Two months go by both too quickly and too slowly. Chazz and Jesse spend most of the time apart, but when they do get a few hours in person or on the phone, it's mostly spent apartment hunting. To both their surprise and delight, the decision making process is almost entirely harmonious.
The only thing they really disagree on is the fish.
"There's not going to be enough room for both our stuff, and three thousand fish," Chazz had argued. "Your living room looks like the Aquarium of Genoa."
"I only have three medium-sized aquariums, Chazz. And most definitely less than three thousand fish."
"Could've fooled me. You don't even have room for a couch."
"The fish are non-negotiable, we've been over this. We just need a big enough living room and it'll be just fine. Please stop being so dramatic."
"I'm not-"
"You really are."
Chazz huffs and glares at his phone, while Jesse continues on cheerfully. While he is certain the fish tanks are far larger than what can be described as medium-sized, he doesn't push the subject. He wouldn't admit it, but he thinks it's sweet that Jesse cares so much about the comfort of his pets. Even if they are just fish.
A few days later they finally find something with enough square footage, and Jesse jumps at the chance to apply. It definitely wasn't his or Chazz's first pick due to the out of the way location, and the immediate acceptance of their application rings some warning bells. Chazz isn't pleased about signing without visiting in person first, but gives in because Jesse is so excited by how everything looks on the website. By that point they won't have enough time together until they're actually moving to check it out. It is, however, the most affordable and spacious. At least, of the few places available in the little time they had left to pick.
When moving day finally arrives, Jesse and Chazz try to beat the two moving trucks to the apartment in order to get their keys and see the space first. They pull up in front of the large building and Jesse can already feel Chazz getting tense.
"Is this for real?" Chazz grumbles.
Jesse ignores him and hops out of the car. He gets his bags out and carries them across the parking lot to stand in front of the building.
Dropping his bags on the cement, he grins up at the large, old building in front of him. As Jesse admires the brick walls covered with vines and weeds, and the stained glass windows centered above the entrance for each of the fifteen stories, he thinks he loves it even more than he had when first seeing it online. It looks as if it has millions of interesting stories to tell, and Jesse hopes he can learn at least a few while living here.
"The pictures must have been from 20 years ago when they could afford a groundskeeper," Chazz complains, stopping next to Jesse and setting his things down as well. "I knew we should've checked it out in person first."
Jesse rolls his eyes and nudges him in the arm with his elbow.
"I think it looks cool, even if it might be in need a bit of maintenance."
"It looks haunted."
"Oh, that'd be fun!"
Chazz mumbles something under his breath that Jesse doesn't quite catch, then steps over Jesse's bags, not quite storming off through the large, wooden front doors. They creak as he pulls them open. Chazz turns to give Jesse an exasperated expression.
Jesse chuckles and picks his bags back up.
"How 'bout you apply to be the groundskeeper? Then you can fix this place up to your standards."
Chazz scowls at him as Jesse smiles brightly and squeezes past into the lobby, not waiting for Chazz to go in or hold the door open for him properly.
"I doubt they could pay enough to make it worth the trouble," Chazz says, his voice echoing. Jesse sighs, but is glad to see that Chazz looks at least a little mortified by his rude comments carrying throughout the spacious, antique filled lobby.
A tall slender old man appears in front of them, startling them, as neither saw or heard him approaching. He looks down at them, his dark, sunken eyes wearing a neutral yet intimidating expression.
Jesse smiles brightly. The man's expression remains unchanged.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," he says, looking over them both. His voice has a creaky quality that fits the aesthetic of the building quite well, Jesse thinks. "Are you here to pick up your keys, or just visiting one of our tenants?"
"Getting keys, sir," Jesse replies cheerily. "Our furniture is on its way soon."
"Right, then. What is your apartment number?" He says as he seems to glide across the room and behind the desk near the wall. Jesse is surprised by how much the building reminds him of an old hotel. Almost like one out of a movie he'd seen before.
"14D," Chazz says, following him to the desk. The man stops and stares, but the change in his expression is so slight that Chazz isn't sure how to read it. It does unsettle him, just a little though. The look Jesse gives him when the manager finally looks away to search for their keys tells him that he feels the same.
He glides back around the desk after a moment with two matching keys, and two more individual ones.
"The key to the laundry room, which is located in the basement, and the key to your mailbox, which is down that hall," he points to the far end of the room, an immediate right from the entrance, "where your number is the same as your apartment. Is there anything else you need from me?"
Chazz takes the keys and stuffs them in his jacket pocket.
"Just point us in the direction of the elevator," he says, and the man silently gestures to the left end of the lobby.
"It does not work well, however. I recommend the staircase, if you do not wish to gamble with your lives."
"Thanks for the warning." Chazz is officially ready to cut their losses, and live out of the car until they can figure out something better.
"Thank you kindly. Should we call the desk or come down to you with any questions?" Jesse asks with a polite smile.
"Neither. Please, just send an email and someone will come."
"Uh, alright. Thank you," Jesse responds, but the man is already gliding away.
By the time Jesse turns around, Chazz is at the staircase and tapping his foot impatiently on the first step. The staircase, strangely enough, is just to the left of the front desk, which places it at the center of the building. Chazz thinks this design is poor, but Jesse thinks it's neat and reminds him more and more of a hotel with every new thing he sees.
Jesse's phone begins to ring just as he starts to walk over. Chazz sighs dramatically when Jesse stops a few feet away and puts his bags down to pull out his phone.
"Seriously?"
"It's the movers," Jesse says and answers the call. "Hello?"
Chazz, irritated as Jesse cheerfully begins making conversation, steps down and hovers next to Jesse to try and listen.
"They're five minutes out," Jesse says, before responding to something the person on the other end says. After a few more moments of pointless pleasantries, Jesse hangs up. He gives Chazz a quick kiss on the cheek. "Meet you upstairs?"
Before Chazz can say anything, Jesse smiles and gives him an enthusiastic pat on the shoulder, then turns and walks away.
Chazz grumbles quietly to himself and tries to find a comfortable way to lift both their luggage for the trip up fourteen flights of stairs. Chazz takes a moment to wonder why he actually likes this guy, as he watches Jesse prance off without him. The thought goes as fast as it came, however, and Chazz just sighs and starts up the steep, winding staircase.
When Chazz reaches the twelfth floor, he stops to catch his breath and drop the bags for just a moment. Twenty minutes ago he would have verbally berated anyone who suggested he would ever be happy to be in his new apartment, but now he is pretty sure he might cry when he gets to the door.
Somewhat starting to recover, Chazz gathers the bags once again and trudges up the next set of stairs, holding onto the idea that there's only one more left before he can truly rest. He isn't sure how he'll survive this trek daily. Maybe, he thinks, he should actually ask about taking on a maintenance job here like Jesse had suggested. He'll start with the elevator, specifically calling up his mom and paying an actual professional to do the work on his behalf.
The spiraling, expensive thought process is abruptly interrupted by the marker for the fourteenth floor appearing at the top of the steps. Chazz frowns and wonders if he got so lost in thought he walked up the last set of stairs without realizing. Dropping the bags on the landing in front of the fourteenth floor, he quickly jogs back down to check the floor below and finds that he has not, in fact, skipped a floor; the apartment building has.
Chazz heads back up, considering the reasons for skipping numbers, and settling on superstition. As he approaches his bags, he finds them all opened, and everything strewn about the landing and the next set of stairs and into the hall. There's a distant sound, possibly a laugh, though he's not sure. Chazz has never thought of himself as particularly superstitious, but it does unsettle him just a little to realize that because the numbers skip, that means that this is the thirteenth floor.
Peering around the frame of the doorway into the hall, he looks down either side of the hall and sees no one. Just the elevator to the left, and a garbage chute to the right. Frowning, he turns around and hurries to gather up their belongings again. Just as he finishes, he hears a door close somewhere behind him. Chazz turns around to see that right across the hall from the stairs is 14D. He tosses each bag across the hall one by one instead of lifting them all again, then goes over and turns the handle. It's locked.
"If this place is actually haunted, we're breaking up," Chazz mumbles to himself. He pulls his keys out and lets himself into the apartment.
Jesse leads the movers up and down the stairs, promising water and snacks from Chazz anytime they need while in the apartment.
Chazz, however, only gives the movers the opportunity to use one cup between them and isn't entirely sure what snacks Jesse imagined they had up here. There are the ones he had packed for himself on the ride over, but he had zero intention of sharing any of that with these strangers.
When a couple of the movers finish setting down his couch in the middle of the living room, they hurry out, leaving behind a third man that Chazz didn't notice come in. He takes a seat on the couch and pulls a small water bottle from his pocket.
"Interesting place you boys got here," he says to a bewildered Chazz between sips.
"This isn't a breakroom-" Chazz begins, but the man barks out a laugh and hops up to investigate the balcony doors.
"Wowzers! The view is amazing. Can't say you two have great taste," he gestures at the peeling wallpaper and stained ceiling. "But you definitely got lucky with this!"
Chazz rubs his temple, then points to the door.
"I think they need help with the rest of the stuff. There's four hundred and eighty gallons of fish that need to be carefully maneuvered up that staircase and-"
"Don't worry about your fish, kiddo. They've got their best folks on it."
Chazz scrunches up his nose at both being called kiddo and the implication that those are his fish. The man with the name tag 'Paul' doesn't give him the opportunity to argue, however. Within seconds, Paul is pulling an old, raggedy leather bag up from beside the couch and opening it.
Peering over, Chazz sees it's got tools and cords and a router inside.
"Oh, you're the internet guy," Chazz says, relieved that the man actually has a reason to be there.
Chazz tries his best to keep himself busy while Paul works, as an excuse not to keep conversing. It's hard to avoid the man's ability to talk about any and every mundane thing he can think of, however.
"I gotta make a call," he says after twenty minutes of this, hoping if he hides down the hall, then Paul will finish up faster and leave.
"No problem, I should have your internet hooked up in no time!"
Chazz wanders down the hall, calling up Syrus as he walks.
"Hey," Syrus says, picking up after several rings. He sounds flustered.
"You busy?" Chazz asks. He can hear chatter and whining in the background.
"Always. Why? Aren't you moving into your new place today?"
"Yeah, but I'm up here with the internet guy alone, and he won't stop talking to me," Chazz mumbles and hurries away from the apartment door and down the long hallway toward the elevator.
Syrus laughs at him.
"Everything going well?" Syrus asks, and his tone sounds like he'd be surprised if it was. Chazz finds him annoying.
"As well as a moving day can go," Chazz replies.
"I meant with Jesse."
"I know what you meant," Chazz snaps. "Like I said, as well as a moving day can go. Otherwise it's great."
"That's good," Syrus says, but Chazz doesn't believe him.
"Spit it out."
"Nothing," Syrus says, sighing. "I already told you it seems fast. Have you considered just being alone? Just for a little while?"
"I have been living alone for nearly a year."
"Between Jesse and Jaden being at your place all the time, is that really true?" There was an emphasis on Jaden that Chazz didn't really appreciate.
"Yes, it is true. And it's more out of convenience, not because we're rushing into anything," Chazz says.
He feels bad for saying it. Not because he minds lying to Syrus, but because he feels a lot more strongly about the decision than that, and he hopes very much that Jesse also doesn't think of it as just a convenient roommate situation.
"Whatever," Syrus says. "When you're done moving, send me the address. I got something for you guys."
"Why?"
"Because it's the polite thing to do when your friend moves, Chazz."
"I didn't get you anything when you moved," Chazz replies, a little confused.
"You're not polite."
Chazz regrets giving up on his conversation with Paul. He looks around at the peeling wallpaper, ominous landscape paintings crookedly lining the hall, and the stained carpet. Inviting anyone here is at the very bottom of his list of things to do, but he knows Jesse will insist on having people over. Chazz would too, if he didn't absolutely hate the place.
"Yeah, sure, I'll text you later. You can come by sometime this weekend. Find a babysitter though," he says, thinking about the steep, eternal walk up the stairs.
"Alright. You should probably go check on your internet," he says, just as someone starts screeching in the background. "I gotta go."
"Yeah, good luck with that." Chazz hangs up and slouches, feeling exhausted despite not having done much for the past hour and a half. He turns to see Jesse assisting the movers with pushing the mattress through the apartment door. Chazz will never quite understand why Jesse insists on helping people do the jobs they're getting paid to do.
Back at the apartment door, Paul steps out and smiles apologetically at Chazz.
"Sorry, kiddo, I couldn't get the internet set up. You'll have to check with the building manager about that."
Chazz grumbles. He thanks the man and heads into the apartment, looking for Jesse.
At least not having the internet temporarily isn't as bad as what he finds out next.
"So, it seems some of our furniture didn't make the trip," Jesse tells him, as the movers head back out.
"Excuse me?"
The door shuts behind them, and Chazz looks into the bedroom to see only boxes of their stuff and the mattress on the floor.
"Some of it? There's nothing here!" Chazz looks around, hoping to see at least the dresser or the side tables set down in the living room somewhere.
"Well, the mattress is," Jesse says, trying to keep positive. "At least we'll have something to sleep on."
"What exactly happened to it all?"
"Uh, they're not sure. They said it was loaded up with everything, but it wasn't there when they got here," Jesse explains. While he genuinely believes the movers story, he knows Chazz won't.
"Do they think we're stupid?!"
Jesse sighs.
"They already discounted us for the missing items," he explains, reaching out to place his hands on Chazz's shoulders in a comforting gesture. Chazz turns away and storms over to the door.
"This place sucks enough as it is, but now we have nowhere to put our stuff." He's not quite yelling, but he's just a little too loud and his tone a little too accusatory for Jesse's liking.
"Where are you going?" Jesse asks, as Chazz pulls the door open and steps out into the hall.
"I don't know. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to risk my life in the elevator or walking back down three thousand rickety stairs first." He slams the door, leaving Jesse standing in the box-filled apartment by himself.
In an attempt not to get worked up as well, Jesse digs through the boxes until he finds the tea, kettle, and teapot. Once he's poured himself a cup, he sits down on the couch and crosses his legs, getting comfortable. Jesse looks around at the room, taking everything in as he sips his tea. He really does find this place charming, but he understands why this wouldn't be up to Chazz's standards. It's not what they were expecting based on the website description and photos, which is definitely disappointing.
When he's done with his tea, Jesse begins moving the furniture that did survive the trip into better positions, starting with his aquariums. As he struggles to find a good arrangement that leaves any walking space in the living room, Jesse realizes that maybe Chazz was right. Once he finds a good position for two in the living room and one in the bedroom, he fills the tanks up and goes to get his fish out of their small carriers.
"Welcome home!" he says to them, as he gently transfers them over.
Jesse decides that Chazz may have been right about the size of his aquariums, but he doesn't regret giving his fish the space they need and deserve.
By the time Chazz gets back, the kitchen and living room are almost completely unpacked. There's still quite a bit to do, but it seems that Jesse hustles when things get tense.
Chazz finds Jesse sitting on the mattress on the floor of their bedroom, reading a book.
He's less irritated after taking a walk outside, but still quite grumpy after the climb back up the stairs. Embarrassed by his outburst, he avoids making eye contact with Jesse and goes into the bathroom. He's expecting to dig through boxes for his shower items, but finds the bathroom is also unpacked. Not set up, but things are out and on the counter. He opens the drawers and finds some stuff put away.
Now Chazz feels really guilty for storming off. It's clear from the steam on the mirror and bath products set up near the shower that Jesse has already taken one. Chazz hurries through his, not wanting it to seem like he's avoiding a conversation. He is, but he doesn't want it to look that way.
When he exits the bathroom, Jesse looks up at him and smiles.
"I reckon that's a personal record," he says. "You got in and out of there in ten minutes. Usually lasts about as long as your hissy fit did."
Chazz sits down on the bed, leans back against the wall, and sighs.
"I might have overreacted," he starts.
"Might've."
"I didn't mean to take it out on you. I'm sorry."
Jesse closes the book and leans over to give Chazz a quick kiss.
"I'm sorry this place wasn't what we thought it was," he says.
Chazz shrugs and begins to stand back up.
"I'll get over it. I'll unpack the rest of the stuff," he says. Jesse grabs his hand and pulls him back down before he gets all the way up.
"You can do that tomorrow," he says as he lays back, so Chazz lays down next to him. "It's been a long day, we deserve to just relax in our new space."
"Okay," Chazz says. He was hoping to busy himself with unpacking since he still felt bad, but he wasn't against just sleeping it off.
"Are you still upset?" Jesse asks after a few seconds. Chazz glances over at him. He's rolled over on his side and staring at Chazz as if he has a lot more to say.
"No."
"Good, it's bad luck to go to bed mad."
Chazz rolls his eyes, and Jesse rolls closer, getting comfortable cuddled up against Chazz's side. The tension lifts just a little more, and Chazz is glad that of all the people he had to have a bad day with, it was Jesse.
A week after their apartment is set up Chazz tries to get their friends to come over, mostly at Jesse's request, to hang out and see their new place. Unfortunately, getting anyone they know to have matching schedules seems to be a once-yearly event and they'd used it up for this one already.
Alexis and Jim simply send a gift when they hear about the stair/elevator situation and make plans to meet up somewhere as a group later on. Chazz is a little disappointed, but he doesn't blame them. Especially considering they probably declined on behalf of Shirley. He doesn't want her to come over anyway.
The first to stop by are Aster and Zane, much to Chazz's dismay. He very intentionally did not send a message to either of them, but it seems that Jesse had gotten both of their numbers at some point.
"It's smaller than the outside would suggest," Aster says, wandering through the living room and peering into the aquariums. Zane sets a breadmaker on the kitchen counter.
"Hm, I think it suits them," he says, and Chazz is positive that's an insult, but his tone conveys nothing.
"Thanks!" Jesse says, investigating the gift. "And for the gift."
"Is that actually a thing?" Chazz wonders aloud.
"Of course." Aster's tone, on the other hand, conveys too much.
They don't stay long after that, making it clear they came over purely out of curiosity and because it was on the way to where they were already headed.
Syrus comes by the next day, while Jesse is out. Chazz would have thought he somehow planned it that way, except that Atticus walks in behind him, and he knows for sure no planning went into the day if they were together for this trip.
"Chazz!" Atticus steps around a winded Syrus and picks Chazz up, squeezing him just a little too tightly. "It's been forever! I don't think I've seen you since your fake wedding, right?"
"Uh, yeah," Chazz says, trying to push himself out of Atticus' grasp. "You've canceled every time I've tried to make plans."
Atticus lets go and Chazz stumbles when his feet hit the floor.
"I'm sorry, buddy! I've missed you, my schedule's just been insane!" he says, patting Chazz on top of the head. "And I'm here now!"
"Anyway, hi Chazz," Syrus says, pushing past Atticus. He steps around Chazz to get a better look at the whole apartment. "This place really doesn't look like the pictures, and those stairs are awful. Did you guys even check it out before moving in?"
"There wasn't much time. I'll regret it for the next twelve months, so no more negativity or you can head right back down those stairs," Chazz snaps.
"I think it's nice," Atticus says. "Very homey."
They both wander into the living room, Chazz not far behind. Atticus goes right for the aquariums.
"Where's Jesse?" Syrus asks, glancing through the open door leading to the bedroom. He frowns but keeps whatever comment he might have to himself.
"He went to the store. We haven't had much in the fridge since we got here."
"You didn't want to shop together?" Atticus says. He's not looking at them while he speaks, he's too busy waving to the fish. "Holding hands while you pick out your meals for the week-"
"We don't do that. And I knew Syrus was coming by at some point today, so I didn't want to be out when he showed up," Chazz explains. "Why'd you two come together?"
"We didn't," they both answer.
"Atticus was already in the lobby, chatting up that creepy guy that works down there, when I got here," Syrus says.
"He's not creepy, Sy. And if it wasn't for him, you'd have gotten on the elevator, so you sort of owe him your life."
"I really don't."
"You were here already?" Chazz asks, a little confused. He hadn't sent Atticus the address. He hadn't even thought about it, since they hadn't talked in a while.
"Yeah, Lexi told me you moved in with Jesse, and I was thrilled! I dropped everything and came right over to see your love nest," Atticus says, turning around to grin at Chazz.
"Please don't call it that," Chazz says.
Atticus winks at him, then flops down on the couch.
"Sit down, you two! Chazz, tell us how it's been living with someone that isn't Jaden."
"Speaking of Jaden," Syrus says as he sits down on the chair, leaving the space next to Atticus free for Chazz to sit.
"Do we have to?" Chazz asks, joining them.
"I just wondered if you'd heard from him recently. He left my house for yours a couple months ago, and I've been left on read since."
"Really?" Chazz says. He had assumed Jaden would just go back there after his conversation with Jesse. "I haven't really reached out, to be honest. Told him he couldn't move into my living room, so he headed out, and that's been it."
"Jaden's a free spirit," Atticus says, waving his hand dismissively. "He'll turn up soon. But that's not who we're here to talk about! We're here to talk about Jesse and Chazz shacking up! Ooh, is a real wedding in the cards?"
Chazz covers his face, embarrassed.
"Not just yet." Jesse's voice comes from the doorway.
Chazz hadn't heard the door open, and now he's even more embarrassed. He isn't even sure if they're in love yet. Well, he knows that he is, but they haven't discussed their feelings beyond the desire to live together.
"Hey, Jesse!" Atticus hops up and goes to lift Jesse into a hug just like he had Chazz.
"Hey to you, too!" Jesse laughs, struggling to hold onto the grocery bags he was carrying. "Didn't know you were comin' over. Chazz must be delighted!"
"Aw, he missed me that much?" Atticus says, putting Jesse down and reaching to take the bags from his hands.
Jesse instinctively pulls back, not wanting to allow a guest to do any work, but Atticus doesn't seem to notice and just moves with him and pulls the bags from his hands. He takes them to the kitchen counters and sets them down.
"I'll have to clear my schedule more often, then!" Atticus slings an arm over Jesse's shoulders and walks him to the couch.
"I should put the food up before I join y'all," Jesse says, but Atticus' grip is strong. They sit down almost at the same time.
"Don't be silly. Chazz will put them away, right Chazz? The relationship won't last if only one of you is doing all the work!"
Chazz gets up to do as he's told. While he agrees, he's just too embarrassed to sit there any longer.
"Hey, Jesse," Syrus says, his tone indicating he's been waiting impatiently for Atticus to stop talking.
"Howdy! Glad you came by! You're staying for dinner, right?"
Atticus interrupts before Syrus can say anything.
"Don't be ridiculous! Save your food for the two of you, we're going out. My treat!"
No one argues with that, and Chazz, Jesse, and Syrus find themselves at the nicest restaurant in the city within the hour with a very enthusiastic Atticus.
The rest of the week goes by uneventfully, other than noisy neighbors and the Wi-Fi finally getting set up. Chazz and Jesse get comfortable pretty quickly fixing up the walls and laying a few nice rugs down. They take turns making dinner, and fall into a good groove with sharing chores around the apartment. It seems so easy to live together, neither of them can imagine going back to being on their own.
Tonight is Jesse's turn to cook, but Chazz is in a good mood and can't help but interrupt to flirt with him. Chazz is standing behind Jesse with his chin resting on his shoulder and arms around with his waist, as Jesse is chopping up vegetables. At least, he's trying to chop, but it's not an easy thing to do with someone hanging off you and being very distracting.
"Would you busy yourself with something else, before I lose a finger?" Jesse says with a smile. He puts the knife down for a moment to shake Chazz off.
Chazz sighs dramatically then kisses Jesse on the cheek.
"Fine, but I'll be back if you take much longer," he says, before leaving the kitchen to watch something on TV while he waits for dinner. Jesse just chuckles and continues cooking in peace.
After dinner, Chazz cleans up their dishes quickly, Jesse thinks it's almost comical. As soon as he's done, Chazz hops back on the couch next to Jesse and leans in to get comfortable.
"Are we finishing that movie from last night?" Jesse asks, reaching for the remote. Chazz raises an eyebrow, confused.
"We didn't finish?"
"I did. You fell asleep," Jesse says.
"Oh. Yeah, sure," Chazz says, but he's not really interested.
Jesse can tell from his tone that it wasn't what he was thinking about, but he turns the movie on anyway. If this cuddling is going anywhere else, Jesse thinks that maybe having something going on at the same time might make Chazz less likely to get self-conscious, or nervous, or whatever it is that happens when they get just a little too intimate.
Within ten minutes of the last forty-five minutes of the movie, it's become a make-out session. Not long after that, it's become something more aptly described as heavy-petting. Then, without warning, Chazz sits up and pulls away.
"Are you alright?" Jesse asks, still laying back on the couch, too surprised to move right away.
"Yeah, yeah. I- I forgot our laundry in the washer. I'll be right back," Chazz says, sounding a little frantic. Before Jesse can respond, Chazz has gotten up and hurried for the door. "Sorry, I'll just be a minute."
"Uh, okay?" Jesse says, sitting up as Chazz hurries out of the apartment and shuts the door.
Jesse thinks it might be time to broach the subject they've been avoiding again. Especially if Chazz was willing to suffer all those flights of stairs over the possibility of something happening between them.