BIG BANG 2011 Weird Science - Part Two

[blueeyedliz]

Part Two (along came Jared)

"Chad, I asked you to try and help me figure out how Jared got here. Not to eat me out of house and home." Jensen says, frustrated-and not for the first time-that he doesn't have a best friend who is more useful in a time of crisis.

If they'd run out of tasty snacks, Chad would be all over it in a split-second but as things stand Chad seems genuinely more interested in upping his sugar intake than panicking alongside Jensen over the batshit crazy events that have taken place over the last few hours.

Jared's out of the way, for the time being at least, taking a shower to warm his chilled bones. He's been in there for nearly an hour but can't seem to get enough of the feel of steaming hot water spraying over his skin.

Jensen's personal bathrobe is neatly folded on the toilet seat for Jared to use when he's finished and the bathroom door has been left propped open in case there's an emergency. Jared's never taken a shower before and Jensen doesn't want to be responsible for letting him slip and bang his head on the side of the tub.

The door being ajar has nothing whatsoever to do with Jensen wanting to sneek a peek.

"Maybe it's a miracle, maybe someone upstairs saw how desperately we need help." Chad says as he wipes Cheetos dust from his lips with the aid of his sleeve. "I mean, what if it was our guardian angels that sent him? To help make us cool."

"Our guardian angels? Chad, you're nuts." Jensen shifts in his seat at the kitchen table and rubs a hand through his short hair, making it spike up at odd angles. "I don't know what I'm going to do with him."

"Bet you could think of a few things if you really tried." Chad says with a strangely knowing smirk on his face. Dipping his hand back into the open bag of Cheetos in front of him with unashamed enthusiasm, Chad adds, "You like him don't you? Come on, man, I've seen you staring at Jared with your tongue practically dragging along the floor. He is your dream guy after all. You're totally crushing on Johnny-five."

"Don't call him that. He's not a machine. He's-He's...Hell, I don't even know, but he's not an android."

"Hey man, whatever floats your boat." Chad mutters, leaning back in his chair he picks absently at his teeth with his thumbnail. "Bet you'd like to oil his nuts though?"

"Oh, screw you." Jensen growls, flushing as he occupies his fidgeting hands by adding a third heaped spoonful of sugar to his coffee mug.

It's true, damn it. It is true. Jensen can't stop obsessing about Jared and he could go to hell for some of the things he's been thinking...but honestly, it'd probably be worth it. It would be a truly delicious decent.

"Jen, you're so deep in the closest over Jared that you're finding Christmas presents."

Jensen is just about to argue against the accusation when their conversation is abruptly interrupted by the subject of their discussion as he wanders into the room.

Suffice to say, Jared hasn't opted to wear Jensen's bathrobe.

Jared's skin is gleaming with beads of water that catch the light like shimmering pearls. His hair drips tiny droplets that glide a lazy trail down his back, following the curve of his spine. He's carrying a small hand towel, fruitlessly attempting to dry his entire long-limbed body with it. "Showering is fun, master."

"Gah!" Jensen exhales sharply, bravely battling to divert his gaze elsewhere. "Why are you always naked...and wet?" Jared's leaning against the kitchen doorframe in an unconscious pose that wouldn't look out of place on the front cover of one of Jensen's porn mags. "And stop calling me master." Jensen turns to Chad in desperation, "Dude, we have got to find him some clothes."

"I have an idea," Chad runs upstairs, returning a moment later with a pair of grey sweatpants and a black Abercrombie hoodie.

"Those are Josh's clothes; he'll pound me into next week if he finds out."

"You worry too much, he's not going to find out shit. Josh is away at military academy, he'll be too busy scrubbing the latrine floor with a toothbrush or whatever the fuck those guys do when they're learning how to play soldiers." Chad flings the clothes in Jared's direction, obviously keen not to get too close to a dude who is butt-naked.

Jared slides the hoodie over his head, ruffling his hair. He rubs the warm, soft material covering his arms with a smile. He quickly tugs on the sweatpants but has to sit on the floor to pull on his socks. They don't match, one is black and the other puke yellow but then, Jensen doubts Chad gave the clothes selection that much consideration.

It's a relief that Jared seems to have basic life skills that were not included in the computer program which created him. It's especially good that he's capable of dressing himself because Jensen doesn't think he could handle that particular task without popping a boner.

And that would be beyond embarrassing.

Josh's pants are too short on Jared's endless legs and the hoodie sleeves only come halfway down his forearms but the outfit covers Jared efficiently enough and without the naked floorshow Jensen feels like he can finally think clearly-with his upstairs brain.

Jared appears to be happy with the ensemble-probably enjoying the lack of a draft- and immediately squishes Chad and then Jensen in a full-body hug. Jensen startles at first, going as rigid as an iron rod but eventually he lets himself relax and he's smiling by the time Jared steps away.

Always thinking with his stomach, Chad offers to fix breakfast which turns out to be burnt toast and piss-weak coffee. Jared eats and drinks what is put in front of him as though it's a gourmet dining experience. It makes Jensen grin, the simple delight that Jared takes in everything, the way he treats it all like a gift.

After turning chef, Chad goes upstairs to try and fix Jensen's computer-partially because he feels guilty for contributing to its destruction and, Jensen reckons, partially because he wants to see if he can make himself a girlfriend.

However, it a pointless exercise since Jensen's computer has already gone to the great Radio Shack in the sky and the only way Chad will get himself a girl is if he mail-orders a blow-up doll.

It takes little time for Chad to give up the ghost and he's quickly back downstairs in the kitchen, heating a burrito in the microwave even though Jensen and Jared have barely finished swallowing the last bites of their breakfasts.

While he eats, Chad contemplates Jared quietly before he says, "Hey, can I try something?"

"What?" Jensen asks, uneasily.

"I just have a theory I want to try out. Hey, Jared?"

"Yes?" Jared turns his attention away from Jensen, he smiles warmly.

"Could you fix me a Tequila Sunrise please, man?" Chad gives Jensen a wink that Jensen returns with a confused frown.

Jared pauses, as though thinking hard, then he nods and pushes away from the table. They follow Jared as he retrieves a carton of orange juice from the refrigerator before walking into the lounge. Jensen and Chad watch in awed silence as Jared goes over to the liquor cabinet and rummages around inside pulling out tequila and crème de cassis.

Barely a minute later and Chad is holding a highball glass filled with a cocktail that's gradients of color give it its famous name. Jared's even added a cherry on a stick and a tiny umbrella.

Neither Chad nor Jensen is a cocktail connoisseur but it does look like Jared has produced a genuine Tequila Sunrise.

"Does it taste alright?" Jensen asks curiously as Chad takes a tentative sip.

"Do I look like I've ever tasted a Tequila Sunrise before? I don't know, dude but it's damn tasty."

"How did you know how to do that?" Jensen asks, turning to Jared.

"I'm not sure," Jared says, placing the bottles back in place. "I just knew."

"It could have something to do with the internet; you used your computer for surfing the web didn't you Jen?"

Jensen puffs out his cheeks and blows out a breath, he's very familiar with Chad's theories and they usually range from the absurd to the ridiculous. "Yeah, but it wasn't like I was searching for tips on how to be the best bar-keep in Texas."

"No doubt you had other sites in mind." Chad sucks the cherry into his mouth and holds it between his teeth before chomping on it.

"Uhm, now that I come to think of it I do remember downloading a copy of Cocktail." Jensen says dropping onto the couch.

"Dude..."

"What? Tom Cruise is hot."

"Was hot, man. Was. Now he's just vaguely creepy."

"I should fix a drink for you too," Jared says, sidling over to stand by Jensen's side like an overeager puppy. "What would you like, Jensen? I think my knowledge of the art of cocktail making is extensive."

"I'm good, thanks. Why don't you relax for awhile?" Jensen's pleased that Jared's finally relented and stopped with all the master stuff but his newly attached giant redwood-sized Siamese twin is making him twitchy.

Jared beams and takes a seat on the cushions. He rolls his bottom lip between his teeth, evidently thinking up some new form of occupation. After a beat he lifts Jensen's feet into his lap-totally blanking Jensen's surprised squeak-before carefully removing each of Jensen's sneakers and proceeding to give him a foot rub. "Whatever you desire."

Chad's face scrunches up like it does when he smells one of his own farts but instead of looking impressed with himself, he actually looks pretty grossed out. "I'll leave you guys to it, I want to get out of here before you start tonguing each-other and mentally scar me for life."

"Ignore Chad," Jensen says, "His mom smoked when she was pregnant."

"Whatever dick lick," Chad grunts. "I'll check the phonebook when I get home, see if there are any homeless shelters in the neighborhood."

"Chad, we are not dumping him at a shelter." Jensen pats Jared's arm in quick response to the worry lines which have popped up on Jared's brow.

"What are you going to do with him? I don't think anyone is going to buy that you really did build yourself a boyfriend."

"I'll figure something out." Jensen replies, knowing full well that he doesn't have the first clue what the hell he is going to do. He has got to do something though because he feels responsible for Jared. Jared is his problem.

Jared is his.

"It's your call," Chad says opening the front door. "But at least give my idea for letting Jared help us with our cool mojo some thought."

J2J2J2

With Chad gone, Jensen can feel his face heat up now that he's alone with Jared. He doesn't know what to say or even where to look, but when he does manage to lift his gaze he sees that Jared is seemingly engrossed. Long fingers deftly working the kinks out of Jensen's toes.

Maybe Chad's theory is correct, Jensen muses. Maybe Jared has somehow absorbed information from the internet-from all the websites Jensen has visited over the years. If that is the case then Jared is going to be a skilled expert in kinky bedroom gymnastics, and that possibility makes Jensen's chest hitch.

It's clear that Jared's brain functions perfectly well in fact, put him next to Chad and he's practically a genius. He might struggle to grasp some concepts such as why clothes are a necessity but really he's not that different from Jensen. Except for the fact that he's a computer program brought to life-like some bad nineteen-eighties movie with corny dialogue and shitty special effects.

Jared must sense that Jensen's thinking about him because he glances up and there's a bright glint in his eyes. He's so perfect, Jensen feels kinda shivery just looking at him. It's an effortless beauty, the best kind, the kind that means Jared doesn't know how attractive he is and so doesn't play on it.

There's an ache lodged deep in Jensen's chest, an ache caused by the connection he feels towards Jared. One that intensifies every time their gazes meet.

It's something that Jensen hasn't experienced before. It's want. He wants, so badly he can taste it in the air, but he already knows he's not going to do anything about it.

Jensen looks away and the moment is gone. He's long since come to accept that he isn't destined to get what he wants out of life. Not now. Not while he's a nothing and Jared is, what? An angel fallen to Earth? God knows... but Jensen for one, does not.

"You're muscles are so tight." Jared says from behind him and Jensen jumps, both at the sound of Jared's voice so close to his ear and also the feel of two strong hands, resting on his shoulder blades. Seems like stealth is another item to add to the endless list of Jared's positive attributes since Jensen didn't notice him getting up off the couch. Maybe he picked up sneaking around tips from all the times Jensen's played Assassins Creed on his PC.

Jared's thumbs are rotating in tiny circles, digging into the knots that seem to have been there ever since Jensen started at Shermer High.

Jensen moans with pleasure, he bites his tongue to try and stop himself but the sound still escapes his lips. He leans away, shrugging Jared off and feels a sharp pang of guilt for the barely audible sigh of disappointment he hears when Jared's hands slip away. "I don't...I don't understand how you're here."

Jensen rests his head in his hands. Jared shakes the foundations of every solid scientific fact Jensen has ever believed in and it's unnerving, not to mention terrifying, how quickly Jensen has already come to enjoy the presence of someone whose very existence defies logic.

"Do you have to know the meaning behind everything?" Jared asks, crouching in front of Jensen and gripping his knees in a gentle pinch.

"I don't believe in the impossible-and you're not possible."

Jared's eyes turn sad, "What if there is no explanation? What if I just am?"

And really, Jensen doesn't have an answer for that one.

J2J2J2

"Now just stay here, okay? My kid sister is nosy as hell and when she sees you she's going to start asking questions."

Jensen jogs into the hall when he hears the front door opening; with over enthusiasm normally attributed to Justin Bieber fans and excitable puppy dogs he hurries to greet his sister. Smothering her small frame with a crushing hug, Jensen presses a brief kiss to her temple.

"What's going on?" Mackenzie asks, eyeing her brother as though in fear for her life. "Did something happen? Are Mom and Dad okay?"

"Yeah!" Jensen replies quickly. "Everything's fine. I just missed you, that's all."

"I've only been gone for one night. You always say you love it when I'm not around to cramp your style." Mackenzie reaches out and puts her tiny hand to Jensen's forehead. "You don't feel hot, are you sick? You seem delirious."

"I'm fine, great actually. Everything is A-OK." Jensen replies, batting her hand away.

"You're acting really weird, Jens-Oh my God, who's the hotty?" Mackenzie exclaims, peering around her brother.

Jensen spins around and in what feels very much like slow-motion, he joins his sister in watching Jared walking out of the kitchen, chugging a glass of water.

Jensen can't help but find himself completely captivated by the sight of Jared's adam's apple bobbing up and down as he drinks. Every time he looks at Jared it's like seeing him for the first time, it's like he's tripping out - without the taking drugs part.

"Hi, I'm Jared Padalecki." Jared says, with his best smile. "I'm an exchange student. From Poland."

Jensen gapes and then somehow manages a jerky nod, as though he was the one who initiated the introduction.

"Pada..." Mackenzie blinks, taking Jared's outstretched hand and shaking it with a shy giggle.

"Padalecki, it's Polish."

"I got that part. You don't sound Polish." Mackenzie points out.

"I have a knack for picking up new accents." Jared smiles even wider and as though making his point he adds a breezy, "Y'all."

It seems to do the trick because Mackenzie beams back at him, before turning around to sock her brother on the arm. "Mom didn't tell me that we're having an exchange student come to stay with us!" Mackenzie glances down at her clothes and wails. "You could have warned me, doofus. I look like I've been dragged through a hedgerow. Backwards." Horrified by her appearance, Mackenzie shoves Jensen out of the way so she can run upstairs to the bathroom, no doubt to dig out a party frock and apply several layers of make-up.

"Christ, why didn't you stay in the kitchen like I asked?"

"I wanted to meet her. I overheard Mackenzie talking and I couldn't stop myself. You've blogged about your sister so many times, I feel like I know her. Although I must say I don't think she does look like an angry midget in a wig...and I didn't smell any halitosis."

Jensen scowls, sighing loudly. "Come on, let's get something to eat. Mac will be at least five hours putting on her face."

J2J2J2

They decide to have lunch in the lounge. Clutching a plate loaded with two slices of pizza and a bottle of water, Jensen takes a seat on the couch. Jared instantly sits down next to him.

The imposed intimacy is making Jensen claustrophobic, itchy in his own skin and he tries to shuffle sideways until he's all but squashed against the arm of the sofa. He flicks on the TV, channel surfing before settling with MTV. They watch a selection of 80's music videos in silence until Jensen realizes that Jared is staring at him and not watching the TV at all.

"What? I got a booger?"

"No." Jared smiles and lowers his voice as though sharing a secret. "You don't mind me looking at you do you, Master?"

"I thought I said you shouldn't call me that."

Jared blushes, diverts his gaze to his plate. "Sorry. But do you mind me looking at you, Jensen? I like looking at you."

"I...I don't mind, it's just I don't know why you'd want to." Jensen replies, brushing off the compliment with an ease that has come from years of practice. Changing the subject, Jensen asks through a mouthful of spicy pepperoni, "Do you remember anything? About where you were before last night and...where you came from?"

Jared frowns and for a moment Jensen thinks Jared can't have understood the question, he's ready to ask again when Jared opens his mouth. "You. I only remember you, Jensen. I wanted to be with you, that's what I remember the most. I wanted it so badly. Then there I was, standing in the rain. I saw the house and I knew you would be inside...I can't explain how, I just had this strange feeling, you know? In my gut." Jared pats his stomach and tangles his impossibly long legs around Jensen's, leaning back against the couch cushions. "I think it was magic, some supernatural force that brought me to you."

"Supernatural? Really?" Jensen feels a cold shiver run down his spine. Supernatural or not, Jared's very real. He can feel the heat of Jared's body so close to his own. Jensen breaths out shakily as he works his legs free and folds them underneath him, he studies Jared for a moment before he speaks. "If you're going to be here for awhile you can't keep wearing Josh's clothes, we need to get you some gear."

"You're going to buy me new clothes?" Jared exclaims, delighted.

"I have some birthday money left over, it's no biggy."

But the look on Jared's face says that to him, it is.

J2J2J2

Even though it's a Sunday afternoon, the mall is jam-packed with people.

It's not a place Jensen visits often. Only when his parents force him to go shopping for birthday or Christmas gifts and then it's nearly always something embarrassing like old lady briefs for his Great Aunt Marge or a Justin Timberlake calendar for Mac.

Mostly Jensen prefers to do all of his shopping over the net. Getting goods delivered straight to the door is his idea of the best kind of shopping experience, without the need for social interaction in a stuffy, overcrowded, hell hole.

They visit GapBody first and Jensen leaves Jared sorting through the racks of jeans for an extra-long pair. Jensen counts the money in his wallet and figures he can afford to get a couple of t-shirts as well as the pants so he goes off in search of something suitable.

Jensen's only across the other side of the store when he hears Jared talking loudly to a young female shop-assistant.

"If you were an eighteen-year-old boy, would these turn you on?" Jared asks the girl who, judging by the expression on her face, is either ready to call security or turned on herself.

Jared has his top off and is looking at himself in a wall mounted full-length mirror, twisting his hips one way and then the other, watching how the tight denim pulls across his rock-solid ass. "Do you have these in leather?"

The girl shakes her head slowly, eyes level with Jared's nipples.

"Never mind, I'll take them." Jared looks over and waves at Jensen, giving him a gleeful grin. "Is that alright, Jensen? He's buying me these clothes," Jared says, addressing the shop assistant again. "Isn't he the greatest, kindest, most wonderful master ever?"

Jensen ducks his head and shuffles over, picking Jared's discarded hoodie up from the floor on the way. "Put this back on," He mumbles through gritted teeth.

"I hope you will like how I look in these jeans." Jared says as the cashier rings up the pants.

"Do you like them?"

"I don't understand."

"I'm asking if you like them, if they're what you want to wear?"

"But...I want to wear what makes me look the most attractive to you."

Jensen stomach does a flip, he adjusts his glasses and rubs the back of his neck unsure whether he can summon up the nerve to say what his heart wants him to say "Jared, you could paint yourself bright purple and I'd still think you were the hottest thing since man discovered fire."

Jensen finds that the beaming smile Jared gives him in return was well worth putting himself out there for.

J2J2J2

In the mall's sizeable food court Jensen carries two extra large strawberry Slurpies over to the table which Jared has bagged for them. He doesn't see Tom Welling lying in wait, or more precisely, he doesn't see Tom's large booted foot sticking out in order to trip him.

Jensen falls with a clattering bang, the tray of drinks flying upwards as he lands heavily on his outstretched hands. The plastic cups hit the floor at the same time, leaving Jensen sitting in a sticky red puddle that matches the color of his face.

"Sorry Jensen, I had a momentarily loss of motor nerves." Tom says, chuckling down at him.

"Owwww, what the fuck?" Jensen winces as he sits up, rubbing at his jarred wrist.

"Yes...what the fuck?" In a heartbeat Jared has left their table and positioned himself standing over Jensen. He's actually taller than Tom which is an impressive feat considering Jensen has always considered Tom to be a gigantorsaurus.

Jensen is no runt himself but the transformation in Jared is nothing short of astonishing, the way he makes use of his height advantage when he stands toe-to-toe with Tom. Normally, Jared looms in an unthreatening, almost apologetically meek, manner. His gentle nature added to the puppy dog eyes and dimples playing down the fact that he is so physically powerful.

"Who's your friend?" Tom asks Jensen with a frown, sounding a touch intimidated and definitely miffed about it. He has his chin jutting out, chest puffed up so much he looks like a parading peacock.

"I'm Jared."

"Why are you hanging out with a loser like Jensen?" Tom snorts and it's obvious that he's sizing Jared up, no doubt taking note of Jared's athletic build and eye-catching good looks.

"Jensen is not a loser. He's my master." Jared says, clearly unimpressed by Tom's showboat muscle flexing.

Tom almost pukes he's laughing that hard. "Oh yeah...did Master Jensen make you in his garage with power tools?" He asks, gasping for air.

"No, in his bedroom with his computer."

"Now I get why you two hang out, you're both a pair of freaks," Tom hisses.

"I don't like you," Jared says before bending down to help Jensen to his feet. "You tripped Jensen on purpose. You're nothing but a big, stupid, bully."

"What are you five?" Tom scoffs.

"Bully." Jared repeats, his face scrunched up in a scowl that yeah, kinda does make him look like he's five, red faced and fuming.

Tom pulls back his fist and punches Jared. It's a swift punch, fast, one that snaps Jared's head back and makes him stumble.

"No!" Jensen yells in horror and yet somehow still registering in his blinding rush of panic how much he's proud that Jared didn't go down.

Jared's eyes turn dark, he puts his fingers to his lip and they come away bloody.

Jensen's dumbstruck at the sight of Jared's blood but doesn't know what he was expecting. Battery acid maybe? Something alien, something unnatural. Maybe not even any blood at all.

Ignoring how Jensen is virtually going into shock right next to him, Jared charges forward and kicks Tom in the nuts hard enough that Jensen would later swear he heard a crunching sound.

"Jared! Let's get out of here before someone calls security." Jensen shouts, shaking himself out of his daze as Tom drops like a sack of spuds. He grabs Jared by the elbow and drags him away while Tom is distracted, rolling around on the floor clutching at his gonads.

J2J2J2

In Jensen's car, Jensen gathers together a make-shift first aid kit using a couple of clean napkins and a Band-Aid from a box he had stashed away in the glove compartment.

"Does it hurt a lot?" Jensen winces in sympathy.

Jared's tongue peeks out from between his teeth to prod experimentally at the angry looking cut on his mouth. "Pain is something new to me, I...I don't want to cry so maybe it's not too serious."

"Good, that's good. That means you're going to be just fine."

"I don't need an ambulance?"

"No, I've got a first aid merit badge. I can handle it."

"Why is Tom so mean to you?" Jared asks, dutifully lifting his chin so that Jensen can examine the damage.

Jensen bites his bottom lip to stop it from wobbling, he's angry with himself for getting upset. He doesn't normally allow emotionally-stunted assholes like Tom Welling-or any of Tom's slack-jawed cronies-get to him but seeing Jared bloodied, injured trying to defend him, makes his insides twist painfully.

"I don't want to talk about it," Jensen says quietly, dabbing at a speck of drying blood on Jared's chin.

Jared nods, still troubled but willing to let it go, for now at least. He looks so comically forlorn with his long legs almost bent double to fit into the car and a small purpling bruise blossoming at one corner of his sad mouth that without thinking Jensen reaches out and puts his arm around Jared's shoulders. "It's alright," Jensen whispers. "Don't worry about it so much, okay? Everything will be fine."

Jared's head lolls back, resting snugly against Jensen's arm and they sit huddled together until long after the limb has gone numb.

Driving home is going to be a bitch.

J2J2J2

Jensen is ready and waiting for his parents the minute he hears the unmistakable sound of their jeep as it pulls onto the driveway.

With Jared hovering uncertainly at his side Jensen corners his parents as his dad carries their overnight bag into the house. "Welcome home."

"Hey, baby. We missed you." Donna says, dropping her car keys to envelop Jensen in a hug that seriously compromises his air supply.

"Mom." Jensen whines, wriggling free from her grasp.

"Who's this?" Alan asks, blinking at the unexpected guest standing in their hallway. "You've got a friend over?"

Jared's face changes expression several times as he glances between Jensen's parents before he finally settles on a somewhat shy, lopsided smile. He looks as though he's not quite sure whether to shake Alan's hand or bow.

"Mom, Dad, this is Jared Pada..."

"Padalecki." Jared supplies.

"He's a foreign exchange student. From Poland."

"Oh," Donna pauses from sorting through a pile of unopened mail, sensing that there's more to this seemingly simple introduction than meets the eye.

"You haven't forgotten have you, Mom? You signed the letter I brought from school agreeing to let Jared stay with us for awhile."

"I did?" Donna asks, flustered.

"You did?" Alan repeats, staring hard at his wife.

Donna's eyebrows dip and she puts a hand to her cheek in distress at her apparent absent-mindedness. "I don't remem-"

"Yeah, you did." Jensen confirms, forcing a smile at his mom to try and cover his guilty expression. He tries to appear casual but it's kinda difficult when his eye is ticking like crazy.

The boys follow Jensen's parents into the kitchen and Jensen nudges Jared's elbow as they share a grin over Donna's delighted gasp. The coffee machine is chugging merrily away, making the rich, dark roast that Jensen's mom loves the best and on the table is a tray of biscuits. Buttery shortbreads with extra sprinkles that Jensen knows will help settle his dad's stomach since he always suffers from travel sicknesses on long journeys.

"Come on, please? Jared's house-trained. I promise I won't let him poop on the rug."

"Jensen!" Donna chastises but she's already pouring herself a coffee, dipping her nose into the cup so she can inhale the aroma. She glances over at Jared and appears momentarily bedazzled by his mega-watt smile before she turns to give her husband a pleading look.

"Well, there is a spare bedroom with Josh away and I guess if we did sign that letter..." Alan says, sighing in a put-upon way.

"Yes!" Jensen declares fist-pumping the air.

Alan grabs himself a cup of coffee and one of the shortbreads, "We'd better go say hi to your sister."

Before they leave the kitchen, Donna rests her hand on Jared's shoulder. Radiating warm Southern hospitality, she squeezes gently. "Welcome to the madhouse, Jared."

J2J2J2

They play games on Jensen's X-Box until dinner is ready. Jared enjoys Grand Theft Auto the best but insists on sticking to the speed limit and gets upset when he accidentally squishes an innocent pedestrian.

Jensen tries to swallow back his apprehension when the time comes for them all to sit down together to eat.

Jared isn't exactly well versed at how to act like a normal person. It's already become clear to Jensen that Jared has an unstoppable urge to vocalize any thoughts that pop into his head and he possesses only a very basic sense of what does and what doesn't constitute appropriate behavior.

"More potatoes, Jared?"

"Yes, thank you Mrs. Ackles." Jared smiles wide as he receives a second helping of creamed potatoes and squeezes Jensen's thigh to express his pleasure.

Jensen's knee hits the underside of the table with a dull thud and he coughs to try and cover the sound, shooting a sideways glare in Jared's direction.

"So, what part of Poland are you from, Jared?" Alan asks, "I must say, you do speak excellent English."

"Uh," Jensen intervenes, dropping his fork onto his plate with a clang. "Jared's from Warsaw."

"This is really delicious Mrs. Ackles." Jared says, speaking through a mouthful of food.

"Why, thank you. Please do call me Donna, Jared."

Jensen rolls his eyes, his mom's clearly on the verge of swooning over their charming Polish guest.

"You have a lovely family," Jared continues, "And Jensen is very beautiful. Sometimes I try to count his freckles but I always lose count because his lips are so distracting."

Mackenzie is taking a long sip of soda through a straw and snorts hard enough to make bubbles in her glass. Jensen's response is to choke and spray a mouthful of food, flecks of masticated potato showering the table. "Wow, I'm so full. Come on Jared, I promised I'd show you my DVD collection."

"But I've brought dessert, there's cherry pie in the refrigerator," Donna says, amusement coloring her tone.

"We're fine, Ma. Full to bursting." Jensen pats his stomach for emphasis, then makes a grab Jared's hand. He can't hurry him away from the table fast enough.

Lying is frickin' hard work.

J2J2J2

Jensen wakes up when he hears his bedroom door creak open, he slides his glasses on and huffs when he looks at his alarm clock and sees that it's only just turned midnight, which means he's only actually been sleeping for little over an hour.

"Jensen?" Jared's hushed voice travels through the darkness, "Are you awake?"

"No, I always sleep with my eyes open."

"Oh, okay."

"Get in here," Jensen grunts, flicking on his bedside lamp and squinting in the brightness. "What's the matter?"

"I don't like lying to your family. It is not a nice thing to do."

"We're lying because my family wouldn't be able to handle the truth, Jared. I can't handle the truth. Look at it this way, we're doing everyone a big favor because if we told the truth, my parents would have us both committed to a mental institution."

"We'd still be together," Jared points out cheerfully.

"I don't want to spend the rest of my teens wearing a bathrobe." Jensen licks his hand and tries to tame a particularly unruly cowlick on the top of his head. He's forever getting bed-head, sometimes during the middle of the day too, although he's never quite figured out how or why.

He's wearing a somewhat pongy, creased, X Men tee and a pair of boxers that have a hole in the crotch. If he'd had known he was going to get a late night visitor, he'd have put on a pair of clean pyjamas.

Not that Jared seems to care or notice. In fact Jared seems completely oblivious to all of Jensen's bad points and personal insecurities.

"What Chad was saying the other day, about you guys not being cool? I was thinking I could help, I'd like to try if it would make you happy. You are cool, Jensen. Others should see it too." Jared's hand is on Jensen's leg and he moves in as though waiting for something, a kiss goodnight perhaps.

Jensen swallows hard, his mouth going dry at the thought of pressing his lips against Jared's. "I'm tired, I have school tomorrow." He says softly, turning his face away as though he's just spotted something remarkable hidden in the swirled pattern of his wallpaper. "You should go back to Josh's room before Mom catches you out of bed."

"Okay," Jared replies, equally as soft. He rises slowly, bending at the waist to tuck Jensen's covers back in around him.

He leaves the room with a lingering, wistful, look.

When the door is closed and Jensen is alone in the dark, he lies back against his pillows and rubs a hand over his face, squeezing his eyes closed.

It takes a good three hours for him to fall back to sleep.

J2J2J2

Monday morning, they're standing side-by-side at Jensen's locker. "You should go, hang out at the park or something till school is over." Jensen says to Jared, one finger tapping in his locker combination. "If you're not careful one of the teachers will bust you for not being a student here."

"I want to meet some of your friends, maybe try and help them understand how cool you are, Jensen."

"Please God, don't do that." Jensen stares hard at the tops of his shoes until he plucks up the courage to say more, "I'm not the most popular kid in school, in fact, I don't really have any friends here except for Chad and he almost got expelled last summer for hanging his underwear from the flagpole."

"I don't understand your world, Jensen. How can anyone not want to be your friend? Be around you? You're the most amazing person I've ever met." Jared leans in, dangerously encroaching Jensen's personal space. "I don't feel good when I'm not around you. I feel..." Jared pauses, searching for the right words, "Incomplete."

Jensen flushes, pushes his glasses further up his nose and falters as he tries to open his locker door. Jared leans over, he thumps the metal once, hard with his fist and the door pops open, swinging wide.

"How did you...?"

"Nice trick, Fonzie." A voice exclaims and Jensen turns to see Gabe Tigerman leaving his own locker to come join them.

Jensen gives Gabe a sociable grin, they were friends in kindergarten but grew apart over the years. There's no logical reason why, sometimes friendships just turn out that way.

Jensen became more introverted once he'd outed himself to Tom (literally coming out the closet only to be shoved back in again) and Gabe tended to move in more social circles. He's not what you'd consider a popular kid because Gabe spends more time smoking weed behind the science block than attending classes but he's well-known and well-liked. "Hey Gabe, this is Jared. He's new."

"So, this is Jared. The guy who laid out Tom Welling!" Gabe exclaims reaching up to pat Jared's broad back. "Tom's a premium-rate asshole it's about time someone put him in his place. I heard you broke one of his nuts, please tell me that's true?"

"I didn't break him, did I? Did I, Jensen?" Jared gapes, sounding a little horrified but at least marginally reassured when Jensen shakes his head.

"Nothing damaged, apart from his pride." Jensen says.

"Listen, I'm having a party at my place on Friday. Chips, dips, chains and whips...the usual quality soiree. You should come." Gabe says to Jared before turning to Jensen, "Both of you."

Gabe Tigerman's parties are a thing of Shermer legend. Jensen's Cheshire Cat grin spreads so wide it makes his face hurt.

He had no idea it would feel this awesome to be included again. So what if he's cool by association? So what if he's riding Jared's coat-tails all the way to Gabe's party?

It's too good an opportunity to turn down.

"Sounds great," Jensen says, nodding keenly. "Count us in."

~part three~