Hey everyone, proper first chapter here, hope you enjoy :D
As soon as Jean turns off the spray of the shower he hears the faint sound of his phone ringing. There is a part of him that just wants to leave it and let it go to voicemail but he knows there is the slightest chance that it might be work so he hurriedly wraps a towel around his waist and hurries to his bedroom.
When he picks his phone up from his bedside table and looks at the caller ID he wishes he hadn't bothered. After a nice morning out on the waves the last person he really feels like talking to is Ymir. She works as the receptionist at the gym where he is a personal trainer and they've been friends for a while but she's one of those firecracker mates who comes in like a hurricane and leaves nothing but destruction in their wake.
He could still leave it... He could still let it go to voicemail as she's calling on her personal phone so it's unlikely to be work related but, then again, it is Ymir. She could be calling about anything. With a sinking feeling in his stomach he presses the answer button.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jeanbo!" she sings. "How you going?"
"Fine, yourself?" he asks as he heads back to the bathroom to grab another towel to dry his hair.
"Grouse mate," she replies. "You working today?"
"Yeah just getting ready to head over now, are you?" Jean kind of hopes the answer is no because she's on her personal phone but it's Ymir so it's anyone's guess.
"Nah I'm on an off day," she replies. Well that's comforting, he thinks. "listen are you doing anything after work tonight?"
"Not that I know of why?"
"Well, thing is, Krista's cousin has just moved over here from England so we've decided to have a barbie down on the beach tonight as, like a sort of 'Welcome to Melbourne' kinda party," she tells him.
"Sounds nice," Jean says as he finishes awkwardly towelling his hair with one hand. "Have fun."
"And you're coming to."
"What? Why?"
"Because it will be a lot of fun," she says and he can practically hear the huge silly grin in her voice.
"Right..."
"And everyone's coming, Cueball and Potato Girl are bringing food, Krista and I are sorting the turps, it'll be great."
"If they don't eat it all beforehand," Jean grumbles, remembering the last time he went to a barbecue where Connie and Sasha were in charge of bringing the food.
"Nah, they promised," Ymir says, "totally legit this time."
"I'll believe that when I see it."
"And, come on, he's gotta meet everyone," Ymir pleads. "He's just moved here, he's never left England before, he doesn't have any friends plus I think someone died back home so that's why he's moved halfway across the world."
Jean exhales through his nose. He can feel himself cracking. As much as he really doesn't fancy the idea of an evening surrounded by people it sounds like this guy has had a bit of a bad run of it and has had to move away from all his friends back in England. It might not be so bad just to stick his head in for a little while.
"Plus he's a corker as well." she adds.
"Right... what we talking here?" Jean asks, not at all sure where she's going with this.
"Looks wise," she explains. "Think Krista but a bloke."
"Okay..." He's not sure what she's getting at by telling him this but he knows that Krista is gorgeous – anyone with eyes can see that – and a male version of her would probably be absolutely stunning as well.
"So it might be a chance for you to sneak in there and snap him up before someone else gets in there," Ymir says and Jean knows that she's smirking down the other end. Ah... that's what she's getting at.
"What are you on about?"
"You know," she says.
"He's just moved to a brand new country," Jean sighs, "I doubt he's looking for a bloke right off the bat... if he's even into blokes."
"You won't know if you don't come along," Ymir says.
"And even," Jean continues as if she hadn't spoken, "if he was looking for a bloke there's no assurance that he'd be interested in me."
"Look all I'm saying is he's cute and you could stand to get you some, you're a little on the uptight side," Ymir says.
"Whatever," Jean says rolling his eyes.
"Also, come on Jeanbo, it's been ages since you've come out with us," she points outs, "we miss you!"
"I'm sorry," Jean says feeling the guilt beginning to creep in, "I've just been really busy with work and stuff."
"Then come out!" Ymir pleads. "I know a lot of people would be happy to see you and it would mean the world to Krista if you came along for this."
Jean sighs. She's pulling out all the stops in order to get him to agree and he knows that there is a good chance that she's not going to leave him alone until he actually does agree. "Fuck it, fine I'll come."
"Yes!" Ymir cries in delight.
"So what time do you want me there?" Jean asks.
"Come down when you finish work," she replies. "We're planning on getting there for about seven so just come down when you're ready and there will be people."
"Okay cool."
"I can promise you that you won't regret it," Ymir says.
"I'll take your word on that," Jean says, politely thinking that there's a good chance that he will.
Later that evening Jean heads down to the beach. He checks his phone, it's half past eight and he's not in the slightest bit bothered that he's an hour and a half late. In his defence he didn't finish work till seven and he wanted to change before going down. If he has to do this (and he wouldn't put it past Ymir to come looking for him as she's already sent him numerous texts asking about his whereabouts) then he'll turn up when he feels like.
The sun has already started to set as he makes his way over to the bonfire Ymir and the others have set up on the beach. As he gets near he sees Ymir turn and notice him. She bounds over to him and throws an arm around his shoulders.
"Jeanbo you made it!" she cries happily.
"Hey," he says flatly.
"So glad you could make it."
"Well it's not like you really gave me that much choice but thanks for inviting me," he says, allowing himself a smile.
"Not a problem, it's good to see you out of your man cave," she grins.
"It's not a man cave!" Jean snaps.
"Anyway how about I introduce you to Armin?" Ymir says with a smirk.
"Sure, why not?"
"Hey Krista!" Ymir calls as she drags Jean over to the bonfire. "Jean's arrived."
Krista turns to look at him and smiles warmly. "Hey Jean!" she calls waving at him. There's a blond standing next to her that Jean assumes is this Armin guy Ymir's been going on about and seems to think he should get with.
"Hi," he replies, waving awkwardly.
The blond standing beside Krista turns and Jean finally catches a glimpse of his face. Soft features and bright blue eyes that glow in the dancing flames. He completely steals Jean's breath away. The blond hair, the grace he moves with and it suddenly dawns on Jean that this isn't the first time he's seen this guy.
"It's you," he says under his breath as he comes face to face with the angel who was walking along the beach this morning. Thankfully no one else seems to hear him as Ymir gives him a less than gentle shove in the blond man's direction.
"Jean this is Armin," she says, "he's just moved here all the way from England. Armin this is Jean, he's a good mate of ours who lives round the corner."
"G'day," Jean says composing himself enough to extend his hand for Armin to shake.
Armin smiles, takes his hand and the sound that comes out of his mouth is something akin to a piglet getting poked in the side with a sharp stick. Jean has to do a double take to make sure that noise actually did come from Armin and he isn't just hearing things.
"What?" he asks, blinking in confusion.
"I said 'all right'?" Armin says, speaking slowly.
Jean's still rather taken aback. He's got a thick accent that sure as hell doesn't sound like English but he is definitely speaking English (just about). It's very confusing and he's not totally sure he even heard the slowed down version properly.
"Um yeah, you?"
"Fine," Armin shrugs. "Shame about the booze though."
"What?"
"Well all ever'ne seems to be drinkin' is this awful piss water," Armin explains.
"Huh?" He speaks quite quickly and that coupled with the accent has Jean unsure he understood all of what he said.
"He doesn't drink Fosters," Ymir laughs.
"Ah right," Jean says. "What do you drink?"
"I'm a cider drinker me," Armin says with a grin. "Mostly stuff I made with my friends back 'ome."
"You made your own turps?" Jean asks.
"My own what?" Armin asks, looking confused.
"Alcohol," Ymir explains.
"Oh right," Armin nods before turning his radiant smile to Jean. "Why didn't you say so, silly?"
"Um..." Jean's confused. He thought he did but there's clearly some kind of slang barrier going on because he's mostly certain they're both speaking the same language.
"So Armin's from Cornwall," Krista tells him when it becomes obvious that Jean is floundering.
"Where?" he asks. Obviously it's somewhere in England (he's speaking English... for the most part) but fucked if Jean knows where.
"Cornwall," Armin says again, "it's on the little sticky out bit on the bottom of England."
"Is that near London?" Jean asks.
Armin rolls his eyes. "Yeah like how Edinburgh is near London."
"Where's that?"
"Scotland," Armin smiles.
"Is that near London?" Jean asks.
"Yeah if you like," Armin shrugs.
"Well we'll leave two to get acquainted," Krista says brightly.
"Yeah have fun," Ymir agrees, her grin a lot more shit eating as she wraps her arms around Krista's shoulder and the two of them leave Jean and Armin alone. Jean wants to call after them and get them to come back – clearly they can understand what Armin's saying and he doesn't want to keep asking him to repeat himself over and over again.
"So... er... you're new in town?" Jean asks in a desperate attempt to make conversation.
"Yeah," Armin says brightly. "Flew out a couple o' days ago and spent most o' the time sleepin' off the jet lag. Now that I'm not on England time anymore Krista suggested a party so I could get to meet everyone."
"Sorry," Jean says feeling ridiculous, "can you speak a little slower please?"
"What?"
"I'm so sorry, can you speak a bit slower?" he asks again. "I'm having trouble catching everything."
"Okay," Armin says with a cheeky grin, "but we are both speaking English you know."
"Apparently," Jean laughs, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "So... ah... why did you decide on Oz?"
"Well my grandfather just died and Krista is basically the only family I got now," Armin replies. "Plus I never seen the rest of the world before and I thought it might be excitin' to travel for a bit, you know experience somethin' else."
He's still speaking as quickly as before and with all the noise going on Jean only catches up to 'never see the rest of the world', "I'm really sorry," Jean says, feeling a heat creep up the back of his neck, "could you say that again, I didn't catch all of it."
Armin narrows his eyes as he studies Jean for a moment. "Are you slow? Like mentally?"
"What?" Jean laughs.
"Are you slow?" Armin asks again. "Not tryin' to be rude or anythin' and we're speakin' the same language."
"If you say so," Jean laughs. "I mean I have hit my head out on the surf more than once now."
"You surf?" Armin asks, suddenly interested.
"Every day," Jean grins.
"Maybe I'll have to come out with you some time," Armin says with a coy smile.
"You ever surf before?" Jean asks, his chest swelling a little at the interest plastered over Armin's beautiful face.
"Once or twice," Armin replies, grinning.
"Then I'd be happy to take you." Jean says. "I've got an extra board you can borrow if you want."
"That would be nice," Armin says and Jean can feel himself falling in love already. It seems crazy but there's just something about Armin that has him hooked after just one conversation.
"So er..." he starts to say but a shout from Krista cuts him off.
"Hey Armin, over here a sec!"
Armin smiles up at Jean and Jean feels his heart skip. "I gotta go, it was nice to meet you though. Hopefully I'll see you again sometime soon."
"Yeah soon," Jean says wistfully, smiling after Armin as he heads over to where Krista is talking to Connie.
"See," Ymir says suddenly appearing at his shoulder and smirking, "I told you he was cute, didn't I."
Throughout the evening Jean finds himself glancing over at Armin wherever he is. Armin is like a bright, vibrant drop of colour in Jean's otherwise grey life and he wants to be around him as much as possible. He can't help but smile at this beautiful, bizarre angel and he is totally and utterly smitten.
He know he's staring as he sits on an upturned box, a little way away from the bonfire Ymir and Connie threw together. The firelight makes Armin's hair glow beautifully and Jean find himself thinking about what it would feel like to run his fingers through it. He hasn't had much of a chance to talk to Armin again but he's been happy to just watch from afar.
"Alright Jean," a soft voice says and Jean turns to see Marco sitting down on the sand next to him.
"How you going Marco?" Jean asks.
"You drinking?"
"What you got?"
"Fosters," Marco replies and holds out a can.
"Thanks," Jean replies and takes the can. He's not overly found of the stuff but it's something to drink.
"You met Armin yet?" Marco asks and Jean can already feel the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Uh... yeah," he replies.
"Ymir told me he was cute when she told me about tonight," Marco chuckles. "She wasn't wrong."
"Ah she pull that trick on you too?" Jean asks.
"It wasn't exactly a trick but like I said she wasn't wrong," Marco replies.
"Yeah," Jean muses allowing his eyes to wander over to where Armin is talking animatedly to Sasha. Before he can stop it he feels a smile spreading across his face.
"It's nice though," Marco says.
"Huh?"
"I haven't seen you smile like that in a very long time?" Marco says smiling knowingly at him.
"What?" Jean grimaces. "I smile all the time." It's a blatant lie and they both know it but Jean doesn't want to admit that the only thing that makes him happy at the moment is surfing and being out on the waves.
Marco gives him another knowing smile. "He keeps looking over at you." he tells Jean. "He's interested in you."
"What?" Jean immediately looks back over at Armin and for a second their eyes lock. Armin smiles and Jean's heart skips. Jean smiles back as he feels heat fanning across his face. Armin turns back to the conversation he had been having and Jean can't help but smile to himself. Maybe there is something in that...