Never Stuck Around Long Enough For a One Night Stand, Epilogue
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The problem with throwing a housewarming party is that they don't really know anyone in Bloomington yet. Jensen barely knows anyone in the state of Indiana.
But Jared insists the two undergrads and three PhD students they share their new house with are nice enough to deserve a party. And he invites his parents for good measure.
Jensen is still shy around Jared's parents, stiffly polite and unsure what to say beyond small talk. They know he's with Jared. They know the second bedroom is for guests and storage, and the sappy things he overhears Jared saying to his mom about him still make Jensen blush.
The two girls from the first floor bring up a bundt cake, and Jensen serves out slices on paper plates, napkins fluttering in the breeze from the ceiling fan in the living room. It's turned up high to bring in as much cool air as possible. This is the first week it's been cool enough to live without the A/C units on all the time, and Jared has said he's airing the place out, as well as making other little homey changes.
Every time Jensen comes back from a trip there's some new living room furniture Jared found on the curb or a new set of curtains handmade by his mom. He's been home for about 24 hours total in the past two weeks, and Jared's been handling everything around the apartment like a pro while he looks for a new job.
Apparently he's also been befriending the neighbors because Jensen finds himself being told, "I've heard so much about you," by every other person who lives in the building. So they know too. They know and they don't care, and eventually Jensen has to go sit in the bathroom with the door locked for a few minutes so he doesn't pass out. He never expected anything like this.
And then Jim Beaver comes walking up the stairs. Jensen had invited him, knowing Jim comes through this part of the state pretty often, but he never expected Jim to actually show up, hadn't even told him he and Jared were living together as anything but roommates. But it’s clear from the moment he comes through the door that Jim already knows.
Jensen gives him a big smile and an "I can't believe you came," but Jim refuses his handshake and pulls him into a hug, hanging on just a second too long. He's the only person in the building besides Jared who ever has to know this isn't easy for Jensen, that Jensen hasn't always been this person.
"I'm proud of you, boy," says Jim solemnly. “You’ve got a real nice place here.” He makes a show of looking around the living room, but Jensen knows he’s not talking about the furniture.
"Thanks," says Jensen sheepishly. "But that’s all on Jared. Can I get you a beer or something? I haven’t been home much, but I can find the booze at least." He starts to move towards the kitchen, which is a lot more than a hot plate and a mini-fridge this time.
"Hang on a second, Jensen," says Jim. "I know you haven't said anything to your folks, and I won't either, but" -- he looks at Jared, who is laughing at something his dad is saying -- "they'd be real proud of you too. Whenever you want to let them know."
Jensen nods. He doesn’t believe it, but if anyone told him a year ago what his life would be like now, he wouldn’t have believed them either. He’s sharing a bedroom with another man and tripping over the books from Jared’s community college classes in a real apartment with both their names on the lease. He’s saying the word “home” unironically for the first in a decade. And he may possibly, just possibly, be in love.
♥ END ♥
masterpost | part 1 | part 1a | part 2 | epilogue | art post