Chapter One

[Coffee Shop.]

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. The air humid and sky cloudy, Jerry steps out of his olive-green vehicle, hands finding their way in his cream-peach brown coat. He walks through the glass door, ringing the bell above it in order to draw attention to the new customer. Looking around the café, he spots the friendly stranger he had recently encountered once again, observing the view outside of the tinted windows. A smile spreads across his face, it had only been a week since their latest encounter, yet it seemed longer to the both of them. They couldn't explain if if they were asked about it, but subconsciously understood one another this way.

Jerry approaches the table, "Room for one more?" He asks anxiously, watching Kurt turn his head to look at him, his expression lightening up as he rises from his seat and wrap his arms around his figure.

"Dude, hey!" He greets, pulling away from him with his hands holding onto his triceps. "How are you? Sit down, man," Kurtis moves to sit in his seat again, Jerry sitting in front of him.

"Okay, hi! I'm doing great actually, drank my pills and ate a bowl of cereal." Jerry nods to himself, a grin on his face - he hardly ever feels wanted, cared for, let alone had anyone be this excited just to be in the presence of this man. Kurtis smiles softly, leaning into his hand as he props it up against his resting arm.

"That's good to hear, man, I was worried I'd have to rush you to the hospital again." Jerry laughs nervously, looking away briefly.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"Don't be!" The man waves a hand with a soft laugh, "It's fine really, we used to get sick all the time as kids. Got to the point where all the doctors knew us personally." They share a little laugh together, all the memories they had experienced as kids feel different now, more special. Unexplainable, but what was there to explain? Jerry accepts the menu Kurtis hands him, studying the options in front of him. "I'm getting a mocha by the way, it's a coffee mixed with hot chocolate and foam. Pretty good if you ask me."

Jerry lowers the menu, "I think I'll have a regular milkshake. The donuts look pretty good too." He nods, signaling a waiter to place their orders. As he straightens his slightly hunched figure, Jerry takes a moment to admire his choice of clothing - a caramel-brown hoodie with light overalls, the same boots as before and a white beanie on his head. He smiles to himself, He still wears overalls, after all this time. In a way, overalls became his signature look when he was younger, carrying on into adolescence; and if he wasn't wearing any one of his overalls, he would be wearing a sweater, like last time they had seen one another.

The waiter scribbles on her notepad before walking back to the behind of the counter, Kurt facing Jerry. "You remember this place, Jer?" He asks, tilting his head slightly; though Jerry finds it strange seeing glasses on his friend, let alone long hair - he remembers, one time, his aunt had even shaved his hair off clean. She claimed it was to save money on hair products, but he knew it was because of Kurt messing up his hair time after time.

"Of course I do!" Jerry responds, though the place looked different, he could remember the two wondering into the café every Sunday to share brunch by one of the booths; their laughter echoing in his ears as they tell each other silly jokes and stories. Jerry moves his gaze away from the booth in the back and back to Kurtis, a warm look in his heterochromia eyes, "I can't believe this place is still here." He cares not for the distance he had to drive to get there, across town, but more for who he was there for. Before he had moved, him and Kurtis lived in walking range; Kurtis would meet Jerry at his home and the two would stroll to this café, almost everyone knew the two in this part of town.

"I know, right?" Kurtis rolls his eyes as he leans back in his seat. "But anyway, what have you been up to lately? Any new hobbies, plan on having more kids?" Kurt chuckles at the last question, Jerry joining in, although he has no idea why he's laughing - he could assume it's because of him having eight siblings - or perhaps he was laughing out of nervousness, he doesn't know and, knowing him, he wouldn't ask.

The duo watch as the waiter carries a tray of their order, setting down their drinks and a plate of four donuts. "Thanks." Jerry smiles and turns to his friend, "Well, I don't know about having another kid right now, Beth's father moved in two years ago, well, will be in a few days. And honestly, I just don't think my wife and I should have another. We can hardly deal with our teens, just imagine having another baby!"

"I hear ya," The farmer sips from his mocha and takes the pink-icing donut, "My youngest sibling's nine now, I was twenty-six when she was born, is that not crazy? I'm old enough to be her parent." He shakes his head to himself. Jerry sighs, rolling his eyes at this. He clears his throat and sets his hands on the table, one moving to hold his cup and the other taking a chocolate donut.

"I've started beekeeping recently," He states, moving to take a bear shaped honey bottle out of his pocket. He places this in front of Kurtis, who takes it in his hand and reads the crooked label.

"Jerry's own? That's sweet," Jerry giggles at the pun, Kurtis handing it back to him. "What got you into beekeeping, man? Do you sell it or make it for yourself? I grow majority of my own crops, so I'd get it if it's to save money." The guy hides his homemade honey back into his coat, the two eating their donuts peacefully. Jerry stays silent for a moment longer, not used to anyone showing any form of interest to his hobbies or life in general - he finds it strange, he feels as if he shouldn't respond, remain silent or change the subject, but he likes this attention, someone engaging in conversation without the urge to make fun of him or belittle him.

Jerry shrugs, laughing nervously, "Well, at first, I started beekeeping to make honey for my low blood sugar, save money on candy and all. But I started enjoying it, it's become more of a hobby than a chore, you know?" Jerry grins softly, reaching for a second donut - accidentally knocking his hand against Kurt as he reaches for one as well. Kurt hesitates before pulling his hand away, Jerry takes one of the two and Kurtis takes the last one after, apologizing under his breath. He clears his throat and nods, referring to his little question.

"Yeah, I-I get it, yes. Like harvesting berries in the woods. Once you've got the hang of it - know from which bush to take from and which aren't poisonous - you can start enjoying it. Not always will it be that way, people find different things fun and all." Kurtis shrugs, avoiding Jerry's gaze. Jerry, continuing to sit still at the other end of the table, observes his actions, Does he want the last pink donut? He questions, the only thing that currently makes sense to him. He looks at the treat, wondering if he could hand it over to Kurt in exchange for the cinnamon donut, but finds his half eaten already. Damnit, Jerry! Do you not have any self-control?! Kurtis looks back at Jerry again, a smile forming on his pink face, "Any other hobbies?" He asks, seemingly wanting to move on without questioning his movements.

"I... I sell my honey sometimes, so I go to this local market every Wednesday and Thursday. Sometimes, I buy random stuff there. I got this Lego set of the Millennium Falcon I finished building the other day." He smiles, feeling comfortable in this man's presence. He always enjoyed talking to him, opening up to him. He missed this, having his friend to talk to and all. "And you? What have you been up to?"

Kurtis tilts his head slightly, swallowing the last piece of his donut. "I've been doing a lot actually, but I consider most of it as chores, you know." He scratches his jaw, "But I brew my own beer, paint, sketch, and I enjoy playing my acoustic guitar from time to time." He shrugs, his smile growing. "I mean, I don't often drink, so I just sell it to some friends for an extra buck."

"That's pretty cool," Jerry starts, the two continuing their discussion, catching up with one another, as they share a few meals and drinks. Once finished halving the check, the two walk out of the building, chuckling softly at a little story Kurtis tells, stopping beside his motorcycle. "Wow, can't believe you and Jack did that, I forget how weirdly strong you are."

"Weirdly?" Kurt rolls his eyes, snorting softly, "I mean, yeah, thanks! The one time, my bike fell on top of me when I tried getting on it drunk, it hurt like hell, but I could get it off without help." He shoves his hands into his overalls' pockets, staring at Jerry with a longing look in his eyes. Five hours spent together, only getting to know each other, yet it seemed so short. Too short. He sighs softly, looking away as his smile fades. "You should get home though. It's already four." He says in a soft voice, moving a hand to the back of his neck. "I don't want to keep you from your folks, you know."

"I have time, they're at work and probably have a ton of homework to do, I think Rick's working in the garage as usual." Jerry says, looking down as well, "I mean, if you're free, we could hang out longer?" He raises his head, excitement in the farmer's eyes.

"Yeah, man, I can hang." He responds, within a few moments, they were on the road, Kurtis riding in front of Jerry's car - on their way to the park down town, where the two used to hang out during the day - and those few days they would go about, drinking too much cough syrup and smoking a few joints. They may not seem like the type to have done so, but this was just how they were brought up; trying to escape reality any way they could, whether it be talking about their days or getting high out of their minds.

They park their vehicles and walk through the park gates, Kurt's arm over Jerry's shoulders as they start their usual route around the park. .

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. A/N: I've been on wattpad for two years now, I forgot the actual date, but wow, two years lol. Hope you liked the chapter, I'm currently working on a whole lot of other books besides this one, yikes. Anyway, hope you had/will have a great day.

[30 April 2022.]