Alec Pov
I got up from my bed and wiped my eyes. I walked to the living room wearing only boxers and socks.

Yes, I wear socks to bed.
Fight me.
My feet get fucking cold.

"Happy birthday mon frère." Laf said, sitting on the couch.

I wiped my eyes.
Oh right.
Birthday.

Huh.
I don't feel sixteen.
But then again, what would bring sixteen feel like?

I've only been sixteen for a little bit.

"Morning Alec. Happy sixteenth birthday. Do you want to do anything particular?" George asked.

"Erm...not really..actually..would it be okay if John could come over?" I asked.

"Sure!" Martha exclaimed, a bit over enthusiastically.

"Oh, we have some presents for you!" She added.

I smiled, a bit confused but happy nevertheless.

Why is she giving me presents for my birthday?

I didn't want to be rude and ask why so I just did nothing.

She handed me a gift and said,
"Go on! Open it!"

Laf looked up from his phone and smirked.

"Yeah go on. Open it! Laf said, in almost a mocking tone.
I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

I opened it and saw an album for a record player.

"T-thanks? I don't have a record player though.." I muttered.

I've always been into old vintage stuff like this, and I'm not going to lie, photography has always been a real interest of mine but I never really talk about it.

I don't know.
People used to tell me photography was for girls.

But then again, everyone I used to know were bumbling idiots.

George smiled and went to his room and came out with a record player. My eyes widened.

"G-George! Martha! You couldn't have," I exclaimed.

"I-I...thanks! Thank you so much! N-nobody's ever cared...How'd you know?" I asked.

"You talked about it a couple times." Laf noted, putting his phone down and crossing his legs.

"Oh." I breathed, not taking my eyes off the record player.

"You need help setting it up?" George asked, putting it down on the table.

"Nope!" I excalimed, picking up the album and  record player and jogging to my room.

I knew how to set it up and everything only because I worked at this RadioShack, when I was like..I dunno...thirteen?

Anyway, I worked there with this 'family' business thing and I learned about my love for vintage stuff and how to set up a bunch of old shit.

Job?
At thirteen?

Yeah, I've had a lot of jobs in my 'time'.

RadioShack,
Flower Shop,
Dominoes,
Newsie.

Being a Newsie was awesome.
Until they went on strike and Peter flipped out.

Peter was the one fostering me at the time.

Anyway, when they went on strike Peter thought they were insane and that I was insane.
He made me quit.
It was awful.

I wanted to be a Newsie.
It was probably the best job I could've had.

Sure, it didn't pay the best but after the strike they made huge profits and really showed people like Peter. And ever Newsie was more like family then friends.

Peter was upset about the big profit they made.
He didn't like that someone other than him was right for fucking once.

Bitch.

Anyway, I finished setting it up and then realized..I still don't have pants on.

Oh would you look at that.

I put on some clothes and went right back to the record player, not doing anything particular, just messing with the thing in pure awe.

Laf came into my room and sat down next to me.

"You know, I got you somethin too." He said.

I raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?" I asked.

He smiled and stood up.
"Follow me!" He told me, slipping out of my room.

I hopped up and jogged into his room. He grabbed something from under my desk and handed it to me.

He sat on his desk and watched me open it.
Is it...clothes?
No!
It's a gay pride flag!

(Flashbacks to You Didn't Know. *shudders*)

"Thank you!" I exclaimed.
"I-I didn't know you cared.."
He smirked.

The door bell rang throughout the house.

"Thank you." I said, with the upmost sincerity.

He ran his hand through his hair and shrugged.

"Anything for you mon frère."

I smiled and went back to my room to put it up.

"Alec! Johns here!" George called. "Coming!" I yelled back.

I came to the front door and saw John. I immediately hugged him and whispered 'sorry' over and over.

"What are you sorry for?" He asked.

"I've been a terrible boyfriend and I haven't even talked to you in like..a week. I'm sorry." I said.

"Don't be! It's okay." He said rubbing my back.

"Wait what? Really?" I asked.
"Mhm."

We went to my room and I showed him the record player.

"Holy shit! That's awesome!" He exclaimed.

I snickered.

"Wait, Wait, Wait...did Laf get you the gay pride flag?" He asked.

"Yup."

"Aw, he told me he had something good planned!" John said, a smile on his face.

"Oh yeah, I got ya something too. Happy sixteenth." He said, handing me a box.

It was a pretty small box, and it made my anxiousness go up just a little.

I opened it to find an old video camera. Fuckkk man.
The feelssss.

(I'm not taking this seriously 😂)

He kissed my forehead and sat down on my bed.
I leaned on him.

Damn.
I love this boy.
I'm not going to say it yet,
but I know.