Hobby

"Luna's so cute", Alex commented, stroking Luna's fur in content.

"I know", Zephyr agreed, "Her fur is so soft and I love touching it all the time".

"It's not fair!", Alex complained, "She like's you so much".

"It's because I'm more likeable", Zephyr countered, sticking his tongue out. The next few minutes were spent with Alex and Zephyr petting Luna. "Although I enjoy having you here, I have to ask why you came in a rush".

"Mom and Haley are sick", Alex replied, "And I don't want to risk getting what they have".

Zephyr nodded his head, gently stroking Luna's head. A few moments later, he stopped in his tracks, "Oh My God!".

"What?", Alex asked, curious as to what was causing him to react like this.

"I've just realised that we have no life", Zephyr answered, "All we do is study and read books".

"Oh God!", Alex screamed, her eyes wide, "You're right".

"We play sport, but that's not really a hobby", turning, he looked at Alex, "Is it?"

"I don't know", Alex replied, still shocked by the revelation, "But I don't think so". Walking in a circle in panic, she stopped and looked at Zephyr, "Wait. You code, don't you? That's a hobby".

"I'm making a game", Zephyr remarked, "I don't think that counts as a hobby".

"Urgh", Alex groaned in frustration, "Wait a sec. You cook. That's also a hobby".

"I only do it because Matt's horrible", Zephyr countered, "It's more about survival than enjoyment".

"This is so hard", Alex complained.

"That's exactly what I was thinking", Zephyr agreed, "We need to think of some hobbies that we enjoy. What about running? We do that often don't we?".

"I do it for lacrosse while you do it for soccer", Alex argued, "So I don't think it is".

"What hobbies can we do that we would enjoy?", Alex asked.

"I don't know", Zephyr replied.

"That's not helping", Alex complained.

"I'm supposed to be helping?", Zephyr questioned.

"Of course you are you idiot!", Alex complained, "You're the one who brought this up".

"What's that got to do with anything?", Zephyr replied, "We're a couple. We're meant to solve things together".

"Then at least make some contributions!", Alex retorted.

"I tried", Zephyr complained. "You know what, we need to calm down".

"Yes. You're right", Alex said, taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

"We need to think of things logically", Zephyr muttered.

"You're right", Alex nodded her head, "So how are we meant to do that?".

"We use our common sense and ask Google", Zephyr answered.

"I guess we could try", Alex said, unsure of the plan, "How confident are you that Google will help?"

"It will at the very least give us a direction or idea of what hobbies we might like", Zephyr argued.

"I guess", Alex shrugged her shoulder.

[Elsewhere]

"Hey", Matt asked, "How long do you think it'll take Zephyr to realise that he doesn't have a social life?"

"That mean", Desiree commented, giving Matt a light shove, "But it's been 13 years and he still hasn't realised, so chances are low"

"Hmh", Matt nodded, "I just hope that he has some real friends".

"You know that he does", Desiree replied, "He's friends with those boys from the soccer team".

"Oh yeah. I forgot about them", Matt said in realisation, "But they're really annoying. Especially Michael".

"You're just saying that because he said I'm hot", Desiree countered. "Besides. I think it's great that Zephyr has friends that are so nice".

"I guess they're fine", Matt conceded.

"I just remembered. Have you bought a present yet?", Desiree asked.

"No. I don't know what to get him. He's so selective. It's incredibly irritating", Matt answered.

"You better get a move on. You've got two weeks till his birthday", Desiree remarked, "And he's not selective. You just don't know how to give good presents".

"As if", Matt argued, "He just doesn't like anything I get him".

"It's not that and you know it", Desiree countered, "He didn't complain about the gift I got him last year".

"That's a lie", Matt insisted, "He didn't like your present. He just didn't admit it because it'd hurt your feelings".

Desiree snorted at his attempt, "Zephyr loved it. He said it right in front of me".

"Sure. Sure. Whatever you say", Matt stated, giving up.

"You know", Desiree remarked, looking at the park they were walking through, "It's nice having some time for ourselves without the kids".

"Yep. Bella's at her friend's for a sleepover and Zephyr is at home, probably revising or messaging Alex", Matt replied, taking a deep breath.

Desiree nodded her head and hummed in agreement. "We should do this more often".

"We should", Matt agreed, "How about once every week?"

"That sounds doable", Desiree answered, "As long as we're not away for too long, we can have Zephyr look after Bella".

"He might not even have to", Matt countered, "I heard she's interested in basketball. I can enrol her at some basketball club and then we can go out on those days".

"That sounds like a great plan honey", Desiree replied.

"You sound so surprised", Matt mentioned, somewhat confused.

"Shush", Desiree said, placing a finger on his lips to stop him from talking any more, "Just be quiet".

"Sure", Matt remarked, deciding to enjoy the feeling of being in nature. Unfortunately, the peace and quiet didn't last long. Desiree and Matt were interrupted by the vibrating of Matt's phone. "Hello", Matt greeted, answering the call.

"Matt. Thank God!", Phil exclaimed, "I need Zephyr's help!".

"What for?", Matt questioned.

"I need to go to the gym and get Claire's phone, bake some ladyfingers for a bake sale, get everything ready for Luke's trip to Disneyland and change the battery of one of the smoke alarms", Phils hurriedly explained.

"Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate", Matt remarked, "Give me a sec. I'll call him", he said, ending the call.

"Who was that?", Desiree asked, curious.

"It was Phil", Matt answered, scrolling through his phone for Zephyr's contact number.

"Why did he call?", Desiree drawled, feeling as though she was talking to a child.

"He's got a lot to do and I'm assuming he needs Zephyr's help to bake some ladyfingers", Matt answered. Just as Desiree was about to open her mouth to ask something, Matt raised his hand and motioned for her to be silent.

"Hey", a female voice said from the other side of the phone.

"Who is this?", Matt asked, "Did you steal my son's phone?".

"It's me, Alex", Alex answered.

"Oh. You sound so different", Matt remarked, "Anyways. Where's Zephyr?"

"He's trying to find out if he finds chess a good hobby", Alex replied.

"That's nice and all, but can you tell him to come on the phone?", Matt stated.

"Sure", Alex voiced, handing the phone over to Zephyr.

"Hello", Zephyr greeted, "What's up Dad?"

"Phil needs some help baking some ladyfingers", Matt commented, "Can you go over and help him? He sounded really desperate".

"Sure", Zephyr answered, ending the phone call.

"How rude", Matt muttered.

"It's fine", Desiree countered, "He's probably doing something really important".

[With Alex and Zephyr]

"Urgh", Zephyr groaned in frustration, "I don't like chess. It's too slow-paced".

"And I don't like drawing", Alex added.

"Let's just be real", Zephyr stated, reclining on the couch, "We're not made out for this sort of stuff".

"I guess we're not", Alex reluctantly agreed.

"I have to head over to yours to help Phil", Zephyr explained, "Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure", Alex nodded, "There's nothing else to do".

"Our lives are so boring aren't they?", Zephyr remarked.

"Yep", Alex retorted, making sure to pop the 'p'.

[Time Skip]

"Hey Phil", Zephyr greeted, walking into the house with Alex in tow.

"Thank God you're here!", Phile exclaimed, "I need your help really badly".

"Sure. Just tell me what you need", Zephyr replied.

"I need you to bake some ladyfingers while I go and get Claire's phone from the gym", Phil said, rushing past them, "Also. If you can, try to figure out which smoke alarm isn't working properly".

"We'll try", Alex said, waving to Phil, who shut the door.

"He's really busy", Zephyr observed.

"Yeah", Alex agreed, "Usually Mom deals with all of this stuff".

"That sounds stressful", Zephyr commented.

"It does", Alex nodded her head, "I don't know how Mom does it".

"Neither do I", Zephyr stated, agreeing with Alex.

"Anyways. Let's start", Zephyr muttered, walking over to the kitchen.

"I'll help", Alex said, walking next to him.

"It'll make things so much easier", Zephyr said, thanking her.

"Don't worry", Alex waved off his compliment, "It'd be weird if I didn't help my boyfriend bake for us".

"Where's Dad?", Luke asked, walking into the kitchen with a helped over his head.

"He's gone out to get Mom's phone", Alex replied.

"Why are you wearing that?", Zephyr questioned.

"Keeps the germs away", Luke answered.

"You care about germs?", Zephyr asked in shock.

"I've seen you kiss a pigeon on the mouth", Alex added.

"My class is going to Disneyland in two days", Luke countered, "I can't get Mom's cold".

"That's a good plan", Zephyr responded, quickly taking out some ingredients.

"The first one he's ever had", Alex snarked.

"Hey. I'm smart", Luke argued, "I know big words".

"What does that have to do with being smart?", Zephyr questioned.

"All smart people use big words", Luke declared, "That's what TV says. And TV is never wrong. Anyways. I'm going out to play basketball", Luke said, turning around, only to walk into a glass door. "Ow. Why is there a wall here?", Luke asked.

"I told you", Alex muttered, "He's a lost cause".

"You might be right", Zephyr mumbled.

[Commentary]

Alex

"I've been thinking about it a lot, and I've realised something important", Alex said, looking at the camera, "Zephyr and I might not have a lot of interesting hobbies. We may not be the most exciting of people. We may not be that interesting. But what I do know is that we love spending time with each other. And that's why, my favourite hobby is being with Zephyr".

[Commentary ends]