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The king of New York, that’s what Teddy Dimas aspired to be. The king. The best. Feared and love meant the same to him. He knew he could be so much more than his families business. He wanted to be more than the little fat kid he once was. Bullied, teased, sneered and laughed at. He was better than all those that mocked him.
After a couple years after university though his life didn’t seem to be heading in any direction at all. That was, until, he met a catty little man by the name of Oliver Putnam. A strange, but interestingly theatrical man who seemed larger than life.
Together they’d often get together at Olivers apartment and talk about possible investments, whats on cable and genuine chit chat over wine. Which was strange for Teddy, because he fucking hated people. But this man, this Oliver, had been so insistent that he had burrowed his way into the softest part of Teddys heart.
“The king of dips!” Oliver exclaimed, gently swirling his wine around. “That’s what you are,” he gently put his glass on the table in front of him.
‘Oh please spare me.’ Teddy thought.
“Well,” Oliver huffed. “Whats got you so moody Queen dip-as”
”I beg, Oliver, enough with the nicknames.” Teddy groaned into his glass before taking a long drink.
“Fine, fine. But anyways, you’ve barely spoken the whole time you’ve been here. This was meant to be a sleepover!”
“Sleepover?” Teddy slowly turned to Oliver, who was sat next to him on the sofa. “What are we, nine?”
”no! But- still. Whats wrong?” Oliver leaned over to Teddy, putting a sympathetic hand on his friends shoulder.
Teddy almost flinched. His brows furrowed, and his eyes could almost have shot daggers if it was possible.
“nothing.” Teddy waved a hand dismissively, which knocked Olivers hand back. “It’s just. I feel like life is a bit stagnant right now. I’ve got money, that’s not the issue. I have a place to live that’s beautiful and I have Dimas dips. But still, someone huge is missing. I feel it. In my heart- like, something is calling to me in a language I don’t know.”
”wow.” Oliver took a small breath. “More wine, then?”
“oh please.”
Oliver poured some more wine into his friends glass.
The hum of the Tv lit both of their faces. The dark, yet sparkly, light of the New York street loomed from the windows. A low static was playing from a vhs that had finished hours ago but neither men had taken out.
“You know, I do have an idea of my own that might help” Oliver sat up excitedly.
Teddy raised an eyebrow, taking another drink of his wine.
”I- I- look- picture this!” Oliver quickly placed his wine glass down and stood up, “a theatre show- a BROADWAY exclusive, you invest in it and I produce it, we’d make a fortune” he excitedly gestured his hands about,
”Oliver, my friend, I’m just a guy with some Delis-“
”a guy with some Delis sitting on an ENORMOUS family fortune! You can’t just save it forever, do something! Maybe that’s what you need, some spontaneity? It’d be great for the both of us, plus you do love the theatreeee”
Teddy smiled softly. He gestured for his friend to sit back down.
”so? Say something” Oliver shifted in his seat like an over excited and undermedicated school kid with an attention deficit disorder.
”you such a nice pizazz when you can’t stop talking, Oliver.”
”o-oh?”
”I suppose that’s what sold me.”
”sold you?”
”on this idea of yours. I say yes.”
”oh fantastic Teddy! Thank you!” Oliver threw his arms arounds Teddy and hugged him so tight he almost stopped breathing.
Teddy was taken aback. “You’re.. welcome.” He very slowly and almost resistantly put his hands on Olivers back, accepting the hug. “…” “you can let go now, Oliver.”
Oliver let go and leant back. “Sorry, sorry, sorry. This is just so.. brilliant!”
“Uh huh.” Teddy turned and finished off his wine. He checked his watch. Damn it. He had a shipment coming in soon, he had to leave.
“Look Oliver I have to go now, thank you for the wine even if I was the one who paid for it.” He looked back at his friend and flinched. Oliver was way closer to him than he was before, he could almost see the pores on his face. “I- I’ll page you tomorrow for more information about this whole ideas of yours.” God his goofy smile, it’s so damn cute.
“Alrighty then!” Oliver beamed, “I’ll look forwards to it.”
“Oh and-“ Teddy turned away, reaching for something. “I brought a gift.”
“Teddy!” Oliver grabbed the bag Teddy was holding, opening up to see an array of dips, “you shouldn’t have-“
”no, no. Its my thanks to you.” Teddy placed his hand on the side of Olivers face, “you’ve taught me so much, I’m sure our friendship is going to take us to the stars”
Oliver opened his mouth to say something but the words wouldn’t form. He simply smiled and leant in to Teddys hand.
”I’ll see you later, okay?” Teddy took his hand back and placed it in his pocket as he stood up.
”yeah, yeah, for sure!” Oliver grinned before grabbing the dips from his bag.
”and keep the wine, it looks much better in your apartment anyways.”
Teddy turned away to leave.
”love you” Oliver called out.
”mhm.” Teddy grumbled. He hated how flexible Oliver used that word. Love. Made him feel like he was talking to a preschooler.
he left, glancing back at his friend once more.
love you too.