A/N: This is an excerpt of what could be a much longer story, which would be an AU of the spectacular novel Dating Sarah Cooper. I've had this idea ever since I first read the book back in December, and I really, really love it. The problem is that I am complete rubbish at writing multi-chapter stories, because they take me FOREVER. So, I just wrote this one scene as an experiment to see how well this idea might turn out.

Because this scene takes place later in the novel, I'll give you some vital background info so you're not lost: Because of reasons, Jack and David have ended up in a fake relationship scheme that is turning out to be WAY more complicated than either of them expected. They've had to endure a lot of homophobia from almost everyone at their school, and David is trying to comfort Jack, who is more hurt by this than he's willing to admit.

Disclaimer: Newsies belongs to Disney. Dating Sarah Cooper belongs to Sarah Maley, who deserves extra credit, since I kept most of the best lines from the original scene. It's really less of me rewriting and more of me reworking it to fit the characters.


Beautiful Simplicity

David sighed. "Jack." Slowly, he reached over to place a hand on Jack's shoulder. Jack's arms stayed crossed against his chest, but he lifted his head just enough to meet David's eyes.

"Look, I know that it feels like the whole world's against us right now, but all those people? They won't matter in another year," David reminded him. "They're all idiots. They don't know you like I do. Like all our friends do," he added.

With those words, Jack visibly relaxed. He let out a short, low chuckle and tossed David an easy grin, his eyes fond. "You know, that's what makes you such a good guy, Dave," he remarked, throwing an arm around David shoulders, and, as painfully cliché as it sounded, David could swear that it made his heart skip a beat.

"What do you mean?"

"It's just…I dunno. Half the time I feel like I could kill someone or something, and you'd still say everyone else was wrong about me. You just—" Jack shook his head slightly. "I guess you just kinda make me feel like I'm worth more than I am."

"You—" David started.

"I know, I know." He paused, and then added, "But you know, in psychology they call that 'Unconditional Positive Regard' or whatever, and I'm pretty sure it's only meant for therapeutic settings. Otherwise it's just unhealthy."

"Well, then I'll gladly be unhealthy," David declared. Jack's smile widened when he said it, and before David even knew what was happening, Jack was pulling him into a hug.

David's breath caught jaggedly in his throat and his pulse began to skyrocket as Jack's arms slid easily around him, and there was nothing to do but hug back and pray that Jack wouldn't notice.

This was nothing new, of course. In their twelve plus years of best friendship, he and Jack had hugged dozens—no, probably hundreds of times, without so much as a second thought from either of them. But this. This, in that one exact instant, was so inexplicably different from every last one of them.

David wanted to pull away from Jack, but at the same time he also wanted to just stay there, pressed close to him, until the rest of the school year was over, and then maybe even longer than that; maybe forever. He was tired, so tired of all of the stress and the drama and the lies of the past few months, but this right there, he and Jack, was just sort of beautifully simple. Two best friends against the world. They were connected at the chest, close enough that David could feel Jack's heart beating almost in time against his own; close enough that David could inhale the scent of soap and sweat and outdoors that was just so familiarly Jack.

And then David felt Jack's breathy little laugh tickle at his ear, and Jack's arms tightened momentarily around him, and David could feel his hand tightening on his back as Jack's fingers pulled the fabric of his shirt into a clump in his hand.

And it was in that moment David realized that he was that loser friend who would inevitably end up heartbroken and alone, and that he and Jack were actually not simple at all. Maybe they never had been.

Maybe he'd loved Jack since the start of this whole fake relationship mess—or maybe he'd loved him before. Maybe he'd loved Jack when he was about to leave to stay with his mother in New Mexico last summer, right when they were saying their goodbyes. Maybe he'd loved him back when that photo of David staring at him was taken in sophomore year. Hell, maybe he'd even loved him way back in preschool, when their friendship was sealed with that very first spit-palmed handshake. Or maybe he hadn't.

But that didn't matter.

David certainly loved him now.


A/N: So, yay? Nay? Would you guys like to see more of this? If so, then please let me know. As always, reviews give me life.