disclaimer

Jack was sitting next to Brandon in the car, passing a joint back and forth. He sighed, to himself really, but Brandon heard it and turned to him.

"What's up, man?" He asked, taking a drag and holding his breath. Jack accepted the burning roach back, staring blankly out the window.

"Scott." He mumbled.

Brandon tried to look sympathetic. He just wasn't the sympathetic kind of guy, and besides- lately the only thing bothering Jack was his new little brother.

"What else would it be?" Jack complained, leaning his head back. "That kid's a wreck. You saw him this morning."

"Yeah." He said, reluctant to be dragged into yet another Mercer family knockdown-drag out. Those brothers didn't argue, or even fight. They tore into each other, ruthlessly. It was almost frightening.

"I mean, I tried really hard to let him know he could come to me." Jack was saying. "I'm just trying to be a good big brother, but I've never been a big brother before. I don't know what to do."

Brandon, who had never been a big brother either, couldn't say anything. He tried to stay sympathetic. "Maybe he doesn't like you guys." He offered.

Jack glared at him, smoke seeping through his nose. He looked like an angry dragon. He started to cough. That made Brandon laugh. He slapped Jack's back.

"Don't get off until you cough." He recited. Jack waved him away, turning so his body faced Brandon.

"Thank you, Mother Goose." Jack said irately. Brandon grinned sheepishly.

He had forgotten that Jack didn't like to be touched a lot. It was difficult to have a crush on your best friend, more so when he was traumatized as a child.

To distract himself, he opened his door and stepped outside.

"Where are you going?" Jack asked, crawling across the front seats and emerging into sunlight. Brandon shrugged.

"Needed some air." He said lamely. Jack nodded and got back into the car.

Brandon really did look like a girl. That was Jack's personal opinion, but he didn't share it with anyone else. It was bad enough that he got teased all the time for his wild hair and his piercings. He didn't need to be ragged on because his best friend said he looked like a girl.

Not, Jack thought privately, that this was a bad thing.

He had never considered it before. When Brandon got back in the car he stared straight out the window, distracted. Jack studied the tilt of his chin, the way his hair melted and shimmered around itself. He was sort of pretty, in the sunlight.

Jack stiffened when his thoughts replayed themselves. His movement pulled Brandon from his daze.

"What?" He asked, sounding lethargic.

"Nothing, man." Jack said softly. He touched his lower lip with his index finger, squinting hard at Brandon.

"You're being weird." Brandon complained, drawing his knees up and sitting Indian style. "What did I do?"

"How long has your nose been pierced?" Jack blurted. Taken by surprise, Brandon paused a moment to think.

"I dunno. Three years, maybe."

"And how long has your hair been red?" Jack continued. He thought, suddenly, that if he was going to make a fool of himself he might as well go all the way. "It's been a while, right?"

"Eighth grade, man." Brandon smiled and held a strand of hair between two fingers. "I guess it has been a while." He focused on Jack. "What's on your mind, Jackie O? You forget what I look like?" He held his hands out modestly. "Take a look."

"Why do you say Jackie O?" Jack wondered aloud. "Everybody says Jack, you say Jackie O. Why is that?"

Brandon was starting to look uncomfortable. "Jackie Onassis, man. Kennedy's wife." He turned away.

"That's a girl." Jack reminded him.

"Yeah, so?"

"Do I look like a girl?" Brandon turned and stared at Jack. He flushed and drummed his fingers on the driver's seat.

"What this fuck is this, twenty questions?" He snapped. Jack smiled a quizzical smile. "Shit." Brandon said, more to himself than Jack. Jack started to open his mouth, but Brandon kissed him.

That shut him up good.

When Brandon pulled away, he drew his knees up and locked his arms around them. He stared moodily out the front window. "Sorry." He said.

"Um, for what?" Jack asked. Brandon snorted, making his hair flutter. "Okay, that was a stupid question. Don't you think- aren't you going to look at me?" Brandon turned to face him, scowling. "Okay, don't you think if I was going to leave I would be gone?"

Brandon chewed the inside of his lip, tasting blood. He swore mentally. Jack made things difficult. "So what are you saying? You're gonna stick around?"

Jack studied his friend's face. Maybe Brandon wasn't as untouchable as he looked. He curled his arm around the back of the driver's seat, leaning forward.

"Yeah, I'm gonna stick around." Jack muttered.

Brandon no longer cared Jack hated being touched. He leaned forward and kissed him again.

sorry this was so short. i added it in as an afterthought after i finished the story. anyway, big thanks to 4everdreaming, who appears to be a big fan of this story. yay. i have fans.