(BL) Friendship On Fire

Sophia felt her eye twitch for what had to be the tenth time tonight. She had planned this outing so perfectly, a cute movie, cozy atmosphere, the chance to finally confess her feelings and yet, Aiden, the dumbest fool in existence, had managed to derail it at every possible turn.

"Ugh, I hate these seats," Aiden groaned, moving uncomfortably for the fifth time. "Why are they so stiff? My back is gonna break at this rate," He dramatically stretched, twisting his torso. "I swear, who designed this place? A serial killer? We should have picked another place."

Sophia took a deep breath. Stay calm... "You could've picked another seat, Aiden…if you are uncomfortable."

"But what if those seats were worse?" He gasped as if she had suggested something horrifying. "I mean, what if I picked a squeaky chair? Or one with gum on it? Or—"

"Oh my God, just sit still," one of Sophia's friends groaned behind them. Aiden was really getting on their last nerve. 

Aiden huffed, glancing back at him annoyingly. "I would if this movie wasn't so bad."

Sophia pursed her lips and giggled while rubbing his arm to calm him down. "You picked it, Aiden." 

"Yeah, well, I didn't know it would be this cliché," Aiden defended himself. "Like, come on, look at that guy. He just met her and he's already madly in love? Please. That's not realistic at all." He scoffed and stuffed popcorn in his mouth. "Hunter would rip this movie apart if he were here."

Sophia bit her tongue. There it was again. Hunter, Hunter, Hunter.

Aiden kept going. "And why is the soundtrack so dramatic? Like, we get it, it's a romance. You don't need a whole orchestra every time they make eye contact." He rolled his eyes. "Hunter would have said that it is the lazy storytelling. You should feel emotions through dialogue and—"

"Aiden," Sophia's friend cut in, so done with him. "Do you ever shut up? My God! You talk so damn much."

Aiden turned to her with an offended look. "Excuse me? I am just pointing out facts."

Her other friend groaned. "Dude, you've been complaining non-stop. The seats, the movie, the popcorn, the lighting, the temperature—"

Aiden gasped. "Wait, wait, wait. The lighting? Did I say something about the lighting?"

"Yes."

"Damn, I don't even remember that one haha!" 

"You-" 

"Pepper, it's alright. Please don't argue," Sophia sighed and tried to calm them all down before Aiden started a full-blown argument. She was used to his diva energy, but her friends? Not so much. "I'm hungry," she announced quickly. "Let's go eat."

Aiden perked up instantly. "Food? Yes, finally! I was starving! Do you know how much energy it takes to sit through that disaster of a movie? I deserve a feast."

Sophia smiled at him, relieved he was at least agreeing with her on something.

Her friend muttered under her breath, "I do not understand how anyone puts up with him."

Aiden, being blissfully unaware, marched ahead toward the exit, already excited for food. 

When they arrived, Sophia was somewhat convinced that maybe this could still be a nice evening. Maybe Aiden would finally stop talking about Hunter and she could finally have a normal moment with him.

Spoiler alert: she was wrong.

"Urgh! this chair is also weird," Aiden complained as soon as they sat down. "What kind of cheap place is this? Everything is so bad here." 

Sophia closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Patience.

"And this menu, why is this so fancy?" he complained, squinting at it. "Why do they use cursive? This isn't a wedding invitation. Just write 'burger' like a normal person."

Sophia plastered on a tight smile. "It's supposed to be elegant, I guess."

"Elegant is annoying." Aiden flipped the menu upside down as if that would help.

Her friends stared at him like he was an alien. "Does he…not know how to treat a girl?"

The answer became painfully clear when the waiter arrived.

"Good evening," the waiter greeted. "Can I take your order?"

Aiden didn't even look at Sophia first. "Yes, hi, I'll have the biggest burger you have, extra fries, and a milkshake. Oh! And an extra side of nuggets. I'm starving."

The waiter turned to Sophia. "And for you, miss?"

Aiden looked at her expectantly, chewing on a straw. Sophia blinked at him. "Aiden."

"Hm?"

"You're…not gonna let me order first?"

Aiden gave her a confused look. "Huh? Oh. Right. Um." He scratched his head. "Go ahead, I guess?"

Her friends sighed loudly. Sophia shook her head and ordered her meal. The moment the waiter walked away, she decided to test Aiden.

"Aiden," she said sweetly, "could you pour me some water?"

Aiden looked at the glass in front of her. Then at the jug. Then at her again.

"You have hands," he said blankly.

Sophia's soul left her body and her friends gasped in horror.

Aiden, meanwhile, just started unwrapping his straw, completely oblivious to the tension. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"

Sophia was this close to losing it. "Aiden…do you know how dates work?"

"Yeah, duh. You eat. Talk. Eat some more." He took a sip of his drink. "Maybe kiss if you're into that sort of thing."

Her friends exchanged looks. This man is hopeless. One of them leaned over. "Dude. Have you ever been on a proper date?"

Aiden huffed confidently. "Of course! I go out with Hunter all the time. Movies, cafés, road trips—"

Her friends groaned. "No, with friends. Like a real romantic date." 

"Oh that. No, I haven't done that yet." 

Sophia was exhausted now. She had spent the entire evening throwing hints the size of a truck at Aiden, but he had dodged them like a professional escape artist. Every time she tried to lead the conversation into something romantic, he somehow boomeranged it back to Hunter.

When their food arrived, she watched as Aiden inhaled his food like a vacuum. But he still groaned, leaning back after swallowing the last bite of his sandwich. "That was so disappointing."

Sophia looked up at him. "What?"

"I'm still hungry." Aiden scowled at the empty plate like it had personally offended him. "Like, why do cafés serve tiny food? This sandwich was basically a sample."

One of Sophia's friends rolled her eyes. "It's not tiny. You ate it in three bites."

"Exactly!" Aiden waved his hands dramatically. "A real meal should take at least ten bites! Fifteen, if you're lucky! This? This wasn't enough at all."

Sophia awkwardly looked between her friends who shrugged. "Aiden, it was a full sandwich."

"A child's sandwich," he shot back. "I could've eaten two. Hunter always orders extra for me because he knows I need a proper meal."

Her friends exchanged looks. There he goes again…

Sophia exhaled slowly. "Then why didn't you order more?"

Aiden snorted like she had asked him to solve a calculus problem. "Because I thought this would be enough! But now I know it wasn't, and I already finished it, so I can't undo my mistake, and now I have to live with it.!"

Pepper was furious. "I want to go home."

Aiden, meanwhile, continued his rant. "Like, what am I supposed to do now? Starve? Shrivel up? Die? Is this how my story ends?" He dramatically placed a hand on his forehead, leaning back in his chair like he was about to faint. 

Sophia took a deep, deep breath. "We are literally sitting in a café. You can order something else."

Aiden scoffed. "Oh, sure. What if I order another sandwich and it's still not enough? What if I order something else and don't like it? What if the portion is even smaller? What if—"

Sophia's friend snapped. "Oh my god, just order something, dude!! Why the hell are you so fucking dramatic!" 

Aiden gasped in fear. "Rude! I'm processing my pain!"

Pepper was this close to shoving a croissant in his mouth just to shut him up.

Then, as if fate was playing a cruel joke, Aiden's stomach let out a loud and angry growl. The entire table went silent. Rose burst out laughing.

Aiden slapped a hand over his stomach, horrified. "Oh no."

Rose wiped a tear. "God, you really weren't lying."

Aiden looked at them with wide eyes. "Are you mocking my suffering?" 

"Hunter deserves an award for dealing with you."

Aiden perked up. "Speaking of Hunter—"

"NO!!" The entire table shouted in unison.

Sophia wanted to slam her head on the table. I give up.