"You know, I know we haven't seen each other for a while, but somehow it doesn't feel like it was that long." Jack was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Ianto laid next to him. Tosh sat cross-legged on the floor, laptop in her lap, typing away.
"Are you kidding? It felt as long as when you were at camp this summer!" Ianto sat up and stared down at him incredulously.
"Well, yeah, I know, but hanging out now, it sort of feels like I just saw you yesterday."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Ianto looked over at Tosh. "Tosh, thanks so much for letting us in here." Jack sat up beside him.
"It's nothing. But you owe me!" she said, trying to be stern. The effect was somewhat ruined by the wide smile on her face. "I hope that you two have learned something from all of this.
"I know I have," Ianto said seriously. "Never listen to Jack's ideas." He dodged Jack's shove.
"Hey, it was a good idea until you broke the window!"
"That was not my fault!"
"Oh, sure, klutz!" Jack ducked, and a cushion soared over his head.
"Okay, boys, cool down. I don't want to end up with my window broken. Besides, this is supposed to be a happy reunion. Don't ruin it."
"We're just kidding around, Tosh," Jack said, grinning. He scooted over and put his arm around her. "So how've you been since the beginning of our house arrest?"
"Just fine, thanks. Maybe a little bored. Don't get in trouble again anytime soon."
"I'm not planning on it."
"You never are," Ianto muttered. He ducked as Jack threw a playful punch at his head.
"Oh, come on, it was still fun."
"Yeah, getting chewed out by my parents and getting all but locked in my room was loads of fun." He tried to sound bitter, but he was still so happy that he was with Jack again that he could barely remember how much he'd hated being cooped up in his room.
"You know, you guys didn't have that long until your prison sentence would have been over. School starts in less than a week."
"Oh, man, I'm excited for school," Jack said, laying back down. "Seeing everyone again… especially those who've started…developing." Ianto glanced at him uneasily, not reassured at all by the cheeky grin on his face. "I saw Ann at the mall the other day when I went to get new shoes, and boy, with that makeup and that short skirt she looked an awful lot like a slu-"
Ianto slapped his hand over Jack's mouth quickly. "Jack!" Tosh exclaimed, scandalized.
The group had noticed Jack's somewhat unfortunate liking for flirting and – to some extent – objectifying people. Ianto was a little worried that at this rate, it would quickly escalate into something uncontrolled.
"You're one to use that word," Ianto said. "Didn't you go out with 3 girls in one month or something?"
"Yeah, well," Jack said, waving his hand dismissively. "Takes one to know one, doesn't it?"
"Just don't push your luck, okay?" Tosh said.
"Me?" Jack pretended to look shocked. "Oh, please, everyone loves me. It's all with my dashing good looks and charm."
"What was that? I couldn't hear you over the extreme pretentiousness."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Relax. It's this point in life that people are supposed to start experimenting, after all, isn't it?"
"Jack, most people we know haven't dated even one person yet. I'm afraid to ask how many you have."
"Depends on what you consider dating." Jack grinned. "Come on, guys, we're fourteen now! Time to loosen up a little. Think of all the school dances… the wallflowers just waiting to be asked… and people are going to start dating now. Desperation is a wonderful thing, isn't it?"
"I feel like this is heading in a direction that we really don't want it to go," Tosh said. "And besides, it's getting late. Both of you should probably be heading home. Especially you." Tosh looked pointedly at Jack.
Jack laughed. "Tosh, lighten up. Really. You'll see, it's going to be a good year." He got up off the ground and pulled Ianto up with him. "And you, my friend. Let's see what we can do about finding you a girl this year." He grabbed his chin lightly. "With a handsome face like that, shouldn't be too hard…"
"Tosh? Ianto?"
"Oh, that's my mom! Jack, go, out! You can talk to him on the first day of school!" Tosh shooed him toward the window quickly.
Jack opened the window and winked at them before scrambling out, just before Tosh's mother appeared in the doorway.
"Ianto, your mother's on the phone," she said, handing out the mentioned object.
"Thanks, Mrs. Sato." He took the phone and raised it to his ear. "Mum?"
"Hi, Ianto. I was just wondering, since it's been so long since you've been out of the house – no, we talked about this-"
"Mum?"
"Sorry, it's just your father. Don't worry. I was wondering if you'd maybe like to sleep over?" Ianto and Tosh had been such good friends for so long that neither of their parents worried at all about them sleeping over at each other's houses. They were such good friends – emphasis on friends – that their parents knew they wouldn't do anything they would disapprove of.
"But I don't have anythi-"
"I'd bring a bag over for you."
"Well… I'll ask." He took the phone away from his ear, looking to the doorway where Mrs. Sato was still standing. "My mom wants to know if it would be okay for me to sleep over tonight…"
"Ianto, you know that you're always welcome here. Of course." Mrs. Sato smiled at him.
"Mum? She says it's fine."
"Oh, good, I'm glad. I'll be over in a bit with a bag for you."
"Okay. Love you, mum."
"I love you too, cariad. Could you give the phone back to Mrs. Sato, please?"
Ianto held the phone out. "Thanks so much, Mrs. Sato."
"It's no trouble, Ianto." She turned and left the room, raising the phone up to her ear and saying, "Hello?"
"Oh, this'll be great! It's been so long since you've stayed over!" Tosh said.
"Yeah… I wonder what that was about…"
"Oh, Ianto, I'm sure it's nothing. Don't worry about it. We've got things to talk about," she said, giggling. She pulled him over to the bed and they both sat down. "I mean, what's gotten into Jack lately?"
"Hormones?" Ianto said wryly.
"He seemed very intent on getting you a girlfriend… how about Lisa?" Tosh teased.
"God… Tosh…" Ianto pulled a face.
"Well, come on. You guys get along well, and she's certainly not unattractive."
"Yeah, but… she's Lisa. We're friends. Thinking about dating her… no, I don't think so." He shook his head.
"Well, is there anyone you have thought about dating?" Tosh leaned in as she whispered curiously, her eyes wide.
"Well… maybe…" Ianto closed his eyes and shook his head quickly. "God, no, never mind. No. The answer is no."
Tosh hit his shoulder. "Ianto Jones, you tell me what you were thinking right now!"
"No, Tosh, it's nothing. Really!"
"I don't believe you!"
"Just leave it, yeah?" Seeing Tosh open her mouth again, Ianto quickly jumped in with, "Anyway, how about you? Any plans to make a move on Owen this year?" Tosh's mouth clamped shut and her face turned bright red. Ianto started laughing.
Tosh hit him again. "Shut up!" Ianto laughed harder. "Is it really that obvious?"
Ianto managed to calm himself down a little. "Just a little bit." Tosh flushed a deeper shade of red. "Oh, come on, Tosh, it's not so bad. I think it'd be cute."
"Oh. My. GOD!" Ianto started laughing again as he tried to shield himself from a barrage of blows from a crimson-faced Tosh.
A few hours later found the two of them on Tosh's bed, Tosh asleep on Ianto's shoulder and Ianto staring blankly at the television where The Princess Bride was nearing a close. Ianto honestly hadn't really watched any of the movie; when Tosh had still been awake, he would laugh along when she laughed, and give a short response every time she said anything, but once she fell asleep he let all of his attention focus on the thoughts turning over and over in his mind.
"Well, is there anyone you have thought about dating?"
Ianto thought about all the girls he knew, and even those he'd just seen. He thought about the crushes that his friends had described having.
To his memory, he'd never felt anything close to that for a girl in all his life. He'd never thought of a girl that way.
The only person he'd ever felt even remotely that way for was…
Jack.
Ianto stared at the credits scrolling on the screen.
Jack.
HO BOY. So. Ehehe I told you all that it would get interesting ^.^
I'm very excited to go into a few things: a) Ianto's questioning of his sexuality, b) the strained relationship between Ianto's parents, and c) Jack's... interests.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG SINCE I'VE UPDATED BUT NOW IS THE POINT WHERE I HAVE WAY TOO MANY IDEAS AND NOW IT'LL BE SUMMER IN LESS THAN A WEEK SO I'LL HAVE TIME TO WRITE. STICK WITH ME. I'LL MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE.
Review, condemn me to hell for the long hiatus, you know the drill :D