"You have got to be kidding me," Nathan said flatly.
"I'm not. I went down to the living room and noticed it was unusually quiet, so I went out on the stoop just in time to watch the freakin' taxi disappear around the corner."
"So I guess we're stuck here until we can call a cab. And you know how unpopular those are on Friday nights," Nathan said sarcastically, flopping down on the bed once more.
"It's not so bad," Jay shrugged. "I didn't really feel like going anyway. I just played along with the other lads."
"But what about Allison?"
"She told me she really likes me, and frankly I really like her too, but not enough for us to be, you know, a couple."
"Is that so?" Nathan asked, curiosity making him sit up.
"Yeah. Besides, there's someone else I've had my eye on for a while now." As the words escaped him, his nonchalance quickly turned to shock as he realized what he had said.
Nathan's eyebrows rose. "Really? Who?" He hoped Jay couldn't hear the hurt and bitterness in his voice.
Jay took a deep breath and looked Nathan square in the eyes. There was no better time to tell him how he felt than now, when the two of them were alone with no one to eavesdrop. Before he could change his mind, he said that one fateful word. One three-letter word that carried the weight of the world on it's shoulders.
"You."
The word hung in the air for a few seconds as the two stared at each other. It was exactly like the night they fought: Jay in the doorway, leaning on the jamb, Nathan sitting cross-legged on the bed, mouth hanging slightly open.
"Jay, I-"
"Yeah, I know. You think I'm a freak now." As much as he hated it, tears sprang to Jay's eyes. "But it—everything I said—is all true. I love you, Nath. I have ever since I met you. I've been constantly trying to find the right time to tell you, and I've been afraid of how you'd react. But I just had to get it out of my system and I just want you to know it. And it's perfectly fine if-" A tear left his eye and made his way down his cheek. "If you don't-"
He was cut off by the feel of Nathan's lips on his, the feverish heat of their bodies in contact. He got over the shock of the whole moment quickly and kissed him back. Before any of them knew it, Jay had pushed Nathan onto the bed and they were lying on top of each other, both breathing heavily. The former pulled away and stared down at Nathan, whose blue-green eyes were sparkling in the light.
"I love you too, James McGuiness," he said, and pulled Jay in for another kiss.
When your lips touch mine, it's the kiss of life. I know, I know that it's a little bit frightening; we might as well be playing with lightning.
