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George saw Alex as he was on the escalator, luggage standing beside him, descending down towards him. George pushed off of the wall to go and greet him, arms out enthusiastically. It had been just over a month since he had been able to see his best friend.
George had been stuck in London doing a degree in finance. He quite enjoyed it actually, it was a lot of work but his university was a good school. He was at the top of his class and doing incredibly well. His teachers loved him, almost found it annoying how well he was doing. He could graduate a year early if he could and would still be able to find a job easily.
Alex had been doing a degree in graphic design. He had graduated technically, but was doing a scholarship for some brand working with Formula 1, doing graphics for them. He had to travel over to New York, where he was learning more and more. It had been an intense lot of learning, Alex had told him whenever they called.
It had been hard to call each other over the last few weeks, constantly doing things and being busy. The time difference was not helpful either. There was a whole five hours in difference between New York and London. George was heading off to bed when Alex was finally arriving back home.
But he had finally finished his scholarship in New York, now continuing in London for the next three months. George was glad to finally have him back. They both had a few weeks break for holidays, which they were going to spend with each other and their families before they were back on a hard grind of schooling.
"Georgie!" Alex nearly screeched as he came dashing over to him.
Alex gave him a quick side hug, his other hand remaining on the handle of the suitcase. He was beaming, his face completely shifting when he saw his friend.
George had been so impatient to have Alex back. Counting down the days until he could catch Alex up on all of the shit his roommates were getting up to. Alex had met some people over in New York that had been a handful to say the least. Only one of them had gotten arrested.
"How was your flight, Albono?" George took one of Alex's backs he had, slugging it over his shoulder. They walked over to George's car that was parked right in the arrivals area.
"It was long. Gonna take some time to get used to the time difference again. It was really early over in New York and now most are having dinner already." Alex chuckled.
"Yeah, well we can go out and eat somewhere and walk around the city if you want." George offered.
Alex nodded and they loaded up the car. Alex walked over to the drivers side, then stopping and turning back to go to the other side. George just shook his head, laughing. Alex slipped into the passenger seat beside him, cheeks slightly red at the embarrassment.
"Shit, I'm used to the passenger side being on the other side. They have it backwards over there."
They drove off, the radio quietly playing in the background. Some calming indie song that George had queued up. Alex browsed through the music library, judging some of his choices before clicking on an upbeat pop song. That was more Alex's style. He was bright and bubbly with his music. George often liked more folk or jazzy songs. Different but still meshed. He quickly recognized it as some Chappell Roan, who Alex loved.
Alex sang and danced in his seat, George lugging as he did so. He couldn't help but look at him, bright and smiling. They fell back into their old rhythm of Alex being the outgoing one, even though he was often a more reserved person. But when it was the two of them, he was the fun one. George was still fun, but more reserved. He was more parental and cautious then Alex was.
They arrived at some Italian place that had been their favorite since high school. They had gone there at least once a month, if they had saved up enough. The owner's were some nice old couple that loved them more then anything, often giving them a hefty discount of their food, no matter how much they insisted on paying them.
They had had everything on the menu, every appetizer, drink, main course, dessert. You name it, and they have had it. The owner's often asked their opinion on the food and asked them what they should change on the menu. It was a special privilege they got there. It was like a second home for the two of them.
George had gone there a few times , studying while eating some of the greatest pizza, pasta, lasagna or other dishes that they had made him. They let him stay as long as he needed to until he was done his studying. They had asked him where Alex was, missing him. George had told them that he would be there by Wednesday.
He knew that they would have practically a welcoming party ready for Alex, probably a free meal and dessert. They had really missed him and loved whenever the two of them were around.
When the bells chimed as they walked into the building with the warm aroma, Mr and Mrs Russo popped their heads up, smiles setting into their faces. They rushed over, stretching out their arms to them both.
"Alex, George!" She hugged the both of them and kissed their cheeks. " Oh, how was New York Alex?"
"It was quite well," Alex said. "Incredibly busy their, a lot of work, but it was good."
"We missed you," Mr. Russo said. "We have your table in the back ready for you."
George and Alex looked at each other before following Mrs. Russo over to the table that they always sat at. The one by the window with the twinkling fairy lights over them.
It was so good to have Alex back, George thought.
They finished their meals, handing off some money to Mr and Mrs. Russo. But of course they shoved it back and shook their heads.
"Don't be ridiculous boys," Mrs. Russo huffed. "You do more then enough to support us!"
"Have a nice night, we will be back soon!" George and Alex said, the bells chiming above of them once again. They waved and then they were back out into the dark again.
Night had fallen already, though it was not that late really. Just past nine. The sun had been setting a lot earlier now that it was winter time. By the time it was five, it was completely dark outside.
"Wanna just walk around for a bit before we go back?" George suggests. Alex nods.
They start heading down some road, streets lamps lighting their way. They talked about the absurd things they heard people were doing. George ranted about how one of his roommates having sex with his girlfriend on his bed. Alex just made a disgusted face, speechless. Alex tells him about the time one of his roommates threw a party in their room without telling him and he had to sleep at one of his friends rooms for the night. And his roommates didn't even have the audacity to clean up the room before leaving for the morning.
Both of them gossiped and laughed, exchanging stories like they did all the time. This was George's favorite time with Alex. They could talk about everything for hours and hours, listening to each other. It was when time slowed and there was no one but them. It was a trance they went into and didn't even realize it had been so long. They had done that with a few of their face time calls, keeping George up until three in the morning with a lecture at seven the next morning.
It had been during those nights where George realized something about himself. Well only partially. He knew one half of it. He knew he was gay. He had known that since he was about thirteen. He had never liked any of the girls at his school, he was friends with a lot of them but he never liked any of them like that. They were friends.
But he realized it had been Alex he liked. He could never be with Alex. He was straight. He was his best friend. There were too many stakes to this. They had known each other since they were eight years old and had been attached at the hip ever since. There was no way they could date.
He stared at Alex in the moonlight, his soft features being sculpted by the light and the shadows casting down. He was divine. He truly looked like an angel.
George wished he could kiss along his cheekbones and brush his fingers through his hair. He wished he could hold him by his waist and bring his full lips to George thinner ones.
But that was impossible.
Then the rain came hard. It poured out of nowhere. It had not called for rain at all. The both of them screaked like little kids, running to find shelter. The inly thing that they had around them was one of those dirty red telephone booths. And they were small.
They laughed, shoving the both of them in there together. They were heaving and laughing. George and Alex turned to each other, face to face. Then the laughing slowed and stopped. They realized how close the both of them were to each other. Their bodies were pressed together, practically on top of each other.
George could not stop the blush the insisted on rising to his cheeks. He could feel his breath catch and his heartbeat in his ear. They were so close. His gaze fell to Alex's lips for a split second. But a split second too long. Alex saw it.
And fuck him, he mimicked the movement.
He stared at George's lips.
The both of them were breathing heavily, debating what to do. They knew what the both of them were thinking.
"Fuck it," Alex whispered.
And then they were kissing. Alex's hand brought George's face closer and they were kissing. There was no ease to it, it was hungry and rushed like it was made up of time they wished they had been able to do it. George kissed him back, eyes wide. But he eased into it.
They pulled their lips apart slightly, both smiling and laughing.
"I've wanted to do that ever since I left for New York. Probably even before that. Fucking hell." Alex just sighed.
George didn't say anything. He just kissed him back. This time a more practiced, slower kiss. Deeper. More full of emotion and love.
They stood their, pressed together in quite a dirty telephone booth, kissing. It was like it was something out of a rom-com. It didn't seem real to George. It was a mere fantasy. But there they were, making out in the pouring rain.
It was euphoric.