Chapter Text
An old song from maybe the mid 80s played in the tiny speaker by the dock, almost unnoticeable and blending in with the sound of the wind. Courtney and Alejandro walked over to the small glass window of the ice cream shop where a worker who appeared to be the same age as them sat.
“Hey, What do you two want?” The worker at the small window asked, holding up a notepad and a pen in the other. Alejandro eyed the menu, still trying to decide on a flavour. Courtney on the other hand had already decided before getting there, looking through her notes app with the data she typed while Trying to decide on the best possible ice cream.
“Can I get a soft served black cherry in a medium waffle cone with chocolate sprinkles and strawberry sauce, just a drizzle not a lot though or the flavour will be too much and won’t work with the black cherry or chocolate sprinkles, and a cherry on top and make sure it won’t fall off as soon as you give it to me and-“
“Ma’am, we sell ice cream here. I don’t know what you’re describing but it’s clearly not ice cream.” The worker said, his voice crack more prominent on each word. He tapped on his notepad, getting more impatient with each minute. Courtney pouted, her arms crossed as she glared at him, and Alejandro chuckled.
‘The worker reminds me of Noah a little- no no, don’t think about him or you’ll start coughing up flowers’. Alejandro cleared his Throat, continuing to scan the menu and wishing he thought of what he wanted before getting there. He sighed, deciding to settle on a simple cone of vanilla bean. Courtney was arguing with the worker, trying to compromise with him for her over-complicated order.
“How about you let me make it? I promise I won’t break any of the machines, I used to work at a sundae shop but got fired for throwing a scoop of strawberry blast at a customer. But she totally started it with all her ‘excuse me.’ ‘Excuse me’. I was on my break-!”
Alejandro rested a hand on her shoulder, feeling it shake as she bubbled with anger. “Courtney, it’s fine, how about just a simple scoop of black cherry, okay?” Courtney groaned, but looked back at Alejandro with a grin and then gave a scowl to the worker, who rolled his eyes In response.
“Sorry, I went a little overboard. Yep, black cherry is fine. No toppings whatsoever. Just make sure it’s in a medium waffle cone and soft serve-“
“Okay, I’ll get your stupid ice cream.” The worker scribbled in his note pad, slamming the pen on the counter and storming to the back. Alejandro felt like asking for his ice cream, but didn’t want to torture the minimum wage teen with questions any longer. Plus, this whole trip was about Courtney, anyway.
The worker came though the other window in the far left with a waffle cone filled to the brim with black cherry, holding it out with his hand and calling out for Courtney.
“Hey crazy girl, your ice cream is finished.” He yelled, Alejandro slapping a hand to his mouth to cover up his snicker. Courtney scoffed and grabbed her ice cream, walking to their table as she licked at it. She smiled, her anger melting away as she continued to lick at her cone. Alejandro sheepishly walked to the window, gulping as he prepared to ask for his dish. He put a couple dollar bills on the counter, not noticing his shaky hand.
“I’m sorry but I didn’t get my order down. Is it okay if I just…” He was slowly dying inside as the worker peered up at him, before smirking and nodding.
“Sure thing dude. Sorry, long day and your Freind over there is kinda insane. Anyway, what can I get for you?” Alejandro stumbled out his order and waited by the counter, waiting to swipe cone from the workers hands. Once he came out, he gently grabbed it, wincing at the sudden cold on his palms but gave a warm look at the aggravated teen.
“Have a nice day, sir. Also, is it okay if I, like, get you a cough drop? You sound like you just shoved a handsaw down your Throat. No offence it’s just, you sound and look dead right now.”
‘That’s what it feels like.’ Alejandro shook his head, waving goodbye to the worker and sitting next to Courtney on the wooden bench. She was already half way down her ice cream cone, her face covered in it.
“You have, Uhh, little something on your face?” He gestured to the mess around her lips and she looked down, letting out a small Yelp, grabbing napkins of the table and wiping her face off.
“Thanks, it would’ve been humiliating if I went home like that”. She went back to eating her ice cream, her licks being slower as she tried to not make a mess again. Alejandro rested his tongue into his scoop, licking it into his mouth. A burning sensation crept up his throat as he swallowed, the cold temperature only helping lube it down. He took another bite, the Pain coming back and he bit his lip to subside it.
His hanahaki was getting worse, he could tell. He couldn’t even eat anymore without wanting to scream his lungs out. His lungs stung every time he breathed, he prayed that it would just take him already and he could finally end all of this. He wanted to tell Noah how he felt but he couldn’t, sure if he rejected him he’d live- actually, now that Alejandro thought about it, maybe rejection would be better. But he knew how his family would feel about him liking men. He could get disowned, where would he go? All his uncles and aunts wouldn’t even want to talk to him anymore, and all his cousins would avoid him at all costs. He’d be alone. He couldn’t be alone. A burromuerto was never alone.
He couldn’t tell anybody about his bisexuality, he just had to keep it a secret until he could finally move out. But he needed to tell somebody, it hung over his head and kept him weighed down, reminding him of his ‘dirty secret.’ If it even was dirty.
“Courtney… you’re my best friend, right?” Courtney turned her head to him and nodded.
“Yep, what about it?” He took a deep breath, muffled by his aching longs, and exhaled with a groan.
“It’s just.. I gotta tell you something.” Courtneys eyes jolted with worry and she lowered her ice cream in her hands. Alejandro took another deep breath, it being hitched from the sudden sting that joined it. He tried desperately to calm himself down and to slow down his racing heart, pounding against his chest with a boom. He barely Even noticed the warm bead of sweat running down his forehead and to his cheek.
“Alejandro, are you okay?” She placed a hand on his shoulder, fingers digging into his Jean jacket.
“I-I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” Although he reassured Courtney he was fine, his leg bounced erratically and his face grew cherry red. Courtney rolled her eyes at him, giving one smug look back to him, up and down.
“You look like your about to throw up.” Alejandro could feel the heat around his body, surrounding him in an unpleasant hug. The only thing cooling him off was the sweat on the back of his neck. He gulped, a little blood following the saliva, a shudder creeping up his spine.
“I’m fine. It’s just, what I’m going to tell you might ruin…everything.” He looked down at the wooden dock, feeling Courtney’s confused stare on him.
“What, did you rob a bank or something? You’re my best friend, I promise i won’t hate you for any reason.” She patted his shoulder reassuringly, and he smiled. Although her face flattered for a moment before looking back at him.
“Is is something I did? If so, I’m really sorry for whatever i did-“
“Courtney! You didn’t do anything.” Courtney snapped her lips shut, looking back at her cone and giving it a lick.
“So, what’s the soul crushing secret you have that could ruin our entire friendship?” She raised her eyebrow and Alejandro gulped.
“Uh, well- you know that Noah kid, right?” She nodded.
“You mean the guy that ruined my chance at student council president and made me have to settle for vice?-“ she glared at the ground, grunting as she stomped the ground below her. “Yeah, I know him, what about him?”
“I’ve been hanging out with him lately and I think I might-“ he interrupted himself with a cough before continuing. “I might like him.” He stayed quiet for a minute, awaiting Courtney’s response.
“Is that it? You’re friends with the know-it-all? Okay, I may not like him but as long as you’re happy, hey, I’m happy.” She finished up her ice cream, hurrying over to the trash can to discard of her napkins.
“No Courtney- were friends but I don’t mean like him as, I like him. I mean…” he trailed off when he heard the familiar dreading sound of Jose’s car horn. He turned around to see that fucking white Honda. Jose’s head was peering out the window, staring at Alejandro and burning through his body.
“I dropped your little boyfriend off at the hospital, now come on, get in the car. Dad wants us to get something from Home Depot.” Jose called out, Alejandro wincing at his voice before sighing. He threw out the wasted ice cream and grabbed his bag from the bench he and Courtney were sitting on, Courtney doing the same.
“You wanna come to Home Depot with me and annoy Jose with me?” Courtney giggled and nodded.
“Oh, definitely.” They walked over to the car, Alejandro almost getting in the passengers seat until Jose covered it with his hand.
“Your freind is sitting here. She may be annoying but not as annoying as you.” He began to start up his car, Alejandro groaning as he moved to the back. Courtney jumped into the passengers seat, struggling to buckle in when the car started driving off. “Do you need something from Home Depot?” He asked Courtney. She shook her head.
“No I’m good, I just felt like tagging along. Can you drop me off at my house though?” Jose nodded with a scowl as they pulled into the freeway.
—————
They got into the parking lot and Alejandro was sure Jose hit the breaks hard enough so he’d fall out of his seat on purpose. They left their car and started walking towards the Home Depot.
“So Courtney, when’s the fair starting?”
“Oh! In a few weeks. Which is why I’m so disappointed you didn’t at least try to help when you promised-“ Alejandro felt like vomiting as Jose turned around, snickering.
“Al, you mean to tell me you didn’t help this lovely lady when she needed you most? I though you were a gentleman.” Courtney rolled her eyes, scoffing.
“God, shut it, Jose. I’ve heard you call me annoying and a control freak behind my back, you know that right? Alejandro might’ve ditched me but he’s way more of a gentlemen than-“ Alejandro put his face in his hands, hiding the embarrassing blush coming over his face. Courtney quit her rambling, mouthing ‘sorry’ to Alejandro as they entered the store.
They seemed to walk forever before finally entering the gardening section. Jose scanned over the pots and bags of dirt, fulling ignoring the two teens behind him. Alejandro slowly dragged his eyes around the store, stopping when he saw a familiar shadow.
Cody. He remembered the moment in the bathroom when Cody seemed to want to talk to him about something. Something important. He sneaked away, on the search for Cody. He walked past the shovels and other gardening tools, only wanting to find Cody and find out what he wanted to tell him.
After about ten minutes of aimless searching that seemed to no avail, he gave up and started to walk back. He then felt something bush against his shoulder, or rather someone.
“Cody?” He turned around and smiled when he saw the sight of short chestnut hair, cut cleanly but with the occasional knot here and there. The body turned around and there was Cody’s cobalt eyes, shining with glee.
“Ale-“ he was interrupted by a wet cough, a white gardenia flying out. It landed on the ground and was soon crushed by Cody’s shoe. “Alejandro! It’s great to see you. I was just buying some stuff and.. it’s just great to see you man.” He jumped up, wrapping his arms around the taller man and almost drilling the bag of plant seeds he had. Alejandro chuckled awkwardly, not sure if he and Cody were truly this close yet.
“Woah there, we’ve only known each other for a couple days- listen, do you have something you need to tell me?” Alejandro asked. Cody nodded vigorously, and Alejandro feared he’d make himself throw up from how fast his head was bobbing up and down.
“Yeah- but I don’t think I should tell you in the middle of a Home Depot. Listen, next week, come over to my house, okay?”
“I don’t know where you live Cody.” Alejandro said, wanting to be as straightforward as possible.
“R-right. It’s… by the school, go right and and stop when you see a pink house, it’s the only Pink house on the block.”
“Noted.” Cody grinned at him. before they could continue their conversation the squeaky sound of designer boots came rushing down the aisle.
“Al? What are you doing? we need to check this shit out.” He grabbed Alejandros wrist and jerked him away from Cody. Alejandro gave him a small wave and cody smiled before walking back to Sierra and heather. For a second, Alejandro could swear he spotted a light blush on Cody’s entire face.
——-
After Jose dropped Courtney off, the rest of the ride was silent. Not even the radio was on.
“What am I, a carpool driver? I didn’t expect you to have this much friends. Well, technically friends, if they even like you.” He glared at Alejandro through the small car mirror and Alejandro couldn’t help but felt like he wanted to cry. Over the years, he had gotten used to Jose’s insults, all of them seemingly not having any effect on him. But now, for some reason, today his insults hurt like a paper cut in acid.
Once they finally got home, he ran into his room and passed out in his bed, letting the whole world slip by. The darkness was just about to take him into sleep until his phone ringed. He turned his head and looked to see a white bubble on his Home Screen, a text from Courtney.
‘Hey are you okay? Jose was a bitch today :/‘
He smiled and quickly sent her back one.
‘Yeah, I’m okay. I think I’ll get over it.” He sighed, placing his phone down and throwing his head back on his pillow. Despite the bright light radiating from his lamp, his eyelids still felt heavy enough to droop down, covering his vision and helping him slip into sleep.
He loved naps, but ever since he became the worlds first human garden, they felt like hell.
The next day, instead of study hall, he and Courtney both skipped it to help plan the festival.
“You come to study hall a lot, I’m just wondering how you’ve been able to instruct everyone.”
“I’ve been having a sophomore help me. She’s on the schools gymnastics team, she seemed like the most capable.” Once they made it to the grassy plains thirty minutes away from the school, they got out of Courtney’s car and trenched through the muddy trail.
“Noah’s gonna be helping me today.” If Alejandro was drinking something, he would’ve spat it all over her in surprise. He hoped he didn’t look as flustered as he felt.
“And you’re telling me this because?”
“You said you two were becoming friends yesterday so i thought it was worth telling you.”
“Courtney-“ he yanked on the fabric of higher shirt to stop her, looking around to see if anyone was listening. “Me and him, yes were friends, but you see I like him as..How a woman would love a man, y-you see?” Courtney blanked out for a minute before letting out a simple “oh.” and continued walking with him.
“Alright then, never saw you as gay or bisexual but I don’t really care, I’m supportive. I guess that makes my pestering for him to help me today worth it, doesn’t it?” She smirked and Alejandro let out a sigh of relief.
“Yeah, Thank you, don’t tell my parents, k? You know how they are.”
“Relax, I’m not gonna out you. That’d just be a low blow.”
They finally got to the main plain and Alejandro was mesmerized by the amount of puke inducing rides and students working hard to set up stands of rigged games and sweet snacks.
“I was thinking you can help Noah with one of the game stands, is that okay?” Alejandro gave her a reassuring thumbs up as they walked towards Noah. And Alejandro then realized how hard this was gonna be. As soon as he was out in front of him, he felt like he was gonna spew his guts out. Pass out maybe, whatever, he was gonna die if he stayed around him any longer, metaphorically and literally.
“Noah! Can Alejandro help you today? I think you’d two would be perfect together.” She gave a wink to Alejandro who’s face flushed red. Noah shrugged, giving a smile to Alejandro.
“Sure, why not?” And in the blink of an eye, Courtney left and Alejandro and Noah were alone together. “Well, are you gonna help me or what?”
Alejandro walked over to the stand with Noah, cringing at the sound of mud squishing under him.
“Alright, so how this thing works is people need to knock over these glass bottles with these rubber balls-“ he went to go grab one from the counter, but Alejandro had the same idea, wanting to inspect it. There’s hands brushed together, the feeling of Noah’s fingertips feeling like fireworks. He stayed stunned like that until Noah grabbed the ball and cleared his throat to get Alejandros attention.
“Is it okay if you test the game out for me?” He handed the ball to Alejandro, letting it rest in his palm.
“Y-yeah.” He gulped. This would be a long afternoon