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Gus blinked at the bright red light in front of him, trying to pay attention to when it turned the green that meant he would be able to continue driving.
It eventually blinked down, sending the car around him into a pool of eerie green light, and he pressed the gas to get out of it as fast as he could. The streets were empty except for the occasional car Gus watched pass by him, headlights passing in a line of shadow before disappearing.
Gus turned into a neighborhood near him, having already memorized the path from to where he was going. The trees above him blocked out the light of the moon, everything being slightly shadowed by the single leaves.
He stopped in front of a certain house, then took out his phone to shoot off a quick text so he wouldn’t wake the entire neighborhood with the loud honk of his car.
Gus scrolled through his phone as he waited, turning his brightness down so it wouldn’t blind him. Couldn’t have a blind guy driving behind the wheel.
Although, it would be an interesting concept…
Gus was startled from his thoughts by a knock on the passenger side window, and he looked over to see Mattholomule waving. Gus grinned, unlocking the door to let him in.
“Took you long enough,” Matt said, seatbelt clicking into place.
“I could say the same thing to you,” Gus retorted, revving the engine of the car and backing out of Matt’s driveway. “You were the one who texted me at three am asking for me to take you to McDonalds.”
Matt crossed his arms, huffing, and drawing Gus’s attention to the oversized yellow sweatshirt he was wearing, the words HEXSIDE HIGH printed across the front in navy blue. A sweatshirt that looked vaguely familiar…
“Is that… My sweatshirt, Matty?”
Matt seemed to freeze, before he shrugged, seemingly non-chalant. “You left it here last time you came. It’s free reign, finders keepers.”
Gus grinned, looking over at Matt. “So it is mine?”
“Not anymore,” Matt smirked back, and Gus extended his hand to smack Matt’s head repeatedly. Matt yelped, ducking and yelling, “Eyes on the road, twerp!”
Gus just laughed, ruffling Matt’s hair one more time before putting his hand back on the steering wheel.
“So, we’re actually going to McDonalds? Again?” Gus asked, at the next red light, turning slightly towards Matt.
“Where else would we go?” Matt asked, grinning, and Gus grinned back, knowing the answer to that was nowhere else.
Gus pulled into the McDonalds parking lot, stopping the car and immediately stepping out, the nights chill breeze blowing across his face. He grinned, looking over at Matt, who was doing the same thing, his face slightly illuminated by the full moon.
Gus’s heart might have skipped a beat.
Shaking his head, Gus entered the McDonalds, Matt trailing behind him. It smelled like fries, grease, and maybe something slightly burnt, but to Gus, it was special.
Well. As special as a McDonalds could be to any person.
“Still as dirty as usual,” Matt said, to which Gus nodded along.
“You would think they would at least clean up a little, but nope,” he pointed towards the spot of grease in the middle of the floor. “Same as always.”
“Makes me wonder why we come here every weekend,” Matt hummed, approaching the lady at the register, who looked half asleep, the bags under her eyes prominent enough to hold the groceries Gus’s dad always got. And his dad got a lot of groceries.
“Because the burgers are cheap and they have the best fries,” Gus replied, and Matt chuckled.
It made Gus think about why he and Matt had started getting McDonalds at three am every weekend, without fail. Even if he teased Matt about texting him out of impatience, he was always ready.
Really, it had been when Gus and Matt were assigned as partners for an English project, and while they did not get along at first, they were able to make a decent project. They finished with days to spare, and with nothing to do except talk in class, that was what they did.
Small conversations in class became exchanging numbers, texting non-stop. It then became going out to each lunch together, talking on FaceTime until one of them eventually fell asleep, watching and dissing movies together.
Every interaction Gus had with Matt made him feel warm and fuzzy. Every triumphant grin, teasing smirk, or soft smile that was usually saved for the dark quiet of night, exchanging soft conversation left Gus hoping for more, waiting for the next time he would see Matt again.
The actual three am fast food runs started when Matt offhandedly mentioned craving McDonalds on one of their late night FaceTime calls, and Gus’s stomach growled the second Matt mentioned it, which sent Matt into a fit of laughter.
Gus had sighed, getting up and grabbing his keys and phone.
“You want some?” Gus asked, waving his keys in front of the phone and smiling.
Matt had grinned, saying, “Pick me up in ten minutes,” before hanging up, a message to Matt’s address coming in five seconds later.
One moment had turned into three, and three turned into multiple times a month, until they both subconsciously decided Saturday night (Sunday morning?) was their McDonalds time.
“You want a Happy Meal or nuggets this time?” Matt asked, elbowing Gus slightly as he pretended to read over the menu.
“I would like a twenty-piece nugget meal, thank you very much. Don’t forget my milkshake!”
Matt rolled his eyes. “Of course, your majesty,” he drawled sarcastically. “I’ll get you your disgustingly sweet milkshake.”
Gus grinned, shoving Matt forward so he could order. He did so awkwardly, and Gus wouldn’t be surprised if McDonalds got at least half of their order wrong. Or if the ice cream machine was broken, but Gus and Matt seemed to be having luck in that department.
“We are number three-hundred twenty-seven,” Matt scoffed. “Because this place is so packed they needed to give us a number.”
Gus nodded along. “Yes, this is very sophisticated.”
They both made eye contact before exploding into a fit of giggles, their muddled three am minds not making the laughter stop any easier.
They both sat at a booth, making small talk until their number was called, which Matt still grumbled about. He got up, retrieving their food before plopping the tray down on the table.
“I’m going to get my drink now,” Matt said, picking up the plastic soft drink cup as Gus wrinkled his nose, knowing what was to come.
He took his nuggets and sauce, opening up both packages and started eating. He watched as Matt got Diet Coke from the soft drink machine, shaking his head.
“I still can’t believe you can drink that,” Gus said as Matt sat down, taking a fry and dipping it into his milkshake.
“And I can’t believe you can eat that,” Matt said, pointing at Gus’s fry.
“Milkshake and fries are the superior combination,” Gus insisted, reopening an age old argument that happened every week.
“I have to disagree,” Matt said, unwrapping his burger and sticking a handful of fires into it. “I think this is.”
Gus stared at the burger for a second before Matt took a bite, and he shook his head disbelievingly. “I can’t believe you even eat that. Why? Why not eat the fries on the side like a normal person?”
“Gus,” Matt deadpanned. “You of all people should know by now that I am not a normal person.”
Gus laughed, earning another smile from Matt, making Gus’s heart beat a mile a minute. He shook his head, dipping another fry into his milkshake and holding it out to Matt, like he always did.
Matt raised an eyebrow, and Gus grinned, waving the fry in the air slightly. Matt rolled his eyes, leaning forward and biting the fry from Gus’s hand.
The first time Matt had done it, Gus thought he was going to combust. Now, however, he just smiled fondly, watching as Matt pretended to contemplate how he was going to react.
Gus cracked a grin, and Matt laughed at him, holding out his burger for Gus to take a bite. Gus leaned forward, taking a bite a chewing. He contemplated it as well, eventually just giving Matt a small shrug.
Matt kicked at Gus’s legs, and Gus yelped, still laughing. He hit back, until they were enraptured an intense game of footsies, barley taking the time to eat their food.
Eventually, one of them kicked a little too hard, the table rocking and almost sending their drinks and food flying everywhere.
They both paused for a second, still holding onto their drinks.
“Whoops,” Gus said, sending Matt and himself into another round of three am laughter.
They ate their food then, talking but mostly stuffing their faces with shitty fast food, their feet still bumping occasionally under the table. If Gus thought about it, it was similar to holding Matt’s hand.
Gus looked back at Matt, who was talking about something, his hand gesturing every which way, only pausing to take a sip of his horrible drink. His other hand was resting on the table, so close yet so far away from Gus.
Gus wanted to reach out, to hold Matt’s hand in his own and never let go. To hold Matt close to him whenever he wanted, send him good morning and good night texts without wondering if he was being too clingy, kiss him whenever he saw him and just exist.
“Gus?” Matt’s voice pierced through his thoughts, and Gus focused to look back at Matt, who was staring at him slightly concerned. “Are you tired? I could drive myself home if you want me to—”
Gus chuckled, shaking his head. “Nah I’m fine. Just lost in thought.”
Matt nodded seriously, taking a large sip of his drink and eating the last piece of his burger. “Something about three am really has you doing that, huh?”
Gus laughed, wrapping his ankle around Matt’s for a moment before letting go quickly. “Something like that.”
Matt’s face flushed, but Gus assumed it was the lighting, because as soon as he saw it, it was gone in a flash. Matt started collecting their garbage, taking everything except Gus’s milkshake, something he had only drunk half of so far.
“Playground time?” Gus asked, handing his milkshake over to Matt, who looked at him before begrudgingly taking it.
“You know it,” he said, taking a sip before passing it back to Gus. Gus grinned, grabbing Matt’s hand and dragging him over to the children’s place.
The girl behind the register looked like she wanted to say something about them being too old, but she waved them off and returned to her phone.
They both removed their shoes, then entered the main section of the playground, already knowing the route he and Matt always took to get to the net section of the grounds. Also know as the only place both he and Matt could fit comfortably.
Children’s playgrounds weren’t really known for fitting two seventeen-year-olds, they had learned the hard way at the beginning of their nighttime (early morning?) McDonalds escapades.
They eventually crawled out of the confined tunnel, walking out onto the net bridge.
“I always hated these things,” Matt muttered, and Gus laughed as he cautiously moved to sit near Gus.
“Why do you come up here then?” Gus teased, and Matt tried bumping their knees together, rocking the bridge slightly. Matt held the sides of the net tightly, eyes wide.
“You should be used to this by now!” Gus cackled, bending forwards to clutch at his waist.
The slight chill of the milkshake Gus had been holding was plucked from his hand, and Gus whipped his head up to look at Matt, who was smirking as he sipped the milkshake.
“You’re so mean,” Gus complained, reaching out to grab the shake back from Matt.
“Nope, mine now,” Matt taunted, holding the drink above his head. Gus snorted.
“You’re a dork,” he said, reaching across Matt to grab his drink.
“No!” Matt exclaimed, leaning back further. “Mine now! Get your long limbs away!”
“I thought the milkshakes were too sweet for you!” Gus exclaimed, still reaching over Matt. He was squirrely, though, twisting so that Gus couldn’t get ahold of the sacred milkshake.
“Bye!” Matt exclaimed, before using his other hand to push Gus away, turning and leaping through the tunnel and crawling away.
“Matty!” Gus exclaimed, trying to fix himself on the wobbling net. Damn it.
Gus heard cackling from somewhere down the tunnel, straitening himself before crawling through the tunnel, following the sound Matt’s laughter. These were the only times he despised the fact he was bigger than Matt. The fact that Matt could crawl through the tunnels faster.
Gus had the advantage, though. He knew exactly where Matt was headed. Knowing Matt always took the long way, Gus decided to take the shortcut.
He eventually found the entrance to the slide, slipping down it and landing the ball pit right after, what he presumed, was Matt.
“Give me the milkshake,” Gus said, holding his hand out.
Matt hummed, taking a sip. “Mmm, I’m going to have to say no.”
Gus leaped forward, swimming through the pit as Matt yelped and went the other way. Gus was faster in the open area though, and he eventually caught up to Matt, wrapping his arms around his waist.
“Gus!” Matt yelped, before they both went careening down, landing face first in the ball pit milkshake falling out of Matt’s hand.
Gus came back up, dragging Matt with him as he cackled.
“Gus!” Matt complained. “Look what you’ve done.”
“Well it was your fault for stealing my milkshake in the first place,” Gus retorted, moving one arm from its place around Matt’s waist to ruffle his hair.
Matt turned around to face Gus, and he suddenly realized how close they really were. It would be awkward if Gus let go of him now though, so he stayed as he was.
Matt blinked at him, and Gus blinked back, cheeks heating up more than they already were.
“Hi,” Gus whispered.
“Hey,” Matt whispered back, and Gus couldn’t help it. He laughed. He buried his face in Matt’s shoulder, holding Matt tighter. Gus could feel the vibrations of Matt’s chuckles under him, in sync with his own.
Their laughter echoed throughout the pit, loud and happy and carefree. Their laughs slowly fizzled out, and Gus took his head out from the crook of Matt’s neck, pressing his forehead against Matt’s.
His brown eyes were shining, smile so wide Gus thought it was going to split his face in half. Gus smiled back, and he watched at the edges of Matt’s smile softened around the edges to match his own.
Gus leaned forward ever so slowly, closing his eyes and waiting for the denial or confirmation that was to come next. Everything would either end amazingly or horribly for him.
No denial came though. Instead, Gus felt the soft press of lips against his own, warm and tasting slightly of vanilla. Gus smiled, moving one hand to cup Matt’s face, thumb moving over his cheekbone softly.
They pulled away much too soon for Gus’s liking, but still pressed their foreheads together, not moving far apart.
“Well hello again,” Gus whispered, and Matt scoffed, slapping Gus’s shoulder before leaning back up to kiss him again.