Story: Middle Part 29
[[Continuity Note: Follows Alf confronting Damien.
Finally, almost a week later, I get it together and write something so that I'm not so tremendously behind.]]
Damien returned everything as he told Alf he would, and everything between the now best friends was fine again. Their duo became a trio, though, as they both spent time with Jessica. Damien had joined Alf's magical lessons, despite the fact that Alf was a little ahead. All seemed to be well in Alf's world, but they were about to get a big surprise.
Alf and Damien were practicing growing sprouts in the Alduses' back garden. Jessica hadn't wanted to join them, so was upstairs in her bedroom, supposedly completing an assignment.
Alf stared at the dark soil, knowing that underneath its surface lay a tiny seed, a little pocket full of plant-to-be and the nutrients that it would need to survive. He imagined the little baby plant eating up the nutrients, getting slowly bigger and stronger, reaching for the warmth of the sun. Within seconds, a small sprout had poked its way through the earth as though it was time lapse photography in real life.
"Not bad," Damien remarked, looking over at Alf's accomplishment. "But watch this." The look on the redhead's face was intense as he watched a plant push itself from the land and toward the sun's rays. It quickly matured into a single yellow tulip. "And in summer, too," Damien added.
Alf shrugged. His own sweet peas had now blossomed. He raised a hand toward them and was delighted as one seemed to brush up against him like a dog greeting its master.
Damien smiled. "Okay, so I've been outdone again. But I will get you next time, Sprout."
Alf frowned at the familiar nickname.
Seeing his face, Damien laughed. "Well, it certainly seems to suit you."
With the imagined raise of an eyebrow, Alf's tiny flowers had grown larger, their leaved stems reaching up to tickle Damien under his nose, making him sneeze.
Damien only laughed harder. "You're not doing anything to help with that, Sprout."
Sighing in defeat, Alf allowed the flowers to return to their usual size, petting them. "It was worth a shot," he told them. They seemed to bob slightly as though nodding.
"You know Alf," Damien said, while looking at his friend's flowers. "They're a bit creepy if you ask me."
Alf frowned. "They're cute."
Damien laughed. "What? Are you gay or something?"
Alf wasn't sure how to answer that ridiculous question.
"I wouldn't care if you were, you know," Damien said to him honestly.
Alf shook his head. "I'm not."
"Of course he is," a cheerful voice called from behind them. "Sprout's a right pansy."
"What are you, British?" Damien groused, eyes narrowing.
"Somewhere," Rock agreed, coming towards them, smile not leaving his face. He came between the two boys, throwing an arm around each of them. "I have great news. So why don't you be a good boy Alf, and go get Jessica for me so I can tell you all together."
Meanwhile, both boys had been struggling to get Rock's meaty arms of them so when Alf was released, he fell over on his back, squashing his sweet peas. They seemed to let out a gasp of air, then pushed Alf back on his feet, straightening themselves out. Alf could imagine them as pretty little girls in coloured skirts, accompanied by tiny young men in matching coloured suits brushing of their clothing after he fell on them.
"Right," Alf nodded, and took off toward the house before he even realised what he was doing. As he climbed the stairs to the back door he began wondering why he was doing this without a single protest. He chalked it up to the fact that he wanted to be friends with Rock, the fact that Rock had let go of him... he didn't want to be caught up in that rather unsettling excuse for a hug for much longer, and well, the fact that Rock was scarily happy.
He knocked on Jessica's door.
[[tbc... I need to go...]]
posted by Cedric @ 9:28 am
