Chapter Text
It was a cool and sunny day, like every other day in the neighborhood. As normal as it is, it could get repetitive and boring. No one knew who started the idea of a party, but they all agreed to hang out at Julie’s house. So they could break the usual routine and remember to have fun.
Though no one planned ahead in what to do during their time there. They all went back home to bring back stuff to do. Frank would bring trivia cards, Poppy with cookie cutters to bake, Wally with board games, and Howdy with taxes (he doesn’t want anyone to do them, he thought it was a good idea to no longer procrastinate).
There are stages in being in a party. One is the start of the party, everything’s going to be awkward until someone brings up something interesting. Strangely enough, Howdy’s taxes were the first interesting thing to come up, as everyone was reminded to do theirs. Then the excitement comes afterwards with Frank’s trivia, as there were two teams divided between Team Big (Barnaby, Poppy, Howdy, Eddie) and Team Short (Frank, Sally, Julie, Wally). From many celebrations and rage, Team Short won.
Later on, it’s where everything starts to cool down. They were up doing board games. As it was fun being focused about the game, the neighbors would bring up conversations about their own life.
It was where Frank felt like he wasn’t needed anymore. And instead of being bitter, he needed to leave at any opportunity he got.
Frank tapped on Julie’s shoulder, saying that they need some space for themself. Julie allowed them and they walked off. They opened and closed the curtains as he headed to the kitchen.
The kitchen is open for everyone and he’s allowed to make anything from it, with the exception of not getting Julie’s marshmallows and grapes. Frank went to the shelf and helped himself with toasting some bread. While secretly being a sweet tooth, he took one marshmallow, set it on the table, and sat on one of the chairs, waiting for the bread to be toasted in four minutes.
He left his book and notebook in the living room, though he didn’t want to show himself to the other neighbors, so he was off daydreaming. He fills his thoughts and ideas with what to write in his diary, how much money to save for his future therapist, or the insect that flew on his book. He was too busy in his own little world to notice someone else coming to the kitchen.
“Julie said not to steal her marshmallows.” Said a familiar voice. Frank’s head spun around, trying to find the voice, until he found the person who was actually in front of him this whole time.
It was Wally.
Right after he recognized the shorter figure, the toaster went off, indicating that it’s done.
Frank got up from his seat. “Julie said marshmallows, there’s an s at the end of the word, which implies there’s a plural. I’m only getting one.” He claimed as he grabbed the toast off, and placed it on a plate.
Wally walked to the seat that Frank was sitting in. He sat on the chair that was next to theirs. “That’s still stealing.” He said.
Frank went to the fridge to get butter and put it next to the plate. He grabbed a knife and went to spread it. Afterwards, he went back to the table, sitting next to Wally.
“If you keep quiet about this, I’ll get you two fruits you like tomorrow at Howdy’s bodega.” He promised, while not looking at the shorter person.
Frank is the opposite of Wally. Wally likes eye contact and takes any opportunity to stare at someone. It tells them that they exist by at least one person. Unlike him, Frank doesn’t look at people. They would look down when talking to someone, but if the person is smaller than them, they would look up. But it’s also a way of them acknowledging people’s existence. And both work like a charm.
“I want an apple and a pineapple.” Wally said, not minding Frank not looking at him. It makes it less awkward to look at the taller person’s details he hadn’t seen. How their bow has the shape of a butterfly, a butterfly pin, and how the bow had the stripes of the non binary pride flag.
Frank raised his eyebrow. “What’s a pineapple- nevermind.” Seriously, what is that? A spiky apple? A sad apple? Anyways. “Do you accept my offer?”
Wally grinned. “Ha. Ha. Ha. I’ll never decline something that good.” And the gray puppet sighs in relief.
It was silent. What kind of silence was it? It wasn’t comfortable but it wasn’t too awkward. As both are quite comfy around each other though are quite the opposite of the spectrum. Figuratively and literally.
“It must’ve been nice.” Wally said, breaking the questionable silence.
Frank raised his brow. “That is?”
“Comfortably telling someone when you want to leave.” He said. Frank looked below at the man, and luckily he wasn’t looking at them back, because Wally was looking right down on the floor. As if he was ashamed of something.
“Are you good, Wally?” He asked. It was a weird thing to ask but who could blame him?
“I don’t know.” He replied, fidgeting his hands together.
“Explain why.”
“I… feel like hating everyone.” Admitted, the shorter man, as he grabs his legs up to wrap his arms around them. Frank made a noise.
Wally wouldn’t hate his neighbors. He wouldn’t and he doesn’t. Frank wouldn’t have to check twice to know that he truly hated his own friends.
“That’s not true, is it?” Frank asked. Wally leaned his body, for the head to lay down on Frank’s arm. It felt a bit heavy but it wasn’t too much for them to shove him away.
“No, I love everyone, including you. But it’s all so loud… and overwhelming… and I can’t say… say… express… say- express-” The shorter man stopped himself, making a whining sound, furrowing his head further to Frank’s arm. It was clear that he was struggling.
Frank gets it. He would constantly stutter back when he was younger. And people would repeat and mock the words he said. Though, as he grows older, he learnt how to talk more clearly. He still stutters but it was rare for people to take notice.
“Take it slow, Darling.” Frank reassures Wally, not showing a sign that they’re losing their patience. He was given the time to say what he’s thinking about.
Wally readjusts himself, getting himself out of the ever so comfy position from Frank’s arm. He slouches and turns his head to stare at Frank.
“I… can’t say… express how I’m really feeling. Everyone is having a good time but I’m not. I want to… I don’t know how. They’re all talking. Talking, but I’m not nor can’t. Any moment I could snap.” He confessed. Frank widened his eyes and looked back at Wally, which he realized that he was staring at him so sharp and direct, that they immediately directed their eyes on top of the ceiling.
“And I love you all too much to do such a thing.” He said. He lightly chuckles with a bit of shame, no longer looking at Frank, but at his hands while fidgeting on them again. “That’s why I’m here. In this kitchen.”
Frank’s not one to exactly connect to people. As most people they’d interacted with from his childhood, usually didn't understand them, so they made an effort to not understand theirs. Thus thinking they were this heartless person. To hear how harsh, honest, and alike Wally’s issues were, they understood right away. They were not alone.
“Wally, you’re not a bad person.” They reminded the yellow puppet.. Wally raised his head to look at him. It's weird to hear it so suddenly. But Frank felt like he needed to hear it because it was something they wanted to hear themself, but never heard anyone say to them. They continue. “You know that lashing out on them is a bad thing, and you know rather than to hurt them, you come here to cool yourself down.”
Wally sighs. “... I don’t get what’s wrong with me.” He commented, somewhat expecting that Frank knows why he’s acting like this.
“You’re dealing with overstimulation, when there’s too much extra stimuli so you think differently when being overwhelmed.” He explained. “I, too, feel overstimulated.” He said, hoping that his own problems can resonate with Wally’s.
“You too?” Of course, him too.
“Usually at parties or when I’m ignored. Or both.” He said, cringing at his own dialogue for how honest and selfish it is.
“Did you deal with it a while ago?” Wally asked as he’s connecting the pieces together. To the party that’s currently happening and what happened before they left.
“It happened a while ago. But I told Julie that I’m leaving for the kitchen.” They recalled.
“Was it easy telling her?” He asked, as if setting boundaries was this great concept that he discovered just now. It made Frank almost concerned.
“Yes. She’s my best friend and we tell each other our likes and dislikes. What makes us uncomfortable and all that best friend stuff.” And Frank thanks Julie for understanding his personal things, as he respects her own interests and boundaries.
Slowly, Wally went back to rest his head onto Frank’s arm.
“That must be nice.” He said.
“Yeah.” They replied.
The two went back to silence. What kind of silence? It was the kind where one can resonate with another. As one can understand each other after a conversation both wouldn’t expect to happen.
Though it became awkward once again as Frank realized that he hadn’t eaten his toast for a good while. So he grabbed the bread to eat it, cringing at the realization of how cold the bread and butter is now.