~Chilled's POV~

"Hey Chilly Willy!" The same old annoying voice greets me, seeming to relieve me after having stayed exhausted on the bumpy damn airplane for hours. I smile with all of my effort to see the man smiling behind the lenses of the camera he seems to absolutely adore and shows off to all of us poor people with the less expensive cameras. Before I can approach him a woman stops me and talks to me about something I hardly pay attention to but rather I just say the least amount as necessary before turning to approach Ze. Ze peeks around his camera lens' and smiles widely, shoving his camera in front of my face making me put it off to the side with my hand and continue walking past him.

"Please, with the paparazzi," I groan and Ze laughs behind me and follows, holding the camera up to me still.

"Oh the great ChilledChaos is finally is our inferior land of California, oh goodness," Ze comments but I just smile and shake my head, glancing over towards the lens and when I notice Ze's smiling face I feel an ache in my chest. It really has been too long since we last saw each other. I should make it my task to raise money to come and visit more often, especially since not only Ze but Gassy has moved here as well. So many things have changed since the curse, even I have changed a shitload. All good, at least I think and hope.

"You know, this is no where near as great as New York but... I cut it some slack for you," I say and Ze just chuckles before lowering his camera and shutting it off, finally cutting the device away from between us. "Where's Gassy? Shouldn't he be here too?" Ze nods and points in the distance leading down the long hallway of the airport.

"Yeah, he's waiting in the small shop in here with Diction while he's waiting for you guys," Ze explains and I nod, looking forward while holding the large suit case over my shoulder. The others coming must be later than me, which is understandable since I decided to book the earliest flight, even if it is from all the way across the country. Feeling the exhaustion return I yawn loudly and rub my eyes, tired from the amount of travel the past day. Ze glances over at me noticing my exhaustion and a slightly troubled look enters his eyes as he looks back away.

"I guess I'm still not used to being with you these days. I almost thought you were going to change," Ze chuckles bitterly as I glance over at him darkly, remembering those days. My constant reliance on him has ended for quite a while but the memory of the hatred against the reliance is still clear in my memory. We're living on opposite sides of the country now, it's really amazing how much things have changed with enough time. Years ago I would have never seen this happening, nor did I ever see myself coming over to California. Moving back with my parents in New York was shocking enough but coming to California - I just never saw myself as a California type of guy. I pat Ze on the back making him glance back towards me and seems shocked at my smile, probably figuring him mentioning that would have me in a dark mood. I'm not having just a memory ruin my entire mood, it's the past.

"It's fine buddy. I can hardly believe it myself," I comment and he just smiles sadly before we both continue walking to join our other friends. The small shop is in sight and I feel slightly excited when I notice it's a small games shop. Of course Gassy would be hanging out in here. I glance over at Ze and notice he's getting his camera set up again and I can't help but roll my eyes. He's always too excited at these meetups we have every once in a while, but it's understandable at the low rate we have these.

"Go...God damn it Nanners!" Gassy's voice clearly shouts from the other side of the shop causing all parents in the shop to cover their children's ears and walk away. Of course Gassy clears out a shop of all of the children. I glance over to Gassy playing on one of the stands they have set up with a game with Diction standing behind him seeming amused with the game and Gassy. I glance over at Ze who smiles while staring straight forward with the camera in front of him but I just stare at him expressionless.

"You never said anything about Nanners," I comment plainly and he just glances over at me, understanding in his eyes and obvious mischief. Of course the bastard wanted to intervene after Nanners and I have avoided each other for years. Ze glances away and towards the group again, completely ignoring my question as if it hadn't happened at all. Sometimes Ze's interference and worried nature is really annoying.

"And here we spot the wild Gassy in his usual behavior. Pissed off," Ze comments through the camera and Gassy immediately turns around seeming pissed off but when he notices me he softens up and smiles, his anger disappearing immediately.

"Oh Chilled, you made it. Jesus, I haven't seen you in forever," Gassy comments as Nanners stares at the video game screen, completely ignoring my existance. Well fuck you too then, it's not like I came here to see you anyways. I nearly forgot he also lives in California where nearly all of my friends live nowadays. It's only Smarty who also lives in New York who I can also talk to. 

"Yeah why don't you fucking visit once in a while?" Diction snaps and I just laugh nervously and shrug as I approach them, crossing my arms.

"Give me money for traveling across the fucking nation and I'll visit," I complain and Diction immediately hesitates with my declaration. Gassy chuckles and hands the controller to Diction who seems excited to be playing the game. I glance over at the video game screen and for a second my chest explodes when through the screen I meet the eyes of Nanners through the reflection. I quickly look away, shocked at the contact I had not been expecting one bit. Slowly I look back to the screen and notice Nanners is looking away completely now but is holding his arm seeming affected as much as I had been. Jesus this is awfully awkward. I've never really had to be around an ex so I don't really know who to act.

"Oh shit, Renee should be coming soon. I'm gonna go real quick," Gassy announces, looking at his watch and pats my shoulder before he goes dashing off. In confusion I glance over at Ze who notices and points down his camera, turning it off once again.

"Renee is his girlfriend from the other desert town. She isn't only coming down to visit but she's actually going to live with him down here," Ze explains and I slowly nod. Holy shit am I a terribly ignorant friend or what? Being on the other side of the country really makes me feel like a terrible friend. Glancing back towards the game I notice Diction putting his controller down and Nanners looking over to him, so close to looking at me but not.

"I'm gonna go greet her too, one of you play the cheater," Diction announces and Nanners doesn't say anything, his usual laugh that would usually happen after such a comment absent. Diction notices the lack of the annoying laughter as well and glances back but pays no mind as he continues to walk past us and tries to catch up with Gassy. Ze glances between Nanners and me, obviously sensing the awkwardness we're both so clearly emitting and shrugs, taking the controller.

"Uh...How have you been Chilled?" Nanners suddenly asks, making me immediately tense up and stare at the video game screen, avoiding his eye contact at all costs.

"Fine, I guess. I got a marketing degree now," I announce and Nanners stays silent as Ze cheers on for his win against the obviously distracted man. Ze glances back to the two of us and rolls his eyes, looking back to the screen.

"I would be happy with just a congratulations for my win you know," Ze pouts like a kid and I immediately smile and pat his back.

"Sorry buddy, congratulations on winning," I say through laughter but he just looks back to me seeming annoyed and hits my forehead with his fist and also glares at Nanners from beside him.

"You two need to quit being so weird around each other. You guys used to be great friends before you were anything, what happened to that at least?" That's not the fucking problem Ze. Of course I still think of Nanners on high regards and I really do have the desire to make my usual comments around him as well, I still want to be able to regularly text and talk to him. The fucking problem is that after these years of trying to stay away from it, my feelings for the guy hasn't died down at all. His lack of desire to contact with me has obviously shown that he doesn't feel the same way I do about him anymore after the years, which is understandable. I waited for him once and it ended up terribly, with me being the one who was always waiting for him at home and always having to follow under him. I don't want to anymore no matter how much I love the man.

Ze sighs when neither of us react and returns to the game without another word and without taking away that irritated expression. Nanners looks back to the game and plays half-heartedly as he was before and losing badly against the man who isn't very good at video games, in my opinion as much as I'd like to hold my friend in high regards. I silently watch them play without any of us speaking a word. Even Ze's cheers and comments on the game are now completely gone with the lack of motivation since none of us are really paying attention. He even began playing as half-heartedly as Nanners had been, allowing Nanners to begin taking the wins again. After enough time has passed Ze sighs and puts the controller down, turning away from the game.

"That's it, I'm going to go see what's taking so long."

"Wait, Ze-" I call out but he's already dashes away, leaving me with the other man who stares silently at the game screen. I glance back towards him and slowly take the controller Ze had put down. "I think we pissed him off," I comment and Nanners just nods before putting down the controller suddenly and turning to me. His sudden determination is frightening but I gulp and look back to him, feeling pressured to meet his determination.

"Chilled, I love you," Nanners announces so clearly and pretty loudly so the clerk looks to us surprised, but not nearly as surprised as me. I clear my throat and look away but Nanners grabs onto my arm tightly forcing me to look back towards him.

"I'm sorry it took so long. After you left I realized I should have stayed and I should have said it sooner. I went back to the shop but you weren't there and they all said you moved. I stayed there for a couple of days but I couldn't stay there any longer so I moved here. Chilled - Anthony, I'm sorry," Nanners announces and I hesitate, looking away feeling the most strange that he's apologizing. Out of all people I hadn't expected him to apologize. Hell, I haven't apologized to him when I should have as well but when I'm with Nanners it always feels like a competition to see who'll cave in first. But right now, at this moment, it doesn't feel like a competition. It feels like we've both finally grown up to realize our mistakes. I sigh and look down, afraid he'll see that I may be tearing up a little but but I get over it and glance back up at him and nod slowly.

"Y-yeah... I'm sorry too. I'm really fucking sorry Nanners, I've had too much on my mind and this is just... Adam, I don't-..." Adam holds my shoulders, tightly at first but slowly loosen up and glide down my arms gently, in the most caring way I feel my heart break again. I glance up towards his motivating eyes and I smile sadly, feeling his gentleness and concern give me strength. "I haven't completely over you just yet so you... you may have one last, and seriously last chance," I mutter and immediately he pulls me into a tight hug.

I take in a shaky breath as I breathe in his familiar scent I've lasted so long without. How is it even possible I can smell it once again as if it had never left? Giving him a "chance" is all I can do for now, but in the future the chance can expand and develop into something more. This is the most important time in our youth, as long as neither of us fuck up we should become something amazing. My curse, my fear, my stupidity can't prevent me from being with him this time, but of course I can expect it to anyways. I glance back up towards him in his grasp and his eyes are so completely dark with care and love it makes me feel as if all air has been knocked out of my lungs. I really am the biggest fucking idiot.

And here we are, a couple of idiots surrounded by video games.