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On a hot summer Friday night David, Albert, Jack and Race were hanging out on the rooftop of the lodging house after selling the evening edition.
“Wait, wait, wait- that’s real? I always thought those ‘butterflies in your stomach’-thing were like a book thing. You guys really feel like you’re gonna throw up when you have a crush-thingy?” David asked in wonder.
Jack snorted in amusement and took a few seconds to think about his reply. “I mean, it’s not a nauseous feeling I guess? More like a fluttery one? Right Racer?”
Race nodded in agreement. “Yeah I think it’s mostly a positive feeling though. But don’t get me started on the way my brain just stops working whenever I see Spot walking around. It’s awful, can’t think straight.”
Albert huffed a laugh. “Don’t think you ever thought straight before Racer.” In response he received a thrown pillow in the face.
Jack and David shared a content smile. David was pretty sure he’d never felt this happy and calm in his entire life. After their, David’s and Albert’s, shared coming out as aromantic and asexual to Jack and Race, the friendship between the four boys was stronger than ever.
He was especially fond of the new connection he shared with Albert. Of course, the two boys considered themselves friends during the strike but there weren’t a lot of opportunities for them to really bond during all the ‘we’re on strike but we actually also need to earn money to survive’ chaos. Discovering they both shared the same struggles and experiences really was the exact thing the both of them needed. Just someone to trust, someone to understand.
Sure, Jack was David’s best friend and Race was starting to grow really close to him. But the both of them never understood David quite as well as Albert always seemed to do.
The two of them helped the other feel safe and confident in their newfound sexual and romantic orientation and they supported each other on particularly rough days.
David no longer felt like he needed to act a certain way to belong or to feel complete. He finally felt like… himself. He never expected to feel content like that, but here he was. Just messing around with his friends who know who he is and understand him.
He was broken out of his thoughts by Albert’s hand on his shoulder. “You alright Daves? You were kinda stuck in your own head for a second there.” When he looked up he saw three pairs of eyes looking at him with mild concern and so much love, always so much love.
He smiled. “Yeah, better than alright. This is gonna sound way too cheesy- but I was just thinking how happy I am to have you guys, you know?” David ducked his head in embarrassment when he felt his cheeks heating up.
Immediately Albert’s hand was back on his shoulder. Jack, who was sitting with his back against the wall opposite from him, tapped his foot softly against David’s and let it rest there. Race just looked at him with a soft smile on his face.
“Ey Davey- shut up, you’re gonna make me cry and I don’t do that sentimental shit y’know?” Race spoke with faked offense laced through his voice which made it clear to David he was kidding. Jack slapped Race on the shoulder and turned to David. “You probably know him well enough to know he’s kidding, but we love you Davey.”
In the following hours the mood shifted back to their usual banter and the boys talked about whatever came to their minds. Eventually Jack brought up their plans for the, now fastly approaching, future since all four of the boys were growing out of being a newsie soon.
“I don’t know, according to Kath old Pulitzer still wants to offer me a job… So I might take him up on that? Could find a small space to live- it would be cool to have something only for myself instead of sharing, y’know?” Jack spoke with a dreamy look in his eyes. “What ‘bout you Racer? Any plans?”
Race turned uncharacteristically red. “Uh- I might have talked to Spot ‘bout finding some place in Brooklyn together? Like just as ‘friends’ to save on rent if any outsider asks.” The other three boys looked at Race with surprise, but mostly amusement in their eyes. David nodded his head. “Yeah, that makes sense actually, we could have seen that coming.”
Jack turned to Albert and David. “So what about you guys? Any plans? Or are you gonna stay at ya parents Dave?” Both boys looked at each other and shared a small private smile. It was David who spoke first. “We kind of talked about finding something together? Just like Race and Spot ‘to share rent’, you know?”
Albert nodded. “Yeah, I mean, we both won’t end up with a lady or another fella, so this seemed like a pretty solid plan? And- honestly, I wouldn’t want to share it with anyone other than Davey…” Albert blushed heavily and wringed his hands. “I know we aren’t lovey-dovey like you and Spot, Racer or you and Kath, Jack and we don’t ever wanna be, but I feel like Dave and I got something special, ya know? It’s definitely not romantic or any crap like that, but… yeah, it’s special. And please shut me up now Daves- I’m speaking sentimental crap.”
David, being the emotional mess that he easily was around his close friends, just placed his hand on Albert’s shoulder with a few tears in his eyes. “I love you Albert, even if it’s not the kind of love we’re supposed to feel. I can’t wait to share a home with you.” Now both boys spotted teary eyes and loving smiles.
“Jeez fellas, stop being so cute, you’re really ruining my tough guy thing t’night, huh?” Race interrupted while wiping a few stray tears from his face.
Jack grinned while looking at his friends, his brothers. “Seems like we’re all gonna be alright after all, who would’ve thought?”