Welcome to Gaia! ::

☸ Alan Brandt ☸

Alan flashed his ID to the bartender after ordering two beers, sitting on a stool with his feet dangling. His lab coat was on his person, as always, but was open and hanging off of his slender frame. He sighed as he took one bottle of beer into his hands and looked at it, unsure if he should start drinking before Reed got there. The teacher glanced around the bar, trying to reassure himself that no one was staring at him for any reason. He wasn't rocking back and forth or mumbling to himself about theorems. He seemed completely normal to the patrons, looking like nothing more than a young man waiting for his companion to show up to the bar. Of course, it was much more than that.
Over the past few weeks, Reed had dragged the younger man into what can only be described as a rehabilitation program. He constantly encouraged the smaller teacher to reach outside his comfort zone, having him order lunch for them and go downtown at night. They would go to the mall, at least once, they went to a strip club, and all the while, Reed was never once out of reach. He stuck by Alan through it all, even when he started crying in embarrassment because a woman got much too close to him and made him so uncomfortable that he ran out and nearly vomited. Alan had never had a real friend before, much less a best friend, but he was sure that Reed was his best friend now. They knew a lot about each other, sometimes had sleepovers, went out and had fun, and defended each other when others were being mean (although it was mainly Reed protecting Alan from perverted creeps or defending him when some drunk jerk started making fun of him for being different). It was nice, he had to admit. It wasn't... unwelcome.
He checked his phone once more, furrowing his brow at the time. Unlocking the phone, he opened his messages and sent a text to Reed, saying, "Hurry the hell up, stupid. You're taking forever!" He then shut off the screen and put the phone back into his pocket, biting his lower lip as he once again picked up the beer bottle. He still didn't call Reed by his first name, feeling like it was much too informal if he called him Reed, although they were measurably close friends by now. Maybe he'd do it today. Just maybe.
Not likely, but maybe.

☸ Alan Brandt ☸

Alan scowled as the music teacher finally joined him, refusing to look at him as he talked. He did, however, answer when questioned. "Well, I went shopping on my own today, like you told me too. I ended up buying blue jeans and a t-shirt, but I think I got the wrong sizes." He held open his lab coat, showing the tight jeans and t-shirt. They fit him, but weren't his style. In fact, the jeans were skinny jeans, explaining why he thought they were the wrong size, and the shirt was some strange obscure band that the teens listened to. It didn't take much of a thought process to figure out that Alan only went into one store, grabbed his size, then left in a hurry. However, he still beamed in pride at the other teacher. He'd done it on his own, without needing Reed by his side. That, in itself, was a milestone.
Letting the coat fall back into place, Alan's sneakers feet kicked a little as he was teased, picking up his beer once more and peering into it. "Its just a beer. It's not like I had to plot out a full equation just to order a drink. Just down it before I make you pay for it."