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Archer had been watching Buzzkill perform when the venue exploded with applause.
Their performance was outstanding, leaving people screaming for more. Kaiyah was ecstatic and proposed that they all go to a bar and celebrate.
Archer had been invited along by Henry. So of course, he invited Casey as well.
When the group arrived at the local bar, they filed into a large, circular, red booth. Archer took in the festive decorations littered around the room. The atmosphere was warm and bright, with people singing on the karaoke stage and others singing along with them.
“I’m going to go order.” Archer mentioned while looking at the array of alcohol along the shelves, “You want anything?” He asks, placing his hand on Casey’s shoulder.
Casey turned her head towards him, “Can you get me a Mojito, love? Thanks!” She beamed, as she turned back to the group.
Archer smiled, patting her shoulder as he turned to walk away. He walked up the counter and sat on one of the weathered-down stools. “I’ll be with you in a second.” The bartender yelled, over the voices of the other customers.
Archer rested his head in his hand. It was 10pm. Usually, Archer would be watching reruns of Friends at that time.
But here he was, in a bar no less.
He observed the various bottles of alcohol, leaving a bitter feeling in his chest.
Behind him, he could hear Beck and Jason approaching. “I swear I thought she liked me back!” Beck rambled, “I mean, come on! You can’t deny the tension between us.”
Jason rolled his eyes, “It’s so obvious that she’s a lesbian. You’re just– not even looking at me as I’m talking to you.”
Beck, with his head turned at the rest of the group, stared at Kaiyah. Looking as if she just created the sky herself.
“Do you see what I have to put up with,” Jason shook his head. Archer gave a weak chuckle in response.
He doesn’t think he’s ever actually talked to Jason before. Only ever heard of him from Henry. But he seemed like an alright guy.
Beck snapped his head back to Jason, “So! Whatcha gettin’?”
Jason shrugged.
The bartender finally makes his way over to the trio, “Sorry ‘bout that. What can I get y’all?”
Jason looked at Beck and signaled his head at the bartender.
“Can I get a Manhattan and Margarita?” Beck asked, “Oh, and a Long Island Iced Tea?”
“For sure, anything else y’all need?” The man asked.
“A Mai Tai please.” Jason mentioned, then looked over at Archer raising his eyebrow.
“Oh, uhm– A coke and a Cuban Mojito please.” He muttered, scratching his neck.
The bartender placed a Coke on the counter then hurriedly went off to work on the group’s drinks alongside a co-worker.
Beck, Jason, and Archer all sat alongside each other in the barstools, making small talk while waiting for their drinks. Archer clicked open his Coke, accidentally breaking his nail, “Ouch,” He flinched.
As their drinks arrived, Archer picked off the remaining nail that had just been hanging on his finger. The bartender placed down the circular tray, full of drinks. Beck gave him a card that looked like it held a lot more money than Beck could ever make.
Archer eyed the card and looked back up at Beck. Furrowing his brows in confusion.
Beck noticed this movement, and turned his body to Archer, “It’s Kaiyah’s card.”
That made sense.
Archer carried the tray back to the table as Beck and Jason walked ahead of him. He placed it down and sat down, sliding close to Henry. Jason placed Archer’s coke on the table and slid it over, “Thanks.” He said.
“Archer, please tell Kaiyah that not every girl with a pixie cut is gay.” Henry laughed, dropped his hand from his head, pointing at Kaiyah. “Uhm, I don’t think I’m the right person to be saying anything about that.”
“Sure you’re not..” Lia muttered, taking a sip of her Manhattan. Kaiyah elbowed her, “Ow!”
Henry and Archer looked at her confused.
As the night went on, the group only got drunker, and drunker.
They had even ordered a shot pyramid at one point.
Archer being the only sober mind, had to get away from the drunkards for at least a few minutes.
He hated dealing with drunk people, but they were his friends, so he was willing to deal with them a bit.
Archer splashed his face in the sink of the bathroom, which reeked of puke and smoke.
God, he needed a smoke.
Making his way out of the bathroom, he noticed Lia leaving the bar, and walking into snow blowing in her face. “Holy shit it’s cold!” She yelled, as the door slammed behind her.
“Uh, why did Lia leave?” Archer asked, as he sat back down next to Henry. “She said she needed to leave before she got ‘too drunk and end up saying something she’d regret later.’ ” Kaiyah shrugged.
“Understandable.. I guess.” Archer furrowed his brows at the window, watching the wind and snow wisp around outside.
Henry slams his head on the table, which makes Archer flinch, “Dude, are you good?” Kaiyah giggled, slapping Henry’s shoulder. Now that Archer got a good look at her she seemed pretty tipsy.
“I need more to drink.” Henry groaned, in agony. “Archer, get me another shot of tequila.”
“Uh? No? You seem like you’ve had enough.” Archer chuckles, picking Henry’s head back up.
Once he was up straight again, Henry threw himself onto Archer, “Please!” He drags out, gripping onto the back of Archer’s jacket. “Henry!” Archer gasped, his face flushing red.
Kaiyah and Beck looked at each other, before falling on top of one another, dying of laughter. “Oh how I wish I had my camera right now!” Beck laughed.
Kaiyah gave him an impish smile, “Oh, my dear Beck. I happen to have a Nokia N96.” She whipped out her phone, flashing a photo. Archer’s face turned an even darker shade of red.
“You know what–!” His voice cracked, “I’m just gonna bring him home. Let’s go Henry time to go home.”
Henry slumps against Archer’s body.
“Uh? Henry?” Archer asked, forcefully pushing up Henry’s head.
He was asleep. Henry has passed out while clinging to Archer.
“Great.” Archer smiled, his eye twitched. Archer hoisted Henry’s arm around his shoulder, dragging him to his feet. “We’re gonna head on out.” He said.
“Aw! See you Archer.” Casey said, as she returned from the bathroom. She looked at Henry, slumped into Archer’s shoulder. “Take care of Henry.” She smirked.
“Oh-kay, leaving now.”
It had already been too late when Archer realized.
He had no clue where Henry lived.
It was cold, and they were walking through a snowstorm. Harsh winds were blowing in their faces.
Archer just wanted to get home.
His apartment is close, and maybe this may give Henry the wrong idea, but he decides he’ll just bring Henry back to his apartment. If he asks why he’s there, he’ll just say it was the closest. That’s all it was.
Archer’s teeth clattered as he felt Henry shift against him. He looked down at his sluggish friend, coming back to reality.
“Good grief it’s cold!” Henry shivered, slowly blinking. “Archer..?” He muttered.
“Hey, Henry.” He smiled, weakly.
“Where are we?” Henry asked, his head turning side to side. Archer looked ahead of him. “We're at a gas station.”
The two walked into the gas station pressed together. “Why are we here?” Henry wiped his eyes.
Archer walked over to the freezers and grabbed a bottle of water, “We’re gonna get you some stuff for your hangover tomorrow morning.”
“Oh. Okay.” Henry said, following behind Archer. “Wait, you’re staying with me tonight?” He asked quietly.
Archer stopped, “Uh, yeah, I didn’t know where you lived so I’m just bringing you back to my apartment.”
Which is kind of sad considering they had reconnected at least eight months ago.
Henry nodded, as if Archer made complete sense. When in reality, Archer could’ve just looked at Henry’s I.D. and called a cab for him.
Archer grabbed some ibuprofen, strawberry poptarts, honey nut cheerios, and placed them on the counter. Henry came up behind him and tugged on the bottom of his shirt. “Can we get this?” He asked, holding out bubblegum.
“Yeah sure,” Archer took the gum and placed it alongside the rest of their items.
The cashier rang up their items, “That’ll be $13.42,” placing their items in a plastic bag. Archer fished in his wallet, “Oh wait, can you add some of those Marlboro cigarettes as well?”
The cashier turned around to grab the cigarettes, “Don’t listen to him, don’t grab them.” Henry said, his words kind of slurring. The worker paused, and turned around in confusion.
Archer cracked his neck to Henry, who had moved from behind him to next to him. Linking their arms together.
Archer felt his face warming up, “Uh, nevermind I guess,” He placed the money on the counter and grabbed the bag. Henry guided him out of the store, their arms still linked together.
Although the cold sobered him up a bit, he was still clearly tipsy.
Henry grabbed the bag from Archer’s opposite hand and began digging around for his gum.
Once he found it, he peeled the wrapped and threw some in his mouth, then gestured towards Archer.
Archer hesitated, but grabbed the gum. Peeling the wrapper and plopping it in his mouth as well.
As they approach Archer’s apartment building, the wind starts to pick up. Snow is thrown in their face as they run close together.
Their noses and cheeks are red, bitten from the cold. But once they make it inside to the lobby, the two can’t help but laugh at each other.
I don’t think I’ve ever been to your apartment before.” Henry said, watching Archer unlock his door.
“Really? I could've sworn you had.” He replied, as the door unlocked. Archer kicked off his snowy boots and continued inside the apartment. “You can leave your shoes there.”
Henry leaned against the wall for support, as he tried to take off his slippery shoes. Archer let out an amused chuckle as he bent down to plug a heater into the wall to warm up the room.
Once Henry finally managed to escape his shoes, he looked around the room. “Your apartment is cozy.” He giggled, walking over to Archer, still fascinated by the stuff in the living room.
“If by cozy you mean a mess, then yeah.” Archer chuckled, standing up with a groan.
Henry eyed him, “What are you, an old man? Who groans like that at this age.” He laughed. All Archer could do was blush.
Archer walked over to his window as he watched the snow fall to the ground and pile up on his balcony. “This storm is pretty bad.”
“Yeah well, Hoboken gets like thirty-six inches of snow a year– this is nothing.” Henry cut in, scrunching his feet on the rug beneath him. “I’m not getting home anytime soon.” He walked up to the glass and placed his hand on the door.
Archer carefully watched him.
He still had snow in his hair and his cheeks were still rosy.
“That’s alright, you can just spend the night.”
Henry turned around and looked at Archer.
“Really?” He asked, smiling.
Archer looked away, blushing, “Yeah it’s not a problem. I can set up the couch.” He pointed behind him, “I can’t guarantee it’ll be comfy though.”
Henry walked up to him and placed his hands on Archer’s forearms, “Thanks, Archer.”
Archer’s face turned a bright red, “Yeah! Well! No big deal! I’m gonna grab some blankets!” He rambled, then turned to run away, “It gets pretty cold in here!”
Henry watched him run away, a fond expression upon his face.
Once Archer had set up the pull-out couch, he realized that Henry was in jeans. Jean’s that are wet from snow and a jacket that was in fact, also wet from snow.
Henry noticed this as well, “Do you have anything I could wear?” He asked, walking up to Archer and looking him in the eyes.
Henry in Archer’s clothes.
Henry. In. Archer’s. Clothes.
“Uh..” Archer dragged out, breaking eye contact as he felt his face warm up again, “Yeah I might have something.
Henry began to take off his jacket when Archer had walked back into the room. “These are small on me, so they’ll be okay on you.”
“Let’s hope. You have weird proportions so your clothes do as well.” Henry smirked, as he took off his shirt.
Archer took that as his time to leave.
The next morning, Archer was awoken by the rays of sun, creeping into his room, and the sound of clanking in the kitchen.
He yawned and rubbed his eyes as he pulled off his covers. He doesn’t even remember falling asleep last night.
After they had gotten Henry settled, they talked for a bit. He must’ve gone to sleep really late.
Archer found the nearest shirt he could from the floor, pulled it over his head, and began to walk to his door.
When he walked out, he’s greeted by the smell of eggs and coffee.
“Morning, sleeping beauty,” Henry said, lazily. He mixed some eggs in a bowl with a spoon. “Hope you like scrambled eggs.”
He seemed to have made himself at home.
“I haven’t had them in a while.” Archer yawned, as he sat down at his table, “Wait, how did you make scrambled eggs, I don’t have a stove?”
“I made them in the microwave.” Henry shrugged, he was moving rather sluggishly.
Poor guy is probably battling a major headache and hangover. Good thing they bought ibuprofen last night.
“You can do that?” Archer chuckled, resting his head on his hand, watching Henry tenderly place the bowl on the table.
“Yup, Lia taught me once.”
Henry turned around and grabbed a bowl of cereal that was sitting on the counter, and placed it on the table opposite, “Why don’t you own any creamer?”
“Because I like my coffee black.” Archer said, taking a sip of coffee.
“Only psychopaths like their coffee black– ew this is so gross.” Henry leaves his cup of coffee on the counter after tasting it, “I’ll stick with my milk and cereal.”
Archer laughed as Henry sat down at the opposite end of the table.
Usually, Archer sits at his table alone.
It’s nice to have someone across from him for once.