Museum
Jack did not faint! He would argue this point for years to come while both Nick and (mostly) Lily would continuously make fun of his reaction. Nick would say something like, 'hey, did you know that I am an artist?' or he would finish a small masterpiece in his studio and say, 'I painted this, can you believe that?' and Lily would squeal and gasp, hand dramatically on her forehead, or over her heart, and she would pretend to swoon.
Hilarious.
Jack would try to keep himself from smiling and laughing because he didn't want to give them the satisfaction. He tried different responses to distract himself; rolling his eyes, folding his arms, and sighing loudly in annoyance, to name a few. He'd eventually fail the moment he looked at one of them, something that he honestly couldn't help, because if he waited long enough Lily would do something silly, like stick her face appallingly close to his causing him to look, and they would all laugh that much harder.
He'd tell them that he hadn't fainted, and that they really needed to stop! As if they would.
One day, after he teasingly told Lily that their jokes were not funny and were, in fact, getting old, she smiled patiently, hands folded on the kitchen table where she sat across from Jack, and told him very seriously that, funny or not, she had every intention of telling the story on his wedding day! When Lily saw the look that he fixed her with (both horrified and amused) she got up to stand close to him, placing a hand on his shoulder and reassured him that she was only joking. "And anyway Jackie," she continued seriously, "You really need to calm it down, wouldn't want you to faint!" She was just fast enough to run out of the room before the balled up napkin Jack threw at her could make contact. He could hear her laugh her way up the stairs.
Okay, Jack would admit, only in the privacy of his own mind, that maybe, just maybe, his vision grayed out the slightest bit. Maybe, in his excitement, he lost a small amount of balance and tipped sideways. And okay, so Nick might have had to catch him, but he did not, what –so-ever, faint.
They laughed immediately, "Whoa, steady, tiger." Lily managed to get out, Nick laughed loudly and unobstructed, holding a blushing Jack tightly around the shoulders to keep him upright.
He was, just past his embarrassment, amazed that his favorite piece of art was actually created by someone he knew in real life.
Jack stood directly in front of the painting, his back to it, watching them laugh and quickly becoming suspicious, "you knew this was my favorite painting, didn't you?" he asked them, watching through narrowed icy blue eyes, his arms folding across his chest. Nick simultaneously nodded and wiped tears from his face. He'd laughed himself to tears, and Jack knew then, that he would never live this down.
"Of course we did!"
Jack unfolded his arms.
Pleased that they hadn't lied, his suspicion evaporating. He appreciated the honest answer, especially since Nick hadn't hesitated.
The death of his mother and living at the orphanage had, at some point without his noticing, turned him into some sort of a mistrustful pessimist. He'd have to work hard to get over that.
"We saw you here, looking at it. Though, we didn't see you faint that time." Lily explained smiling widely.
And it begins, he thought, smiling, which he should not have done, because it probably encouraged her.
"I didn't faint!"
It took Jack a couple more seconds to understand the rest of what she said.
"You saw me?" he asked confused, "when?" he continued, looking up at them and waiting for more of an explanation. He'd been under the impression that that'd found him online.
"We came here, so that Nicolas could drop off some of his art, for a new exhibit they're trying to open, that deals with clay as a medium or something. I don't know I'm not the artist; you'll have to ask him about it." She waved her hand dismissively, "anyway, we saw all the kids in here, and found it just fascinating how long you looked at this painting in particular…" Lily began to explain.
"Especially since everyone else was busy running through all of the hallways! Naughty children." Nick added, shaking a finger in reprimand.
"You intrigued us very much, Jack. We called orphanage very next day!" Nick continued. Jack was glad he'd called it an orphanage, instead of a group home or something.
It was starting to make sense now, how they knew the things his teachers thought about his art, his online profile that he hadn't even known existed until they'd told him.
He felt his eyes well up, the force of his emotion slowly built up in his throat.
He swallowed hard, frustrated to be crying again.
Jack didn't want to be a huge crybaby. On a completely subconscious level of his mind he wanted to be strong like Nick, whom he couldn't imagine crying for any other reason than laughter. But, despite his wishes, he of course began to tear up, and he hugged them again, desperate for physical contact. He wasn't exactly sure why he was crying, on some emotional over-load that made it difficult to dissect his own feelings past his need for constant physical affection. Lily had told him that he'd had a lot of pent up emotions and he might be weepy on and off for a while, until they found some stability. He didn't understand then, but was thankful for her kind words and understanding. He was too young to think of much more than the part where he didn't want to be weepy for a while! Years later he would know that she was right, but that wasn't all of it; he was really crying because he had spent many long nights and days feeling unloved, unwanted, and lonelier that he thought possible. He'd felt worthless, and to find out that there were actually two wonderful people out there who had actually put a great deal of effort into getting to know him and actually wanted him. It was very overwhelming. They hugged for a long time, there in the art museum, and if it was embarrassing or if people were staring, Jack didn't care in the least.
-Page Break -
They were going to get kicked out. At least, Lily was completely convinced of this, considering she kept repeating it.
They were sitting in an auditorium, watching a documentary on the history of structural design as an art form. It was pretty boring; the announcer said everything in monotone and it was followed by still images to evaluate his points. Jack didn't want to announce that he was bored and tried very hard to keep his eyes focused on the screen. He began to yawn, his sleepless night catching up to him.
Nick leaned over Lily, where she sat between them, and told Jack he was glad that he wasn't the only one dying of boredom. Jack made a surprised sound that was supposed to be a laugh, but came out closer to a bark. He'd been caught off guard by Nick's joke; he was an artist and even he didn't like it. Lily couldn't actually be enjoying it either then, she'd made it clear that art wasn't something she was passionate about.
Lily hissed a short, "hush" in Nick's ear and he leaned back into his own seat. It was too late though, now that he knew Lily was the only one interested (she had insisted that they come in here) he wasn't going to be ignored. He began to pull at Jack's hair and his clothes from behind Lily's back and Jack tried to stifle his giggles before they both got into trouble. He shook his head quickly at Nick to signify his unwillingness to participate.
It wasn't long before Lily noticed Jack's laughter and pulled playfully on Nick's beard telling them both they would get kicked out if they didn't stop horsing around. Jack thought he heard her whisper, 'naughty children' but maybe not. He wasn't sure.
Nick raised his hands in defeat, earning him an eye roll from his wife. He placed his elbows onto his knees, to hold his head up, fists both under his chin. It was an act of obedience that Jack didn't believe in the slightest, because Nick was over there smiling mischievously.
He made it an entire minute before hitting Jack in the face with what appeared to be a gum wrapper. Though he wasn't chewing any gum. Jack wasn't sure where he'd gotten it, maybe his pocket, or maybe he'd found it on the carpet under the bench they sat on. Jack didn't care where he got it, he was glad to play, the video had begun talking in depth about stone gargoyles and how they reflected societal beliefs.
Jack threw it back; unfortunately, Lily was able to catch it as it sailed past her, before it could reach Nick.
Jack was pretty impressed with her reflexes.
She glared quickly at Nick before telling them, again, that they were going to get kicked out, only this time she added that it would be for disturbing the peace. Jack and Nick both looked around to note that there were only four other people in the room. Nick shrugged at him and gestured quickly to let Jack know that he he'd married a crazy person.
Jack covered his mouth with a hand, hoping to stifle all sound.
Lily sighed (trying to, Jack thought, cover her own laughter) and informed them that if security came in here, she was going to pretend she didn't know them.
It took them making faces at one another for her to realize that they were not going to behave and give them permission to leave. They walked out, her arms around Nick's waist, her other hand resting on Jack's shoulder, "You boys, what am I going to do with you?" she asked, giving Jack's shoulder a gentle squeeze. He had a feeling she squeezed Nick at the same time, and for some reason the idea made a tingle of happiness run quickly over his spine. He could feel it settle in his chest and the tips of his fingers.
It had been officially decided that Both Nick and Jack had no self control, and that any kind of formal education should be left for a later date.
"Are you guys hungry? Is that what's wrong? Low blood sugar has ya'll acting up?" Lily asked them. Jack was starting to get hungry, but didn't want to give her the satisfaction of blaming his behavior on his hunger. He looked at her smirking, and didn't answer.
"Okay I'll feed the animals, and then maybe you two can behave yourself for … lets agree on at least two more exhibits? Before you start up again. I'm talking to you, Nicolas." She added sternly. He had started it, hadn't he?
Nick smiled broadly and kissed her cheeks apologetically, which she wiped off with a hand, and proceeded to wipe on Jack's arm, feigning disgust. They all laughed.
"Ok, you feed us, and we promise to behave, scouts honor."
"Yea, scouts honor." Jack mimicked, grinning, she'd find out soon enough that he was never a scout. Nick, Jack thought, probably wasn't either.