“Good morning, Max!” I call out to him, waving.
“Morning, boys,” Max replies, much less enthusiastic. He opens the refrigerator door, then pauses. “Sorry, Theo, but didI just hear you say you and Caleb are going as Charlie and Nick from theHeartstopperseries for Halloween?”
“Yeah, why?”
Max inhales and exhales sharply. “Cool, great. I’ll just throw myself into traffic. That’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
I snort. “What’s your costume going to be?”
Max pulls a yogurt cup from the fridge and joins me on the couch. “I’m so glad you asked. Vimlesh and I just got the last few pieces for our ‘group’ costume.” He rolls his eyes playfully and gestures toward Vimlesh’s room. “He won’t let me call it a couple’s costume for obvious reasons, but since only two of us are doing it, I’m pretty sure that’s the technical term.”
Theo and I exchange bewildered looks. “Really?” I ask excitedly. “What are y’all doing?”
Max grins. “Do y’all rememberRogue One? The 2016 Star Wars movie that serves as a prequel toA New Hope?”
Theo and I nod.
“I’m Cassian Andor, and he’s Bodhi Rook.”
My mouth hangs open. “Holy shit, Max, that’s so perfect! How did you convince him to agree to that?”
Max’s coy grin widens as he crosses one leg over the other. “I can be persuasive,” he asserts, tossing his head back dramatically. A moment later, he cracks. “Okay, I found out he’s also into Star Wars, so we discussed our favorite brown characters. It didn’t take long to realize we’d make the perfect Andor and Bodhi. I tried to convince Jude to be our Jyn Erso, but they’re already doing a couple’s costume with Nikki.”
I struggle to keep a neutral expression when Jude and Nikki’s couple’s costume is mentioned. They’re doing some variation of Barbie and Ken, but something about it rubs me the wrong way. Still, I want to be supportive and keep the peace, so I’ll keep my weird feelings to myself.
“That’s amazing,” Theo exclaims. “Caleb’s gonna lose his mind. I’m pretty sure he’s read Andor and Bodhi fanfiction.”
“Oh, same,” Max agrees, lowering his voice. “But please don’t bring that up around Vimlesh. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable or give him the wrong idea. My intentions are pure, I swear: I just thought this was a cool way for the two of us to bond as bros.”
I can’t stop smiling. “That’s really sweet, Max. I can’t wait to see it!”
After another bite of yogurt, Max scrunches his nose and looks at me. “I feel like you mentioned what costume you’re doing, and it was gross, right?”
“You are correct, sir,” I reply enthusiastically. “I am dressing as Count Orlok from last year’sNosferatu. It came out after Halloween, so I’ve been planning this with Wren since December.”
Max’s face contorts. “Ugh, yes, I remember that now. Please don’t be offended if I avoid you at the party. Especially if your friend is as good at monster makeup as you say they are.”
“Oh, they are,” Theo replies. “Have we shown you their portfolio? Oliver and I are both in it, but we’re barely recognizable.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Max insists. His eyes linger sadly on my hair. “But really, Oliver, a bald cap? Why would you hide your lovely locks to be something so disgusting?”
I laugh. “Because it’s fun!”
“Such a shame.” Max shakes his head. “Anyway, what time are your friends getting here today?”
“Between one and two,” Theo replies, checking his watch before standing. “I’m going to hop in the shower and then finish tidying up.”
“I’ll shower after you, then,” I add, stretching my limbs. “I guess I should clean my room a little for Wren.”
Theo tosses me a skeptical look. “Were you planning on leaving it messy?”
“They’re bringing an air mattress, and we’re spending the night at Grace’s place tomorrow night. Do you think they’ll care?”
He scoffs. “I think they’ll mock you relentlessly if your room is a wreck.”
Ugh, he’s probably right. “Fine, I guess I’ll tidy up a little.”
“The vacuum is by my door,” Theo calls from the hallway before disappearing into the bathroom.
