, though. “I am downright wounded that you think I haven’t read it yet. But I’m glad you liked it. If you want to cry again you should check out A Dog’s Purpose next.” Book talk went out the window at the bomb Wallace dropped on him, and Miles leaned forward dramatically. “Hooold on, whoa, back up.” Miles waved his hands in the air and then all but slammed them back down on the table, perhaps a bit too loudly, but he had to make it a point to Wallace. “You met— who?” He went full on mom mode during conversations like this with his friends, and Wallace knew better to bring it up if he didn’t expect Miles to grill him for the details. “You know you can’t just drop this shit on me. Where did you meet them?”

Kind of? Don’t tell me you sleep with your socks on. Welllllll the fire thing might’ve happened once. I grabbed an oven mitt and a kitchen towel on my way out though, so it was fine. 

But why should I lock the door of my bedroom, when she could just knock? Respectin’ privacy ain’t that hard. I don’t come into her room uninvited. 

No socks, but definitely underwear. Next time there won’t be an oven mitt to grab and you’ll be shit outta luck. More power to you, though, man.

Is it really that hard to believe that people sleep naked? I think people should be able to sleep how they damn well please, ‘specially if they pay half the rent. If someone barges into a room–that had the door closed in the first place–and ends up seein’ a lot more than they wanted to, that’s on them, don’t ya think?

I mean, it is, kind of. What if there’s a fire and you have to run outside? Do you just plan on showing the whole neighborhood your business? I’ve had nightmares like that.

Stevie had no plan; had no true conversation with himself about getting a real life actual puppy. He had, however, thought about the possibility a lot. So when the opportunity presented itself as it did now, he wasn’t exactly thinking of the consequences. “I’ve been thinking about it. I just haven’t gone down there and looked.” Mostly because he knew himself, and he knew the second he did, he’d probably want more than one. “But tomorrow? We need to go look at them. Looking never hurt no one. Who’s to say we’re actually going to connect to them, anyway?” That was kind of bullshit, because the both of them rarely met an animal they didn’t connect to. Especially the animal whisperer herself, Stacey. He ducked his head, hand rising to hold the side of her phone steady as he flicked through the pictures with his pointer finger. And he tried not to physically aw out loud, because that was embarrassing, but it was also just Stacey so he didn’t care that much. “Okay, she is cute.” His eyes kind of zeroed in on her anyway, for some reason. He couldn’t help but smile at the picture alone. “Do you have your eyes on one already?” He looked back up at her after looking at all her pictures. “’Course, Rigby’s the chillest boy I know.” He turned his head to look at him, stretching his hand out to beckon him towards him. He didn’t come. Dropping his hand, dejected but not hurt, he turned back. “I know, I will.” He hesitated for a second. He hadn’t had many full-on conversations with Brady lately, but he wasn’t going to just surprise him with a new puppy at the house. He’d ask him later. “No, but I’m sure she’s okay. I’ll ask him. I’m sure Draco’s fine, but if not, can you help introduce them?” He looked almost longingly at the back of their phone. “I really wanna meet those dogs.” 

“Exactly. And we don’t let just anyone take these guys home.” If the shelter sent everyone home with the dog they had come to look at without actually considering the realities of owning said dog... well, Stacey was pretty sure she’d be seeing most of them again very soon. Stevie wasn’t like that, though, and he also had her and Sam to talk him down from extremely impulsive decisions. So she saw no harm in letting him in on his options. “This guy,” Stacey told him, pointing to the pup in the green collar. “He’s the calmest one. Kind of what I’m going for if I’m gonna add to this madness.” And maybe she had already sort of bonded with him. It wasn’t her fault he had crawled into her lap every time she’d gotten on the floor to play with all of them. “You have to talk to Brady first,” Stacey said again. It wasn’t always as simple as just introducing the dogs and hoping for the best. “Draco is gonna have to come to the shelter so we can see how they are first, anyway.” Stacey put her phone away and nodded at him. “I know. And you can. Just try not to get your hopes up too high first,” she reminded him, patting him on the cheek. She stood up and returned Rizzo to her tank, then went to scoop up RDJ off the floor. “Puppy talk aside. How’s Brady anyway? I’m surprised y’all survived this long without Arlo.”

TOBY: Okay. I'M different.

TOBY: You + me + spooky = a hella good time. What are you thinking of getting? What are the options?

BRADY: they got a bunch but i think it’s down to skateboarding ghost or reaper with a slushee.

TOBY: :( Shake ya ass. :( Show me what you're workin with. :(

TOBY: It means all I need to know.

TOBY: SO??? I wanna hear it anyway! I'm a good secret-keeper. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

TOBY: But isn't easier kinda boring?

ANDIE: 🙄

ANDIE: There are no secrets! What do you want from me here Tobias?

TOBY: RIP to Georgie but WE'RE DIFFERENT. I'm so fucking down, bro.

TOBY: Ehhhhh. Jews. Tattoos. Not that into it. Why?? Are you thinking of getting one????? Is Stevie gonna tattoo you again? DO I GET TO FUCKING BE THERE THIS TIME??

BRADY: are we? idk feel like i might reach into the sewer if the bitch stole my paper boat.

TOBY: Fuck YEAH. I'm ready!

TOBY: Where are we gonna do this? Andie's place?

BRADY: she keeps saying no, it’s lame.

BRADY: i was thinking we could have pennywise bring us some bad vibes. maybe fuck around and try to summon him with the ouija board, idk.

LOCATION: Some little outdoor cafe.

TAGGING: Miles Sterling & Wallace Chang. ( @denisehq )

WARNINGS: None.

“Well, it’s happening.” Miles leaned over, almost absentmindedly, to pet Scout where she lay calmly next to him on the patio. He scratched behind her ears but kept his attention on his friend as he spoke. “I’m officially turning into a grumpy old man. I introduced the Julius Caesar unit yesterday, and I had to give myself a pep talk when I got home to get me through it the next few weeks.” He sat up straight again so both hands could wrap around the mug sitting in front of him, and he shook his head. “I know I signed up for the repetitiveness of the same curriculum every year, but man, am I sick of Shakespeare.” An English teacher’s plague. “And these little sophomores do nothing to help restore my feeling of youth.” Not that he imagined they would, but maybe he had hoped for a surprise. Miles sighed and shifted in his seat, ready to divert the conversation to Wallace instead. “Anyway. Don’t let my going senile dampen the mood. How’s it going in Walley World? No Shakespeare, at all, ever, I hope.”

LOCATION: Starbucks.

TAGGING: Brady Clarington & Nick Vaughn. ( @astoldbyaj​ )

WARNINGS: Nada.

Brady couldn’t even begin to express how excited he was for this project. He’d spent much of the last year filming and editing videos for a bunch of creators he was super grateful to work with, but he was getting more and more interested in doing event videography. Although he had a few experiences under his belt thanks to being in charge of documenting friends’ birthday parties and stuff like that, those had been mostly for the fun of creating memories, as well as portfolio building. He had yet to actually be hired for something. That changed just a few days ago, when his sister’s friend hit him up in need of a videographer for an upcoming wedding. And Brady was fucking stoked, to say the very least.

“Alright.” Brady returned to the table Nick sat at with a coffee in hand, sighing as he got settled in the seat across from him. He felt official as fuck with his laptop and some of his basic equipment laid out on the table between them. “So, I figure I can show you some of my best stuff, and you can gimme an idea of what you think they’re gonna want.” He sifted through the video files on his computer to try to find a good one. “Okay, like this one ― was a friend’s birthday party, fuckin’ huge.” Brady instantly remembered he wasn’t exactly in the comfort of people he knew well, and also in public. He glanced over his shoulder before lowering his voice. “Sorry. But anyway. I got some good stuff from... like, pretty much everything. And there was a hell of a lot going on.” He angled the laptop toward Nick a bit but didn’t start the video. “You know if they’re havin’ a live band or a DJ, or...?”