It was a lot warmer than he expected as he got off the plane. He was so used to the cold, it kind of shocked him. The temperature on the television in the lobby as he passed read fifty degrees. That was warm compared to the daily in Canada in late December. He slipped his red jacket on and headed down to the car rental where he approached the man at the counter.
"How can I help you today, sir?" He asked cheerfully.
"I need to get a car. Oh, and here's this." Evan held up a finger while he dug around in his pocket for the card. The guy took it and immediately smiled. "Of course, you must be Evan. Mrs. Amanda said you can have whatever you need. Free of charge."
Evan grinned again at the kindness of the random stranger. "I need a vehicle with the biggest amount of storage space. And I need one with GPS, quickly, if it's not too much to ask. I'm in a hurry."
The man smiled and gave a curt nod. "Absolutely. Follow me."
Evan followed the man when he walked out from behind the counter and into the next building. He plucked a pair of keys off the wall and guided him to a black Suburban. Evan took the keys when they were offered. "Thank you. I shouldn't need this for more than a day or two."
"Take your time, sir. Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No, thank you. This will do." He smiled and shook the man's hand. He adjusted the seats and cranked up the heater when he got in. Before Evan pulled out of the lot he pulled out his phone and dialed Brock. As it rang he punched in Jonathan's address into the GPS on the dash.
"Evan?"
"Hey, Brock. I'm in North Carolina now. I landed about twenty minutes ago and I'm about to head out on the road now."
He heard a sigh of relief from his friend and grinned.
"Okay, good. I've got you on speaker so the boys can hear you."
"Hey guys."
"How long until you get to him, you think?" He heard Lui.
"Well, according to the GPS, it's about an hour drive from here. I've got a full tank and the roads are pretty empty so it shouldn't take me long."
"Good. Now go. We won't keep you any longer, just let us know what's up when you get there." Brock said and Evan ended the call, pulling onto the highway.
"What the hell else could you possibly want?!" Jonathan yelled at his father who stood drooping against the doorway, drunk. He was standing in the front lawn because he knew the man wouldn't come out in the daylight, where the neighbors could see.
"Huh?! Your wife is dead who you haven't talked to in fifteen years. Your only son let's himself be your punching bag. He cleans up your fucking mess! What else do you want from me?!"
Jonathan was burning alive he was so angry. He could feel the tears collecting at the corners of his eyes. His lip was stinging from it splitting last night. He could still taste blood on his teeth.
"Watch your tone with me, boy!"
Jonathan laughed and for a moment he thought the man might actually step into the yard. But he didn't. The neighbors were looking out the window in question, but he shook his head at them. It wouldn't do any good to call the cops. It didn't work the first time and it wouldn't work now.
"Fuck you, Dad." He turned around and headed down the driveway. "Fuck you."
"Get back here you worthless faggot!"
Jonathan just shook his head and kept walking.
"Turn left. After 100 yards you will arrive at your destination."
Evan stopped the truck a few houses down from Jonathan's before he got out into the cold. It probably wasn't smart to just walk up to his house and knock, given the fact that his dad would probably answer the door. It was a nice neighborhood, quiet, quaint. Even though something dark was going on behind closed doors. He decided to try the neighbor to the left of Jonathan's house first before deciding what to do. Evan approached the door and knocked. A moment later a middle aged woman answered and looked up at him worriedly.
"Hi."
She smiled nervously, "Can I help you?"
"My name is Evan. I'm here about Jonathan." He motioned to the house to the right. "He's my best friend. I understand the situation he's in and I'm here to take him home with me. So would you happen to know if he's home, ma'am? I'm sure you understand why I don't want to go banging on his door right now."
She gave a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh thank God! I've been worried sick about that boy. We've been listening to them scream and fight for a whole week and I've been scared that David would take it too far and kill the poor thing." She clutched at her chest. "And yes, I do understand. I wouldn't go knockin' on that man's door if you paid me. You just missed Jonathan. He managed to get out of the house for a while. Went walking that way just ten minutes ago." She pointed down the road.
"Thank you so much." He gave her a nod and she grabbed his hand before he turned away.
"No, angel. Thank you." She squeezed his hand. "You're saving his life. Now you find him and take him as far from here as you can and don't ever come back."
"Yes ma'am. That's the plan." He squeezed her hand back and he walked back to the truck. There was no telling where Jonathan had gone, but he drove down the road for a while until it came to what appeared to be the center of town. Tiny shops littered with trinkets and whatnot filled old brick buildings. It was a very small lively town. There was a steady bustle of people walking down either sidewalk but a blue jacket caught his eye. But it was lost in the crowd as soon as he gave it a second glance. He searched and searched but couldn't catch sight of it again. So he turned onto the next street which was just as crowded as the last. He pulled over once he found enough room to park on the side of the road and got out. The crowd easily moved past him as he looked up and down the street for any hint of blue. Evan didn't know why. Jonathan could be wearing anything, but based on his choices for online apparel he had a big hunch that he wore blue in real life more often than not. Just like Evan wore red.
And then there it was, walking right at him until it took a sharp right and headed down another street. It was quick but he saw a face, one that was fair but ruined with bruises and a busted lip. It had to be Jonathan. No one else had on such a Deliriously blue jacket. Evan's heartbeat picked up the pace as he quickened his steps to keep up. He kept his distance but kept his eyes on the back of the guy's light brown hair. It flickered to and fro against the cold wind and he shivered when the anxiety took hold of his nerves. He was tall, his height, not big, but not thin. He was lean with broad shoulders. If it was him at all, but he had a feeling, an extremely good feeling that it was Jonathan. There was a town square with a small park up ahead and he watched the guy look both ways before jogging across the road. Evan watched him find an empty park bench and sit by himself. He ran his hands through his hair and pulled a phone from his pocket and put it to his ear.
Evan took a deep breath and swallowed when his phone rang in his pocket. He slid his thumb across the screen and put it to his ear, "Jonathan?"
"Evan, hey."
"Are you okay?"
He watched the guy shake his head. "I'm okay, for now. I got out of the house, sitting in the park. I don't think I'm going back though. He'll probably kill me this time."
"Why?"
"I threw some choice words at him before I left." Jonathan said and Evan could hear the strain in his voice. He was about to break. "I don't know what to do now."
"Just calm down. Everything is gonna be fine." Evan said as he made his way across the street and toward the figure on the park bench.
"Yeah. I'm just really fucking scared and . . ." Jonathan choked and his voice trembled. Evan watched him wipe at his eyes as he approached him from the side. He watched his lips as he said, "And I just really wish you were here. It's stupid, I know."
"That's not stupid, stupid." Evan said and smiled when Jonathan did.
"Just a little."
"Not really." Evan ended the call and put his phone in his pocket then said, "Since I'm already here."
Jonathan looked up and over at him and stood, but he froze. He continued to stand there motionless until Evan saw his chin tremble and his head drop. He walked toward him and Jonathan reached a hand out and Evan took it, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Ouch."
"Sorry." Evan loosened his grip. They stayed like that for a while until Jonathan pulled back and looked him hard in the eye.
Evan looked him over thoroughly. He wasn't what he expected at all. He had light skin, red lips, dimples in his cheeks when he smiled, and the bluest eyes he'd ever seen. His ears were pierced with small black studs and he could see a tattoo showing on his neck just beneath the collar of his shirt. Jonathan wiped his face with the back of his hand and winced when he touched the bruise on his left eye.
"You look like shit." Evan said and Jonathan gave him a smile. Wide and white.
"I can't believe you're fucking here."
"What? You really thought I'd just leave you here after that phone call? I left right then and there." Evan shrugged. "That's what friends do."
Jonathan rubbed at the back of his neck nervously. "I'm just . . . not used to having anyone do anything for me. Other than Mom." He shrugged. "I mean, nothing like flying down from Canada overnight."
"I'm just glad you're not dead." Evan said and pulled him into another soft hug. "It's nice to meet you, by the way."
Jonathan laughed softly, "Yeah. You, too."
Evan pulled away and they sat on the bench together. "Now, I'd ask you how you feel about Canada, but it's pointless because I'm not letting you stay here either way."
Jonathan twiddled his thumbs before looking over at him, "So it's 'you're coming with me' or 'you're coming with me'?"
Evan grinned, "Yeah, pretty much."
Jonathan nodded, "You're serious about this?"
"Yes. I thought it over for like . . . two whole seconds."
Jonathan giggled and for a moment Evan could hear the goofy laugh of the normal Delirious. But it was gone just as quickly and the wind gave a big gust, making them both pull their jackets around them a little tighter.
"Okay." Jonathan nodded and grinned at him. Evan stared for a little longer than he wanted to, but Jonathan was . . . different.
"Okay. Then let's get this shit started." Evan stood and pulled Jonathan to his feet.
"What are we doing?"
"Is there a shipping store around here?"
Jonathan nodded, "Two blocks that way." He pointed behind them.
"Okay, how many boxes do you think it'll take to pack up all your things?" Evan looked over at him.
He shrugged, "Uhh . . . I'd say, like, seven medium boxes. I have next to nothing. Like, ten shirts, my consoles and computer. The rest is keepsakes. Not much. I already downsized once when I moved back to the house at the first of December." Jonathan licked his lips, "Some of it's still packed actually, so not even that many."
"Alright, I parked not far from here." Evan started walking in the direction Jonathan pointed in, but didn't get too far until he felt a hand on his arm.
"Wait. How are we going to get in there to get my things?" He furrowed his brows. "If I go home, he'll probably strangle me to death."
"Leave that to me."
Evan loaded the boxes into the back of the truck and they both got in, driving back to Jonathan's house. He was nervous as he sat in the passenger's seat tapping his knee with his fingers.
"Relax."
"I'm trying." Jonathan took a deep breath as they pulled into the yard.
"Come on." Evan said and they got out. But instead of going to Jonathan's, Evan led him to the neighbor's house. He knocked and the same woman answered, this time she was more than happy.
"Hi, again. Listen, can I ask a huge favor of you?" He said with a smile.
"Sure, dear. Anything you need." She beamed.
"Can Jonathan sit with you for a few minutes? I'm going to go have a chat with his dad and when you see me come outside I want you to call the cops and tell them there's a man running around the yard with a knife." Evan finished and the woman looked at him, eyebrows inching up her forehead.
"Yes, I suppose I could do that. Come in, sweetie." She motioned for Jonathan but he stood still on the porch gaping at Evan.
"What are you gonna do?"
Evan huffed a laugh and guided him through the door, "Don't worry, Delirious. I'll be fine. I just need to know one thing."
"What's that?"
"What makes him mad?"
"Well besides everything . . . probably the fact that I'm bisexual." Jonathan said and waited for Evan to give him a look but he never did.
"Okay. Stay here until the cops come. In fact, you may want to go ahead and call them now." Evan shut the door behind him and Jonathan watched with Ms. Allison as he crossed the yard. He listened as she phoned it in. In the meantime he tried to control the erratic beating of his heart.
Evan rapped his knuckles on the door and waited. And waited. It swung open to a huge man, at least 6'3. He glanced up into his glazed over eyes and smiled.
"Hi, big guy. I'm Evan. I wanted to talk to you about your son."
He grunted, "What about him?"
"May I come in?" He asked as he all but shoved the man aside and invited himself in. "Nice kitchen you have here. You probably don't even know how to use it do you?"
"The hell did you say?"
Evan grinned again as he found the knives and placed one on the counter in front of him making sure David was paying attention.
"He told me you don't like the fact that he likes girls . . . and boys." Evan said and the man turned red, he could practically see the steam coming off his face. Oh he was angry now. "Well, I don't agree with that. I think you should love and support your son no matter what his preferences are. Asshole."
Evan made his way closer to the front door slowly as David stepped his way running his hand across the counter. The knife was now in the man's hand just like he expected it to be.
"So, we're going to take his things and leave this hellhole, and you can drink yourself to sleep each night knowing that you're alone."
Evan finally heard the sirens in the distance and turned the knob behind his back as David lunged forward.
"Evan!"
Jonathan ran outside when he saw his father burst out the door with a knife in his hand. Evan tackled him to the ground and quickly got to his feet, keeping his distance in case the man wasn't as drunk as he thought he was. The sirens grew louder and soon they saw the lights. David got to his feet, fuming, and slowly stumbled towards Evan.
"Sir! Drop the weapon!" One if the cops yelled and pointed his gun. "Now."
Evan watched the man's eyes narrow as he stared past him. He turned his head and there was Jonathan, standing beside him glaring at his father. The blue and white lights were flashing all around them and none of it seemed real. He was really here, Delirious was three inches away and he could feel the heat radiating off of him. Evan never thought they'd meet like this. He always thought Jonathan would just suck it up one day and accept his invite to E3 and meet everyone.
"On your knees!" The cop yelled again and the man gave in, dropping to his knees in the cold grass.
Jonathan moved closer until their arms were flush against each others.
He turned his head slightly and said under his breath, "You know you're my fucking hero, right?".
Evan grinned, "Like always."
After Evan gave a quick statement to the police officer he backed the Suburban into Jonathan's yard, close to the front door, and they pulled the empty boxes out along with packing tape.
"Shall we?" He asked and Delirious opened the door for him with a smirk.
Jonathan was a very clean person. Neat and organized. It was another thing that Evan hadn't expected. He'd expected clothes strewn everywhere and empty Mountain Dew cans stacked a mile high. But everything was in order. They carried the small boxes that were already in his room to the truck first, then they went to work on packing everything.
"Do you have an overnight bag you can pack? Like another change of clothes, toothbrush, essentials." Evan asked and Jonathan nodded and dropped to his knees before pulling a small duffle from beneath his bed. Evan was untangling console and computer wires when Jonathan laughed. He turned around and Jonathan was holding the Christmas present he'd sent him a week ago.
"I never said thank you for the present." He laughed again.
"You're welcome. I knew you'd like it." Evan said and smiled when Jonathan stuffed the teddy bear into his overnight bag.
Jonathan shrugged, "It could come in handy."
Evan laughed and shook his head and went back to wrapping up cords. He checked for discs before he unplugged the consoles and wrapped them in bubble wrap, setting them in a box. Jonathan really didn't have much. All the clothes he had fit in one box by themselves and keepsakes in another. His
games and CDs took up the rest and that was it. There was nothing else to pack and there was still a smaller box left. Evan put down the box in his hands when Jonathan sat on his bed and rubbed his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Evan asked him and he tried to stop the anxiety that was threatening to surface. What if Jonathan changed his mind, what if he didn't want to go?
"Nothing. I've just had this fucking headache for a week. Since this all started. He hijacked the aspirin as soon as he got here. The fucker."
Evan exhaled and unclenched his fists. His anxiety disappeared. "Why don't you go sit in the truck and relax, I'll get the rest of this."
Jonathan hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and let Evan pull him to his feet. He watched him get into the truck from the front door and turned back to pick up the last few boxes and something at the end of the hallway caught his eye. A small stack of thick books sat on a table. Silently he made his way over and picked one up to find they were actually photo albums, all filled to the brim with memories, pictures of him as a child, growing up, school. Evan bit at his lip in thought before he picked them all up and placed them in the last empty box. He passed by what was Jonathan's mother's room he assumed. It was also kept neat and clean except for the destruction of clothes and cans his father left behind the past week. Jonathan needed to have something of hers to keep with him. He glanced over the room and there on the dresser was a small jewelry box standing alone. Evan opened it slowly to find a few rings and bracelets, but what caught his eye was the tiny picture that was wedged in the corner of the mirror. It was Jonathan and his mother locked in an embrace that only a mother could give and he could feel the emotion behind it. This. He closed the box and took it with him. He placed it in the box with the albums and taped it up before loading it into the back of the truck with the others. He gave everything one last glance before closing the front door and getting behind the wheel. He gave Ms. Allison a wave as they they pulled onto the road. She smiled and waved before walking through her door. Evan looked over at Jonathan.
"Hey."
He had his head propped up against his arm on the window and he looked even worse than before.
"Hm?" Was all he mumbled.
"Which way to the cemetery?" Evan asked and Jonathan opened his eyes and sat up.
"Take a left up here and follow it down a bit. It'll be on the right."
Evan gave him a nod and they drove in silence watching the bare trees fly by one by one until he saw the stone sign. He turned right and into the cemetery. The sun was finally out and it shone through the oak trees that filled the area. It was peaceful, beautiful, and he looked over to find Delirious staring out the window at the scenery as well.
"It rained that day." He said and Evan knew he meant the funeral. He looked tired the more he looked at him, his blue eyes looked grey in the sun and the bags beneath his eyes seemed darker.
"When's the last time you slept?" He asked and Jonathan shrugged.
"I don't know." He pointed out ahead of them. "She's in the middle. Just stop up there."
Evan pulled over and put the truck in park, leaving the heat on as they got out. He followed behind Jonathan through the headstones and fake flowers until they came to a mound of pale dirt surrounded by displays upon displays of beautiful flowers. Real ones. Ones that would wilt soon from the weather. A small temporary name template was sitting to the side. Julia.
"Julia." Evan said and Jonathan looked at him as he continued to talk. "I would like to say that even though I never got the pleasure of meeting you, I still think you're awesome. Because without you and your awesome ways Jonathan here would've never come into existence and grown into the awesome person that he is. So thank you."
Evan glanced at Jonathan who was grinning with his hands in his pockets as he looked down at the mound of dirt.
"I'll be in the truck. Take your time." Evan gave his shoulder a light squeeze and he walked away.
Jonathan watched him go and for a moment he got lost in the way Evan walked. The way he held his shoulders back properly, the way he turned and looked back at him. For just a moment. But he slapped himself mentally. Evan was so far off limits it was fucking hilarious to even think about it. He smiled at his stupidity like he always did. Just laugh it off, no one will know. It always worked that way no matter how bad it actually hurt him. Just laugh.
But Evan. Evan was different. Evan cared. Evan would join in, call him an idiot, and even though he knew Evan didn't mean it like the others did . . . he always apologized. He'd text him after, every time, just to say, "Hey, you know I didn't mean it, right?"
And he'd always say, "Yes, bitch. I know. And you don't have to say sorry. But you'll do it anyway."
"Yes. I will, dummy. I always do."
And Jonathan would smile as he curled up in his sheets. He had a friend, miles and miles away, but he had one. He had someone that gave a shit about his feelings. It was nice. Jonathan looked back down at the incomplete grave that still didn't have a headstone. It would take weeks for them to get it done and he wouldn't be here to see it.
"Hey, Mom." He said quietly and looked around. It felt stupid, talking to nothing, but he had things he needed to say even if it was to the memory of his mother. "I'm leaving. Getting out, like you always wanted me to. Dad showed up and beat the fuck out of me, so that was great. But Evan's here, the one I always talk about. He's taking me to Canada, his home. I don't really know what I'll do there or how I'll like it but he'll be there . . ." He swallowed and glanced at the truck. "He's always been there and I know what's going to happen if I go with him and I'm fucking terrified . . ."
He took a deep breath and watched his breath run away with the wind as he exhaled. "But I know what you would tell me. So this is goodbye for now, Mom. I love you."
"You good?" Evan asked him when he got back in the truck, into the heat. He rubbed his face, his eyes were hurting but he felt okay. He looked at his friends behind the wheel and smiled.
"I'm good."Evan smiled back and pulled his shades down as they drive off. "Onward!"
They laughed as they drove into town again. Jonathan told him about a few of the shops and the crazy old people who still sat on the same bench and said the same thing every time you passed them. He talked more than he ever had and Evan listened and laughed and joked around. It was just like it always was between them.
"So you work where?"
Jonathan pointed to a small bookstore in between two buildings, you almost couldn't see it.
"There."
Evan pulled over and they both got out, Jonathan leading him into the small building. The bell on the door chimed.
"I only work when they need me. The owner was good friends with my mom and I grew up with his son." Jonathan looked around for a moment but he didn't see anyone. Evan loved the smell of books, it was a guilty pleasure. He pulled an old book off the shelf and leafed through the pages and took a deep breath. He grinned when Jonathan smiled at him.
"I love it, too."
"Jonathan!" Evan nearly jumped as a short brunette peered around the corner at them. She gasped and ran up to him, touching his face. "What the hell happened?"
Jonathan took her hands and pulled them off his face. "I'm fine. It was my dad. But I'm leaving, Ava, that's why I'm here."
Evan watched her face drop. She was cute and small and the way she treated Jonathan was very sisterly.
"Where are you going?" She asked and looked past Jonathan and met Evan's stare. "With him?"
Evan nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Ava, this is Evan." Jonathan said and Ava froze before cutting Jonathan a look, trying to suppress a smile.
Jonathan rolled his eyes, "Don't embarrass me." He muttered and she grinned.
"Nice to meet you Evan." She gave him a wave.
"You, too."
"Canada." Jonathan said, getting her attention again.
"That's . . ." She tapped his finger against her lip, "really far away. But, if it's what you want then I'm happy for you. I'm guessing you came for your stuff?"
"Yeah." He said and he made his way into a room in the back of the store where there was a small box he had kept his things in. Photos, notes, bracelets Ava had made him, a book or two. He put the lid on it and walked back out to Evan who was smelling another book.
"Will you let Mr. Hansen know, Ava?"
She beamed, "Absolutely. I'm gonna miss you and your maniacal laughter."
Evan smiled. Jonathan's laughter was beyond maniacal. It's what made him . . . him. He let them say their goodbyes and walked outside but soon felt a hand on his arm.
"Take care of him please. He's extremely insecure and very shy even around people he knows and he doesn't like to be put on the spotlight. And don't leave him alone. Got it?"
"Got it." Evan grinned down at her and she smiled and waved them off when they got back in the truck.
"Okay. Shipping store?" Jonathan asked and Evan nodded.
"Yep. Shipping store."
They got all the boxes into the store and Evan asked the man for overnight shipping so it would all be there by the time they got home. Evan repeated that in his head as they walked through the airport side by side.
By the time they got home. They.
Evan had lived alone for years and he knew he always had a spare bedroom. But he never used it and never looked for anyone to fill up the space. He never looked for anyone to share his bed either for that matter. Relationships were something he didn't like wasting his time on. It never went anywhere and they were boring as hell. He liked the quiet.
"Close your eyes." He said quietly as Jonathan tapped his fingers on his leg as the plane picked up speed on the runway. Evan watched him breathe slowly to keep himself calm. He shut his eyes when he told him to.
"That makes it worse. Fuck planes."
Evan laughed then grabbed his hand to keep it still and Jonathan squeezed his fingers hard when the plane left the pavement. It shook for a moment and then smoothly leveled itself out. It took him a minute but he relaxed and released his fingers and exhaled heavily.
"Can I get you two anything?" A flight attendant asked after they were in the air for a while.
"Aspirin and water, please." Evan said and gave her a smile when she handed it to him.
"Thank you."
He turned and handed it to Jonathan who accepted it gratefully before swallowing the two pills in a hurry.
"Now shut your eyes and go to sleep, this is a one way flight, no connector. So sleep, it's gonna be a while." Evan told him and Jonathan didn't argue. He dropped his head back and shut his eyes. A few minutes later his head fell to the side and hit Evan's shoulder.
A grin spread across his face as he pulled his phone out and snapped a picture of the both of them. The first picture of many that was to come he was sure. Before he sent it to the guys he found a hockey mask photo and edited it over Jonathan's face.
He typed out, "Got him. Canada bound now." Then he attached the picture and sent it in a group message to the boys. Evan rested his head back for a while and was about to doze off when his phone buzzed a few times. He slid open the message.
Brock: That's adorable. :)
Marcel: Awesome, glad he's okay!
A few minutes later it buzzed again.
Tyler: Aw man! No fair you get to see his face.
Evan tried not to laugh out loud.
Lui: Yay!
Nogla and Mini both said: Sweet!
Tyler: Come on, Evan. Just give us a peek.
Evan: No, Tyler. That's his decision, I'm not taking it away from him.
Tyler: Ooh. Well look at you Mother Goose, all protective and shit, lol.
Lui: So was it bad when you got there?
Evan: He had just got out of his house and was at the park and he called me, upset. He's beat up pretty bad, has a black eye, split lip. I'm sure he's hurt in other places because I hurt him when I hugged him.
Mini: That's messed up. I'm just really fucking glad you got to him.
Brock: So . . . is he ugly?
Nogla: Lol, what the hell Brock?
Lui: Yeah, we don't care what he looks like. As long as he's okay.
Marcel: Yeah, is he ugly?
Evan: Jesus, guys. No, he's not ugly.
Tyler: Details!
Evan sighed and shook his head, details wouldn't hurt he guessed.
Evan: He's actually kind of pretty.
Marcel: Pretty? What does that mean?
Tyler: It means we need more details!
Evan: Okay! Calm the fuck down. He has light brown hair, bright blue eyes, light skin.
He paused.
Mini: Aaaaand?
Evan: Aaaand. He has those really red lips, you know, like when you lick them too much and he has dimples in his cheeks when he smiles.
Tyler: Well fuck. Dimples means he's hot. Is he hot, Evan?
Evan: What?
Tyler: Evan, if he's hot just say it!
Lui: Omg. You guys are killing me, lol!
Evan: I don't know! He's got the kind of face that's strange. Well, different. But you can't stop looking at him because you don't know what it is. I don't know.
Nogla: I believe the word you're looking for is, mysterious.
Marcel: Ooh. He's mysterious! Delirious the mysterious!
Tyler: Yep. He's hot. He has the dimples, blue eyes, and he has a mysterious face. Totally hot. Just say it.
Evan rolled his eyes, but couldn't keep himself from laughing under his breath. Jonathan moved beside him but quickly went still once Evan did. He looked down at him sleeping hard on his shoulder and observed his features again. The more he looked, the prettier he got if you took away the bruising and busted lip.
Evan: His ears are pierced, too. Tiny black studs. I see a tattoo underneath his collar on the right side of his neck.
Brock: I'm in. He's hot. You just described the perfect GILF.
Mini: What the hell is a GILF?
Brock: Guy I'd like to fuck.
Marcel: Dude! That's so gay.
Brock: Nah, that's just being open with your sexuality. Everybody has a dream guy, even you Marcel.
Marcel: Well, yeah. Don't know if I'd fuck him.
Evan: Guys! No one is fucking anybody! Let's not have this debate right now. I'm on a plane, he's sleeping on my shoulder and I'm tired as fuck. Let's save it for another day. Please.
Lui: Oh God. I can't get over him sleeping on your shoulder. Guys, who's boarding this ship?
Mini: Haha! Me, I'm so on this ship!
Nogla: Me, definitely.
Marcel: What ship are you talking about?!
Tyler: The Evan and Delirious ship. In which we support their gay relationship together. But they aren't actually together.
Lui: But we love the idea of it.
Marcel: Gotcha. Yeah why the hell not. I've always thought you guys were gay anyway, lol.
Evan: Why?! Don't do this to me!
Brock: You know we're just having some fun. But I'm shipping it, too. I regret nothing. Get some sleep, Evan. We love you!
Tyler: No, wait! He never said he was hot! I'm not leaving this group message until I hear it from Evan!
Evan rubbed his eyes. This conversation did not go like he had thought it would. He shook his head and typed the words that he silently agreed with.
Evan: He's hot. Now get the fuck out.
Tyler: Yes! Bye bitches.
Mini: Bye Evan!
Lui: Ttyl.
Nogla: Bye!
Marcel: I'm confused. But, bye loser.
Brock: Sorry, not sorry. Bye!
"Jesus fucking Christ." He muttered and put his phone away. "Never again."
He laid he head back and closed his eyes, trying desperately to forget the whole conversation. He failed and fell asleep with Jonathan on the brain like he figured he would. It would probably be that way for a while until he got used to him being there.
His neck was killing him when he opened his eyes and he felt something heavy on his head. He tried to move but Evan's head was laying on his and he tried not to laugh. There was a ding over the intercom and it was the captain telling them to fasten their seat belts as they came in for landing.
"Evan." He nudged him and he wiggled a bit before jerking awake.
"What? Sorry." He mumbled and rubbed at his eyes.
Jonathan smiled, "We're about to land." He said and looked out the window. "Look at all the fucking snow. Shit."
Evan laughed, "Get used to it. We've got about three more months of it."
"Fuuuuck that." Jonathan looked back at him and grinned. "Just kidding. I love snow. It's messy and cold. When I was a kid we would build forts and have snow wars."
Evan bit at his lip. Jonathan looked serene as he watched the ground get closer and closer. But right before they approached the runway he sat back and shut the window, starting to breath slow and heavy again just like when they took off. His fingers tapped at his leg, it was his nervous habit Evan realized. Jonathan glanced over at him and gave a nervous smile, "It's just the takeoff and landing. Scares the shit out of me."
The plane started to shake as they got close and Evan grabbed his hand again when Jonathan shut his eyes tight. He squeezed his fingers just like before and exhaled when the plane slowed to a crawl.
"You good?"
Jonathan let go of his hand and nodded, "I will be. When get we off of this thing."
Evan stood and pulled their bags down, "Well, come on. Let's go home."
He watched Jonathan slowly smile and he felt something he couldn't quite describe. He felt happy, ecstatic, because Delirious was here. He was going home with him and he felt the nerves tighten in his stomach as they walked through the airport. It was cold as hell outside, so he pulled the extra jacket he'd packed out of his bag and gave it to Jonathan who put it on in a hurry when they walked outside.
"Thank you!"
Evan laughed as they searched for his car in the lot. Jonathan helped him scrape the ice off of it before they got on the road.
"Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"Me, too." Evan drove through town as the sun was setting. The temperature was dropping and he knew Jonathan could feel it. His nose was red.
"Pizza?"
Jonathan laughed, "Hell yeah."
Evan pulled into his favorite pizzeria, "Wait here." He cranked the heat up in the car and ran inside, ordering three pizzas.
"Three?" His friend Rory asked when he placed the order. "You have company for a change?" He joked.
Evan grinned, "Yeah, one of my online buddies. He's gonna be living with me."
"Wow. That's kind of sudden."
"Yeah, it's a long story, but he's my best friend."
Rory winked and fetched his pizza, "Gotcha."
"Thanks, man. I'll see you later." Evan said after he paid him and grabbed his food.
"Holla." Rory called.
Jonathan jerked awake when Evan got back in the car and put the warm pizza in his lap.
"Sorry." He giggled. "I'm still fucking tired."
"It's fine. We'll eat then sleep when we get home."
"Sounds amazing." Jonathan muttered sleepily. He watched the street lights go by as the radio played quietly in the car. None of this felt real and he wouldn't be surprised if he woke up in his room with his dad standing over him with a bloody fist. Tears were gathering and he blinked them away before they dropped.
Evan pulled into a driveway in a busy neighborhood. It was a small two story house with a front and back yard, and a porch. It was nice. He parked in the garage and got out. He walked to Jonathan's side and opened the door before grabbing the pizza so he could get out.
"Can you grab the bags out of the back?" Evan asked him and he reached into the backseat and got their overnight bags. Jonathan followed Evan through the door and into his kitchen which was huge and awesome, just like the rest of his house as he showed him around.
Evan showed him to the spare room that would be his. It was just down the hall from his own room. But Jonathan was frozen at the doorway with a terrible pained looked on his face. Then he looked up at him and Evan's heart nearly dropped to his stomach.
"I don't deserve any of this. I don't deserve a friend that treats me like you do." Jonathan said and Evan watched the tears wet his face.
"Okay, first of all, you're my best friend. Why the fuck wouldn't I do any of this for you? And second, you'll just have to get use to me treating you like royalty because that's just how I treat my friends." Evan said and he knew it wouldn't make him stop thinking shit about himself but he'd fight the rest of Jonathan's demons later. Right now he just wanted him to be happy with where he was.
"Come here, man." He wrapped him up in a hug, careful not to hug too tight. Jonathan sighed and squeezed the hell out of him, grabbing his jacket in his fists. "Everything is okay. Nothing bad is gonna happen. Are you hearing me?"
Jonathan nodded but he didn't let him go. Until his stomach growled and they both laughed. He pulled back and wiped at his face.
"Foooood."
Evan smiled at his puffy eyes and red nose. He was adorable, which he never thought he'd use that term for a guy, but he was. They trudged dramatically into the kitchen like cavemen and sat around the pizza at the island counter and bowed down.
"Yes, fooood."
They ate nearly all of it until neither one could hold their eyes open. Evan told him goodnight and they went their separate ways falling into warm covers and letting every thing go dark.
He couldn't wait to get up in the morning.