An Old Acquaintance | Alex

Vera glanced at the tall dark-haired boy as he walked in and then back down to her phone where she was texting back and forth with Jazzy about class while also trying to covertly gather some crucial information for Alex. She wasn’t faking being friends with Jazzy, but it felt weird to chat favorite colors and stuff. Coming off the Slumber Party she had more information than before, and Alex of course tried to grill her for it all. Inwardly, Vera was amused her brother was so strung up on a girl. It was nice to see him get a taste of his own damn medicine. She just hoped Jazzy had some thick skin ‘cause her brother could be a total asshole sometimes and not even realize it.

When her order was called, she stepped up and thanked the barista with a smile. She wore her favorite dark wash jeans, knee-high boots with extra warmth against the snow, and a fitted puffy jacket with a fur-lined hood. Her sunglasses helped hide most of her face, but inside she had them up and positioned at the top of her head; holding the loose tendrils that framed her face back momentarily. She wasn’t too worried about anyone trying to pull anything with her brother here. Though he was waiting outside, all she had to do was yell for him and he’d come in goofy fists a blazing.

Snatching up the hot chocolates, the croissant and the cookie she ordered for the pair of them, Vera turned and moved outside; passing by the dude and raising an eyebrow at his stare before shaking her head and stepping out onto the street.

”Here’s your- … alright then.”

Alex snatched the croissant out of Vera’s hand as soon as she brought it out; his cheeks puffing out as he shoved the bite that was way too big for his mouth into his cheeks and grinned before making grabby hands for his cocoa. Ignoring the roll of Vera’s eyes, he peeled it away and took a drink before wincing at the heat.

Vera’s laugh was borderline annoyed and had a hint of i-told-you-so even though she hadn’t said anything and Alex was wary of her attitude. He continued to chew his croissant and eyed her cookie just before she turned away with a suspicious glare when she noticed the dark-haired guy staring at them through the window. She nodded her head toward him and looked at Alex, her face twisted in confusion and concern.

”Do you know that guy?”

He laughed; nearly choking on the croissant and shook his head. Who the hell would he know here? Still, he turned his head and looked into the cafe and stopped; pastry half hanging out of his mouth as his brain finally registered what his eyes were seeing.

With a dramatic phhhbt he spat his croissant out and grinned; eyes wide and arms even wider as he turned to face the window completely.

”DYLLIE Z!”

His sister made a quick, accusatory sound as she dodged his breakfast, snapping something rude at him but he was already through the door of the cafe; the little bell chiming his abandonment of his little sister on the Chillhorn street.

”BUDDY!”

”Are you stalking me Westman?”

Alex scoffed; shooting Dylan an incredulous look like he should already know the answer to that.

”Dude. Obviously.”

Remaining comfortably cradled in Dylan’s arms, Alex grinned at his best friend from the states thinking in all seriousness that Dylan had just come to surprise him here in Switzerland. He had remained in pretty much constant contact with Dylan through the organization of his grandparent’s wake and his decision to try and get in to Zurich University after Vera left the states. The thought that Dylan hadn’t considered any of that when coming to Switzerland did not even cross Alex’s mind. And if it did, it’s doubtful it would have stood a chance against his belief that his friend was here for him and not to escape some tyrannical family he knew nothing about.

Simple.

Easy peasy.

Turning his head to look at Vera as she stepped inside and with a sigh ordered replacement croissants and hot cocoas, he grinned at her and then at Dylan as he made the connection.

”Yup!” Then at Vera’s weird look he blinked and then glared at Dylan as if he just realized what he had said. ”What? Dude! That’s my sister. And she’s way too young for you anyway.

Vera’s expression was one of either icy death or blazing inferno, he couldn’t tell, but he didn’t care because Vera was all bark when it came to Alex.

’Did you forget how to walk or do you just like being cradled like a baby by large strapping young men?’

She by no means was paying Dylan a compliment, though in retrospect she could see how he took it as one as Alex gave her a shocked expression and then jokingly nuzzled into Dylan’s cheek before he was dropped to the floor. With a laugh, he barely managed to catch himself on his own two feet before clapping Dylan on the shoulder and then giving a brief but official introduction.

”Vera, Dylan. Dylan, Vera. Dylan is my wingman.”

Vera smirked and lifted her cocoa to her mouth with a raised eyebrow before Alex cleared his throat and corrected himself.

”Was. Was my wingman.”

Looking over at Dylan, Vera raised her eyebrow and then handed him his replacement coffee as the barista came around the corner to start cleaning up the mess. She turned her attention to him, moving to help as Alex and Dylan caught up quickly.

”Dude! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to visit? I have so much to catch you up on.” Leading Dylan away, Alex shook his head and kissed his fingertips with an italian-esque flare. ”The girls here, dude… I mean, the school Vera is in? Beauregard? Holy shit… I met this one girl.”

Alex was in his own world, grinning stupidly as he imagined Jazzy standing in front of them. He turned and looked at Dylan as he licked his lips and leaned in.

”I think she’s it, man. I need your help. I’m trying to get something for her. A gift before this ball thing she’s taking me to… Not like a ring or anything too crazy but just… something nice.”