Fic: "Use every word you've ever heard - To color my world" BIG BANG TIMESTAMP, Jared/Jensen, PG
Fic title: "Use every word you've ever heard - To color my world"
Author: the_milky_way
Genre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2.599
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Beta: Many thanks to parka_girl
Disclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary:
This is a timestamp to my 2010 spn_j2_bigbang story "What about now (What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be)" and starts a few weeks after the main story ended. So it's set in the summer of 2010.
Jared and Jensen talk about the future
Jensen doesn’t really know what he’s supposed to do. Jared’s kind of hyper, in a way Jensen’s rarely seen before. Which really doesn’t say much since they’ve only known each other for a year. Well, okay, they’re boyfriends and Jensen’s sort of used to Jared’s moods by now. But him being this hyper? That’s definitely new. Jensen’s been clutching his newest tumbler and jumping out of Jared’s way for a good majority of the time they’ve been here.
Here, that is Jared’s best childhood friend’s apartment in New York City. Said best friend is leaning against the door frame of the large living room, which looks like a salon more than anything else - at least that’s what Katie, said best friend, keep on telling him. Not that Jensen has any kind of idea what exactly it is about the room that makes it a salon.
Anyway, he’s been keeping his tumbler, and therefore his morning coffee, safe from Jared’s whirling around and snooping through a huge pile of shopping bags that Katie apparently acquired last night while trying to tell Jensen something at the same time. Jensen’s still not sure what Jared’s been saying for the last hour or so because he’s too focused on Jared playing model for Katie.
Jared’s currently in an outfit both Katie and Jensen deemed unacceptable since it makes Jared look like a bad imitation of a bad rapper or something close to it. Considering the fact that they are looking for an outfit that’s suitable for public while making it harder to recognize Jared, this is definitely not the way to go.
Jensen still marvels at the fact that they actually have to try and make Jared unrecognizable. Paparazzi, and Jensen still thinks it’s ridiculous that Jared has to deal with them. But they seem to be everywhere ever since they set a foot into the city. Jared had been right: Boston - and Texas, too - are so very different. It’s really like people outside New York or L.A. don’t really seem to care much for the going-ons in either city as long as it isn’t of nationwide interest.
Jensen’s somehow glad that Jared is just the son of a well known diplomat. Not that his dad agreed with him at all when Jensen had introduced Jared to his parents during Graduation. The sort of hero-worship his dad displayed only got worse when Jared came down to Texas with them for the first half of the summer break.
Now they were in yet another world. Again. And Jensen can’t believe he’s trying to help hide his boyfriend from the masses. And really, every time he uses the word boyfriend, it still sends a thrill through him Not that a 6’4’’ tall hockey player who just won the NCAA Championships and has been more than once featured on the city’s - and nation’s as Jared loves to point out - gossip pages, is easily hidden within the crowd.
But Jared wants to go sight seeing, wants to show Jensen the town he’s lived in for a big part his life. It’s their first summer together, the first time they have just to themselves with nothing else to worry about. Jared wants to show him the best sites for Parkour, wants to show him moves only made possible through the unique structures of such a city as New York.
Jensen wants to see everything. He wants to be with Jared without reservations. Still, this outfit? Needs an intervention. Now.
“You know that you look ridiculous, right?”
“Yep,” Jared nods, not at all sounding sorry for looking like he does. Jensen has the slight suspicion that Jared’s really enjoying this. Because really, who the hell thinks that a baseball cap and sunglasses make someone unrecognizable? Jensen’s always thought it’s rather the opposite, it actually makes him looks suspicious.
“Are you really trying to tell me that this has worked for you?”
Both Katie and Jared, look a little sheepish at that and Jensen rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, thought so.”
Jared shrugs, grins and goes for the next outfit. This is probably the first time - the final championship game doesn’t count because the whole team was high on something aftward - that Jensen has seen Jared this animated and dorky.
Jared isn’t usually dorky. Jensen’s the one that hits things unintentionally, destroying half the furnishings of room by just being in the room. Jared’s graceful and controlled, hidden and quiet. This Jared, this is a side of him is one Jensen didn’t know existed. Jensen finds himself liking it and adding it to the ever-growing picture he has of one Jared Tristan Padalecki.
“Oh, come on, Jen. It’s fun. Just imagine that with just a few tweaks, I won’t stand out like a sore thumb anymore,” Jared mumbles through the fabric of a t-shirt he’s currently trying to pull on. Only Jensen wishes he really wouldn’t. This shirt is ... well it sparkles. And Jensen definitely isn’t going to look at that for longer than a second. He’d rather gouge his eyes out. Which is a pity because Jared actually looks pretty good in it.
Still … “It sparkles,” Jensen says, droll and dry.
Katie snickers, but tries to hide it behind her hand. Jared looks put upon and actually pouts. Now Jensen knows why Danneel says Jared resembles a puppy when he wants something. He’s never seen it displayed full on like this.
“But …” Jared tries and Jensen shakes his head. No way.
“You know, the purpose of this whole … fashion show… is to make you less recognizable, Jay. Now be nice and use your brain, then tell me how that shirt contributes to our purpose?”
Jared pouts even more. “I never believed it when Chad said you can have a mean tongue. Now I know he’s right.” Jared flops down on the couch - a couch in front of a huge ceiling to floor panorama window that makes Jensen slight sick just looking out. He’s been trying to stay on the other side of the room the whole time, so he looks at Jared’s shirt, which clings indecently to his abs.
“Poor Jared. If we were on our way to a club, I wouldn’t say anything. If you were going to a Twilight convention, I wouldn’t say anything either. But please tell me that sparkles aren’t a crucial part of New York’s tour guides. Because for today, you’ll be mine -- but not with that shirt on.”
Katie laughs out loud, clutching the door frame and grins wide. “Dude. He’s good. Hold on to him, Jared,” she says before she vanishes into the long hallway that either leads to the kitchen, the guestroom or the music room. Jensen’s already forgotten which hallway it was they were attached to.
“And tell him already,” is the last thing Jensen hears before Katie completely disappears. When Jensen looks back at Jared, he notices the mood has suddenly changed. Jared’s taking the shirt off and shrugging back into his normal plain white shirt, which he wore under his button down this morning. It’s too hot for both, but Jared insisted. Jensen counted the sweat pearls on the way over to Katie’s. Even Sherri had rolled her eyes at her son, said something about ice hockey and Jared needing more ice then any normal person before she had shooed them out of the apartment.
Well, Jared’s parents’ apartment is more of a penthouse actually and Jensen still can’t believe that he’s staying there. Jared’s parents are great, warm and welcoming people. They’re still a little awkward around Jared and Jensen together, but never in a bad way. Sometimes, when he listens to Sherri telling him childhood stories, Jensen knows where Jared got his sense of humor, his quiet observant character and his ability to just say the right thing.
“Tell me what? Have you planned something? Oh please, no hockey games. Okay, no… NHL is over, so that can’t be it. But something embarrassing, right? You love to show me up and I’m new to New York so you can totally do that to me. I’ll be helpless and embarrassed. Please, Jay, don’t do that.. Uhm, this would be a good moment to stop me from rambling,” Jensen mutters, hand scratching the nape of his neck and head ducked down.
Jared is laughing and in tears. “I… would. Oh God… if I… could… stop.. laughing.” He’s curling around on the couch, laughing hard and carefree. Jensen grins a little as well because the sight is just gorgeous. Because Jared is gorgeous like this.
“God, Jen. Never stop being you,” Jared says all sincere and finally calmed down. Jensen doesn’t blush because he’s so beyond that now. Really. Only, apparently not. Compliments from his boyfriend, however shrewd they’ll be, are always a reason for him to blush beet red.
“Uhm.. okay. I can try. So what is it then. You aren’t gonna rant about my penguin addiction again right? ‘Cause I told you, it’s not like that. They are just cute and your last rant almost destroyed my innocence.” Jensen clutches his tumbler a little tighter. Okay, so maybe his obsessive use of the tumbler might be a bit strange, but he so doesn’t trust people to clean publicly usable cups and he hates to-go cups because they always, really always, burns his fingers.
“No, Jensen. Really, I learned my lesson. I never want to see your sad eyes again, accusing me of things so horrible that I couldn’t sleep. I dreamed of penguins killing me. That wasn’t cool.” Jared’s close to losing it again, Jensen can see the twitch of lips and the hand clasped hard against Jared’s stomach. Sometimes his boyfriend can be a real shit.
“So? What is it, then?” Jensen’s actually really curious now, especially when Jared’s eyes dull a little and Jensen sees something like fear in them.
“Uh… I was thinking.. and no, it didn’t hurt,” Jared starts, a small, hopeful smile on his lips. “I don’t know how to starts… just.. uhm let me show you?” Jared gets up and goes to his messenger bag that he threw onto the floor the second they entered the room.
He comes back with a letter that he hands Jensen, expression a mix of excitement, anticipation and again fear. Jensen wonders what’s so bad that Jared’s afraid of Jensen finding out. He scans the letter, not sure what to make out of it until the words ‘accepted,’ ‘transfer,’ ‘scholarship’ and ‘University of Texas’ fully register. Jensen sits down. Right there in the middle of the room, on the floor.
He’s floored too say the least. He didn’t expect this at all and he’s so surprised that he can’t come up with a single word, not to mention think them. Jensen really doesn’t know what to think for maybe the first time in ages. His brain is on overload and he just gapes. First at the letter and then at Jared.
There’s so much to deal with that Jensen feels a swirl of emotions crashing through him, making it hard to discern them all from each other. There’s deep and utter happiness. Jared will be in Texas with him. They won’t have to deal with a year of long distance relationship, Jared in Boston, Jensen in Austin.
Then there’s the fact that Jared never talked to him about his plans, never asked what Jensen actually thought of them. Jared probably never even considered the fact that Jensen maybe doesn’t want to have Jared that close. Which of course is bullshit and Jensen knows this, but still. Jared never asked.
And then… then there is the fact that Jared’s giving up hockey. There’s no NCAA hockey team at UT, so Jared’s definitely giving that up. Just because Jensen did, doesn’t mean Jared has to as well. Gerry is so proud of Jared being an awesome player, talks about the games he watched and that he was glad he could make to the final one.
Jensen’s family understood why he didn’t want to turn pro anymore, why he’d rather go to grad school instead of being drafted and sent to the minors first. Would Jared’s family understand that, too? Especially when Jared makes this move for Jensen?
“Jen? Say something? Please?” Jared sounds scared, really scared and it snaps Jensen out of his haze. Jared looks scared, too.
“So you what? Decided it already and are presenting me with the facts now. Didn’t need to ask me?” It comes out harsher than he intended to and Jensen feels ugly when Jared flinches and looks down.
“Jensen. No… no… I… I should have told you earlier. I know. I just…. Remember how I told you about how Texas is still home? You being there is just another reason to go back. My parents will move back, too. I just… I thought… You’re awesome. You deal with all this sucky media bullshit and never complain, you deal with my moods and you deal with me. I… just thought you’d be happy with having me there. I know it’s probably too much too fast. I’ll… I don’t have to…” Jared’s voice is trembling now and Jensen can’t stand it anymore. He gets up and moves over to where Jared’s sitting hunched over. He pulls Jared close, against his side and just hugs him.
“I’m sorry, Jared. That was just me being an ass. I was… am surprised. That’s all. You’re giving up so much.. for… okay, not just for me.. but still. And… are you sure? That this is the right thing?”
Jared nods against Jensen’s neck, hair tickling warm skin. Jensen cards his fingers through it, can’t resist and feels Jared relax.
“Yeah. ‘M sure. Miss Texas. My grandparents. My brother. And really.. just… most of the team have graduated.You'll be in Texas, Chad in L.A. and Danni in New York. JD’s looking for new guys now and I’m still just the strange one because I don’t know anybody. I.. well, hockey’s still a huge part of my life but not that important. And I did apply for UT as well, just went to Boston because it was closer to my parents. I just… I thought UT would be another chance to go under the radar. Even farther away from New York. One more year… and maybe grad school. I heard their geo-science program is awesome. They said my Boston credits will count.”
Jensen just can’t do anything but kiss him now. Jared sounds so sincere, so much like he thought it through for ages, which he always does and Jensen believes him, believes that Jared is doing this for himself and not for Jensen, not because of Jensen.
“Sounds good,” Jensen says against Jared’s lips. Savors the smile that is back again.
“You being there is a really nice bonus, though,” Jared answers and draws him in even closer. They kiss, thorough and gentle, reassuring themselves and each other that things are okay for now. They’ll talk about the rest later.
“Oh come on, guys. Stop the make out session and lets dress Jared up before the day is over and Jensen doesn’t get the chance to stock up on penguins.” Katie’s standing in the doorway, smiling wide and happy, looking on knowingly and approving. Jensen likes her, really likes her and he hopes they’ll stay in contact. She’s bitterly complained about Jared ditching everyone in New York, even her.
“Oh, we can’t have that. He gets so very grumpy then,” Jared says sweetly and just barely avoids Jensen’s hand connecting with his head.
Suddenly Jensen thinks this will be a good day. A very good day.
Author: the_milky_way
Genre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2.599
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Beta: Many thanks to parka_girl
Disclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary:
This is a timestamp to my 2010 spn_j2_bigbang story "What about now (What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be)" and starts a few weeks after the main story ended. So it's set in the summer of 2010.
Jared and Jensen talk about the future
Jensen doesn’t really know what he’s supposed to do. Jared’s kind of hyper, in a way Jensen’s rarely seen before. Which really doesn’t say much since they’ve only known each other for a year. Well, okay, they’re boyfriends and Jensen’s sort of used to Jared’s moods by now. But him being this hyper? That’s definitely new. Jensen’s been clutching his newest tumbler and jumping out of Jared’s way for a good majority of the time they’ve been here.
Here, that is Jared’s best childhood friend’s apartment in New York City. Said best friend is leaning against the door frame of the large living room, which looks like a salon more than anything else - at least that’s what Katie, said best friend, keep on telling him. Not that Jensen has any kind of idea what exactly it is about the room that makes it a salon.
Anyway, he’s been keeping his tumbler, and therefore his morning coffee, safe from Jared’s whirling around and snooping through a huge pile of shopping bags that Katie apparently acquired last night while trying to tell Jensen something at the same time. Jensen’s still not sure what Jared’s been saying for the last hour or so because he’s too focused on Jared playing model for Katie.
Jared’s currently in an outfit both Katie and Jensen deemed unacceptable since it makes Jared look like a bad imitation of a bad rapper or something close to it. Considering the fact that they are looking for an outfit that’s suitable for public while making it harder to recognize Jared, this is definitely not the way to go.
Jensen still marvels at the fact that they actually have to try and make Jared unrecognizable. Paparazzi, and Jensen still thinks it’s ridiculous that Jared has to deal with them. But they seem to be everywhere ever since they set a foot into the city. Jared had been right: Boston - and Texas, too - are so very different. It’s really like people outside New York or L.A. don’t really seem to care much for the going-ons in either city as long as it isn’t of nationwide interest.
Jensen’s somehow glad that Jared is just the son of a well known diplomat. Not that his dad agreed with him at all when Jensen had introduced Jared to his parents during Graduation. The sort of hero-worship his dad displayed only got worse when Jared came down to Texas with them for the first half of the summer break.
Now they were in yet another world. Again. And Jensen can’t believe he’s trying to help hide his boyfriend from the masses. And really, every time he uses the word boyfriend, it still sends a thrill through him Not that a 6’4’’ tall hockey player who just won the NCAA Championships and has been more than once featured on the city’s - and nation’s as Jared loves to point out - gossip pages, is easily hidden within the crowd.
But Jared wants to go sight seeing, wants to show Jensen the town he’s lived in for a big part his life. It’s their first summer together, the first time they have just to themselves with nothing else to worry about. Jared wants to show him the best sites for Parkour, wants to show him moves only made possible through the unique structures of such a city as New York.
Jensen wants to see everything. He wants to be with Jared without reservations. Still, this outfit? Needs an intervention. Now.
“You know that you look ridiculous, right?”
“Yep,” Jared nods, not at all sounding sorry for looking like he does. Jensen has the slight suspicion that Jared’s really enjoying this. Because really, who the hell thinks that a baseball cap and sunglasses make someone unrecognizable? Jensen’s always thought it’s rather the opposite, it actually makes him looks suspicious.
“Are you really trying to tell me that this has worked for you?”
Both Katie and Jared, look a little sheepish at that and Jensen rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, thought so.”
Jared shrugs, grins and goes for the next outfit. This is probably the first time - the final championship game doesn’t count because the whole team was high on something aftward - that Jensen has seen Jared this animated and dorky.
Jared isn’t usually dorky. Jensen’s the one that hits things unintentionally, destroying half the furnishings of room by just being in the room. Jared’s graceful and controlled, hidden and quiet. This Jared, this is a side of him is one Jensen didn’t know existed. Jensen finds himself liking it and adding it to the ever-growing picture he has of one Jared Tristan Padalecki.
“Oh, come on, Jen. It’s fun. Just imagine that with just a few tweaks, I won’t stand out like a sore thumb anymore,” Jared mumbles through the fabric of a t-shirt he’s currently trying to pull on. Only Jensen wishes he really wouldn’t. This shirt is ... well it sparkles. And Jensen definitely isn’t going to look at that for longer than a second. He’d rather gouge his eyes out. Which is a pity because Jared actually looks pretty good in it.
Still … “It sparkles,” Jensen says, droll and dry.
Katie snickers, but tries to hide it behind her hand. Jared looks put upon and actually pouts. Now Jensen knows why Danneel says Jared resembles a puppy when he wants something. He’s never seen it displayed full on like this.
“But …” Jared tries and Jensen shakes his head. No way.
“You know, the purpose of this whole … fashion show… is to make you less recognizable, Jay. Now be nice and use your brain, then tell me how that shirt contributes to our purpose?”
Jared pouts even more. “I never believed it when Chad said you can have a mean tongue. Now I know he’s right.” Jared flops down on the couch - a couch in front of a huge ceiling to floor panorama window that makes Jensen slight sick just looking out. He’s been trying to stay on the other side of the room the whole time, so he looks at Jared’s shirt, which clings indecently to his abs.
“Poor Jared. If we were on our way to a club, I wouldn’t say anything. If you were going to a Twilight convention, I wouldn’t say anything either. But please tell me that sparkles aren’t a crucial part of New York’s tour guides. Because for today, you’ll be mine -- but not with that shirt on.”
Katie laughs out loud, clutching the door frame and grins wide. “Dude. He’s good. Hold on to him, Jared,” she says before she vanishes into the long hallway that either leads to the kitchen, the guestroom or the music room. Jensen’s already forgotten which hallway it was they were attached to.
“And tell him already,” is the last thing Jensen hears before Katie completely disappears. When Jensen looks back at Jared, he notices the mood has suddenly changed. Jared’s taking the shirt off and shrugging back into his normal plain white shirt, which he wore under his button down this morning. It’s too hot for both, but Jared insisted. Jensen counted the sweat pearls on the way over to Katie’s. Even Sherri had rolled her eyes at her son, said something about ice hockey and Jared needing more ice then any normal person before she had shooed them out of the apartment.
Well, Jared’s parents’ apartment is more of a penthouse actually and Jensen still can’t believe that he’s staying there. Jared’s parents are great, warm and welcoming people. They’re still a little awkward around Jared and Jensen together, but never in a bad way. Sometimes, when he listens to Sherri telling him childhood stories, Jensen knows where Jared got his sense of humor, his quiet observant character and his ability to just say the right thing.
“Tell me what? Have you planned something? Oh please, no hockey games. Okay, no… NHL is over, so that can’t be it. But something embarrassing, right? You love to show me up and I’m new to New York so you can totally do that to me. I’ll be helpless and embarrassed. Please, Jay, don’t do that.. Uhm, this would be a good moment to stop me from rambling,” Jensen mutters, hand scratching the nape of his neck and head ducked down.
Jared is laughing and in tears. “I… would. Oh God… if I… could… stop.. laughing.” He’s curling around on the couch, laughing hard and carefree. Jensen grins a little as well because the sight is just gorgeous. Because Jared is gorgeous like this.
“God, Jen. Never stop being you,” Jared says all sincere and finally calmed down. Jensen doesn’t blush because he’s so beyond that now. Really. Only, apparently not. Compliments from his boyfriend, however shrewd they’ll be, are always a reason for him to blush beet red.
“Uhm.. okay. I can try. So what is it then. You aren’t gonna rant about my penguin addiction again right? ‘Cause I told you, it’s not like that. They are just cute and your last rant almost destroyed my innocence.” Jensen clutches his tumbler a little tighter. Okay, so maybe his obsessive use of the tumbler might be a bit strange, but he so doesn’t trust people to clean publicly usable cups and he hates to-go cups because they always, really always, burns his fingers.
“No, Jensen. Really, I learned my lesson. I never want to see your sad eyes again, accusing me of things so horrible that I couldn’t sleep. I dreamed of penguins killing me. That wasn’t cool.” Jared’s close to losing it again, Jensen can see the twitch of lips and the hand clasped hard against Jared’s stomach. Sometimes his boyfriend can be a real shit.
“So? What is it, then?” Jensen’s actually really curious now, especially when Jared’s eyes dull a little and Jensen sees something like fear in them.
“Uh… I was thinking.. and no, it didn’t hurt,” Jared starts, a small, hopeful smile on his lips. “I don’t know how to starts… just.. uhm let me show you?” Jared gets up and goes to his messenger bag that he threw onto the floor the second they entered the room.
He comes back with a letter that he hands Jensen, expression a mix of excitement, anticipation and again fear. Jensen wonders what’s so bad that Jared’s afraid of Jensen finding out. He scans the letter, not sure what to make out of it until the words ‘accepted,’ ‘transfer,’ ‘scholarship’ and ‘University of Texas’ fully register. Jensen sits down. Right there in the middle of the room, on the floor.
He’s floored too say the least. He didn’t expect this at all and he’s so surprised that he can’t come up with a single word, not to mention think them. Jensen really doesn’t know what to think for maybe the first time in ages. His brain is on overload and he just gapes. First at the letter and then at Jared.
There’s so much to deal with that Jensen feels a swirl of emotions crashing through him, making it hard to discern them all from each other. There’s deep and utter happiness. Jared will be in Texas with him. They won’t have to deal with a year of long distance relationship, Jared in Boston, Jensen in Austin.
Then there’s the fact that Jared never talked to him about his plans, never asked what Jensen actually thought of them. Jared probably never even considered the fact that Jensen maybe doesn’t want to have Jared that close. Which of course is bullshit and Jensen knows this, but still. Jared never asked.
And then… then there is the fact that Jared’s giving up hockey. There’s no NCAA hockey team at UT, so Jared’s definitely giving that up. Just because Jensen did, doesn’t mean Jared has to as well. Gerry is so proud of Jared being an awesome player, talks about the games he watched and that he was glad he could make to the final one.
Jensen’s family understood why he didn’t want to turn pro anymore, why he’d rather go to grad school instead of being drafted and sent to the minors first. Would Jared’s family understand that, too? Especially when Jared makes this move for Jensen?
“Jen? Say something? Please?” Jared sounds scared, really scared and it snaps Jensen out of his haze. Jared looks scared, too.
“So you what? Decided it already and are presenting me with the facts now. Didn’t need to ask me?” It comes out harsher than he intended to and Jensen feels ugly when Jared flinches and looks down.
“Jensen. No… no… I… I should have told you earlier. I know. I just…. Remember how I told you about how Texas is still home? You being there is just another reason to go back. My parents will move back, too. I just… I thought… You’re awesome. You deal with all this sucky media bullshit and never complain, you deal with my moods and you deal with me. I… just thought you’d be happy with having me there. I know it’s probably too much too fast. I’ll… I don’t have to…” Jared’s voice is trembling now and Jensen can’t stand it anymore. He gets up and moves over to where Jared’s sitting hunched over. He pulls Jared close, against his side and just hugs him.
“I’m sorry, Jared. That was just me being an ass. I was… am surprised. That’s all. You’re giving up so much.. for… okay, not just for me.. but still. And… are you sure? That this is the right thing?”
Jared nods against Jensen’s neck, hair tickling warm skin. Jensen cards his fingers through it, can’t resist and feels Jared relax.
“Yeah. ‘M sure. Miss Texas. My grandparents. My brother. And really.. just… most of the team have graduated.You'll be in Texas, Chad in L.A. and Danni in New York. JD’s looking for new guys now and I’m still just the strange one because I don’t know anybody. I.. well, hockey’s still a huge part of my life but not that important. And I did apply for UT as well, just went to Boston because it was closer to my parents. I just… I thought UT would be another chance to go under the radar. Even farther away from New York. One more year… and maybe grad school. I heard their geo-science program is awesome. They said my Boston credits will count.”
Jensen just can’t do anything but kiss him now. Jared sounds so sincere, so much like he thought it through for ages, which he always does and Jensen believes him, believes that Jared is doing this for himself and not for Jensen, not because of Jensen.
“Sounds good,” Jensen says against Jared’s lips. Savors the smile that is back again.
“You being there is a really nice bonus, though,” Jared answers and draws him in even closer. They kiss, thorough and gentle, reassuring themselves and each other that things are okay for now. They’ll talk about the rest later.
“Oh come on, guys. Stop the make out session and lets dress Jared up before the day is over and Jensen doesn’t get the chance to stock up on penguins.” Katie’s standing in the doorway, smiling wide and happy, looking on knowingly and approving. Jensen likes her, really likes her and he hopes they’ll stay in contact. She’s bitterly complained about Jared ditching everyone in New York, even her.
“Oh, we can’t have that. He gets so very grumpy then,” Jared says sweetly and just barely avoids Jensen’s hand connecting with his head.
Suddenly Jensen thinks this will be a good day. A very good day.