Chapter 19: First a BFF, Now a Bro

Chapter 19: First a BFF, Now a Bro

The next morning, Alex woke up to the smell of bacon wafting through the house. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, taking a moment to process everything that had happened in the past few days. His life had completely changed—first the punishment, then the news about homeschooling, and now… he was officially a part of Jake’s family.

He glanced over at Jake, who was still asleep, sprawled out in bed like he didn’t have a care in the world. Alex chuckled to himself. Guess some things never change.

Stretching, he got up and nudged Jake’s shoulder. “Dude, wake up. Your mom’s making breakfast.”

Jake groaned and rolled over. “Mmm… 5 more minutes.”

Alex smirked. “Come on, bro. You don’t want our mom dragging you out of bed, do you?”

Jake cracked an eye open and grinned. “Bro, huh?”

Alex shrugged. “Well… yeah. I mean, we were already best friends. Now we’re basically brothers.”

Jake sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. “Yeah… that’s kinda awesome.”

Alex grinned. “It is.”

Before they could say anything else, Mrs. Faulkner called up from the kitchen. “Boys, breakfast is ready!”

“Coming, Mom!” Jake shouted back, then looked at Alex. “Guess that goes for you now, too.”

Alex hesitated for a second before nodding. “Yeah… I guess it does.”

As they headed downstairs, he couldn’t help but smile. This might not have been what he expected, but maybe—just maybe—it was exactly what he needed.

They sat down at the kitchen table, where Mrs. Faulkner had set out plates of bacon, eggs, and toast. As they dug in, she looked at Alex and said, “Okay, so today I have a U-Haul coming. We’re going to take it and go pick up your things from your old house.”

Alex paused mid-bite. “Oh… right.”

Mrs. Faulkner gave him a reassuring smile. “I know it’s a big change, but I want you to have all your stuff here so it really feels like home.”

Jake grinned. “Dude, this means we can finally set up your gaming setup next to mine!”

Alex chuckled. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Mrs. Faulkner sipped her coffee. “Maria left a list of everything you wanted to bring, but if there’s anything else you need, we’ll grab it too.”

Alex nodded. “Thanks… I appreciate it.”

Jake nudged him. “Hey, don’t be so serious. Think of it this way—you get a fresh start, and you don’t even have to move to a whole new town.”

Alex smirked. “Yeah, but four miles is still a move.”

Mrs. Faulkner stood up and stretched. “Alright, eat up, boys. We have a long day ahead of us.”

As they finished breakfast, Alex took a deep breath. Today was going to be a big day, but for the first time, he felt like he wasn’t going through it alone.

As they finished breakfast, Mrs. Faulkner wiped her hands on a dish towel and looked at the boys. “So, while we’re talking about making this house feel like home for you, Alex, I wanted to ask—do you want to keep sharing a room with Jake, or should I have someone work on setting up the spare room for you?”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Spare room?”

Mrs. Faulkner nodded. “It used to be Jake’s nursery when he was little, but it’s mostly just storage now. It would take a little work, but if you’d rather have your own space, I can make it happen.”

Alex glanced at Jake, who looked just as curious about the idea. They’d been sharing a room for days now, and honestly, he didn’t mind it. It felt kind of nice, like a never-ending sleepover.

“I mean…” Alex hesitated. “I don’t really mind sharing, but if Jake wants his space back, I get it.”

Jake shrugged. “Nah, it’s cool with me. We’re basically brothers now, right?”

Mrs. Faulkner smiled. “Alright then, you two can keep sharing. But if you ever change your mind, just let me know.”

Alex grinned. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Jake nudged him. “Yeah, bro, no escaping me now.”

Alex laughed. “Guess not.”

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. “Alright, finish up. The U-Haul should be here soon, and we have a lot to do today.”

As the boys polished off their plates, Alex felt a sense of relief. Everything was changing, but somehow, it didn’t feel scary anymore. It felt like home.

A few minutes after they finished breakfast, a loud knock echoed through the house.

“That must be the U-Haul driver,” Mrs. Faulkner said as she wiped her hands on a dish towel and walked toward the door. Jake and Alex followed close behind, eager to get started.

She opened the door to find a tall man in a U-Haul uniform, clipboard in hand. “Morning, ma’am,” he greeted. “I’ve got your rental truck here. Just need you to sign off before I hand over the keys.”

Mrs. Faulkner took the clipboard, quickly scanning the paperwork before signing her name. “Thank you. We’ll be loading it up shortly.”

The man nodded and handed her the keys. “It’s parked right out front. If you need any help figuring out the lift or anything, just let me know.”

“We should be fine, but I appreciate it,” she said.

As the driver walked back toward his truck, Mrs. Faulkner turned to the boys. “Alright, let’s get moving. We’ve got a lot to pack, and I want to be done before dinner.”

Jake grinned. “Road trip, kind of.”

Alex chuckled. “Yeah, only four miles, but still.”

Mrs. Faulkner smiled. “Come on, boys. The sooner we start, the sooner we’re finished.”

With that, they grabbed their things and headed outside, ready to get to work.

As they pulled up to Alex’s house, the familiar sight of his home greeted him—but this time, something was different. Right there on the front lawn stood a bright red and white "For Sale" sign.

Alex stared at it, his stomach twisting. He had known this was happening, but seeing the sign made it all feel real. His home, the place he had grown up in, was about to belong to someone else.

Mrs. Faulkner parked the truck and looked over at him. "I know it’s a lot to take in, Alex. But remember, this isn’t the end—it’s just a new chapter."

Alex swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah… I just didn’t think it’d hit me like this."

Jake placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder. "Hey, at least you’re not moving far. And now we get to be full-time brothers, not just best friends."

Alex managed a small smile. "Yeah, I guess that’s true."

Mrs. Faulkner gave them a moment before speaking. "Alright, let’s get inside and start packing. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get you settled in."

Taking a deep breath, Alex nodded again, then stepped out of the truck. It was time to say goodbye to his old home and embrace the new one waiting for him.

As they walked up to the front door, Alex hesitated for a moment before reaching for the handle. Before he could touch it, the door swung open, revealing his mom, Maria, standing there with a warm but bittersweet smile.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she said softly, pulling Alex into a tight hug. “I’m so happy to see you.”

Alex hugged her back, trying to ignore the lump forming in his throat. “Hey, Mom.”

Maria stepped aside to let them in. “Come on, let’s get started. I’ve already gone through most of the things downstairs, so we’ll just need to pack up your room and anything else you want to bring.”

As they walked in, Alex glanced around the house, taking in every detail. The furniture, the pictures on the walls—everything was just as he remembered it, but now it felt different, like it wasn’t his anymore.

Mrs. Faulkner gave Maria a kind smile. “We’ll make sure everything gets packed up safely. And don’t worry, Alex is going to have a great home with us.”

Maria nodded, her expression full of gratitude. “I know. That’s the only reason I’m able to do this. Thank you, really.”

Jake patted Alex on the back. “Come on, man, let’s get started.”

Taking a deep breath, Alex nodded. “Yeah… let’s do it.”

And with that, they headed upstairs to start packing up his life for a new beginning.

As they went through Alex things and packed them up jake and Alex had to pee they tried to go to the bathroom but it was locked Alex's mom had come up and she said oh sorry boys the plumbing is broken its why I'm here today waiting on the plumber... you boys got your diapers on, don't you?

Alex and Jake exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit caught off guard. Alex shifted uncomfortably. “Uh… yeah, we do,” he admitted.

Maria smiled sympathetically. “Well, there you go then. Just use them for now. The plumber should be here soon, but until then, that’s what they’re for, right?”

Jake hesitated, then shrugged. “Guess so…”

Mrs. Faulkner, who had been packing a box nearby, looked over and gave them a knowing glance. “You two are already used to this by now. Just focus on packing.”

Alex sighed, realizing there wasn’t much of a choice. “Alright, let’s just get this done.”

Jake smirked. “At least we don’t have to take a break.”

With that, they continued packing, trying to ignore the awkwardness of the situation as they filled the boxes with Alex’s belongings, knowing this was just another step in their new life together.

As they carefully packed up Alex's gaming equipment—his monitor, console, controllers, and neatly coiled cables—both boys suddenly felt a familiar warmth spreading in their diapers. They exchanged a quick glance, both realizing the other had just given in to their situation.

Jake chuckled under his breath. "Well… I guess that solves that problem."

Alex smirked but didn’t say anything, simply adjusting his stance as he continued packing. It wasn’t like they hadn’t done this before, but doing it in the middle of packing up his childhood home made it feel different somehow.

Mrs. Faulkner, still busy taping up boxes, didn’t seem to notice—or if she did, she chose not to say anything. Alex’s mom was preoccupied with talking to the plumber on the phone, leaving the boys to their work.

With their gaming gear safely packed away, Alex sighed. “Alright, what’s next?”

Jake looked around. “Probably your clothes. Gotta make sure you’re stocked up at home—uh, I mean, our home.”

Alex gave a small smile at that, the reality of his move slowly settling in. “Yeah…" our home.”

And with that, they got back to work, putting their old life behind them one box at a time.

They packed up all of Alex's clothes in boxes, and mrs.faulkner taped then shut.

Jake and Alex grabbed the packed boxes of clothes, their arms full as they carefully navigated down the stairs. Mrs. Faulkner stood near the doorway, taping up another box as she directed them.

"Take those straight to the truck," she instructed. "We need to clear some space in here to keep things moving."

The boys nodded and carried the boxes outside, stepping onto the front porch. The cool air hit them as they made their way to the U-Haul, where several other packed boxes were already stacked neatly inside. Jake climbed in first, reaching for the nearest available spot, while Alex handed him the boxes one by one.

"Man, I can't believe this is really happening," Alex murmured as he lifted another box.

Jake, balancing a box against the truck wall, glanced at him. "Yeah, it’s weird seeing your place all packed up like this."

Alex sighed. "Yeah… it’s like I’m saying goodbye to everything all at once."

Jake hopped down from the truck and patted Alex on the back. "Hey, at least you’re not going far. And you’re not alone."

Alex gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Mrs. Faulkner poked her head out the door. "Alright, boys, let’s keep it moving. We’ve still got plenty more to load up."

With that, they headed back inside, ready to continue packing up the last pieces of Alex’s old life and preparing for his new one.

As Alex walked down the hallway toward his old room, something on the wall caught his eye. He stopped in his tracks, his breath hitching slightly. There, hanging slightly crooked, was an old piece of artwork he had made for his mom when he was little.

It was a simple drawing—crayon scribbles of a house, a bright sun, and two stick figures holding hands. In the corner, in his shaky, childlike handwriting, were the words: Me and Mommy Forever.

Alex reached out, running his fingers over the paper. The edges were slightly worn, the colors faded, but it was still there, still displayed like it had always been. His chest tightened.

Mrs. Faulkner walked past with a box but noticed him standing there. "Alex?" she asked gently.

He swallowed hard. "She kept it up all these years."

Mrs. Faulkner gave him a warm smile. "Of course, she did. She loves you, Alex. That hasn’t changed."

Alex carefully lifted the drawing off the wall, staring at it for a moment. Then, he tucked it under his arm and turned to Mrs. Faulkner. "I want to take this with me."

She nodded. "Of course. It’s yours."

Jake, who had been listening from the other room, stepped up beside Alex. "You okay, man?"

Alex let out a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah… just a lot to take in."

Jake gave him a reassuring nudge. "Well, don’t forget—you’re not doing it alone."

Alex smiled slightly, gripping the drawing a little tighter. "Thanks."

With that, they continued packing, but Alex felt a little more at peace knowing that, even in a new home, he’d always have a piece of his old one with him.

As Alex carried another box toward the door, something shiny on the kitchen counter caught his eye. It was a tall, new metal coffee cup, the kind his mom always used. But this one was different—it was covered in pictures.

Setting the box down, he stepped closer and picked it up. As he turned it in his hands, he recognized each image—pictures of him and his mom through the years. His first day of kindergarten, a trip to the beach, a silly selfie they had taken one summer, and there, right in the middle, was his childhood drawing—the same one he had just taken off the wall.

His throat tightened. He had been so focused on moving, on adjusting to his new home, that it hadn’t really hit him until now just how much his mom was going to miss him too.

Before he could say anything, Maria walked in, noticing him holding the cup. She smiled softly. “I just got that last night,” she said, walking over to him. “Had it made special, so I can always see my boy, even though he’s with his new family.”

Alex swallowed the lump in his throat. “Mom…”

She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You’ll always be my son, Alex. That’ll never change.”

Alex hugged the cup to his chest for a moment, then set it down carefully. He turned and hugged his mom tightly. “I love you.”

Maria held him close, pressing a kiss to his head. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

After a few moments, she pulled back and smiled. “Now, go finish packing before Mrs. Faulkner thinks I’m trying to steal you back.”

Alex chuckled, wiping at his eyes. “Okay.”

As he picked up the box again and headed for the truck, he felt a little better. It wasn’t goodbye forever—just a new chapter. And no matter where he lived, he knew he’d always be his mom’s boy.

After 5 hours, everything was packed up, including Alex's old bed, so he could have a proper place to sleep later on when the rearranged jakes room at a little to their knowledge

it's about 2 pm, and jakes mom says alright boys let's go get some lunch and ask alex mom if she would like to join

Maria looked around the now-empty house, letting out a small sigh. “I appreciate the offer, but I still have some things to take care of here before the realtor stops by later.” She gave Alex a warm smile. “You go on, though. Spend some time with your new family.”

Alex hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright, Mom.”

Mrs. Faulkner patted Maria’s shoulder. “We’ll take good care of him, don’t worry.”

Maria chuckled. “I know you will.” She then turned to Alex and ruffled his hair. “Text me later, okay?”

“I will,” Alex promised.

With that, they headed out to the U-Haul, making their way back into town. Jake’s mom glanced at the boys through the rearview mirror as she drove. “So, any requests for lunch?”

Alex shrugged. “I’m good with whatever.”

Jake grinned. “Burgers?”

Mrs. Faulkner laughed. “Burgers it is.”

“So, Alex,” she said “are you excited to set up your space at the house?”

Alex nodded. “Yeah, I mean, it’s gonna be weird not sleeping in my old room, but I think I’ll get used to it.”

As they pulled into the diner's parking lot, Mrs. Faulkner turned to the boys. “Before we sit down, we should probably get you both changed. Don’t need you boys getting rashes.”

Jake and Alex exchanged a look, realizing just how long they’d been in their wet diapers. With a small sigh, they nodded.

Mrs. Faulkner led them inside and straight to the family restroom. She locked the door behind them and pulled out the changing supplies from her bag. “Alright, who’s first?” she asked, setting down a changing mat on the counter.

Alex hesitated but stepped forward. “I’ll go.”

“Good choice,” Mrs. Faulkner said with a small smile as she helped him up onto the counter. She made quick work of changing him, wiping him down and applying a generous amount of powder before securing a fresh diaper.

Jake’s turn was next. He hopped up without protest, letting his mom clean him up and get him changed just as efficiently. Once both boys were fresh and comfortable, Mrs. Faulkner washed her hands and packed up the supplies.

“There, much better,” she said, leading them back out to the dining area.

As they slid into a booth, Alex glanced at Jake with a small smile. “Guess we really are like brothers now, huh?”

Jake grinned. “Yeah… I guess we are.”

Mrs. Faulkner ruffled both their hair before picking up a menu. “Alright, boys, order whatever you want. You’ve earned it after all that packing.”

As they looked over the menu, Alex felt a little more at home. This was his new life now—and he was starting to be okay with that.

Jake’s eyes lit up as he nudged Alex and pointed at the sign on the wall. “Dude, check it out! A burger challenge!”

Alex leaned in and read it aloud. “A burger with four quarter-pound patties, sixteen slices of cheese, bacon, pickles, a pound of fries, and a milkshake? And if you finish in an hour, it’s free?”

Jake grinned. “Not only that, but we get a T-shirt and our picture on the wall. What do you think? Are you up for it?”

Alex chuckled, glancing at Mrs. Faulkner, who raised an eyebrow at them. “You really think you can eat all that?” she asked.

Jake smirked. “Come on, Mom. We just spent hours packing, and I’m starving.”

Alex nodded. “Yeah, this is once in a lifetime. We gotta at least try!”

Mrs. Faulkner sighed but smiled. “Alright, but if you don’t finish, that’s fifty dollars each coming out of your allowance.”

Jake and Alex exchanged a confident look before turning to the waitress. “We’re in.”

The waitress grinned. “Alright, boys. Hope you’re hungry. I’ll put your order in.”

The waitress pulled out her notepad and smiled at the boys. “Alright, how do you want your burgers cooked?”

Jake thought for a second. “Medium, please.”

Alex nodded. “Same for me.”

She then handed them a laminated menu. “And what about your milkshakes? We’ve got vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, peanut butter, mint chocolate chip, and a few specials.”

Jake looked at Alex. “I’m thinking cookies and cream.”

Alex grinned. “I’ll go with peanut butter.”

The waitress scribbled down their choices and then turned to Mrs. Faulkner. “And what about you, ma’am?”

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled, shaking her head at the boys' enthusiasm. “I’ll just have a grilled chicken salad and an iced tea, please.”

“Got it,” the waitress said with a nod. “I’ll be back soon with your shakes, and the burgers will take a little while since they’re so big.”

As she walked away, Jake leaned toward Alex. “We got this, man.”

Alex smirked. “Let’s hope we don’t regret it later.”

Mrs. Faulkner sipped her water and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I think you will.”

The waitress placed Mrs. Faulkner’s salad and iced tea in front of her with a smile. “Here you go, ma’am.” Then, turning to the boys, she smirked. “I’ll be right back with your burgers. Just a heads-up—they’re really heavy.” She chuckled as she walked back toward the kitchen.

As they waited, Jake and Alex psyched themselves up, determined to prove they could take on the challenge.

Jake and Alex exchanged excited but slightly nervous glances.

“You sure we can handle this?” Alex asked, shifting in his seat.

Jake grinned. “Dude, we’ve been training for this our whole lives.”

Mrs. Faulkner sipped her tea and smirked. “I hope you’re ready for what’s coming, because that’s a lot of food.”

Just then, they heard the kitchen doors swing open, and the waitress returned—this time with two other waiters, each carrying a massive plate stacked with the towering burger challenge. The whole diner seemed to take notice as the platters hit the table with a thud.

The waitress stepped back, raising her voice so the entire diner could hear. “Alright, customers and staff of Grill Master’s Diner! We have two challengers taking on the Belly Buster Burger Challenge!” A few diners turned their heads, some cheering while others chuckled knowingly.

She continued with enthusiasm, “These brave souls have exactly one hour to finish a one-pound burger, one pound of fries, and a 64-ounce milkshake! If they complete the challenge, their meal is free, they get an exclusive t-shirt, and their names and photos will go up on our Wall of Fame!”

The crowd clapped and whistled as Jake and Alex grabbed their burgers, exchanging one last determined glance.

“Alright, boys,” the waitress said, grinning. “Your one-hour timer starts as soon as you take your first bite. Good luck—you’re gonna need it.”

“Alright, boys! Your time starts… NOW!”

The moment the words left her mouth, they both took their first massive bites. The waitress hit the timer on her phone, and the challenge was officially underway.

As soon as the waitress sets the timer, a large digital countdown clock on the wall lit up, displaying 60:00 in bold red numbers. It immediately started ticking down, the seconds flashing as the challenge officially began.

The diner buzzed with excitement as a few customers turned in their seats to watch. Some even pulled out their phones, eager to see if Jake and Alex could pull off the massive feat.

Jake took another huge bite, his mouth nearly too full to chew. “Mmm, this is really good,” he mumbled between bites.

Alex, already working through his first layer of fries, nodded. “Yeah, but don’t get too comfortable—we gotta pace ourselves.”

Mrs. Faulkner smirked as she sipped her tea, watching the boys with amusement. “You two wanted this. Let’s see if you can handle it.”

The clock ticked down—59:30… 59:29… 59:28… and the challenge was on.

With 45 minutes left, Jake wiped his mouth and took a deep breath. His strategy was working—solid foods first, liquids last. He was halfway through his burger and had made a dent in his fries, while his shake sat untouched, sweating slightly in its large frosty glass.

Across the table, Alex was playing it differently. His fries were completely gone, but he still had three-quarters of his burger left. He also hadn’t touched his shake, knowing the thick liquid would only make things harder.

The waitress walked by, grinning. “Looking good, boys! But the hardest part is still ahead. Hope you saved some room!”

Jake gave a thumbs-up but didn’t waste time replying. He powered through another bite, chewing quickly before moving on to a handful of fries.

Alex groaned slightly, stretching his arms. “I thought I had a good start, but man, this burger is dense.”

Jake smirked. “Told you, fries go down way easier than this much meat. You’re gonna slow down fast.”

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled, sipping her tea. “Well, you both better hurry—45 minutes isn’t as long as it sounds.”

The clock continued to tick down—44:58… 44:57… 44:56…

With 25 minutes left, Jake was in the home stretch—just a few bites of burger - and about a third of his fries stood between him and victory. He was pacing himself well, resisting the urge to rush, knowing that stuffing himself too quickly could backfire.

Alex, however, was struggling. He still had half his burger left, and it was starting to feel impossible. His strategy of finishing the fries first might’ve been a mistake—the heavy, greasy meat was now hitting his stomach like a brick.

The waitress passed by again, checking their progress. “Uh-oh, looks like we have a clear front-runner! Jake’s almost done with his solid food, but Alex… you might wanna pick up the pace, kid.”

Jake shot Alex a teasing grin. “Told you. Burger first, fries second.”

Alex groaned, leaning back for a second before forcing himself forward again. “I know, okay? But this thing is so much heavier than I thought.”

Mrs. Faulkner smirked, tapping her watch. “Well, boys, 25 minutes left. And don’t forget—you still have those to get through.” She nodded toward the untouched milkshakes, their creamy surfaces now starting to melt slightly.

Jake nodded, determined. “One thing at a time.” He grabbed his burger, took a deep breath, and went in for another bite.

The timer continued ticking down—24:59… 24:58… 24:57…

With 10 minutes left, both boys had finally conquered the burgers and fries, but now came the real test—the 64 oz milkshakes.

Alex was rubbing his stomach, trying to ease the tight, heavy feeling from all the food he had just inhaled. He let out a deep breath and looked over at Jake.

Jake, meanwhile, was taking slow, deep breaths, his face showing just how much more intense this challenge was than he had expected. “Man… I thought I had this in the bag,” he muttered.

The waitress returned, grinning. “You boys still have ten minutes, but those shakes aren’t gonna drink themselves!” She chuckled.

Alex groaned but grabbed his shake. “Alright, no turning back now…” He took his first big sip, the cold rush hitting his stomach like a brick of ice. “Oh wow, that’s freezing,” he shuddered.

Jake grabbed his shake as well, giving it a swirl before sipping. The thick, creamy texture coated his mouth, but the sheer amount made it hard to drink quickly. “This is gonna be rough,” he admitted.

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. “Well, boys, you got this far—but can you finish strong?”

The timer kept ticking down—9:30… 9:29… 9:28…

The timer ticked down to the final moments, and the entire diner erupted into a chant:

"15... 14... 13..."

Jake and Alex were chugging their shakes as fast as they could, their brains screaming from the ice cream-induced headache, but they refused to slow down.

"10... 9... 8..."

Jake clenched his eyes shut, forcing down the last few gulps. Alex, shaking from the cold, took one final deep breath and powered through.

"5... 4... 3..."

With two seconds to spare, both boys slammed their empty cups down on the table, gasping for breath.

The diner exploded into cheers. The waitress raised her hands and shouted, "THEY DID IT!"

Jake and Alex leaned back in their seats, exhausted but triumphant. Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. “Well, I hope you boys are proud of yourselves. That was impressive.”

Before the waitress got their prize and to take their pic, she said ok boys now the hard part

Jake and Alex, still catching their breath, looked up at the waitress in confusion.

“The hard part?” Jake asked, his stomach feeling like it was about to burst.

The waitress grinned. “Oh yeah. Eating it is one thing, but keeping it down—that’s the real challenge.”

You have to not puke for 5 minutes, then you win

Alex groaned, rubbing his belly. “Ugh… I didn’t think about that.”

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. “Well, you two wanted to prove yourselves. Now, you just have to sit tight and let it settle.”

The waitress chuckled. “Don’t worry, most winners make it through just fine. Just don’t move too fast and breathe through the pain.”

She then patted them both on the back, making Alex let out a soft burp. Jake gave him a side-eye. “Dude, if you puke, I swear—”

Alex waved him off. “I got this.”

The waitress set a small timer on the table. “Alright, boys. Five minutes. No puking, no complaining—just sit there and let it settle. If you make it, you win.”

Jake and Alex leaned back in their seats, trying to focus on anything but their overstuffed stomachs.

Jake took slow, steady breaths. “This is way harder than eating it.”

Alex nodded, rubbing his belly. “Yeah, I feel like one wrong move and—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “Nope. I'm not saying it.”

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled, sipping her tea. “Maybe next time, you’ll think before taking on a ridiculous challenge.”

The boys sat in tense silence as the seconds ticked by. The crowd, still watching, murmured in anticipation.

One minute left.

Jake closed his eyes, counting down in his head. Alex gritted his teeth, gripping the edge of the table.

Five… Four… Three… Two… One…

The timer beeped.

The diner erupted in cheers.

The waitress returned with two T-shirts and a small Polaroid camera.

The waitress clapped. “You did it! Congratulations, boys!”“Alright, champions, let’s get your picture up on the wall!”

Jake and Alex let out exhausted sighs of relief as the waitress handed over their  T-shirts and a copy of their victory photo. Their names and picture would soon be added to the diner’s Wall of Champions.

Alex wiped his forehead. “Never. Doing. That. Again.”

Jake groaned. “Yeah… until next time.”