Chapter Text
Their steps fell in sync, Zam leaning on Minute’s shoulder when they drew to a stop at a traffic light. His honey eyes scanned over the taller’s face, printing each strand of loose hair and each eyelash into his memory. Minute turned to face him, questioning his scrutinising gaze before linking their arms.
“So… why do you want to visit the supermarket?” Minute inquired, perking at the ding of the traffic light turning green. They waddled across the pedestrian crossing like penguins in the arctic, cold winds whipping their jackets away from their bodies.
“You know, the new flavour of ice cream? I’ve never had a white peach flavoured soft serve,” Zam bumped his shoulder into Minute’s upper arm.
“I see,” Minute hummed, eyes following the path down to the glowing sign of the famous 7Eleven. Its door swung open as he gingerly stepped inside, followed closely by Zam, who was eagerly eying the fridge section.
The blond beelined for the ice creams as Minute quickly snagged a packet of instant coffee with a yawn. The fluoro lights and reflective, pristine white walls seared his eyes, his brain ticking in an uncomfortable way. He squinted, trying to dull their effect as he peered over Zam’s shoulder.
“This one?” his voice dangerously close to the poor boy’s ear, earning a squeak from him.
“Oh, I didn’t see it there,” Zam sheepishly ran his hand through the back of his hair as Minute took the pleasure of sliding the window open and picking one of them. “Aren’t you going to have one too?”
“Nah, not an ice cream person. Besides, it’s way too overpriced – could make this at home for cheaper,” Minute walked away nonchalantly, zipping up his black puffer jacket with freezing fingers. Zam looked after him, contemplating something before scooping up a second ice cream and shutting the window. He trotted after the dark-haired boy towards the counter, grinning from ear to ear.
They placed their items on the surface, awkwardly shuffling their feet as the cashier judgingly looked them up and down with dark circles under her eyes, huffing in annoyance as she scanned the barcodes. She whispered a price, barely audible to their ears.
Minute pulled out his phone to scan his card before Zam shoved him to the side, spilling coins all over the counter.
“Uh- what was that for?” Minute raised his eyebrows at him in that telling-off way, that made Zam’s sunny smile spill like golden honey.
“Uh, I’m paying?”
The cashier groaned behind them, holding her hand out. “You’re one dollar short.”
“Right, sorry.” The blond seemed to jump at her jarring, monotone voice. Apologising, he shoved his hands down all of his pockets at once, swearing under his breath with each empty hand. “Shit. I don’t have an extra dollar.”
“Well, I’ll pay for that one dollar then,” Minute rolled his eyes playfully, hovering his phone over the card reader. With a beep, she pushed their items out to them and gestured them out with her hand.
“Man, she must’ve failed an exam today,” Zam giggled as he skipped out of the 7Eleven, checking over his shoulder for Minute. The boy had his hands in his pockets, smirking after him in a way that made Zam’s heart float with the wind.
He held his arm out for the taller, watching as he linked them, and they paraded down the street. Zam fumbled to hand Minute the extra ice cream.
“Wha- I thought you were having those two? Didn’t I tell you I don’t like ice cream?” Minute stated eloquently before the blond groaned, shoving it more insistently into the boy’s chest.
“Don’t act like that! I know you do. And if you don’t, you’re still eating it,” Zam threatened to drop it if Minute didn’t take it then and there. The dark-haired one quickly grabbed it, glaring daggers at him.
“That’s an extra $6.30 out of your pocket.”
“And? It’s not your pocket, so why do you care?”
Minute pouted, searching for an answer. “Well, that’s $6.30 out of the student loans you could’ve paid back–” he paused to unwrap the ice cream. “And $6.30 out of that yellow buggy you wanted to buy yourself as a graduation present.”
He licked the ice cream, closing his eyes to savour the unique flavour profile before continuing his tangent. “$6.30 out of–”
“Yeah yeah, womp womp. Okay, I get it, statistics man,” Zam gestured to the half-eaten ice cream in Minute’s hand. “You’re enjoying it at least, and that’s a good $6.30 purchase on my behalf!”
The tips of Minute’s ears darkened as he coughed into his other hand awkwardly. “Still though...”
Zam dropped their hands into a handhold, swinging their arms to the rhythm of their walk. His honeyed eyes watched as an autumn leaf fluttered by, sinking in the air and tragically dragging itself across the footpath. His eyes flickered to the tightening grip around his hand, a buzz of life springing in the flame in his heart. As quickly as it came, the candle blew out.
“Zam? Can you let go of my hand?” Minute shook their handhold, trying to loosen Zam’s grip. The blond giggled and stared into his eyes for a moment, searching for something before letting go with a frown.
“Now my hand feels significantly emptier.” Zam watched as the boy stepped up to the landing of his apartment.
“Of course it does. You’re not holding anything,” the taller pointed at his small hand which was hanging limp by his side.
Minute unlocked his door, stepping inside and moving to shut it before standing there in the hallway, tilting his head questioningly at the still body staring at him from the path. They regarded each other for a few moments, leaves fluttering with the wind and landing on the resin timber boards of Minute’s porch.
Zam’s eyes curled in a smile, lifting up from Minute’s lips and twinkling with that mischievous glint Minute hated. “See you on campus tomorrow!”
The taller waved goodbye as he dipped his head curtly, quickly shutting the door behind him. He watched as the mop of sunshine yellow hair bobbed away before leaning against the door, eyes closed to listen to the hammering of his heart. He ran a hand through his hair (the same hand he held Zam’s in) and breathed out shakily, pulling himself up to flick on the lights. He shrugged his puffer jacket off and flung it at the coat stand with a huff.
As much fun as it was to hang out with Zam after school, it took up a chunk of his time he very well would’ve preferred to dedicate to studying for his physics exam tomorrow. Minute pulled out the instant coffee packet and dropped it on the table, stifling a yawn. The stress was eating at him.