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Alex steers George in the direction of the table Daniel and Charles laid claim on the first day of testing. They’ve managed to eat at the same spot together everyday since as far as their schedules allow it. It’s been nice. Usually it’s Daniel and Alex, often Charles and then the odd other here and there.
Alex takes some pride in knowing several drivers try their best to get their schedules aligned with his and Daniel’s bc they make for the most fun lunch buddies but he doesn’t gloat. They’re obviously the best but they’re also humble about it. Somewhat.
Today George was the one who won out and was happy to join in with Alex, Daniel and Charles. Now normally Alex gives a small heads up to what they’re walking into because everyone knows Daniel and everyone knows Charles, but Daniel and Charles together… well it makes for an interesting combination to say the least.
They greet each other and Daniel grins letting them settle in before opening his mouth, here we go.
“Nice nuts you got there,” Daniel winks at George as he takes a bite of his avocado toast.
George coughs violently and Alex pats his back sympathetically, this isn’t his first rodeo.
“Sorry what?” He wheezes after some time and Daniel hurries to finish his bite.
“So the word Avocado right? It comes from this cool language Nahuatl, actually it wasn’t supposed to be called that because it actually means testicles in that language but the word for avocado and testicle got mixed up so here we are,”
“Ah must be why they’re shaped like that.” Charles adds on.
“Right? I thought it made sense like nature's testicles or something.” Daniel gestures towards George’s plate and Alex fights a smile seeing George visibly twitch and put down his toast..
“How- no actually why do you know this?” George stutters painfully and Alex hides his snort in his next bite.
“Oscar Isaac is Guatemalan,” Daniel shrugs like that makes any fucking sense and Alex glances at Charles who is looking at Daniel intensely and then nods gravely.
“Of course yes this makes sense.” He agrees and Alex chokes on a cucumber at the utter distraught noise that erupts from George next to him as the poor guy tries and fails to understand the logic. Alex knows better, he knows there is none unless you’re dumbass one and two respectively and he has settled into that quite nicely actually. One doesn’t experience a kile without learning something.
“Speaking of funny facts,” Charles continues and Alex sees George fight his instinct to correct him.
“Did you know, five is the only number that has the same amount of letters that it is worth?”
“What?” Alex blurts out before he can stop himself and everyone pauses their eating and looks at Charles who further elaborates.
“Like one has three letters right? But it’s only worth one,” he holds up one finger to illustrate and Alex has settled back into the bubble they’ve entered.
Daniel looks on intrigued and George is biting his lip, hard.
“But five is the only number which has the same letters as it’s valued.”
“That’s so cool!” Daniel exclaims and Charles flushes, it’s really cute actually. Alex can't help but think they’re perfect for each other.
“That’s- that’s not true though is it.” George carefully interrupts their moment and Charles frowns.
“Of course it’s true I read it in a book!”
“Okay well the book was wrong then.” George states matter of factly and Charles’ frown deepens. Daniel has taken to scooching closer with his chair and Alex sneaks his phone out to get a picture to send him later.
“Why would you say that?”
“Well there’s four letters in five.”
“No there isn’t.”
Daniel frowns next to a determined Charles and starts mouthing the letters while counting on his hand.
“Oh shit babe I think he’s right.” He pouts when on the third time it still doesn’t add up. Charles pouts dramatically and Alex bites his lip trying not to outright laugh at the pathetic puppy look while Daniel rubs his nose against his cheek to comfort him. Alex is quick to snap a picture. What? He's a good friend!
George lets out a relieved sigh and goes back to eating his lunch for a moment and then looks back up at Charles who looks a bit pathetic still but clearly enjoying Daniel’s hands rubbing his arms and back.
“Sorry mate I was just-“
“It’s okay it’s just math, two plus two and all that.”
“Right, uh, simple math.” George looks hesitant and Alex truly truly loves how his friend never knows when to leave well enough alone.
“You do know two plus two is four right,” Alex hiccups and George glares at him in his peripheral vision.
Charles looks incredibly insulted which makes it all the better and even Daniel looks taken aback by the question.
“Of course George, what do you think of me! I know plus and minus.”
“Right no of course, like seven minus three is four,” Charles blinks and then nods a bit too quickly. George takes notice and Alex prepares his phone. This is gonna be good.
“That’s basic math Charles,” Charles has that blank stare again and Alex tries to steady his camera.
“Yes I know this.”
“Right so if I say you have three apples and I take one, you have how many left?” Charles huffs and rolls his eyes.
“I know I know I have one.” He dismisses and Alex is so happy right now.
“No that’s not- if you have three and I take one how many do you have left?” George asks again using all his patience and Alex is gleefully recording at this point while Daniel just looks on happily while resting his chin on his hand as Charles works out the problem.
“I have one,” Charles answers confidently yet again and Alex knows he’s shaking sooo badly but he needs Lily to see this later, and others for that matter.
“No, I said I took one!”
“Yes and I have one!!”
“Where’d the other one go?”
“Well obviously I would give it to Daniel.”
Daniel coos and Charles preens while George’s eye has started that twitchy thing Alex only ever witnesses when he’s about to go into some sort of shock. What an amazing lunch this is turning out to be.
“Okay if you give one to Daniel and I have one then it makes sense.” He concedes and Charles nods.
“Yes, you have one and Daniel has one so we’re all good!”
“And you have one.”
“Hm? No I gave mine to Daniel didn’t you listen? George are you feeling okay?”
Charles and Daniel look at him with mirrored worried expressions and Alex finally drops his phone as he falls off his chair wheezing like an asthmatic desperate for his inhaler.
“This cannot be happening,” George whines and Alex flats out on the pavement.
“Best lunch ever,” he wheezes as George kicks his side petulantly.