Teenagers in Love, Chapter Six
Title: Teenagers in Love
Pairing: Heath & Jake
Rating: PG?
Disclaimer: I don't know any of these people. I'm totally making it all up!
Author's Note: Heath and Jake meet as teenagers. The story begins and ends long before Brokeback Mountain. Thanks to Lola and Heather for beta feedback!! To read the previous chapters, click on my LJ link. I have no idea how to link them individually here.
Again, thanks to Lola and Jordan for bugging me! :)
Summary: In the last chapter, Jake had that embarrassing and painful talk with his father and then, broke the news to Heath. In this chapter, he actually begins to carry out his father's crazy plan.
Teenagers in Love, Chapter 6
"...so, anyway, like I was saying, I told Lisa that if Janie was going to be that way about it--and let's face it, everyone knew she was--then, maybe we didn't need her on the cheerleading team! I mean, seriously, Jake, have you heard anything so ridiculous? ... ... Jake?"
After frantically searching his memory for what second-date Cindy had just said, Jake flashed a grin, chuckled a little and agreed that it sounded crazy. He listened, or pretended to, for a few more minutes, and then asked if she was ready to leave. Signaling the waiter, Jake prepared to pay for a meal he'd known would impress her.
The night was clear and beautiful as they headed back to her house, the air warm and sultry, breezing across his face as he drove. What was he going to do when they got there. He noticed he'd slowed down a bit, and repeated what he'd been saying to himself ever since he buckled his seat belt: "you have to kiss her goodnight... you have to kiss her goodnight..."
When Jake coasted to a stop in Cindy's driveway, she commented on what a nice night it was and invited her to sit for a while on the front porch swing. They held hands for a while, hers small and dainty, soft,... not the hand he really wanted to hold.
Saying goodnight at the door, Jake leaned in and placed a first kiss on her lips, hoping he'd get away with waiting until their next date to tease her lips apart the way he knew she wanted. When he pulled back, she looked disappointed and teased him about what a gentleman he was being. "You don't have to be, you know!". In response, Jake grinned, winked and touched her cheek before telling her goodnight. As he pulled the car door shut, he sighed with relief that another date was over.
Later that night, lying in bed, Jake's loneliness was at its worst since his talk with Heath two weeks ago. They hadn't talked once during that time and right now, both his arms and his heart felt empty. Giving into temptation, he rolled over toward the phone he still kept on the pillow beside him and pushed the button that would connect him to Heath.
When a sleepy voice answered, Jake was so overcome that at first, he couldn't say anything.
"Jake?"
"It's me" Jake answered, "I just (sigh) ... I just needed to hear your voice for a minute".
"I miss you, too, mate"
They listened to each other breathe for a few seconds, savoring the connection, and then, said goodbye. This time when Heath fell asleep, he was smiling, his heart full with the knowledge that Jake missed him.
Jake turned over so he could look out his uncovered window and watch the tree branches dance in the wind. In that moment, he still felt connected to Heath and feel asleep hugging that feeling to himself.
About a week later, a few days after date #3, which ended with a little making out and a promise to call her, the phone on Jake's pillow rang, waking him up out of a light sleep. He squinted at the neon-green numbers on the nightstand clock and felt sure he knew who was calling. The first sound of that Australian accent was so beautiful to Jake, it took his breath away.
"I got nothing to say, really ... ... I'm just really missing you!"
When he heard that, Jake's eyes filled with tears and he took a steadying breath, hoping Heath wouldn't hear those tears in his voice.
"I..." his voice gave out, "I miss you, too"
TBC