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Charles was rummiging through his closet. He couldn’t figure out what to wear to the party. Carlos was picking him up in 30 minutes and he is just begening to get ready. He definitly should have started earlier. He finnally found a cute shirt and jeans. Simple loose red t-shirt and simple baggy jeans. He quickly threw on some light makeup, light mascara to make his lashes thicker and some clear lipgloss. He wanted to look good, but nothing crazy, it was just a party.
Carlos: Here
Oh shit, already? Charles grabs his pair of red high-top converse and a pair of socks. He runs out to his friends car quickly, shoes in hand.
“Charlito, why aren’t your shoes on?” Carlos questioned his friend.
“I was rushing, these shoes take to long to put on!” He defends himself, great fashion comes with consequenses, in this case his time.
“It’s snowing! I would rather wait in you drive way a few extra minutes then you running out in the snow bare-foot!”
“And be late? Yeah right! Plus, it was only for— like— a second.” Charles brushes off Carlos’ compaints.
“You’re gona die one day,” Carlos turns back to the wheel, reversing out of the driveway.
“Dramatic much?” Charles replise sarcasticly putting his shoes on.
They both sit in silence for some time. Carlos focusing on the road, Charles admiering the view.
“Max will be there.” Carlos commented randomly.
“Well, duh. It’s at Daniel’s house. Why wouldn’t he be there?” Charles mocks his friend.
“Mmhm, sure. I thougth he was heading out to his mom’s for the holiday.” Charles knew what Carlos was getting at, and thruth is, he did ask Daniel. He didn’t want the other to know, Carlos would use it agasint him forever.
“Well, I didn’t. I haven’t even heard about him wanting to go home.” Charles defends.
“You’re the one who told me he was leaving. You complained about not being able to see him over the break.” Carlos deadpans.
Oh. Yeah.
“Well-”
“I know you asked Daniel. He told me right after you asked. He said it was your first question.” Carlos smirks teasingly.
“Okay, sut up!” Charles looks away flustered. He’s had a crush on Max for some months now, well probably years, but he just became aware. Him and Max were always close. Between karting, school, and sports, he was always with Max. They were close when they first started, but karting made them drift apart. The constent rivarly made them bitter. They got better throughout highschool, having lots of classes together and the same group of freinds helping lots. Now with Max starting F1 in March and Charles starting F2, they don’t see each other to much anymore. It’s what lead to Charles realizing his feelings for the other; he thought he was disapointed he was so far behind Max, when actually he was disapointed they would finally be apart. Also a bit that he was behind.
“Come on, amigo! You have to get it together. Just ask him out!” Carlos laughs. He knows his friend has been crushig on Max a while. He’s pretty sure he knew before Charles even regonized it. It was always so obvious growing up. They were always inseperable, if Charles was there, Max was most likely there to. Even when they grew apart, they were never really apart. They were just as obssed with eachother, just more negatively. Charles would never shut up about Max; how fast his lap times were, how mean he was in the race, how good he was. Charles would never shut up. Once they finally started hanging out again, it became increaslingly obvious they were attracted to each other. As they grew closer, it became painfull for their friends to watch, it was so obvious to everyone but them.
“No! He wouldn’t want to anywyas. I don’t want ot ruin what we have for some silly crush. I’ll get over it.” Charles sighs, trying to brush past this conversation. One they seem to be having a lot recently.
“Dude, you have to be joking. Get over yourself.” Carlos rolls his eyes. “He’s madly in love with you, mate.” Charles’ face burns red.
“Shut up!” Charles covers his face with his hands. He’s flustered.
Carlos giggles, “come on, Charlito. Daniel also happened to tell me that Max asked if you would be there as well.” He smirks, wiggling is eyebrows towards his friend.
“That doesn’t mean anything!” Charles defends. “He was probably asking about a lot of people, geting to know who would be there.”
“Nope. Only you. Daniel and I laughed about how hopeless you guys are.” Carlos laughs.
“Whatever,” Charles rolls his eyes. He continues to look out the window, refusing engage in anymore conversation before the party. Carlos was just going to tease him anywyas.
---
Carlos pulls into the driveway behind sevral other cars. They both hop out and walk to the front door. Before they get the chance to knock, the door swings open. “Come on, mates! It’s just starting to get fun.” Daniel laughs.
“Hey Dan, thanks for inviting us!” Charles says, Carlos shaking Daniel’s hand. With a pat on the back, Carlos is already off with Lando.
“Nah, man, you’re always welcomed! Besides, it wouldn’t be a party without Lestapen drama.” Daniel slings his arm over Charles’ shoulders.
“Lestappen?” He twists his head.
Daniel doesn’t answer. He drags Charles ot the kitchen, pouring a conserning amount of vodka into a solo cup. Charles watches as he mixes in some juice, sour puss and some other mistery liquid. He just knows that taste like shit.
“You must be crazy drunk already if you plan on drinking that.” Charles cringes.
Daniel laughs, “it’s not for me. Are you crazy? It’s for you.” He smiles, handing him the drink.
Charles’ face drops. “What?”
“Fast pass to drunkness. Mixed in a crazy amount of alcohol and just enough juice ot make it taste gross. You’re welcome.”
Charles stares at Daniel like he’s crazy, which he is of course. “Absolutly not.”
“Come on, mate. It’s a party, try it.” Daniel wiggles his eye brows, challenging his friend.
Charles rolls his eyes, but ever the risk taker, he grabs the drink and takes a big swig. It’s the most disgusting thing ever. It burns down his throat, almost coming right back up. He gags, trying to keep it down. He closes his eyes, questioning why he took such a big drink.
“Hey, mate. Don’t puke to soon, wouldn’t want to ruin your night this early.” Daniel laughs, sorta feeling bad.
Charles glares at him. “Well, it’s your turn now mate.”
“It’s only fair.” He grabs the drink. “To be fair, I didn’t actually think you’d drink it.” He laughs bring the cup to his mouth. Learning from his freind’s mistake, he only takes a sip. He gags almost imediately. “ Oh shit, this stuff is disgusting. How did you drink so much.” He sticks his toung out in disgust. “Lets get ride of this shit.” He says.
He passes the half filled cup of death to someone next to him. He doesn’t regonize them, must have been a plus one, but they seem drunk enough not to notice how gross it is. Of coure, he was right as the stranger downed the rest of the mix in one go. Daniel shrugs, laughs at the guy with Charles, and then they are off. They go to the couches in the living room, sitting down.
Charles spots Max dancing with one of his friends.
“They look cute together don’t they?” Daniel teases Charles, knowing thats the first persone he spotted.
“Yeah, i guess they do.” He agrees half-heartdly. Max and that girl do look good together. Guess Carlos was wrong.
Daniel rolls his eyes at Charles’ sad sigh. “Oh my fucking god, you’re so insecure.” Daniel hit Charles lightly on the head. “He’s gay! It was a joke!”
Charles’ mouth opens in suprise, “Max is gay!” He suddenly feel hopefull.
Daniel just stares at Charles. How idiotic were these two. They spend every waking moment with each other, or at least talking about eachother, and they still don’t relize how in love they are. God, idiots. “Mate, you have to be joking right now.”
“No, he is— I mean, since when— he?” Charles studders, now a bit flustered. He feels kinda stupid for not knowing, was it obvious?
Daniel laughs at Charles. “Carlos was right, you are as dumb as Max.” He chuckels at Charles’ offended hey! “Yes, he’s been out for a while. I think he first told me when we were in middle school, but came out in grade 10.”
Charles looks back at Max. Maybe he had a chance now. “Does he like anyone?”
Daniel rolls hos eyes. This might be harder then he thought. “Let’s go ask!” He drags a prostesting Charles off the couch.
“Wait, mate, Daniel, no! It’s fine, we don’t need to… ask?” Daniel drags him away from Max. Where is he going?
“Wait here.” Charles is confused at the order but follows it anyways. He’s standing in the door frame leading to the hallway with Daniel’s bedroom. He has no idea why daniel wants him here.
Daniel returns a minutes later, this time with Max in tow.
“Mate, what do you want?” Max asks Daniel. He seems just as confused as he’s thrown into Charles.
“Good luck!” And he’s off leaving the two boys alone.
They both stand in awkward silence, to close to be consiodered normal for friends.
“So, how’s your party going?” Charles smiles, unsure what to say. He has never had a problem starting a conversation with Max. Guess there is a first time for everything.
“It’s going pretty good. How about you?” Max smiles back.
“Just fine. Haven’t been here long…” He trails off. What else is he supposed ot say?
Max looks around a bit, “Do you know why Daniel brough us here?”
“So Daniel didn’t explane it to you either?” Charles’ mouth twitches with amusment, their friend is always up to something ridiculous.
“Not really, just said you had a question.”
Charles’ face heats up. Was this what Daniel ment by asking him, because there is no way he will be asking Max if he likes someone. He’d rather stay delusional. “What? No!” He lies.
“You’re a bad liar, your face is beat red.” Max laughs. Of course he could tell when Charles was lying, he’d known him since pre-school.
Charles awkwardly giggles, trying to brush past the topic. The silence returns as they both look around, trying to find something of intrest. That’s when Max noticed it, all he could do was laugh. Of course.
“What’s so funny?”
Max just shakes his head. “I think I know why we are here.” He smiles looking up. Charles follows his line of sight and relizes they are under the mistletoe. Oh.
He looks back at Max just to find Max already looking at him. He’s now starting to notice how close they’ve been this whole time, why where they so close? He looks deep into Max’s ocean eyes, “what now?”
Max smiles at how nervous Charles is, it’s his chance. Charles hasn’t left yet, maybe this is when they finally finsih this game they’ve been playing for years. Maybe, it’s finally the end of the book, where the prince gets the princess (obvy the princess is Charles). “Well, I think there’s only one thing left to do.” He leans in slowly, hoping Charles will agree.
Charles’ face is flushed red, he’s the colour of a Ferrari. “I— well— I mean—”
“Sut up and let me kiss you already.” Charles just nods staring at Max.
Finally, finally, their lips connect. The world around them disapears and it’s finally just the two of them. Max presses Chalres against the door frame, holding onto his waist. He deepens the kiss, he’s waited to long to let this end.
Charles get lost in the kiss right away. He wrap his arms around Max’s neck, pulling him closer. It’s perfect.
---
“Fucking finally!” Daniel smiles at Carlos.
“Right, holy shit that was hard to watch.” Carlos laughs, Daniel to.
They high five, mission acomplished.