Jack wakes up and stretches, surprised when his elbow bumps something. It takes him a moment to remember that he's at Bittle's house, in Bittle's bed. He glances over to make sure that he didn't hurt the other boy, and freezes. Bits is still asleep, curled up facing Jack, hands tucked beneath his chin. The first rays of sunlight fall over him, making a halo of his hair. Jack sits up and swings his legs off the bed but can't quite bring himself to look away.
Sometime later, Bitty blinks awake slowly, yawning and rubbing his eyes. When he brings his hands down, their eyes meet, and Jack jolts. "I was just about to go for my jog," he answers, though Bittle hasn't said a word.
"I would have thought you'd be gone and back by now. You're usually up so early," the blonde says.
Jack glances at the clock. Eight. He just shrugs. He has no excuse for how badly he'd lost track of time.
"I'll come with, if you want."
"Sure."
"Okay, just give me a few minutes." Jack expects Bittle to get up and get ready, but he doesn't move. He rolls his shoulders, humming contentedly, and closes his eyes. They open again after a few seconds and he says, "On second thought, maybe I'll stay right here. I'm tired and warm."
With the smaller boy smiling at him, bleary-eyed, Jack's tempted to just let him be. He also knows exactly what Bittle expects him to do, though. He decides to follow the script.
"Up," he says, standing and pulling the covers with him. "I'm sure you haven't been getting up to practice all summer. Let's go."
Bittle makes a half-hearted grab for the blanket but laughs. He sits up after a minute and waves Jack away. "Alright already, I'm up!" He grabs his clothes and goes to change in the bathroom again, then waits for Jack at the front door.
They slip on their shoes and head out. Jack doesn't bother to restrain the amused smile when he finally looks at Bittle a few minutes into their run. "What?" he asks suspiciously.
"Your hair."
Bittle's hands fly up to smooth it and he groans. "Well excuse me for thinking that I didn't need to do my hair before exercising at 8am," he says defensively.
Jack shakes his head. "It's cute." He doesn't say the rest of his thought aloud, but Bittle blushes anyways.
"Stop chirping me, Jack," he says. Jack doesn't bother to tell him that it was a genuine compliment.
They fall into a comfortable silence for the rest of the run, the only sounds their light panting and Bittle's occasional directions.
When it's over, they step through the door to the smell of bacon cooking. Bits grins and leads Jack into the kitchen. Suzanne turns around when she hears them and gives her son's shoes a meaningful look. He gives her a sheepish smile, then goes back to the entrance, pulling Jack along by his sleeve. They remove their shoes and put them on a rack by the door before returning.
Mrs. Bittle checks their feet and gives a satisfied nod. "I made breakfast," she says cheerfully. She gets a few plates out of the cupboard but looks to Jack worriedly. "Do you like eggs and bacon, dear?"
"That sounds perfect," he says with a reassuring smile. Bittle giggles, but when Jack raises a confused eyebrow at him, he goes silent and shakes his head. Jack knows how to read him by now and understands that he'll get an explanation later.
Mrs. Bittle dishes them up and they all sit at the table. She makes small talk with Jack, asking how his summer's been and whether he's looking forward to hockey season. When she's done eating, she washes her plate and excuses herself, leaving the boys alone.
Jack immediately turns to Bittle, waiting to hear why he'd laughed before, but he just starts laughing again. It lasts much longer this time, and when he eventually stops, he just smirks at Jack. "You've been oozing charm all over my mother," he says. "If you acted like that around everyone, people would just think you were polite and not a robot."
"I want to make a good impression," Jack says simply.
"Jack, she already loves you," Bittle says disbelievingly. "She wouldn't have asked you to come all the way to Georgia if she didn't."
Jack opts to finish eating rather than answer. Bittle doesn't need to know that his mom had asked Jack to come because he'd been acting lonely and depressed since he came home. Apparently she thought his friends from Samwell were closer than any he had here.
They go silent for a few minutes, until Bittle suddenly gasps and runs out of the room. Jack raises an eyebrow, slightly annoyed, when he returns with his cell phone.
"Just wait a second. I have a good reason for checking my phone. I just remembered something." He taps the screen a few times, and then holds it in Jack's face with a triumphant smile.
Jack takes it and reads everything on the screen. It's the Samwell Men's Hockey group chat.
Chowder: Jack's at your house?!
Rans: Is that where you've been hiding all summer, Jack?
Holster: He loves Bitty more than the rest of us. :'(
Nursey: Nice pic. Btw, Poindexter says he misses you ;)
Dex: What are you talking about? We aren't even in the same state!
Dex: …Maybe I do miss you a little, though. We all do.
Shitty: Damn! Look at that beaut! I swear you get more gorgeous every time I see you!
Shitty: Your mother looks lovely, too, Bits. Tell her I said hello.
Shitty: And you both owe me a call.
Jack looks back up to Bittle, who's smiling and turning just a bit pink. "I knew they'd like the picture." When Jack doesn't answer, throat closing up, Bittle asks softly, "Do you want to Skype them?"
Jack nods, and Bittle takes his phone back, typing out, Will do. Anyone who wants to, hop online. The first replies are nearly instantaneous.
Shitty: Already there, bro.
Rans: Wish I could. Not home rn. ):
Holster: Just give me a few min.
Chowder: Oh nooo! I'm gonna miss it!
Bittle checks the messages and then hands the phone back for Jack to read while he gets his laptop.
Bitty: Don't worry about it. We'll do this again another day, when everyone's available. -Jack
Bittle returns, sets the laptop on the table, and opens up Skype. They slide their chairs together, shoulders bumping, so they can both fit into the view of the webcam. They wait until Holster is online, then Bittle adds him and Shitty to a conference call. Though he hadn't replied to the text, Dex is online too and joins when they invite him.
They all greet each other, and Shitty once again rants over how amazing Jack looks. Jack just rolls his eyes with a tiny smile but looks concerned when Shitty starts winding down. His smile shrinks and it looks like he's tearing up when he says, "I miss you, bro."
"I'll visit. As soon as I can," Jack promises.
Shitty nods, but his smile still doesn't reach his eyes. Bitty opens his mouth to try to cheer him up, but freezes when a hand pops into frame and punches Shitty's shoulder. He looks off to the side, smiles for real, and pulls someone into the shot.
"Lardo?!" Bittle asks disbelievingly. He recovers quickly, though. "Well, hey there! Why didn't you tell us she was there, Shitty? We've missed her, too!"
"The one and only," Lardo answers. "I didn't want to interrupt bro time, but if you're alright with me being here…" She trails off, smiling at Shitty for a moment before kissing him.
Dex gasps, and everyone else laughs.
"You didn't see that coming?" Holster asks skeptically. "We've all known for ages that Shits is head over heels for her." The man in question flushes but doesn't respond.
"Of course I knew they liked each other!" Dex answers defensively. "I just didn't think they'd ever get their shit together."
"Uh, we're right here, guys…" Lardo says, rubbing the back of her neck and laughing awkwardly.
"I didn't think you would either," Jack says with a smirk.
"Well, I for one am happy for you two," Bittle says, beaming at them.
"We all are," Holster says. "Took way too long, though. You deserve the chirping."
Shitty narrows his eyes. "You're one to talk-"
"Shut up!" Holster cuts him off, flushing. "You swore you wouldn't tell anyone!"
Bittle giggles. "Oh? What's this about?" he asks, though he has a sneaking suspicion he already knows.
"Nothing," Holster says firmly before Shitty can answer.
Before Bittle can push any more, his mother walks in. She crosses to a cabinet behind them and glances at the screen. "Oh, is that Mr. Crappy?" she asks, coming closer and waving. "And Adam and William, too! Hello, boys!"
"Hello, Mrs. Bittle," they chorus.
"Nice to see you again, ma'am," Shitty says. "You're looking beautiful as usual."
"Why thank you, Mr. Crappy," she says, turning red but smiling. She glances at her son and Jack quickly. "Well, I'll let you boys get back to your conversation," she says, getting a glass of water before bustling out of the room.
"Jeez, what is it with you guys flirting with my mom?" Bittle jokes.
"Who else is?" Shitty asks.
Bittle turns to Jack, raising his eyebrows pointedly, and Shitty howls with laughter. When he calms down, he grabs his phone and types out a message. Jack's phone dings, and Bittle glances between them but doesn't pry.
Jack shoots an annoyed look at Shitty before checking the text. You're hitting on the wrong Bittle, he reads. He quickly deletes it and glares at the laptop screen again. Shitty shows his phone to Lardo, and they shoot him matching smirks.
"Are we missing something?" Holster asks. Bitty nods, wondering the same thing.
Shitty chuckles. "Nothing, nothing," he says, waving a dismissive hand. He sounds anything but truthful.
"If you say so…" Holster says dubiously.
An obnoxious ringtone starts, and Dex scowls at his phone for a moment before answering. "What do you want?" he asks. He looks to his webcam apologetically and types, Sorry guys, I have to go. A moment later, he's offline.
"I can guess who that call was from," Lardo says.
"Yeah, only one person could possibly annoy him that much before even saying a word," Holster says, laughing.
"Do you think Nursey changed his ringtone at some point?" Bittle asks. "I get the feeling Dex would just use the defaults."
"Probably," Shitty answers.
Jack stares blankly. "You can change them?" he asks. He fights back his smile when Bittle laughs.
"That reminds me," Holster says. "Have you gotten any farther with training him in pop culture?"
"He hasn't even been here for a whole day. How could I have done anything in that time? It would take a whole lifetime!" Bittle answers. He smirks and bump Jack with his elbow. Jack just shrugs. "Oh, actually… Now that I think of it, how long are you here?"
"Your mom invited me to stay for a week, but if-"
Bittle cuts him off when Jack starts to look uncomfortable. "No! No, that's great," he says with a reassuring smile.
Shitty coughs. They turn back, and he does a horrible job of hiding his grin. "Well, we should probably get going," he says with a sigh.
Bittle glances up when his mom returns, gathering pans and ingredients on the counter. "We should, too," he says. "Time to help with food for the party."
They say their goodbyes, Shitty once again making Jack swear that he'll visit soon, and Bittle shuts down the laptop and returns it to his desk.
Jack stands awkwardly, watching Bittle and his mother as they prepare the meal and desserts. "Mrs. Bittle-" he starts, but she gives him a stern look. He sighs. "Suzanne-"
He's cut off again, this time by his friend's startled laughter. Bittle quiets when the other two shoot him quick glares, and Jack tries one more time. "Suzanne, is there anything I can do to help? I feel useless just watching you."
She looks to Bittle, who shrugs. "You can help with these pies," he says. "You do remember how to make the lattice, right?"
Jack nods and sets to work on the first pie while the other boy adds filling to the second. He focuses on trying to get it right, and by the time he's finished both, the other two have finished almost everything else.
He stands back and clears his throat, and Suzanne hurries over. "Oh, are they ready for the oven? You did very well, Jack. Thank you for helping."
Jack looks at his sad excuse for lattice work and wants to object. He's seen Bittle's pies; he knows how they're supposed to look, and that isn't it. Instead of speaking his mind, he just thanks her. She throws them into the oven and goes back to helping her son with the final dishes.
When they finish and everything is cooking or cooling, Bittle leads him out to the backyard. "The party will be in a few hours," he says, sitting on the porch steps. "A lot of my family will be here, so you can bail if you want. I think I would if I could get away with it."
Jack shakes his head. "It's fine. I'd like to meet more of your family."
"You say that now…" He trails off, laughing, and elbows Jack jokingly. "Well, at least we know the food will be good, right? Oh! And we'll do fireworks after the sun goes down!"
"That sounds nice."
"Always so enthusiastic," Bittle says sarcastically.
"I'm serious."
"I know. You sound like a robot, but I know by now when you're being genuine. Doesn't mean I can't tease you for it."
Jack lets out a small laugh and leans back on his hands. Bittle leans against the rail next to him, eyes drooping. "Was the jog too early for you?"
He shakes his head. "Practice is way earlier. I'm just not used to that schedule when I'm at home. I'm fine, though."
He says that, but… Within minutes, he's dozed off. It looks uncomfortable, but Jack lets him sleep until Suzanne comes out and tells them to get ready.
"Bittle…" he says quietly. He waits for a moment, then gently pushes his shoulder. "Eric, wake up."
Bittle blinks and sits up straight, shaking his head. "Did you just…?" he doesn't finish his question, but he gives Jack a confused look for a minute. When Jack doesn't answer, he sighs and stands up. "I guess I should get ready for the party."
...
Though their yard is filled with people, Bittle sticks near Jack. When a woman waves for Bittle and he motions her over instead of going to talk to her, Jack shoots him a grateful look. He may have been looking forward to meeting people, but the thought of being left on his own here makes him uncomfortable.
The woman, a short brunette, makes her way over. She's holding a plate in one hand and brandishing a fork at Bittle with the other. "Did you make this casserole, Eric?" He nods, and she sets the fork on her plate to ruffle his hair. "Well, it's delicious!"
"I learned from the best!" he says, grinning over at his mother and smoothing his hair back down.
Jack coughs to cover up a laugh, and the woman turns to him. She looks him up and down. For a reason he can't quite place, it makes him uneasy. It's over soon enough, though, and she throws on a plastic smile. "Well then, who's your… friend?"
Suddenly, Bittle's smile looks fake and frail, too. "Aunty, this is Jack. He's a friend from Samwell. Jack, this is my aunt Grace."
"Nice to meet you," they say simultaneously. Then they shake hands, and Grace makes her excuses and wanders off.
"What was that about?" Jack asks.
"Oh, it's nothing," Bittle insists. He takes a deep breath, and then his smile grows back into what Jack is used to seeing from him. "What was that laugh about, though? You keep laughing at me lately, and I don't even know why!" he accuses, poking Jack in the chest.
"Did you know that your accent gets thicker here? It was especially strong when you were talking to your aunt," Jack answers.
Bittle scowls and blushes. "It's easy to fall back into old habits," he mutters.
Right, Bittle's self-conscious about his accent… Jack remembers. "It's not a bad thing," he hurries to reassure him. Bitty just rolls his eyes, clearly not believing him. "Really, it's not."
"Maybe not to you…"
Jack decides to shut his mouth before he can stick his foot in it again.
...
Bittle slowly relaxes again as the party goes on, and he introduces Jack to a few more family members. People start filing out after a couple of hours, and only Jack, Bittle, and his parents are left when it's time to start lighting the fireworks.
They sit side by side on the porch again, though Coach (Jack still doesn't know his actual name) occasionally invites them to light some off. Bittle's face lights up every time a big one bursts into beautiful colors. Jack bumps their shoulders together. "This is nice."
"Yeah, it is," Bittle agrees, turning that brilliant smile on him.
Jack thinks he might go blind.
He thinks he might kiss him.
He takes a deep breath and turns his face back to the sky instead.
...
Bittle argues about the sleeping arrangements again that night, but it's just for show. He gives in quickly.
Jack feels the warmth radiating from Bitty's skin and listens to his breathing, and he falls into a comfortable sleep quickly.