“You want to throw a housewarming party?” Moon questioned his friend incredulously, staring at him as if he'd just grown a second head as he set down the box of dishware he'd been carrying forever and wiped an unfortunate sleeve against his sweaty forehead.
He and his best friend, Nate, were both fucking broke, like, broke as hell, broke but this was nothing unexpected for kids their age. They were two unemployed teenagers trying to make their way through college on runner’s scholarships alone and student loans sure as hell weren't cheap. After Moon’s parents had finally given him the boot, moving in together and splitting the rent had simply been the most economically sound solution for both of them and it was nothing uncomfortable since they stayed the night with each other most of the time anyway. Just two bros who were way behind on their mortgage finding a cheaper way to live. But a house warming party…
“Sure, people give you free stuff at those, right?” Nate explained excitedly, popping the cap off a water bottle and bringing the container to his lips, downing half the liquid inside before wiping his mouth on his sleeve and handing the drink to Moon.
“I don't know…,” The Korean boy replied hesitantly, taking the bottle from his friend and making quick work of the rest of the water before tossing the empty bottle aside to be worried about later. “It might seem a little gay.” He finally admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly as Nate leaned back on his heels and began humming softly in thought as he mulled over his friend's concern. Suddenly the brunette snapped his fingers, grinning like an idiot as Moon waited patiently to hear his solution, silently hoping his friend had actually figured out a way to win them free gifts without looking like a couple of queers.
“What if…,” Nate began, spreading out his hands and pausing mid-sentence for dramatic effect. “We say no homo.” He finally concluded, giving Moon a questioning look, one eyebrow quirked and a smug smile pulling at his lips, as if he'd just said the most ingenious statement ever uttered by man. Moon stared at him blankly for a moment, running the suggestion over in his own mind, checking it for flaws and finding none, before slowly beginning to nod his head along to the idea.
“That could work.” The Asian boy finally declared, sounding genuinely impressed with his friend’s intelligence as Nate let out a victorious whoop and pumped his fist into the air before falling into an off-key jingle of “We're gonna get free stuff! We're gonna get free stuff!”
That was how the Asian found himself in his current predicament, groaning in pure agony as Will asked the same question he’d been forced to endure time and time again all fucking day.
“So, you and Nate finally decided to unlock the bloody closet door?” The Brit inquired cheerily, holding out a large, poorly wrapped parcel for the irritated boy to take and wearing a smirk that made Moon want to punch him in the face. The bright blue paper was coming untaped from a smushed cardboard box underneath and a bright pink makeshift bow was sliding steadily sideways off the top.
“No!” Moon snapped a little too quickly, snatching the present away from the kid, ripping the already tarnished paper slightly in the process as, from somewhere across the room, a simultaneous protest was practically screamed by Nate. The teen released Will from his pointed stare, tearing his dark eyes away from the blond to where his housemate was currently glaring daggers into his sister, Colette. However, the pale girl was too busy leaning on some chick with short cropped, brown hair that Moon didn't recognize to keep from collapsing into a heap as laughter stole her breath away to even notice.
The brunette dropped his head into his hands in defeat, running his fingers exasperatedly through short, untamed hair before letting out a dreadful groan loud enough for Moon to hear across the small room. The Asian boy quickly took it as an excuse to free himself from the awkward conversation Will had him locked in and made his escape, nodding over at a miserable looking Nate as an explanation and practically darting away as the blond waved him off with a knowing smirk and a small, victorious laugh.
Nate's head snapped up as his friend approached, not even bothering to acknowledge his sister or her friend, who were now both drowning in a hysteria of snorts and giggles, as he stormed away from the pair and retreated to Moon's side.
“Who's the new chick?” The dark haired boy questioned the smaller teen as he led him over to the gift table to drop off Will’s peace offering as well as the items Nate had accumulated.
“I think her name's Melonie?” The slightly younger of the two answered uncertainty, tapping his finger against his chin as he struggled to remember. “I had a thing with her back in like, middle school or something.”
“Then what's she doing here now?” Moon demanded, the heated words springing from his lips before he had a chance to restrain them and he quickly snapped his mouth shut before anything else stupid could pour out. He didn't know what or why, but something Nate had said sat wrong with him, stirring something inside his chest and sending a quick, fiery burst of anger coursing through his blood.
“I don't know. Ask Colette.” Nate replied, looking sideways at his friend expectantly, one, questioning eyebrow quirked but received no explanation. “She brought a real, name brand Kurrik and two boxes of K-cups to get us started, so what's it matter?” The boy questioned, laying the item in question and its companion boxes of coffee on the gift table as he spoke and Moon simply nodded, turning to get back to the party before pausing as something caught his eye.
“These are all dark roast.” The Asian boy pointed out matter of factly as he reached for one of the boxes and showed the truth of his statement to a crestfallen looking Nate. “You hate bitter things.”
“Well, shows you how well that relationship went.” Nate muttered unhappily, plucking the worthless coffee from his friend's hands and tossing it behind himself in irritation. “Bitch doesn't even know what kinda coffee I like.” He grumbled dejectedly before begrudgingly immersing himself in the process of entertaining guests and for some reason… That made Moon feel better.
When the party had finally come to a close, Moon eagerly ushering the last few stragglers out his front door before slamming it closed behind them, all the Asian boy wanted to do was sleep. Exhaustion weighed down his limbs and clouded his mind as he leaned against the door to keep from collapsing right then and there, never having felt as drained as he did after dealing with his dumbass friends questioning his sexuality All. Fucking. Day. There was only one problem - Since Nate and him had just moved in, they had failed to procure beds just yet and he was not about to sleep on the dusty, freezing wooden floor. He had just began to mull over this dilemma when, as if summoned by his thoughts, Nate’s voice suddenly sounded from where he’d been hiding out in the kitchen until Moon herded their friends away.
“Do you have any idea how much mattresses cost?” The boy practically screeched as he stumbled into the room at top speed and nearly plowed down Moon as he skidded to a haphazard stop. However, the brunette made the mistake of wearing socks and socks alone and his body kept sliding forward until he hit that of his friend, who was barely able to catch them both as he was hit by the careening mass of boy that was his bestie.
“Probably at lot less than the hospital bill for a broken leg.” Moon groaned irritably as he steadied the pair but Nate remained undeterred and waved what appeared to be a furniture magazine over his head before slamming it angrily onto the table in front of them, jabbing his finger incessantly at a number that looked much longer than Moon thought it should.
“Holy sweet mother of fuck.” The dark haired boy breathed, running his hands against his eyes in disbelief as he stared at far too many digits for either of them to afford.
“What are we gonna dooo?” Nate wailed miserably, flopping dramatically onto the cheap wooden coffee table and remaining blissfully ignorant to the cursed magazine he was ruining in the process. Moon pressed his fingers firmly against the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut in concentration as he pondered the problem. If they pooled their money, they could maybe afford one, twin sized mattress if they really tried but there was no way in earth, heaven, or hell they could afford two.
The Asian boy couldn't suppress a groan as realization settled upon him and he was forced to face the only option they really had, unless they wanted to spend the rest of their lives on a dusty floor in some cheap sleeping bags, that was. He risked a peek over at Nate, finding he had pulled himself up into a sitting position and was now cross legged atop the table, which creaked and groaned dangerously under his weight.
“You're going to fall through that and I'm not going to help you.” Moon asserted, trying to change conversation and prolong the inevitable but Nate wasn't having it and continued on as if he other boy hadn't spoken.
“As long as we stay on opposite sides of the bed it should be alright.” The brunette assured his friend optimistically, as if reading the Asian boy’s mind. “We've done it before.” He reminded his companion, conveniently leaving out the part that it had never been for more than a night at a time and that they'd always used the king sized mattress Moon’s parents refused to let him take.
“It’ll be fine as long as we say no homo.” Moon claimed, unsure if he was informing Nate or himself of this fact as he moved to grab his car keys and headed for the door, his friend on his heels.
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