w o n d e r b o y

"i'm definitely in a situation, that much we can agree on." travis shook his head, unable to keep a smile off his face at henrik's unwavering support. he was no doubt totally already thinking about double dates - imagine. dezi would just love that. "have i asked her on a date?" he repeated, pausing to think it over. had he actually asked her on a date? of course he hadn't, that would involve acknowledging that whatever they were doing - hanging out, gazing at each other, never quite getting over the line - could be called dating. "no, i uh, haven't actually asked her on a date. she might kill me if i ask her on a date... which i'm not totally opposed to, truth be told." the heart wants what it wants, y'know? travis let out a laugh, shaking his head again. "nah, we just... keep each other company. sometimes our pinkies brush, y'know?" he half-joked. "that's our boy, king of best intentions. who knows though, this might be the year."

"it sounds like it, man." he would like to think that travis and deziree could figure things out for them, it would be great to see his best bro happy with someone. "yes, travis. have you asked her on a date?" he chuckled "okay, well maybe start there and ask her on a date?" he figured that travis wouldn't know where he would stand with deziree if he didn't ask her out on one. it was better than being in limbo, right? "it took me eternity to figure out what i wanted and terence was patient, but people don't wait forever. looking back on it, if i'd asked him on a date sooner maybe i would've figured things out quicker." he shrugged lightly. it had worked out for them both in the end but it could've easily gone differently "how bbc adaption of pride and prejudice of you both" he grinned "we're all rooting for him, the odds are in his favour. there's a betting pool at the gym at the side of the lockers"

"you just gotta face the facts, we're both full to the brim here. we could outrun a train we're so gassed." travis grinned, letting out a laugh as henrik punched his arm, returning the favour with affection. "that's a good one. we'd get lots of offerings there, no doubt. thinking of you, big p," travis said, pressing his hand to his heart dramatically. nothing much could have distracted him in that moment (not including the bride, of course. everyone was contractually obligated to be distracted by tina today). and then dezi walked by... "i, uh... will be right back, okay? you'll save me a dance?"

"planes, trains and automobiles wish they were us" he laughed along with travis after receiving his bro punch. "not gone but never forgotten, big p" he added pointing to the sky. henrik couldn't contain his laughter and doubled over when travis had so obviously been distracted by deziree passing in the way a a child was immediately distracted by something shiny. "alright, go get her loverboy, i should go find that boyfriend of mine anyway" he smiled, nudging travis in the direction deziree went "good luck!"

"oh, no way. i'm not facing the wrath of terence for your messed up ribs," travis joked before holding his hands up in mock surrender. "the comedy club is closed," he said, miming locking his lips and throwing away the key. travis grinned again though, looking at the stunningly accurate diamond art of henrik's profile. "i do what i can, man. it's the people we really oughta be thankin' here. and demetris' unearthed talent." travis took a pause then, looking over at henrik with an undeniably soft expression. "you sure you're all good now?"

"oh man, he'll be so mad. you won't get any cakes or anything from him. that's not the life i want for you" he grinned at travis admitting in defeat in comedy for now. "the people showing up has meant a lot, thanks for that. it's been overwhelming support. turns out demetri is an artistic genius, the guys have been in awe at the diamond art." all the gym bros really were a pandora's box of personalities and talents. noticing the change in conversation, he gave a gentle nod to reassure his best friend "i'm all good. you're not getting rid of me that easily"

text: bodaway family chat

"deziree," he said back again. this was the first time travis had really, like, confessed anything out loud. "um... what kinda thing is it? no, not a-... we don't fight. well, not really. i irritate her, i think. she finds me charming, deep down-," he added, waving a hand. "not like you and terence, you and terence are-..." what? in love? and he wasn't... that. right? "like, perfect. we're not perfect. i just... we're just sorta friends who text a lot, hang out, you know? normal stuff. uh, get called at 3AM in an emergency kinda friends. drop everything, come over at 3AM kinda friends. sorta kissed once - not really, there was a veil, it was a whole not thing. she doesn't like me. i like her, forsure..." he drifted, brow furrowing. "oh? yeah, definitely. maybe more like you and terence, though. let's not use me as kinda, sorta, example."

well this was the last piece of information that he expected to her, but he was on the edge of his seat with it. whatever was going on with travis and deziree, of course he wanted things to work out for them. "awwww my boy has got himself a situationship" he smiled listening to travis babble on about the woman he was clearly more invested in than he was letting on "have you asked her out on a date yet? do you plan to?" they could double date, terence would like that. "i don't know man, if she's asking you to come over at three am, i'd say she likes you for something" he said giving him a nudge with his elbow "pinto's track record is more going down in flames rather then soaring to the skies. he's a trainwreck with anyone he likes. he means well but the nerves get the better of him"

"i'd gass you up for a living man, i'd gass you up free of charge even. i'm clocked in. aw, what... you're killing me, i'm swooning here-," travis gasped dramatically, hand pressed to his heart. weddings really brought out the best in them, huh? "ah, fair enough. i think phil's on the verge of blowing gasket so i'd hate to be the last straw. i'll spread the word to your fans."

"nah man, you can't gas me. i need to gas you. locked and loaded. too fast, too furious." he grinned, softly punching his bro's arm. life was good. he was alive, he was here with terence, and he was with his best bro having a time that wasn't in the gym "we could do a shrine for phil's last nerve?"

"hey, easy... i know i'm a hoot and all, but let's not lose any ribs over it. best time to be a widow, i'd say," he joked. travis had been overly supportive and positive this whole time, you know? but he'd been losing his freaking mind since henrik'd been in hospital. "look at these cards though, huh? they really captured your likeness in... what is that? diamond art?"

"then you gotta stop making me laugh. i don't need terence worried if i end up back in hospital. if i do, you can explain to him it's because you keep making me laugh" he'd been overwhelmed at the support that he had received from his best bros. all the cards and gifts they had kindly got him were sitting in the house "yeah, you really went above and beyond to get people out here treating me like lady di. apparently the diamonds art was demetris. he's quite the artist. good for him."

"Did you know that icicles make the perfect murder weapon?"

henrik looked around wondering if anyone else had heard that "uhhhh what?"

"I'll have to keep my eye out. And if I see anyone else dressed from the franchise, I'll send them your way," Bailey silently promised. "Anyway, there's a lot to do, so feel free to look around. Just— you know, obviously don't break anything," he chuckled. "Do you want a quick rundown?"

"i appreciate it. we'll all find our way towards one another at some point anyway" he shrugged, knowing his friends wouldn't be far. "sure, a rundown would be good. i can promise you that i won't break anything but i do advise to not let travis under the kitchen sink"