A/N: I'm in the process of making a Jack x Jamie wallpaper, and I just finished the Jack half! Yaaay, but GOD it took so long lol...

(take out spaces, replace 'dot' with a period and 'slash' with a slash)

sunatsubu dot deviantart dot com slash # slash d5qs2vg

Chapter notes: Oh man, this one was really hard to write for some reason...had the idea and everything but the words just refused to come! DX Anyway, hope you still enjoy. And as always, feedback is always welcome!

Edit: I realize the topic of alcohol is sensitive to some people, and for that I apologize. This chapter touches on the fact that many college students tend to drink, but IN NO WAY is this meant to encourage irresponsible drinking!

Drunk

Jack was beginning to get annoyed.

For the past few weeks, he felt like he was in perpetual state of confusion when it came to Jamie. And by extension, college students. Normally he would have just avoided the topic and flown off to find some children to play with, but he couldn't exactly do that unless he wanted to avoid Jamie too. Which he didn't, of course.

The main source of his confusion was Jamie's new definition of fun. The brunette used to so love snowball fights, even when he grew out of his childhood. But ever since he'd found Jamie crying in his room, staring at his black phone, he'd started going to all these parties instead. Just what was so great about these chaotic get togethers?

For one thing, a particularly popular activity seemed to be a contest on chugging beer - a disgustingly pungent drink, going by the smell. While it was a given that different people simply had different ideas of enjoying themselves, he just couldn't fathom why it was so hilarious when some unfortunate participant would start vomiting up his stomach contents. It only looked painful, messy, and to be frank, disgusting.

At least Jamie didn't usually join in that particular game. He seemed to prefer a different activity of trying to aim a little white ball into a series of red cups. At least he could understand the hilarity of that, considering everyone's coordination always seemed to get worse and worse as the game went on. He wondered why though.

Currently, he was following a wobbling Jamie back home from one of these parties, feeling a little put off that the brunette hadn't even looked up to acknowledge him. It wasn't like there was anyone else around to think the brunette crazy for seemingly talking to the air.

"Jamie."

No response.

"Jamie!"

Still no response. Now Jack was really getting annoyed, and he certainly wasn't one to just sit back and let things be.

"OW!" Jamie yelped, reeling back from the force of the snowball. Looking up with glassy eyes, he began to laugh uproariously as the enchanted flakes took over. "Jack! When didja get 'ere?" He slurred. Without even waiting for a response, he grabbed a handful of snow and threw it in Jack's direction.

Or tried to. Instead the brunette seemed to lose his balance, tipping over sideways to land in a pile of snow. He was still laughing, to Jack's amusement.

Floating down to hover above the giggling teen, Jack stared into glassy brown eyes. He was determined to get answers this time and end his ongoing confusion once and for all. "What is the matter with you? You're always acting strange after one of these parties."

"Ooohh, Jack. Jack Jack Jaaaaack." Jamie paused, seeming to savor the sounds he was making. "'M just drunk. Haven't ya ever sheen drunk people before?"

"Not really."

Jamie nodded, a goofy smile spreading across his face. "Hm I guess tha's cuz you only watch kids. Am I corrupting you, Jack?"

"How are you corrupting me?" The young Guardian wondered if he should be worried Jamie didn't seem very cold, despite being half buried in snow for the past few minutes.

Jamie shrugged, turning his head and closing his eyes. "Yeah, silly question, right? 'Specially since I'm the one that pro'lly needs corrupting." He fell silent, and Jack was left to wonder the meaning of that last sentence.

Despite his confusion at this state of being 'drunk,' Jack had realized long ago that this was a time when Jamie seemed to be more willing to talk about things. Wondering why he felt a little guilty, Jack hesitantly asked the one thing Jamie had consistently refused to talk about.

"Jamie...are you okay? About Marron?" It had been weeks since that fateful phone call, and yet the memory seemed as fresh as if it were yesterday. Perhaps it was because he was burning to know just what this Marron girl had said or done to hurt his friend so badly, yet the one time he directly tried to ask, Jamie had simply responded that he didn't want to talk about it.

Jack had respected his wishes. But that didn't stop the strange, sharp pain in his chest that only grew stronger as the weeks went by. It was the feeling that had started that night, the helplessness and frustration at being unable to do anything to ease Jamie's pain. How could he, if he didn't even know what was wrong in the first place?

Looking down, the pale-haired Guardian watched as Jamie grimaced at the question. "Ugh. Her. Yeah 'm fine." He paused, then let out a loud sigh. "Not really. I think there's shomethin' wrong wi' me. No, there definitely ish. I'm such a child. I'm sho immature. Why else can I still see you? D'you think I'm immature, Jack? Everyone says so. Just because I still believe...what's wrong with that? Why do they always make fun of me?"

For a few seconds, Jack was rendered speechless as pleading dark brown eyes stared into his own. Although Jamie had been far less cheerful over the past few weeks, this was the first time he'd shown such unrestrained emotion. Was this what Marron had said to him?

Before he could even respond though, Jamie continued to talk, as if he hadn't even expected an answer. "You know what? Who cares, right?" He flapped a hand in the air, staring at it for a few seconds as if he didn't recognize his own appendage. "I definitely shouldn't. They're the ones that're wrong anyway!" He suddenly shouted. Suddenly his glazed eyes focused on Jack's face as if seeing him for the first time. "Oh hey Jack. When didja get 'ere?"

Jack shook his head, feeling like he was getting lost in the sudden shift in Jamie's moods. "You asked me that exact question ten minutes ago."

Jamie wrinkled his nose in concentration before bursting out into laughter. "Oh yeah, you're right! Sorry I di'nt notice. Twice. You're always there though, aren't you? Well not always, jus' once a week...you shou' visit me more often ya know..." He trailed off, staring thoughtfully up at the sky.

Jack floated closer to the silent boy, worried at the sudden silence. "Jamie?"

Ice blue eyes widened as a warm hand suddenly shot up to grab at the back of his neck, pulling the startled Guardian down. "Hey, what-" His words were immediately cut off by warm lips against his own.

For a few seconds, the young Guardian was in too much shock to do anything. Once his brain finally managed to process what was happening however, Jack brought his hands forward to push against Jamie's chest, launching himself back into the air. He stared down with wide eyes at the now widely grinning teen. "What...what..."

Jamie only laughed in response, a sound the Guardian of Joy recognized as pure delight. It wasn't one of those casual, every day chuckles, which only confused him more, especially considering the brunette's previous mood. He shook his head, finally managing to get some semblance of speech back. "What did you do that for!" He shouted. "Why did you...k-kiss me?" Despite himself, the young Guardian felt a blush stain his cheeks.

Unfortunately and incredibly, the teen appeared to have fallen asleep. Jack burned with frustration, but concern as well. He knew it would be dangerous for Jamie to fall asleep outside, so putting aside his increasing confusion, he hovered down to wake the boy up.

With difficulty, he managed to get Jamie back to his dorm room, unceremoniously dumping him onto the bed. Growling at the snores emanating from the brunette, Jack realized he wouldn't get any answers tonight and flew off, feeling as if his head would explode.

He resolved to himself to return the very next day, as there was no way he was going to go a whole week without an explanation.

A/N (added 4/25): Doodled some art to go with this chapter, you can find it here: sunatsubu dot tumblr dot com slash post slash 83574352550