Greyson didn't feel as forgiving as he was being made out to be by Louis.
Greyson went to make a statement to the police, ultimately freeing Louis from the county jail's holding cell. He gave a gist of the situation, not mentioning their constant fighting or the forced and bruising embrace as a means to further prove Louis's innocence.
Greyson thought he had done so well enough to leave without suspicions, but on their way out, an officer slipped him a business card 'just incase'. He quickly threw it out, not wanting Louis to find it. That probably stunned him the most about the whole situation. He wasn't some victim. His talk with Derek proved so.
Derek didn't judge him for staying like Elise often did. Derek just… ate his mukbang-worthy amount of Chinese takeout and made silly conversation with Greyson. It felt great.
Maybe it was the Asian food he had been craving for months now, or the way Derek set the atmosphere to be comfortable despite the chaos. Greyson had to admit it: Derek was a comfy existence.
Perhaps he would be a nice friend…
Greyson didn't really make many friends. He had Elise. He had–
Greyson had Louis.
Greyson's phone buzzed in his pocket. It was an unknown number.
???: Hey, Grey, this is Derek! I have a good amount of free time four days from now and was wondering if that was when you wanted to meet up at mine for a two-person cooking sesh of the sort??
Oh. Greyson has forgotten he and Derek exchanged numbers. He quickly saved Derek's contact as basic as all his others'.
A friend… Greyson pondered. He liked the idea of someone new in his boring life.
Grey (🇵🇭): I get off my shift at around 5:30ish on Wednesday and Fridays. So next Wednesday works.
Grey (🇵🇭): Thanks for last night.
Derek looked at his screen with a small smile.
Greyson clearly had friendly intentions and Derek honestly didn't mind. He was never the type to grieve over one-sided crushes, they just… didn't bother him. In fact, a friend out of the gym and normal work would only really do him good.
Derek hummed. Though they would be hanging out five nights from now, he couldn't help but begin to plan what Nigerian foods he would make for Greyson so try.
–+–
Greyson held a bouquet of flowers in his hand with a slightly flustered expression. Louis had gotten three this past week and they rotted in vases around their apartment. This time they were petunias.
Louis watched his boyfriend with a wide smile on his face. Remains of pimples littered his face, but there were no new ones. He hadn't even stepped foot in a bar this last week and Greyson couldn't be more overjoyed when he opted to watch movies together instead.
Louis hadn't even asked for sex, which was the norm if he wasn't out drinking that night.
Greyson felt that his worries about the direction Louis was heading in were cleared. Or more precisely, he felt safer around Louis than he had in a long while.
"Grey?" Louis barked, waving his hand in front of Greyson's face.
Oh right. They were watching some Marvel movie Louis had been yapping about.
"Hm?" Greyson tried to play off the slight flinch. He was really trying to get over that habit…
"I asked what you thought of the movie." Louis explained, no malice in his voice.
Greyson hummed, he had zoned out towards the end. Action movies weren't really his thing.
"Chris Hemsworth is hot." Greyson commented after a moment of thought. He really felt like he could say anything without nerves now.
Louis nodded in agreement, "I prefer Tom Holland."
Greyson slightly grimaced, "Really? He looks a bit too young in my opinion. Like I know he's older than us but he looks so… youthful." He explained.
Louis shrugged, "I guess that's what I like about him."
Greyson pretended not to hear that.
"What do you wanna watch next?" Greyson asked, not wanting to linger on such a topic anymore, topics of youth were always risky due to Louis's baby face-type.
"What do you want to watch next?" Louis repeated the question, surprising Greyson a bit.
Greyson pondered. He didn't want to ruin the mood with a sad movie. Louis didn't like horror, drama, or the indie films Greyson was into.
"It can be one of your little nerdy ones." Louis clarified like it was some treat.
Greyson clenched his fist in excitement. "Then… Ladybird– It's a really good one, trust me."
Louis nodded, though a bit of his earlier excitement was gone.
"Ladybird it is." Louis smiled Greyson's way.
Greyson would've swooned at the gesture, but why– now of all times did the words remind him of Derek?
–+–
Elise's mouth was hung open as they ate lunch just behind the register.
"You're hanging out with Derek now?!" She practically screamed.
Greyson went to cover her mouth. Shopping customers shot them odd looks. "Shh..!"
"And he quite literally initiated it all?" She lowered her voice without much change in her surprised expression. "And he's hot and gay? Greyson, he's totally into you."
Greyson shook his head. "Don't… don't say that. He knows I'm taken."
Elise rolled her eyes, "Not by anyone good…"
Greyson chuckled at the jab. He was quite used to the joking-jabs Elise made by now.
"Lou has been the greatest lately, El. He hasn't gone to the bar, we've had home movie dates for two nights in a row, he's– he's home more." Greyson explained, though Elise's unchanging look made him slowly lose confidence in his words.
"That's the bare-fucking-minimum, Grey– C'mon… You're too hot to be settling for that." Elise sighed.
Was it? Greyson wasn't sure anymore.
"Well, a new friend's a friend. I say take this chance. I think having more friends will make you a lot happier." Elise shrugged, taking a chomp of some store-bought salad.
"I hope so." Greyson replied, though he couldn't recall being that unhappy lately.
–+–
Greyson lugged 20lbs of food from the local Asian grocery store with an exasperated sigh. He planned to cook up pancit and adobo chicken for he and Derek's food exchange tonight. He pushed open his apartment door with beads of sweat running down his forehead.
Louis sent him a questioning look.
"Did you go grocery shopping early or what?" He scrutinized the "exotic"-ness to the items with a slightly grossed gaze.
Greyson nodded, "It's for some Filipino dishes I'm gonna make. Me and one of the neighbors are gonna do a food exchange." He was smile-y with the subject.
"With what neighbor?" Louis was on the couch on his phone, clearly not too caring. It relieved Greyson.
"Uhh… Derek? The one next to us." Greyson tried to play it off.
He hoped Louis was too drunk to remember the details that night.
Louis furrowed his brow, "A guy?"
Greyson stiffened, "Yeah…"
Louis clicked his tongue. "I didn't know you had any guy friends."
"He's… new." Greyson explained vaguely.
Louis hummed indifferently. "Have fun then."
Greyson was surprised at Louis's lack of reply, but didn't think it was anything to complain about. He was just excited to finally cook Filipino food again.