“Project for Matthew’s class. Do you need something Anda?” Alfred asked as Anda smiled at them. 

“Nah I was just wondering if your pal was staying for dinner,” Anda said motioning towards Rigby. Rigby cowards back a little, she seemed nice enough but basically, everyone made him nervous. 

“Yeah, he’s staying for dinner. That is unless you have somewhere you need to be?” Alfred asked, truing around and locking eyes with him. Rigby tried to hide the pink in his cheeks when Alfred stared at him, it was so hard when he looked at him with those eyes. 

“Ummm… yeah I’ll stay. I don’t have anywhere to be.” Rigby said, answering him as Anda nodded her head. 

“Then it's a date, Mr. O’Connor!” Alfred said as Rigby felt his face turn deep red.

 “Oh…. ahhh... Are you sure… Uhm… I didn’t think…. Not that I wouldn't…. But I…” Rigby stuttered as he tried to figure out what to say. Oh god, what was he supposed to say? He couldn't say yes because then he’d seem too desperate and what if Alfred thought it was weird that he would agree to a date with him? But wasn’t it considered rude to deny the date? 

“Oh Al leave the poor boy alone,” Anda said as she chucked one of Alfred’s shoes at him. 

“Ouch!” Alfred groaned as he tried to stop laughing. 

“Oh, hush you deserved it.” Anda said as she left the room. 

“I'm sorry Rigby, also I'm sorry about Andra. She doesn't know how to announce her presence, and she has no respect for personal boundaries.” Alfred sighed as he returned to working on his part of the project. 

“I don’t know what it’s like to have siblings, it's just me and my dad,” Rigby said as he made a mental note not to call Andra, Anda. it was obvious now that was a nickname Alfred used for her and he didn’t wanna overstep any boundaries. 

“Trust me you don’t want siblings,” Alfred said as he rubbed his arm where his shoe had hit him. 

“Well, at least you always have a friend?” Rigby said as he stared at his notebook. If he had a sibling then maybe he’d have someone who would willingly spend time with him and want to learn things from him. 

“Yeah, but who needs a sibling when we have each other?” Alfred said as Rigby felt his heart flutter at his words. He might not have a sibling but at least he now had Alfred. They worked for a little longer until Andra came back into the room and got them for dinner. 

“Mum and dad will be back later, but they said to eat without them.” Andra said as they walked into the kitchen. 

“That's no big deal.” Alfred said as they sat down at the table. Rigby ate dinner in silence, he wanted to talk but for some reason, he just couldn’t around Andra. He wanted her too like him and he was so afraid to say the wrong thing. After they finished eating they went back to Alfred’s room. 

“Do you wanna work for a little longer, or pick up here on Wednesday?” Alfred asked as he cleaned up some of the stuff they didn’t need anymore. 

“Uhm let's just pick up where we left off on Wednesday. I should be heading home now anyway.” Rigby said as he gathered his things up. His father was going to be home soon and he wanted to get home before him. “Here give me your phone.” Alfred said as Rigby handed him his phone. 

“There now we can keep in contact.” Alfred said as Rigby blushed, he couldn’t believe he got his number. 

“Well I got something I need to do after school tomorrow so we can’t walk home together, however, we can have lunch together at least.” Alfred said as he pocketed his phone. 

“Alright, uhhh... See you tomorrow Alfred.” Rigby said as he grabbed his bag and Alfred led him to the door. 

“Text me when you get home, see you tomorrow Rigby.” Alfred said as Rigby walked down the porch steps. 

“Alfred, thanks again for sticking up for me today.” Rigby said as he stopped on the sidewalk.

 “Any time, Rigby. Now get home safe.” Alfred said smiling at him as he walked back into his house. Rigby’s heart was pounding as he began to walk down the street, He couldn’t have a crush on Alfred. Oh, what was the point in lying to himself? of course, he had a crush on him. Why was he doing this too himself? Alfred was the only friend he had, and now within a few hours, he already had a crush on him. He was probably overthinking things, he’d never had a friend or been in a relationship before so he had no idea what it was supposed to feel like. Rigby sighed as he walked down his street, it didn’t matter if he had a crush on Alfred or not. Alfred didn’t like guys, he liked girls, and in the rare chance, he did like guys there was no way he would ever pick him. Rigby released a relieved sigh as he walked through the door to his apartment he shared with his father. It was nothing huge or nice, but at least together they kept it clean. 

“Redford is that you?” Rigby’s father called from the kitchen, Rigby didn’t realize he had gotten home so early. 

“You know I hate it when you call me that,” Rigby mumbled as he walked into the kitchen. His father Korey O’Connor looked like the true Irishman he was and sounded like. On the other hand, Rigby was a mixture of his parents, however, he was lucky he hadn’t ended up with his father's mop of red hair. 

“I picked that name and your mother demanded it be your middle name. I picked it out so that's what I'm going to call you.” His father laughed as he poured himself a cup of coffee. 

“How was school today?” his father asked, giving him a concerned look, he knew his dad was worried about him. 

“It was alright. I uh…. I made a friend today.” Rigby said awkwardly as his father stared at him in shock for a moment then shock turned into joy. 

“That's amazing Rigby! What’s their name?” his father asked excitedly, Rigby knew he was happy he had made a friend that wasn't a book character or animal. Rigby awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, he was going to have to tell his father sooner or later. 

“Uhmm…. It’s Alfred Reynolds.” Rigby mumbled as his father spit his coffee across the table. 

“The Alfred Reynolds!? The boy you've had a crush on since second grade?” his father asked the smile on his face expanding with joy. Rigby glared at him as he felt his cheeks grow hot. 

“Dad stop it. I do not have a crush on him.” Rigby mumbled as he stared at the ground embarrassed by how his father reacted. 

“Mhmm sure…” his dad mumbled into his cup as he stared Rigby down. 

“Oh crap! I forgot to tell him that I got home ok!” Rigby gasped as he frantically pulled his phone out of his pocket and ran to his room. 

“Have fun!” his father shouted after him as he closed his bedroom door.