Word Count: 1,847
Warnings: Gay Themes
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not even the two songs I shamelessly used to make this plot (One was Build Me Up, Buttercup, it's probably extremely obvious. The two songs make up the title because I'm not creative xD)
A knock at the door!
Finally, Jaden thought as he scrambled up from sitting cross-legged on the floor. He almost slipped on the wood flooring as he sped to the door and made a mental note to take off his socks before running around the house next time. And also to make a game of sock sliding on the floor.
He swung the door open and was tremendously disappointed.
"Hey, Jaden. Um, is something wrong?"
Jaden replied that no, nothing was wrong, and tried to pull himself together.
"Well, don't mind me! I'm just grabbing some things I forgot. Hmm."
It was Jaden's turn to ask if something was wrong.
"Oh, no, I just thought you said someone was coming over?"
"Yeah, well, he's late."
Jaden wouldn't admit it but he was totally pouting.
"Sweetheart, I'm sure he has a good reason. You boys have fun. But not too much fun. I don't want to come home to a charred house..."
"I know, I know! Go back to wherever you were."
Jaden was speaking jokingly of course, and the laughter that ensued assured Jaden they were on the same page.
"I miss the days when you'd beg me to stay. You make your parents so sad now."
There was some fake crying, but shortly after the door was reopened.
"Goodbye, then. And I meant what I said. No fire."
"The house will be fine!"
The door slammed and all was silent again.
...
...
Ugh!
Jaden picked up a phone and dialed. It rang once, twice...
Don't get voicemail, don't get voicemail...
"...Hello?" Yes!
"Chazz! Where are you, man?"
"In bed."
"At five?"
"Oh, crap, is that what time it is? Damn it... Sorry, Slacker. I was working on this essay all night."
Jaden groaned. Why did Chazz decide to take extra classes over the summer? It was stupid and completely unnecessary. And it ruined all of their plans! This is like the thirteenth time!
"Listen, I just can't today."
"What? But it's only five! There's still so much time!"
"If I leave now, I'll just fall asleep at your place. If I get more sleep, there won't be enough time. I promise to hang out with you some other time, okay?"
It's fine if you fall asleep at my house, Jaden wanted to say, as long as you're here. But of course he couldn't say that. Jaden bit his lip, trying not to tear up. It wasn't that big of a deal, but he'd looked forward to this so much. He'd gotten all excited only to be put down.
"Nn, that's cool. Another time."
If Chazz noticed anything off about Jaden's voice, he didn't comment.
"Yeah, I'll call you tomorrow and tell you."
"... Get some sleep."
Jaden hung up after saying that, not wanting the conversation to continue and get awkward. Until tomorrow then.
Jaden felt like screaming. Climbing to the top of a mountain and yelling as loud as he could for as long as he could. Unfortunately, a mountain wouldn't have phone service and he might miss Chazz's call. The call that he still hadn't received. Not after all day. Not even a text.
Jaden felt like the only thing he could be positively sure of with Chazz these days was to not be sure of any of the plans they made. The annoying thing was that Chazz usually had a legitimate reason for whatever was going on so Jaden couldn't even get mad. And even if it was just Chazz blowing him off, Jaden likely wouldn't yell at him anyway.
The handicaps of liking someone, Jaden's found, are many. If only Jaden could tell Chazz how he felt, then maybe, maybe, he could have more room to complain. If they were in a relationship, then––no, who was he kidding? Jaden would surely just be ever the more compliant. A vicious circle.
Currently, Jaden was laying on the couch with his feet hanging over the arms. Sound could barely be heard from the television; Jaden wasn't really watching it but found comfort when the house wasn't completely silent. Naturally, his phone was right next to him. He was waiting for that call from Chazz, after all.
But anticipating the call didn't stop Jaden from jumping when it rang. Although Jaden wanted to pick it up immediately, he waited until the fourth ring. He glanced at the time. 9 PM. Too late to really do anything today. Unless they had a sleepover. With cuddling. Maybe shirtless. Not the time, Jaden reminded himself, and answered his phone.
"Hey."
"Hello, Slacker."
"Um, what's up?"
"I just got out of classes––"
"Oh, then––"
"––and, if you would let me finish, I have to drive pretty close to your house anyway, so I could drop by if you wanted."
"Oh! Uh, that'd be great!"
Chazz snickered.
"In any case, if there's anything specific you want to do or I have to pick something up, think of it before I get there."
"Nah, you wouldn't have to pick anything up. It'll be cool just chilling."
This elicited another almost mocking laughter from Chazz, causing Jaden's certainty that his feelings were secret to falter. He could just confront Chazz when he came over, anyway.
"Mmm, and if you want––someone's on the other line, hang on..."
What an awesome way to end the day. While Jaden was waiting for Chazz to finish his other conversation, he thought about what they could do. They could go out, but then Chazz would probably drop Jaden off and go home afterwards. It had to be at the house. A movie. A movie would be perfect. Maybe if Jaden chose a really long movie, Chazz would fall asleep. And Jaden wouldn't wake him up until it was too late for him to drive home. And then––
"Jaden?"
"Yeah?"
"Listen..."
No way. Not that tone. That tone is the 'I know you were looking forward to this but never mind' tone that Jaden had learned to dread hearing.
"That was my father. He needs me home immediately."
"No big deal, but why?"
"He didn't say."
"You didn't ask?"
"I didn't really get the chance."
"You said my house wasn't that far out of your way. You can't even stop by for five minutes?"
"No, I can't. It's important."
"How do you know it's important if you don't even know what it is?"
"I just––I can't go today. Probably can't see you for awhile."
Jaden exhaled slowly.
"Are you doing this on purpose?"
A stunned silence. Jaden waited for an answer. Chazz could either break the silence or hang up, but Jaden wanted an answer.
"That's... Maybe a little," Chazz admitted, and Jaden wasn't sure if he should feel surprised or not.
"Why?"
"...Fine. You win."
Jaden figured that meant that Chazz was going to explain himself, but there was only more silence. But this was something Jaden needed to know. He would patiently wait...
...But not forever. Gosh, how long had it been since he'd asked? Jaden pulled the phone from his ear to make sure Chazz hadn't hung up. Jaden bit his lip.
"Chazz?"
"You need to learn to keep your doors locked."
That... came from behind Jaden. He peeked up over the back of the couch. Although he'd caught the hints that Chazz was in the house, he still jumped visibly when he saw Chazz standing in the doorway to the living room. Chazz looked demonic, a pure black presence against the white and dimly lit hallway. Jaden shivered.
"Sorry," Chazz offered, noticing Jaden's startled state.
"S'alright." Pulling himself up into a sitting position, he nodded his head towards the newly opened up couch space.
Understanding the gesture, Chazz walked over and sat next to Jaden.
"Y––" Chazz stopped when Jaden shook his head. Jaden crept halfway over to Chazz and used Chazz to pull himself the rest of the way. Jaden put his arms around Chazz and hugged him. Tightly. Jaden thought Chazz might actually be uncomfortable with the force he was using, but Chazz seemed to relax in his arms.
Jaden smiled and closed his eyes, nuzzling the side of Chazz's neck. Jaden eased his grip on Chazz, but didn't let go. He just took a deep breath. And slowly Chazz reacted, wrapping his arms around Jaden lightly, as though he wasn't sure he should.
Jaden blew on Chazz's neck and Chazz tensed up, hissing out a breath of his own. Jaden looked at him curiously, but let it go in favor of a more urgent topic.
"Okay," He turned his face back to Chazz's neck and his words started to become muffled, "There better be a good reason for this."
"It's––"
Jaden suddenly pulled back to look at Chazz sternly.
"And it better be the truth."
Chazz smiled, but it was a pained smile that quickly changed to a brooding look.
"I could never be honest."
Troubled, he revised the statement.
"I mean, not about everything that's been happening. It's something not easily put into words. I'll end up lying when I try to explain."
He moved a hand to hide his face from Jaden, but Jaden tugged it away.
"I'll wait for as long as you need. And if you lie along the way, you owe me fried shrimp," Jaden said, earning an irked but fond look from Chazz before Chazz really contemplated everything for a moment, but he eventually gave in.
"I haven't been lying exactly, I have had some sleepless nights. I have been focusing solely on work. But it's..."
Chazz's gaze was fixated on thoughts Jaden couldn't see, no matter how much he wished he could.
"I think I was subconsciously avoiding you. While I tried to... work things out."
"Subconsciously?"
"Yeah, you know, like without me purposely––"
"I know what it means! I just don't get why you'd subconsciously avoid someone."
Chazz put his hand under Jaden's chin and tilted his head up so their eyes met. Jaden immediately flushed.
"There are a lot of reasons." Chazz spoke softly, and Jaden could feel Chazz's breath against his face.
"But mine is that, um, well, see––"
Jaden grabbed the sides of Chazz's face and kissed him. It was too much; their proximity, their contact, and everything about Chazz ––he just broke. Jaden had his eyes closed, but he felt Chazz gently grab his hands and pull them away from his face. He didn't break the kiss, though, and kept Jaden's hands in his own.
It was chaste, or at least that's all Jaden had been planning on. Jaden felt Chazz's smirk only a second before he felt Chazz's tongue graze his lips.
"Ah!" Jaden broke contact in surprise before thinking of any repercussions such a reaction might have. Luckily, Chazz only looked amused at his reaction.
"God, Slacker, what if I'd said my reason was that I knew you liked me and didn't know how to let you down easy?"
Jaden smiled at him.
"Then I'd be glad I finally got a kiss in."
Chazz laughed.
"Liar," He said as he leaned in for another kiss.
AN: So? What do you think? There are some parts I'm not pleased with. I'm going to be kind of inactive over the summer, so I'm sorry for that, but I really wanted to get at least one new fanfiction up while I know I can. ANYWAY, I was just going to write something cute and then I listened to a sad song so the middle lost track of itself but there's a nice happy ending so I guess it all worked out?
In other news, if I do get another fic out over the summer (hopefully I can write more than one, but it's looking bleh) it'll probably be a sort of stand alone sequel to A Day at the Park.
-Cenoha
