The boys settled back into their home together easily and happily. Howie liked to tease them that they were more sickly sweet than ever. Brian and AJ knew that it was partially because they’d almost lost one another, but the other part was just the sheer joy they always felt at being around one another. It seemed like, finally, their drama was done with.
They went to Brian’s doctor appointment and he was given a clean bill of health. His heart was healing wonderfully, and very rarely was he tired anymore. It was getting close to three months since his surgery and he wasn’t having any problems. That took one weight off their shoulders. Then, with Brian’s father going home, that was another weight gone. They hadn’t heard from him, and it bothered Brian, but only slightly. He was resigned to the fact that his father had decided not to be a part of his life anymore. Even though it hurt he was not going to dwell on it and let it ruin their life.
So it was with light hearts that the foursome went to the grocery store to start prepping for Thanksgiving. They dressed to try and hide themselves, though they all knew that the more of them that were together, the less chance it would work. Still, their moods were too good to care if they got mobbed by fans.
They all piled into AJ’s truck, since it would have the most space in the back for anything they decided to pick up, since AJ was famous for making them stop at small stores to get random things, and they headed out to the local Albertsons. By the time they parked the car they were all laughing.
“You are so gross, Nick!” Howie laughed. He almost fell out of the car to get away from Nick, who was belching the music to As Long As You Love Me.
“He can’t help it, D. He’s just a nasty guy.” AJ shot back. He pressed the button to lock his truck up, so he was distracted for a minute. It allowed Nick to get up behind him and jump on his back. AJ stumbled, almost falling into the door of his truck before he regained enough balance to reach back and grab a hold of Nick’s arm, yanking him forward. “You blond giant, you could of squished me!”
“Not my fault you’re tiny!”
“Tiny! Your fat ass could of broke my leg jumping on me like that!”
Everyone was laughing as they headed to the front of the store. Nick pushed AJ as they walked in, saying “You don’t need two legs!” He flashed them a grin as he grabbed a shopping cart. Brian, who was getting his own cart, looked over and quirked an eyebrow. “I think I’d protest to that. I’d much prefer two legs on him to just one.” He said, giving them all his goofy grin he was famous for before laughing and racing off down the aisle.
Howie shook his head and followed his friends. He couldn’t help but laugh when he saw AJ race down the aisle and jump into the back of Nick’s cart. He sat there, his legs dangling over the back, his head back by the handlebar. “Push me, daddy!” he called out in a little kid voice.
The whole trip was hilarious. At one point Nick grabbed a Lunchable, a cheese and cracker kids tray, and rolled AJ up with it to the front of the store while Brian and Howie watched, laughing.
“Now put it up there, son.” Nick told AJ sternly, causing Howie and Brian to snicker again. AJ clutched it to his chest. “No, mine!”
The cashier stared at them, obviously at a loss as to what to do.
“Alexander, put it up there so daddy can buy it, or we’ll go put it back right this minute.” Nick put his hands on his hips and glared at AJ, who was starting to pout. With a loud huff and threw it up there and crossed his arms over his chest, dropping his chin down to sulk. Nick stepped up to the cashier and flashed her a smile as he pulled his wallet out. “Kids.” He said with a roll of his eyes and a smile. “I swear. Drive ya crazy sometimes but you can’t help but love them.”
The woman stared at them for a moment before she remembered her job. She scanned the lunchable and handed it to him, taking his cash. She didn’t speak when she gave him his change. Just watched as he turned to AJ and opened the box, peeling the plastic off the tray and handing it to him. Before AJ could get to it Nick stole the candy that came inside. When AJ made to protest, Nick stuck a finger out and shook it at him. “Crackers and such need to be gone first before you get a treat. All gone, Alexander.”
“Fiiiine.” AJ sighed out. He held up the juice box. “Open, pwease?”
Nick pulled out the straw and stuck it in before he gave it back. “Good manners, buddy.” The happy grin on AJ’s face was priceless as he started to suck on his juice while Nick headed back into the main part of the store. The whole way through they all got the funniest looks, but none of them cared. They shopped for the food they would need, joking and laughing together. Nick and AJ kept up the parent/child charade through the whole store.
Just to be ornery they picked the same register that Nick and AJ had gone through. Brian put everything up on the belt, Howie went to bag, and AJ pretended to pitch a fit. “I want my candy!” he cried out, kicking his legs against the side of the cart.
“You still have two crackers left, Alexander.” Nick scolded him, moving to put more stuff on the belt. It took everything Brian had not to bust out laughing when AJ stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry at Nick. “I hate you!” he cried out in a little kid voice.
“Don’t you talk to me like that, young man, or I’ll spank you once we get to the car.” Nick replied firmly. The twinkle in his eyes offset the stern look on his face.
Brian left Nick to put the stuff on the belt and walked over to AJ. He could feel the cashier watching and it was so hard not to laugh. He squatted by the cart,, putting his hand on AJ’s hair to stroke it. “Hey buddy, what’s the matter over here?” he asked, acting as if he was talking to a toddler.
The sulk on AJ’s face was perfect. His bottom lip jutted out. “I want my candy.”
“But you gotta eat your food first, you know that. Now be a big boy for me and finish it, ok? Then I’ll open your candy for you, I promise. Ok?”
AJ pretended to think about it for a minute. He glowered down at his snack tray for a second, then picked up the last two crackers and stuffed them into his mouth whole. As he chewed he looked up at Brian as if to say ‘See, I did it.’
With the cashier staring openly at them, Nick took the candy from his pocket and handed it to Brian. He leaned in, handing the woman his card. “He’s a little handicapped, but we love him anyways.”
She stared with wide eyes as Brian opened the chocolate and handed it to AJ, who gave him a wide, chewed cracker grin before taking the candy and nibbling happily on it. He started to hum to himself and swing his legs while he ate. Brian patted his head and stood to move down by Howie and help him put the filled bags in their cart. The two men exchanged a look and almost ruined it all by dying of laughter. Somehow they managed to keep it in.
Once everything was paid for they started to move away. AJ turned around, waving a chocolate covered had at the cashier, the chocolate also all over his mouth. “Bye!” he called happily to her.
The group barely made it out the doors before they all started to laugh. Nick took a few running steps, then jumped on the footstep on his and AJ’s cart, racing it down to the truck. Once there, he hopped down and tipped it, dumping AJ out to the ground. AJ just lay there on the pavement, laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe.
“You two are so retarded!” Howie exclaimed, setting bags into the back of the truck.
Brian came over and helped AJ stand. Both of them were still laughing hard enough that they had to lean against the truck just to stand upright.
That was when the first voice screamed. Each of them took a deep breath, getting themselves under control. They recognized that sound and knew what was coming. All four boys put their television smiles on as a group of girls rushed over, already exclaiming over them. AJ gave Brian a wink when no one was looking. The both of them were thinking that some things would never change. Life felt like it was finally getting back to normal.