Do You Feel A Little Broken?

“Oh, I bet. It’s cool that it worked out that way.” John scoffed and laughed, shaking his head at the other mans comment, as he finished packing up another one of the boxes. “You are overestimating my ability with women. I hate to disappoint. They’re both just friends.” He looked over the boxes and all that was left to be backed up. “Shit. Are we sure this stuff didn’t miraculously multiply or something over night?” he chuckled.

“Yeah definitely made everything a lot more fun. I guess we were all kind of fated from the start. When Lex and I first came here Madelyn and Apollo immediately joined us well Madelyn did her and Lex became thick as thieves. When APollo came to school he became my best friend and the rest was history no one else ever really worked the way we all did for each other I guess we were just denying it too long.” Scout admitted with a shrug. “What? Nah man. I know Gemma at least she was with you I saw and it looked like you had some pretty damn good game.” Scout pointed out. He’d be pretty happy if his two friends got together after all that meant he could just hang out with both of them all the time which was a win win for him. “Right? I swear to god. How did it get like this? There wasn’t that much yesterday I thought?” 

John chuckled and shook his head as he continued to pack up decorations. “I hear ya, man. When my alarm went off this morning, I had instant regrets.” He looked over at the other man, with a grin. “Though after we parted ways at the bar, I thought I saw you sneak off to the gardens with Lexie. Have a good night?”

Scout stacked one of the boxes on top of each other before turning back to the table they’d been working on to continue on. At John’s question he chuckled. “Yeah it was nice just kinda walked around the garden you know. It’s kind of fun sharing bridal party duties with your date.” He looked over spotting Lexie bossing around some workers turning back to John. “Did I see you dancing with two girls? Playing the field. I am so proud.” 

“Man if I had known waking up this morning to clear out the venue would be this rough I don’t think I would have drank so much last night.” Scout laughed as loaded some glasses into a crate alongside the other man. 

“Well, as long as you can read it and know what it says then it doesn’t matter if anyone else can read it.” Milo laughed, “Exactly. Not everyone can be a baseball player, a writer, a professor, scientist or explorer - to name a few things people can be. Plus not everyone can sing or play an instrument or play a sport.” He smiled, parents who expected a lot of their children was something he didn’t know. His parents were explorers - well, semi retired now but they never expected much of Milo and he felt for the children whose parents did. “Thank you.”

“Yeah you’re probably right. I suppose hand written notes are a thing of the past.” It was something just a little old school about Scout that he appreciated things like that. He was after all a sort of sentimental person at times and thinking about someone taking time to write a letter made his heart melt a little. “Yeah that’s definitely true I mean that’s why we all have different talents.” It’s something he tried to explain to his parents but a battle he realized quickly he’d never win. 

Max thought about his answer for a moment, not wanting to come off any weirder than he already had, so he casually replied, “Gavin.” He said with a nod, “I was looking for Gavin. I thought he said he would be out here, uh, but I guess I was wrong.” He was about as good of a liar as he was a flirt; terrible. “Scout Liang.” Max whistled, nodding at the name, “That’s a freaking cool name, dude. It sounds mighty. Waaay better than Max Goof.” He laughed a little, happily walking alongside the other male. “Santiago’s sounds like the perfect place to go to! I’m pretty hungry myself.” He patted his stomach, looking over at Scout, “Then again, I’m always hungry. Do you mind if I join you? Even though…I’m already….joining…you.” He awkwardly cleared his throat and once more gave a goofy grin.

“Gavin?” Scout asked a little perplexed. Sure maybe back in the day when Mickey was on the team he’s be out there but Gavin Goof didn’t have an athletic bone in his body Scout once saw him trip up the stairs. “Well he was definitely not at baseball practice but I figure he’s probably still at Jessica’s right?” He shook his head with a laugh as he looked over to the man. “Cheers man.” Scout nodded. “Max is a pretty sweet name and after all being a Goof is pretty legendary around these parts so I think you’ve got it pretty good.” He was encouraging by nature and maybe that was the team captain in him. When Max asked to join Scout quickly checked his phone to make sure no one had texted to meet up with him and then closed it nodding. “Yeah man that’s fine by me. All are welcome at Santiago’s and any lover of tacos can join a dinner of mine.” 

“Not yet, but it’ll come to me.” Milo had plenty of time to decide what his next book was about so he was okay with taking his time with that - it would come to him eventually. “Of course, I wasn’t trying to imply otherwise. My notes are probably hard to read as well because I generally just speed write when I have ideas. Half the time I can’t read them.” He laughed, “Everyone is smart in their own ways. We all can’t be good at the same things otherwise we’d just be the same as everyone and not individuals.” He grinned, “Yeah, we can always hope.”

“Well my friends like to say that I speed write and am illegible and I’m not even trying to remember ideas so at least you have some sort of excuse.’ Scout laughed with a shrug of his shoulders. He was in no way a writer but it was cool that this man was. “That’s very true and besides it’s not like there aren’t great things different people can do. I just wish someone would tell that to my parents.” He admitted with a roll of his eyes. “But I think writing is pretty cool. I am excited to see what your next book is.” 

“How are you my dearest, Scout?!” Apollo called as he kicked off his shoes and locked the door behind him as he made his way in and held up the bags of take out. “Look what I gooooot!” He said in a sing-songy voice as he went to plop on the couch. “Call of Duty day today?” He grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. 

“Pretty good. Pretty good. How about you?” He asked as his best friend entered the room. When the aroma of food wafted in Scout’s eyes lit up. He was always down for some food and hang outs with his best bromigo and this was just the surprise he needed today. “Sounds perfect to me” Scout excitedly exclaimed already feeling his mouth watering. 

“Yeah! I was trying to catch someone out there, buuuut, I think I’m late to the party.” He laughed, giving Scout that infamous Max Goof grin he always got when he felt awkward and was trying to play it cool. “What’s up with you, dude?” He turned around in the direction Scout had been heading before they collided as if Scout had even agreed to his company. “I hope it’s someplace with something cold and refreshing because…” he wiped some invisible sweat off his forehead,” …WHEW is it hot! By the way, Max is the name. What’s yours?”

Scout nodded. “Yeah practice ended about twenty minutes ago.” He offered to the man. “But who were you looking for they might still be in the locker room I can check for you.” Scout liked to help out when he could especially when it came to the team. As the man followed him Scout’s brow furrowed and he looked over mildly intrigued surprised and amused. “Uhh I was just heading to Santiago’s I’m pretty hungry.” he explained as they continued to walk. “Scout. Scout Li-” He was just going to leave it at that when he realized that everyone basically knew now. “-ang” He finished. Scout Liang, he hadn’t been that for so long he was still getting adjusted to being himself fully again.