After Midnight
Title: After Midnight
Author: jillmariej
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: varies by chapter -- mostly pg some r in later chapters
word count: 2700 chapter 1 of 5 (completed but posted in parts)
warning: usual teenage angst, mentions of child abuse - though nothing too extreme
Birthday gift for hezio2 Hope you like it baby!
Disclaimer: This is just a fluffy au. No harm or disparagement is intended. I'm just casting these beautiful people in my written fantasy.
Jared and Jensen are the same age in this fiction and Jensen is the only child of Frank and Estelle. No Ackles or Padaleckis were hurt in the writing of this.
Summary: Jared and Jensen had been best friends forever and knew each other better than they knew themselves. They just need to get their timing right. Begins as a high school au and ends as adults.
In July of 1994, Jared Padalecki fell in love with Jensen Ackles. They were only nine years old, and wouldn't call it love for several more years, but on that day, Jared knew he wanted to be with Jensen forever. They were hiding from Jared's brother Jeff after soaking him with water balloons, when Jeff surprised them. He shoved Jensen to the ground, tackled Jared and began to pummel him. Suddenly, Jensen dragged Jeff off his brother and growled, “Leave Jared alone.”
“Make me,” Jeff snarled as he rose to his full height.
Jensen squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes as he looked up at him. “Leave Jared alone or I'll tell your mom that you and Brad Wexler stole beer from my dad's garage.”
“I never stole beer from your old man.”
Jensen slapped at the fading bruise on his cheek until it reddened. Then he sneered, “Yeah, well who's she gonna believe? Me or you?” Jensen was fighting dirty. He knew the Padaleckis were aware his parents slapped him around; it was most likely the reason they allowed Jared to invite him over on a daily basis. Taking advantage of that knowledge was low, but effective.
“Fine,” Jeff scowled, “you win. Watch yourself, twerp.” With a final shove at Jared, he walked away.
“Wow, Jensen, that was awesome,” Jared said once Jeff was gone.
Jensen blushed slightly and rolled his eyes. “Come on, Jared. Let's see if we can sleep in the tree house tonight. That way Jeff won't be able to get you back tonight.”
Jared slung his arm around Jensen's shoulder. “I wish you were my brother instead of Jeff the butt-face. That would be the best ever. You'd never have to go home and Jeff wouldn't exist.”
"Yeah, me too."
When Jensen asked his mother if he could spend the night at Jared's, she snorted and took a large swallow of her cocktail. "You know they only want you around because they pity you. You're the dirty little poor kid that makes them feel better about themselves."
Pretending not to hear the venom she spat, Jensen's jaw clenched and he remained silent.
"Fine. Go. Just remember, you're nothing more than charity to them." She crouched down to get in his face. "That little boy will soon learn to have better friends than you."
Summer 2002
Jared sat cross legged on the floor the tree house that he and Jensen, along with Jared's dad, had built it nearly ten years ago, and it was still his favorite place. Every inch held memories of some of his favorite moments in his life, and each of those moments featured Jensen. Which was why Jared chose the tree house as the location to open up to his best friend.
Jensen was currently laying on his back reading yet another college brochure. He wasn't going to college, but Jared didn't know that yet. He was putting off sharing that bit of news until Jared had applied somewhere, or maybe until Jared was accepted somewhere, in either case he wasn't going to stand in Jared's way. “Dude, this school looks lame. It's in New York and you know it's gonna snow like a son of a bitch up there.”
Jared nodded as Jensen tossed the leaflet aside. “Hey, um, Jensen? Can I tell you something?”
Jensen rolled over and grabbed another booklet. “What is it? Did you find a school?”
“No, not yet. This has nothing to do with all that college crap.”
The nerves in Jared's voice made Jensen put the book down and sit up. “Jare, what is it?”
“I, uh, I think I'm gay.”
Jensen scoffed and lay back down. “No shit, dude, tell me something I don't know.”
Irritated that his friend wasn't taking him seriously, Jared's voice became stern. “Jensen, I'm not joking. - I'm gay.”
Jensen continued to page through Marquette's catalog. “I know. I've seen your iPod. With how much Timberlake and Britney Spears you have, if you're not gay, your iPod. definitely is.”
“Damn it, Jensen. I'm being serious.”
“Me, too. A person's choice in music says a lot about them. And yours says 'I might be gay'.”
Annoyed and more than a little hurt, Jared got up. “Fuck you, Jensen. I thought my best friend would at least try to listen and take me seriously.” With that, Jared jumped from the tree house and hurried into his house letting the screen door slam behind him.
“Aw shit,” Jensen sighed. He got up, straightened up the tree house and gathered his thoughts. He had to make things right or die trying.
Jared paced his room as he fumed. How could he do that? How could Jensen joke about this when he was baring his soul to him and they were supposed to be best friends?
A minute later there was a knock on his bedroom door. “Go away.”
“Not 'til you let me apologize for being an insensitive asshole.”
Jared nearly smiled at that. At least Jensen was assuming fault.
“Jared, come on, man. Let me in.” Jensen rested his head against the door. “If you wanna beat the crap out of me, you have to open the door first.”
“Fine, come in,” Jared mumbled and collapsed onto his bed.
Jensen quietly shut the door behind him and dragged the desk chair over to Jared's bed. “Jared, I'm sorry, man. I was a douche bag back there and you deserve better.” Jared rolled over and met his eyes, which Jensen took as his cue to continue. “But, truth is, for a while now, I kinda thought you might be gay.”
Jared gaped and sat up.
“I don't care. I didn't care. I --” Jensen paused. “Look, remember when we started eighth grade? We had three new teachers? Everybody was going on about hot Ms. Harmen, but not you. You couldn't stop talking about Coach Skarsgard.”
“That was eighth grade, Jensen! I didn't know in eighth grade! How could you know?”Jared demanded
“Dude, you're my best friend, and you're like the most important person in my life.” Jensen tried to force Jared to look into his eyes and see the truth in what he was saying.“Hey, I wasn't going to ask you or hassle you about it. I figured you'd tell me when you wanted to, if I was right.”
They each sat back in acceptance.
“You've got to know that nothing would ever make me stop being your friend,” Jensen insisted. “You know that right?” He gently pushed Jared's arm and his friend nodded. “So, did you tell your parents?”
“No. It's not like I'm afraid of what they'll do, but I don't wanna have that 'talk' with them.”
Jensen nodded and they were both quiet for a minute. “Well, are, are you seeing someone? I-is that why you wanted to tell me?”
“What? No!”
“Oh.” Jensen pressed his lips together and rubbed the back of his neck. “Do - do you like someone? Or, um, do you wanna date someone?”
Jared smiled to himself. This was the Jensen he had been expecting when he admitted to being gay. This awkward, stuttering guy who was both adorable and uncertain. Jared wanted to tell Jensen that there was only one guy he'd ever be interested in, but he wasn't about to scare his best friend off by confessing to his massive crush on him. “Do I wanna date someone? Yeah, eventually. But, no, there's no one right now.”
“Oh, good.”
“Good?”
“Well, yeah, because if there was, then I'd be even more of a shitty friend for not noticing.”
“Don't worry. You're my best friend. If there ever is someone, you'll be the first to know.”
Jensen smiled at him and spun the chair back to the desk. Seeing even more college paperwork on Jared's desk, made him feel guilty. “So, uh, listen,” he turned back to the bed, “since this appears to be 'confess stupid stuff day', I should tell you I'm not going to college.”
Jared sprung up. “What? Are you serious? Since when? When did you decide this?”
Jensen chewed his lip and shrugged. “I don't know. But there's no way I can afford college.”
“So? You'll get a scholarship. You've got the grades for it. And maybe with a loan --”
“No. Jared, you know that's not going to happen.”
Jensen's disappointed expression was enough to tell Jared not to push the subject, but he had to ask, “Then why have we been wasting all this time filling out applications and reading the brochures?”
Jensen's brows scrunched in thought. “I don't know. Your mom made us?” he suggested. “You know I hate it when she's mad at me.”
Jared scoffed. “Come on, she loves you more than her own kids.”
“Shut up.”
Jared laughed. “So, if you're not going to college, what are you going to do? You're not going to work at the Work Bench forever.”
Jensen bowed his head and pushed the chair backward. He could feel Jared's expectant stare and became more nervous. “I, uh, well, I enlisted.”
“You what!?”
“I joined the --”
“I freaking know what enlisted means, dumbass! It means you're going to get yourself killed!”
“No I'm not.”
“Yeah, you are. There's a war on and you'll be wearing a uniform that tells people 'hey, shoot at me. I'm an American.' Jesus, Jensen, what the hell were you thinking?!”
“I was thinking my best friend is going to be gone and I have to get away from my parents. My dad's getting worse and my mom's a mess. I can't be here anymore.”
Sympathy and understanding overshadowed Jared's concern.
“Don't be mad, Jare,” he pleaded, knowing it sounded childish.
“I'm not mad. I'm scared. If something happens to you --”
“Nothing's going to happen.”
“Better not. “Cause I will kick your ass if it does.”
Jensen smirked. “You're going to kick my ass?”
“Yep.”
“You. You're going to kick my ass, my dead ass. How are you going to do that?”
“I will hunt you down in the afterlife if I have to.” Jared was failing at keeping a straight face while he scolded. “Sure, I'll be like ninety something and all wrinkly and bald, but I will kick your ass for dying on me. That's what best friends do.”
Jensen breathed a sigh of relief. “So, we're good, right?”
“Yeah, we're good.”
Jared was grateful that Jensen didn't treat him differently. He continued to hang out with Jared every chance he had. When school started, the only time they were apart was when they were in different classes or when they were working.
“Heard you on the radio, man. Someday, you are going to run that place,” Jensen said one early Saturday evening while they watched tv.
“No you didn't. I wasn't on the air, you dork.”
Jensen cocked a brow at his friend's denial and used his fingers to tick off bands. “From 2 to 3 o'clock, Fall Out Boy, Panic, Franz, My Chem -”
Blushing, Jared grabbed his hands to stop him. “Okay, okay, yeah, he let me pick the music for a while.”
“Which is why, for that hour, the music didn't suck.”
“Glad you liked it.” Jared ducked his head to hide his smile. Jensen's opinion of music mattered the most to him. Ever since they were young, Jensen had opened his eyes to music beyond the mainstream. It meant everything to have Jensen say his choices were good.
After a few weeks, Jensen wasn't sure what was happening between them. They were rarely apart, but that wasn't much different from how they spent their entire lives. Jared hadn't shared any feelings for him, but he hadn't told Jared anything either. Their friends assumed that they were together, whether dating or just not seeing anyone else, they didn't know. What everyone did know was that if Jensen was around Jared was sure to be nearby.
One Saturday Jensen had enough of the uncertainty and called Jared. “Hey, you wanna go out tonight? Maybe get some dinner and catch a movie? That Will Ferrell movie is playing at the Grand.”
Jared couldn't help his smile. If he didn't know better, he'd think Jensen was asking him out on an actual date. The thought made his voice catch in his throat when he replied, “Yeah, sounds good.”
Jensen let relief wash over him. “Cool. I'm off work at five so I'll pick you up at six.”
Any nerves Jensen had been feeling before picking up Jared evaporated over dinner. There was no awkwardness. Jared was joking like he always did and the conversation never suffered from uncomfortable silences.
The movie was a different story. Elf turned out to be more of a romantic comedy than raunchy humor, but it had enough laughs to make up for it.
Jensen thought that this was one of the best dates he'd been on in the past year when he parked in front of Jared's house. However, that's when things became painfully awkward. With any other date, this would be when he'd be getting a kiss good night; maybe even more, if he was lucky.
Usually, when he hung out with Jared, he'd park and they would go in together and play video games or watch you tube videos. But tonight, should he try to kiss Jared? Should he walk him to the door?
For his part, Jared was just as uncomfortable. He desperately wanted this night to be an actual date but how could he find out without looking like a complete fool? Jensen was sure to laugh at him and he'd die of embarrassment. Nervously, he rubbed his hands on his thighs and glanced at Jensen. His friend seemed to be just as nervous, which oddly comforted Jared and he began to giggle. When Jensen gave him a curious look, Jared began to laugh harder.
“What's so funny?” Jensen asked, wondering at the way his stomach was twisting. Please don't be laughing at me.
“We are,” Jared answered once his laughing had settle. “Why are we being so weird? You wanna go play Halo or something?”
“I'm not weird. You're weird.” Jensen climbed out of the car. “Time for me to school your ass.”
And just like that, the date turned into two best friends just hanging out. Neither Jared nor Jensen were happy with that development, but neither knew how to tell the other that they wanted more.
Soon it became apparent that every Saturday was a Jared and Jensen 'date' night. They'd go to movies or bowling or even play laser tag. They'd start each 'date' hoping it would end with them being more than friends, but neither was confident enough to make that move.
The day after Christmas, Jensen heard his dad cough, a loud, wet, raspy cough. He was getting worse and the more his dad denied it, the more depressed his mother became, the more depressed she became, the more she drank. It was downward spiral that had been drowning his family for years. It made Jensen look at the calendar. Sixty four days until his eighteenth birthday. He made a set of numbers to hang on his wall to countdown to the day. He knows nothing was really going to happen that day, his family would not throw him a party and there wouldn't be any cake, but the count down gave him something to look forward to.
Jensen always saw birthdays as a new beginning, a fresh start, a new year. An idea struck him and he called Jared instantly. “What are you doing for New Year's?”
“Nothing,” Jared yawned. “You're working, right?”
“Yeah, but-”
“Yeah, I thought so. Chad's going to Wentz's party with Sophia. My parents are going to some big deal downtown and Megan is gong to a sleepover so I guess it's just me and my porn collection.”
Jensen cracked up. “Dude, no. That's just pathetic. Come to Pete's party with me. You can get there whenever, get your drink on and I'll show up after work. I'll be there by 10:30 at the latest.”
“I don't know, man. Pete's parties can get a little out of hand.” Not to mention everyone pairs off and hooks up and I can't handle watching you make out with some girl at midnight.
“Come on, Jare, please,” he begged. “Go to the party. I promise I'll be the dd, okay? You can drink and I'll take care of you. I promise.”
Jared sighed in resignation, like he could deny that pleading voice. “Fine, yeah, I'll go.” I'll get blinding drunk so I don't have to see midnight.
“Awesome.” Jensen smiled. And when I kiss you at midnight, you'll know I want to be more than friends.
Chapter 2
Author: jillmariej
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: varies by chapter -- mostly pg some r in later chapters
word count: 2700 chapter 1 of 5 (completed but posted in parts)
warning: usual teenage angst, mentions of child abuse - though nothing too extreme
Birthday gift for hezio2 Hope you like it baby!
Disclaimer: This is just a fluffy au. No harm or disparagement is intended. I'm just casting these beautiful people in my written fantasy.
Jared and Jensen are the same age in this fiction and Jensen is the only child of Frank and Estelle. No Ackles or Padaleckis were hurt in the writing of this.
Summary: Jared and Jensen had been best friends forever and knew each other better than they knew themselves. They just need to get their timing right. Begins as a high school au and ends as adults.
In July of 1994, Jared Padalecki fell in love with Jensen Ackles. They were only nine years old, and wouldn't call it love for several more years, but on that day, Jared knew he wanted to be with Jensen forever. They were hiding from Jared's brother Jeff after soaking him with water balloons, when Jeff surprised them. He shoved Jensen to the ground, tackled Jared and began to pummel him. Suddenly, Jensen dragged Jeff off his brother and growled, “Leave Jared alone.”
“Make me,” Jeff snarled as he rose to his full height.
Jensen squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes as he looked up at him. “Leave Jared alone or I'll tell your mom that you and Brad Wexler stole beer from my dad's garage.”
“I never stole beer from your old man.”
Jensen slapped at the fading bruise on his cheek until it reddened. Then he sneered, “Yeah, well who's she gonna believe? Me or you?” Jensen was fighting dirty. He knew the Padaleckis were aware his parents slapped him around; it was most likely the reason they allowed Jared to invite him over on a daily basis. Taking advantage of that knowledge was low, but effective.
“Fine,” Jeff scowled, “you win. Watch yourself, twerp.” With a final shove at Jared, he walked away.
“Wow, Jensen, that was awesome,” Jared said once Jeff was gone.
Jensen blushed slightly and rolled his eyes. “Come on, Jared. Let's see if we can sleep in the tree house tonight. That way Jeff won't be able to get you back tonight.”
Jared slung his arm around Jensen's shoulder. “I wish you were my brother instead of Jeff the butt-face. That would be the best ever. You'd never have to go home and Jeff wouldn't exist.”
"Yeah, me too."
When Jensen asked his mother if he could spend the night at Jared's, she snorted and took a large swallow of her cocktail. "You know they only want you around because they pity you. You're the dirty little poor kid that makes them feel better about themselves."
Pretending not to hear the venom she spat, Jensen's jaw clenched and he remained silent.
"Fine. Go. Just remember, you're nothing more than charity to them." She crouched down to get in his face. "That little boy will soon learn to have better friends than you."
Summer 2002
Jared sat cross legged on the floor the tree house that he and Jensen, along with Jared's dad, had built it nearly ten years ago, and it was still his favorite place. Every inch held memories of some of his favorite moments in his life, and each of those moments featured Jensen. Which was why Jared chose the tree house as the location to open up to his best friend.
Jensen was currently laying on his back reading yet another college brochure. He wasn't going to college, but Jared didn't know that yet. He was putting off sharing that bit of news until Jared had applied somewhere, or maybe until Jared was accepted somewhere, in either case he wasn't going to stand in Jared's way. “Dude, this school looks lame. It's in New York and you know it's gonna snow like a son of a bitch up there.”
Jared nodded as Jensen tossed the leaflet aside. “Hey, um, Jensen? Can I tell you something?”
Jensen rolled over and grabbed another booklet. “What is it? Did you find a school?”
“No, not yet. This has nothing to do with all that college crap.”
The nerves in Jared's voice made Jensen put the book down and sit up. “Jare, what is it?”
“I, uh, I think I'm gay.”
Jensen scoffed and lay back down. “No shit, dude, tell me something I don't know.”
Irritated that his friend wasn't taking him seriously, Jared's voice became stern. “Jensen, I'm not joking. - I'm gay.”
Jensen continued to page through Marquette's catalog. “I know. I've seen your iPod. With how much Timberlake and Britney Spears you have, if you're not gay, your iPod. definitely is.”
“Damn it, Jensen. I'm being serious.”
“Me, too. A person's choice in music says a lot about them. And yours says 'I might be gay'.”
Annoyed and more than a little hurt, Jared got up. “Fuck you, Jensen. I thought my best friend would at least try to listen and take me seriously.” With that, Jared jumped from the tree house and hurried into his house letting the screen door slam behind him.
“Aw shit,” Jensen sighed. He got up, straightened up the tree house and gathered his thoughts. He had to make things right or die trying.
Jared paced his room as he fumed. How could he do that? How could Jensen joke about this when he was baring his soul to him and they were supposed to be best friends?
A minute later there was a knock on his bedroom door. “Go away.”
“Not 'til you let me apologize for being an insensitive asshole.”
Jared nearly smiled at that. At least Jensen was assuming fault.
“Jared, come on, man. Let me in.” Jensen rested his head against the door. “If you wanna beat the crap out of me, you have to open the door first.”
“Fine, come in,” Jared mumbled and collapsed onto his bed.
Jensen quietly shut the door behind him and dragged the desk chair over to Jared's bed. “Jared, I'm sorry, man. I was a douche bag back there and you deserve better.” Jared rolled over and met his eyes, which Jensen took as his cue to continue. “But, truth is, for a while now, I kinda thought you might be gay.”
Jared gaped and sat up.
“I don't care. I didn't care. I --” Jensen paused. “Look, remember when we started eighth grade? We had three new teachers? Everybody was going on about hot Ms. Harmen, but not you. You couldn't stop talking about Coach Skarsgard.”
“That was eighth grade, Jensen! I didn't know in eighth grade! How could you know?”Jared demanded
“Dude, you're my best friend, and you're like the most important person in my life.” Jensen tried to force Jared to look into his eyes and see the truth in what he was saying.“Hey, I wasn't going to ask you or hassle you about it. I figured you'd tell me when you wanted to, if I was right.”
They each sat back in acceptance.
“You've got to know that nothing would ever make me stop being your friend,” Jensen insisted. “You know that right?” He gently pushed Jared's arm and his friend nodded. “So, did you tell your parents?”
“No. It's not like I'm afraid of what they'll do, but I don't wanna have that 'talk' with them.”
Jensen nodded and they were both quiet for a minute. “Well, are, are you seeing someone? I-is that why you wanted to tell me?”
“What? No!”
“Oh.” Jensen pressed his lips together and rubbed the back of his neck. “Do - do you like someone? Or, um, do you wanna date someone?”
Jared smiled to himself. This was the Jensen he had been expecting when he admitted to being gay. This awkward, stuttering guy who was both adorable and uncertain. Jared wanted to tell Jensen that there was only one guy he'd ever be interested in, but he wasn't about to scare his best friend off by confessing to his massive crush on him. “Do I wanna date someone? Yeah, eventually. But, no, there's no one right now.”
“Oh, good.”
“Good?”
“Well, yeah, because if there was, then I'd be even more of a shitty friend for not noticing.”
“Don't worry. You're my best friend. If there ever is someone, you'll be the first to know.”
Jensen smiled at him and spun the chair back to the desk. Seeing even more college paperwork on Jared's desk, made him feel guilty. “So, uh, listen,” he turned back to the bed, “since this appears to be 'confess stupid stuff day', I should tell you I'm not going to college.”
Jared sprung up. “What? Are you serious? Since when? When did you decide this?”
Jensen chewed his lip and shrugged. “I don't know. But there's no way I can afford college.”
“So? You'll get a scholarship. You've got the grades for it. And maybe with a loan --”
“No. Jared, you know that's not going to happen.”
Jensen's disappointed expression was enough to tell Jared not to push the subject, but he had to ask, “Then why have we been wasting all this time filling out applications and reading the brochures?”
Jensen's brows scrunched in thought. “I don't know. Your mom made us?” he suggested. “You know I hate it when she's mad at me.”
Jared scoffed. “Come on, she loves you more than her own kids.”
“Shut up.”
Jared laughed. “So, if you're not going to college, what are you going to do? You're not going to work at the Work Bench forever.”
Jensen bowed his head and pushed the chair backward. He could feel Jared's expectant stare and became more nervous. “I, uh, well, I enlisted.”
“You what!?”
“I joined the --”
“I freaking know what enlisted means, dumbass! It means you're going to get yourself killed!”
“No I'm not.”
“Yeah, you are. There's a war on and you'll be wearing a uniform that tells people 'hey, shoot at me. I'm an American.' Jesus, Jensen, what the hell were you thinking?!”
“I was thinking my best friend is going to be gone and I have to get away from my parents. My dad's getting worse and my mom's a mess. I can't be here anymore.”
Sympathy and understanding overshadowed Jared's concern.
“Don't be mad, Jare,” he pleaded, knowing it sounded childish.
“I'm not mad. I'm scared. If something happens to you --”
“Nothing's going to happen.”
“Better not. “Cause I will kick your ass if it does.”
Jensen smirked. “You're going to kick my ass?”
“Yep.”
“You. You're going to kick my ass, my dead ass. How are you going to do that?”
“I will hunt you down in the afterlife if I have to.” Jared was failing at keeping a straight face while he scolded. “Sure, I'll be like ninety something and all wrinkly and bald, but I will kick your ass for dying on me. That's what best friends do.”
Jensen breathed a sigh of relief. “So, we're good, right?”
“Yeah, we're good.”
Jared was grateful that Jensen didn't treat him differently. He continued to hang out with Jared every chance he had. When school started, the only time they were apart was when they were in different classes or when they were working.
“Heard you on the radio, man. Someday, you are going to run that place,” Jensen said one early Saturday evening while they watched tv.
“No you didn't. I wasn't on the air, you dork.”
Jensen cocked a brow at his friend's denial and used his fingers to tick off bands. “From 2 to 3 o'clock, Fall Out Boy, Panic, Franz, My Chem -”
Blushing, Jared grabbed his hands to stop him. “Okay, okay, yeah, he let me pick the music for a while.”
“Which is why, for that hour, the music didn't suck.”
“Glad you liked it.” Jared ducked his head to hide his smile. Jensen's opinion of music mattered the most to him. Ever since they were young, Jensen had opened his eyes to music beyond the mainstream. It meant everything to have Jensen say his choices were good.
After a few weeks, Jensen wasn't sure what was happening between them. They were rarely apart, but that wasn't much different from how they spent their entire lives. Jared hadn't shared any feelings for him, but he hadn't told Jared anything either. Their friends assumed that they were together, whether dating or just not seeing anyone else, they didn't know. What everyone did know was that if Jensen was around Jared was sure to be nearby.
One Saturday Jensen had enough of the uncertainty and called Jared. “Hey, you wanna go out tonight? Maybe get some dinner and catch a movie? That Will Ferrell movie is playing at the Grand.”
Jared couldn't help his smile. If he didn't know better, he'd think Jensen was asking him out on an actual date. The thought made his voice catch in his throat when he replied, “Yeah, sounds good.”
Jensen let relief wash over him. “Cool. I'm off work at five so I'll pick you up at six.”
Any nerves Jensen had been feeling before picking up Jared evaporated over dinner. There was no awkwardness. Jared was joking like he always did and the conversation never suffered from uncomfortable silences.
The movie was a different story. Elf turned out to be more of a romantic comedy than raunchy humor, but it had enough laughs to make up for it.
Jensen thought that this was one of the best dates he'd been on in the past year when he parked in front of Jared's house. However, that's when things became painfully awkward. With any other date, this would be when he'd be getting a kiss good night; maybe even more, if he was lucky.
Usually, when he hung out with Jared, he'd park and they would go in together and play video games or watch you tube videos. But tonight, should he try to kiss Jared? Should he walk him to the door?
For his part, Jared was just as uncomfortable. He desperately wanted this night to be an actual date but how could he find out without looking like a complete fool? Jensen was sure to laugh at him and he'd die of embarrassment. Nervously, he rubbed his hands on his thighs and glanced at Jensen. His friend seemed to be just as nervous, which oddly comforted Jared and he began to giggle. When Jensen gave him a curious look, Jared began to laugh harder.
“What's so funny?” Jensen asked, wondering at the way his stomach was twisting. Please don't be laughing at me.
“We are,” Jared answered once his laughing had settle. “Why are we being so weird? You wanna go play Halo or something?”
“I'm not weird. You're weird.” Jensen climbed out of the car. “Time for me to school your ass.”
And just like that, the date turned into two best friends just hanging out. Neither Jared nor Jensen were happy with that development, but neither knew how to tell the other that they wanted more.
Soon it became apparent that every Saturday was a Jared and Jensen 'date' night. They'd go to movies or bowling or even play laser tag. They'd start each 'date' hoping it would end with them being more than friends, but neither was confident enough to make that move.
The day after Christmas, Jensen heard his dad cough, a loud, wet, raspy cough. He was getting worse and the more his dad denied it, the more depressed his mother became, the more depressed she became, the more she drank. It was downward spiral that had been drowning his family for years. It made Jensen look at the calendar. Sixty four days until his eighteenth birthday. He made a set of numbers to hang on his wall to countdown to the day. He knows nothing was really going to happen that day, his family would not throw him a party and there wouldn't be any cake, but the count down gave him something to look forward to.
Jensen always saw birthdays as a new beginning, a fresh start, a new year. An idea struck him and he called Jared instantly. “What are you doing for New Year's?”
“Nothing,” Jared yawned. “You're working, right?”
“Yeah, but-”
“Yeah, I thought so. Chad's going to Wentz's party with Sophia. My parents are going to some big deal downtown and Megan is gong to a sleepover so I guess it's just me and my porn collection.”
Jensen cracked up. “Dude, no. That's just pathetic. Come to Pete's party with me. You can get there whenever, get your drink on and I'll show up after work. I'll be there by 10:30 at the latest.”
“I don't know, man. Pete's parties can get a little out of hand.” Not to mention everyone pairs off and hooks up and I can't handle watching you make out with some girl at midnight.
“Come on, Jare, please,” he begged. “Go to the party. I promise I'll be the dd, okay? You can drink and I'll take care of you. I promise.”
Jared sighed in resignation, like he could deny that pleading voice. “Fine, yeah, I'll go.” I'll get blinding drunk so I don't have to see midnight.
“Awesome.” Jensen smiled. And when I kiss you at midnight, you'll know I want to be more than friends.
Chapter 2