You Be the Prom Queen: Part Two
"Do you want to come out to Northeastern and get me and go to a party tonight?" asks Jared, all in a rush.
"You could say hello," says Misha mildly. "Especially when you're asking me for favors."
"It's a party! You like parties. Vicki can come. I need to run around in circles. Seriously. I have so much adrenaline right now."
"Are you high?" asks Misha. "You can tell me if you're high. A lot of these studies involve very questionable medications. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Just come get me," says Jared, laughing. "I'll explain when you get here."
Fifteen minutes later, Misha calls again, and Jared jogs over to meet him at the car.
"You actually ran around in circles," says Misha, disbelieving. "Seriously, what happened?"
"I asked Jensen out," says Jared, grinning.
"And he said yes?"
"No, actually," Jared admits, smile not dimming. "I guess he's not over his ex yet, but he said he liked me and asked me to a party and stuff. So you need to come. Clearly I need help."
Misha shakes his head. "Clearly. Well, I'm glad you're happy with this."
"I am," Jared says, a little surprised to admit it. "I mean, I'd rather he said yes, but--he still likes me. And he said he'd ask me out if he ever, you know."
"Gets over Tom."
"Yeah."
"Congratulations," Misha says, after a moment of silence. Misha sometimes needs time to evaluate things. "I know this is a big step for you."
Jared's phone buzzes, and he smiles when he sees it's a text from Jensen with an address and a see you tonight :D at the end.
"You're adorable," Misha teases, pinching Jared's cheek.
Jared makes a face and squirms away. "Shut up. You're coming, right?"
"Of course I'm coming. I have to give you my blessing. And menace your boyfriend."
"You better not," Jared warns. "And he's not my boyfriend!"
"Please," says Misha, snorting. "It's only a matter of time."
Jensen's friend Danneel lives in Cambridge, and Misha agrees to take the car and be designated driver.
"I'm twenty," Jared reminds him, with a sigh. "I can't drink anyway."
"You're turning twenty-one in three months," says Misha. "And I doubt Jensen's friend is going to card you."
Jared rubs his face. "I don't even know how old he is," he admits, miserably.
"It doesn't actually matter," says Misha. "Will you stop moping? You were so excited earlier. I miss excited Jared."
"Sorry," says Jared. "I am excited! I'm making friends! I just--I don't want him to think I'm lame."
"You're twenty, you're not a leper," says Misha, reasonably. This is why Jared brings Misha to these things. He's good at talking Jared down, and generally more embarrassing than Jared with a few drinks in him.
"I know," says Jared. "But he has friends. What if his friends think I'm lame and tell him not to hang out with me?"
"What if his friends are hot and gay and you can hook up with one of them?"
"Not as good as Jensen," Jared says, but he perks up anyway. "Still, good call, Misha."
Misha grins. "Also, you're looking totally adorable and very polished, so I think you should be in good shape. Jensen is going to forget Tom's name when he looks at you."
Jared smiles. Misha kind of exaggerates sometimes, but he knows he's actually looking pretty good. He went through some unfortunate growth spurts after getting kicked out, and while he likes being tall, none of the clothes his parents bought him fit anymore, so pretty much everything he owns at this point is from Goodwill. But these jeans actually fit him perfectly, and he's wearing a nice blue button-down that makes his eyes (apparently) look amazing. "Tom looked really hot too," he points out.
"Whatever, he's so--wholesome," says Misha, shuddering as if this is the worst insult he can think of. "He seems nice, but I think I'd go crazy dating him."
"You don't like guys," Jared points out.
"But if I did, you would be at the top of my to-do list." He pauses. "Get it?"
"Don't explain the joke," says Jared. He bites his lip, looking at the buzzer for apartment 2B, Cortese and Harris.
"Don't be a pussy," Misha shoots back, and hits the button. A second later, Jared can her the click of the lock, and Misha pushes the door open. "Come on."
A pretty red-haired girl opens the door and gives both of them a once-over before returning her gaze to Jared with a smirk. "You must be Jared," she says.
"Uh, yeah," says Jared. a little warily.
"Jensen doesn't make new friends nearly enough. I'm Danneel. This is my My Job Sucked, Thank God It's Over party. Thanks for coming! I know you don't have all the back story, but trust me, my job sucked so hard."
"Okay," says Jared. "I believe you. Nice to meet you," he adds. "This is my roommate, Misha."
"Charmed," says Misha, with a grin. "I'm glad your terrible job is over."
"You have no idea," says Danneel. "Come on, Misha, I'll introduce you around. Jared, Jensen is fixing drinks. You should go say hi. He's in the kitchen."
It's so far from subtle that even Jared can't think of it as anything but a blatant set-up. Which is actually nice. He waves to Misha and weaves through the throngs of people. It's somewhere between what he thinks a college party would be like--tons of alcohol, low lighting, and people making out in dark corners--and a fairly normal networking event, with nicely dressed people hanging out and chatting. Although they don't seem to be drinking wine as much as very brightly colored punch that smells like death.
Jensen is indeed in the kitchen with the punch bowl, wearing a tight black t-shirt, jeans, and no glasses, and Jared has trouble not staring. It becomes even harder when Jensen turns and smiles at him.
"Hey!" he says, waving Jared over. "Dude, you made it!"
"Yeah," says Jared, smiling. "Thanks for inviting me."
"Yeah, of course! I'm so glad you could come. Is your roommate here?"
"Yeah, your friend Danneel took him to meet people."
Jensen rolls his eyes. "She thinks she's subtle. She also thinks she's cute. She's wrong about everything."
"No badmouthing my girl, Ackles," says a dark-haired girl holding out a cup to Jensen. "I know where you sleep."
"You also know I lock my door to protect myself from angry lesbians," Jensen points out, accepting the cup and filling it with a laugh. "Gen, this is Jared. Jared, this is Genevieve, Danneel's girlfriend. The party was actually her idea."
"My girlfriend is happy again!" says Genevieve, who's clearly had a few too many already. "It's a Christmas miracle."
"It's April, sweetie," Jensen says gently. "You should sit down."
"I am going to go find my girlfriend," says Genevieve firmly. "Possibly for smoochies."
"Or that," says Jensen. "Don't drink that punch."
"You're not my dad!" Genevieve calls over her shoulder.
Jensen shakes his head with a smile. "Sweet girl. No alcohol tolerance. I figured it would develop, but--apparently not." He looks over at Jared with a grin. "You want some?"
"Uh, it kind of smells like lighter fluid," Jared admits, with a laugh.
"Yeah, that's what happens when we let Chris make the punch. I don't know what goes in there, but it looks even worse coming up."
"Thanks for that," says Jared, groaning. "Just what I wanted to hear."
"We also have beer, if you want one," says Jensen, holding up his own.
"I'm, um--I'm twenty," Jared admits.
Jensen shrugs. "I'm not a cop. If you want to have a drink, I won't stop you. But no pressure."
"Maybe a beer," Jared says, relaxing a little.
"Sure thing," says Jensen, grabbing one out of a bucket of ice and passing it over.
"How was the museum?" Jared asks, twisting off the cap and taking a long drink. He doesn't particularly like beer, but he no longer makes an embarrassing alcohol face when he tries it. So at least there's that.
"Pretty good," says Jensen, leaning back against the counter. His shirt rides up a little; Jared wants to lick the thin strip of skin there. He flushes and looks away. "My mom works for an art museum back in Dallas, it's kind of a guilt-trip thing from her. But I like it anyway."
"Oh," says Jared. "That's cool, that you can do that for her. My mom--" he starts, and then realizes what he's saying. "Um. She used to take me to work with her."
Jensen looks at him for a minute, and then shakes his head, as if he needs to collect his thoughts. "Yeah, that's always fun," he says, and there's something in his voice that makes Jared pretty sure Jensen knows he has some problems with his parents. "So, what's your major?" he asks, taking a sip of his beer.
"Engineering," says Jared.
"Wow," says Jensen, sounding impressed. "Dude, that's awesome. I pretty much suck at math."
"Well, I'm tone deaf, so it evens out," says Jared.
"I didn't know you could do engineering part time," Jensen muses, sounding surprised. "I thought there were tons of ridiculous morning classes."
"It's tough," Jared says, and that much is true. "But, yeah, I'm working it out." He feels questions coming on and quickly changes the subject. "How'd you get into violin?"
"The same way every kid does," says Jensen, with a rueful grin. "My parents wanted me to try out an instrument. I started with piano and was decent at it, but my best friend in fourth grade was switching to violin and I went with him. He didn't like it much, but--" Jensen shrugs. "I dunno. It just felt right, I guess."
"That's cool," says Jared. "To find what you want to do so early."
"Yeah," Jensen agrees. "I might be screwed when it comes to getting work, but--I'm doing what I want to do, you know? Following my passion."
"Yeah," says Jared, feeling himself fall even harder for Jensen. "So--do you perform or anything?" he asks.
Jensen laughs. "I do perform, yeah," he says, scratching behind his ear. "I just joined a jazz quartet, actually."
"There's jazz violin?"
"There is jazz violin," Jensen agrees. "I'm more of a classical guy usually, but I'm liking it so far." He slants Jared a look. "I can let you know when our next show is if you want," he offers.
Jared ducks his head with a small smile. "Yeah. I'd like that."
Danneel's friend Ryan relieves Jensen of punch duty about an hour later (apparently Danneel and Genevieve had a very bad party one year with unattended alcohol and a lot of projectile vomiting, and now they believe in having someone around to cut people off at all times). Jensen doesn't seem to mind having Jared follow him around, though, so they mingle together. Most of the people there have graduated college and entered the workforce, and Jared feels a little young and small (metaphorically). Jensen must notice, because they end up chatting in a relatively empty corner of the living room, away from the guys talking about their stuffy desk jobs.
"So, how do you know Danneel?" Jared asks, sipping his beer.
"We both went to BU," says Jensen. "We met in a theater class freshman year, we've been friends ever since."
Jared nods. "And what was her job that she hated?"
Jensen laughs. "Oh man. She was working for this crazy eccentric millionaire. It was kind of hilarious for me, because I just heard all the stories about weird shit he had her do, but it was a really terrible job, and he drove her nuts. Totally rude, really unpredictable--not a good idea at all."
"So did she get a new job?"
"Yeah. She's a graphic designer, she finally got hired by a firm. She'll probably have a finally starting my new job party in a few weeks--she needed a break before that started up." Jensen glances over at him. "I'm sure you're invited to that one too."
Jared is having a little trouble wrapping his brain around the idea of just taking a few weeks off between jobs--he knows people do it, but he's too used to going paycheck-to-paycheck to really even consider it. "Sounds fun," he says, with a smile that could be stronger. "She seems nice."
Jensen snorts. "Uh huh. I can tell you haven't talked to her much."
"Jared!" says Misha, before Jared can respond, and suddenly he's got Misha draped on him. "There are hot lesbians at this party. It is the best. We should come here all the time."
"I thought you were the DD," Jared says dryly.
"Me too, but I think the punch is made of battery acid. I had like six cups."
Jensen snorts. "Looks like you're driving, Jared."
Jared groans. "I hope I remember how."
"Left pedal is gas," says Misha sagely. He makes a face and looks at his hands with confusion. "Wait, maybe not. Which one makes an L?"
"Which pedal?" asks Jared, amused.
"Wow, this is an accident waiting to happen," says Jensen, laughing. "Not to be opportunistic, but if I can get a ride back into the Allston area, I will totally be the mostly sober guy who tells you how to drive."
"I like you," Misha decrees, with a solemnity that Jared finds somewhere between hilarious and embarrassing. "You are selfish and pretty."
"I'm often told those are my best features," Jensen agrees. He grins at Jared. "You ready to head out?"
Jared didn't want to admit it, but he's getting kind of tired, and he's more than ready to get home. "Yeah, we probably should," he says. "I don't want to carry Misha home."
Jensen laughs. "You take his right side, I'll take his left," he suggests, and together they manage to say goodnight to Danneel and get Misha into the back of the car.
"So, where do you live?" Jared asks.
"Jamaica Plain," says Jensen, stretching. "The end of the E Line. It's not a good place. You can just drop me off at Kenmore or something if it's easier."
"Nah," says Jared. "I can take you home." He gets the car started and moving forward without trouble, and Jensen gives him a smile.
"So you don't suck at this."
"I don't suck," Jared agrees, laughing. "I just haven't had a car in a while. I borrow Misha's sometimes, but he mostly needs it."
"You guys seem close," Jensen observes. "He's not in college with you, is he?"
"No," says Jared. "I found him before I was in school, right after I moved to the city. Craigslist. But we get along, so we've been sticking together."
Jensen nods. "Sometimes I miss having a roommate. It's just me and my dog right now."
Jared perks up. "You have a dog? What kind?"
Jensen glances over at him and then laughs, shaking his head. "Why am I not surprised you're a dog person?" he teases. "He's a mutt with a lot of spaniel in him. Dumb as a rock, but nobody's perfect."
Jared grins. "Man, I miss my dogs," he says, without thinking, and gets hit with a sharp stab of sadness. They're not his dogs anymore.
Jensen clears his throat. "Look, it's not any of my business, but--something happened with your family, right? That's why you don't go back."
Jared licks his lips, not sure what to say. He settles on, "Yeah."
Jensen reaches over and squeezes his leg, casual support that makes Jared ache. "I'm sorry," he says. "It took my parents a little while, but they came around. I hope yours do too."
Jared watches the road for a long minute, still at a loss for how to have this conversation. "Thanks," he says, finally. "Me too."
"I approve of your hot boyfriend," Misha tells Jared the next morning. "Even if he will steal you away and I will not have anyone to make me coffee."
Jared rolls his eyes. "Thanks," he says. "Really, I was worrying that you wouldn't like Jensen. That's what's been stressing me out."
"I also think he was looking at you like he had dirty fantasies about every part of your anatomy, so don't worry too much that he's not into you," says Misha.
"That's much more encouraging," says Jared. He allows himself a goofy grin. "I mean, I kind of thought that too," he admits. "I'm not wrong, right? He's kind of into me."
Misha laughs. "You're adorable. And he clearly realizes it. I predict sappy gay romance any day now."
And Jared even believes it.
But he doesn't get any more calls (not that he makes any), and he doesn't even see Jensen passing by the construction site, so he figures that, maybe, Jensen really wasn't particularly interested.
Then, on Thursday morning, he hears Jensen say, "Oh thank God."
He looks up, surprised, and sees Jensen holding two cups. "What?" he asks. And then corrects it to, "I mean, good morning?"
Jensen laughs and sits down. "So, I've been buying two cups of coffee a day every day this week, hoping I'm going to see you, and then you don't show up, and I'm ridiculously over-caffeinated. It's been sad."
"You've been preemptively buying me coffee?" Jared asks, surprised. The fancy drinks are like $4 each. Jensen's been wasting a lot of cash.
"It's apology coffee," says Jensen, sliding the cup across the table. "Because, um, well, Danneel says I'm an idiot."
"Okay," Jared says, a little surprised. "You really didn't do anything you need to apologize for."
"No, no--" Jensen says, and cuts himself off with a laugh. "Apparently I've been talking about you a lot. I mean, before the party. I, uh, I mentioned you asked me out and she told me I was the world's biggest idiot because I am obviously into you."
"Oh," says Jared, flushing. "Um."
"Yeah," says Jensen. He smiles lopsidedly. "I've been feeling like--I'm not supposed to be over my ex yet, you know? I wasn't crazy about him or anything, but we were together for almost a year." He rubs the back of his neck. "I liked you. You're--pretty much exactly my type. I didn't want you to be a rebound guy."
"Oh," says Jared, softer.
"Yeah," says Jensen. "Anyway, I told Danneel that and she--very affectionately--told me I was being an idiot. Which is true. Because--like I said, I like you, and I'm really not trying to get over my ex. So I was wondering if you'd forgive me for being an idiot and go on a date with me this weekend."
Jared figured it was coming, but actually having Jensen ask is still somehow surprising. He stares for a second before he recovers and says, "Yes!" with maybe a little more enthusiasm than is warranted.
Jensen just laughs. "Oh, good. I was going to kick myself if I screwed that one up."
Jared smiles, feeling warm and fuzzy and kind of amazing, and Jensen smiles back for a long minute. They're probably being ridiculous.
"I actually have to get going, I've got practice," says Jensen, with a groan. "I don't know who decided practice before class was a good idea, but I hate them." He smiles at Jared. "But I'll call you?"
"Yeah," says Jared. "Looking forward to it."
He breaks his no texting rule as soon as Jensen leaves, and sends Misha GOING ON A DATE WITH JENSEN OMG :)
Misha replies knew you could do it, champ! about ten seconds later, and Jared doesn't stop grinning for the rest of the morning.
"Wait, seriously?" asks Chad.
"Seriously," says Jared, trying not to be too smug.
"So, you're going out with him."
"This weekend, yeah."
"You asked him out?"
"Yup."
"And he said yes."
"Pretty much," says Jared. He doesn't really want to get into all the details with Chad. It's a little too complicated, and Chad will make fun of him.
"Wow," says Chad. "Dude, I did not think you were gonna have the balls to ask him."
"Shut up," Jared says, laughing. "I have tons of balls."
"More than two?" asks Chad, making a face. "TMI, dude."
"Why the fuck are you two homos talking about Padalecki's balls?" asks Jake. "Get to work."
"We'll talk about yours next, stud, don't be jealous," says Chad, blowing him a kiss.
Jared isn't as good at rolling with the punches as Chad is, not with people he doesn't know very well, and he's profoundly grateful Chad is there. Because Chad can dismiss things like this, because they're not true.
"You're such a dickface, Murray," says Jake.
"Dude, this crush you've got on me is pathetic," says Chad, shaking his head.
"So, Padalecki, when'd you grow balls?"
"He asked out this girl he's been crushing on," says Chad, the lie smooth and easy and completely casual. "Go do your work, dude, leave us alone." Once Jake has taken off, Chad gives Jared a surprisingly compassionate and thoughtful look. "Sorry if you wanted to come out there, man," he says, in a low voice.
"Not even a little," says Jared. "Thanks."
"No problem." He grins. "So, when do I get to meet him?"
Jared laughs. "Dude, are you kidding? Never."
Chad considers, but then shrugs. "Yeah, okay, I get that a lot."
When he gets out of class Thursday night, he's got a voicemail from Jensen waiting.
"Hey, Jared! I guess you're not around. Anyway, give me a call--I was hoping we could do dinner tomorrow night? Let me know."
It's only 9:15, so Jared figures Jensen won't mind getting a call and dials as he heads over to the train station.
"Hey!" says Jensen, picking up on the first ring. He sounds excited and pleased.
"Hey, sorry, I was in class," Jared says, smiling.
"Oh yeah?" asks Jensen, sounding interested. "You're on campus? I was at the library late, you want to get a snack or something? I'm starving."
Jared flushes, feeling like the world's worst person. He keeps forgetting he told Jensen that stupid lie, and he knows he needs to correct it, but--not over the phone.
"Misha stayed late for me, I already got a ride home," he lies quickly. "Sorry."
"No big," says Jensen. "I'll get something from Starbucks. So--are you free tomorrow?"
"Yeah, definitely. I get off work at five-thirty and nothing after that."
"Okay, cool," says Jensen. "You want to just meet up right after? We can hang out and find somewhere to grab dinner. Maybe a movie, if anything's playing."
"Yeah," says Jared, feeling a smile growing on his face. "Yeah, that sounds great."
"Awesome," says Jensen. "I'll come meet you at the construction site."
"Oh," says Jared, biting his lip. "Uh, probably not a good idea," he admits. "I'll come over to the conservatory," he says. "My coworkers aren't exactly, um--"
"Say no more," says Jensen. "I understand. See you tomorrow at the conservatory?"
"See you."
"I need advice," Jared says, collapsing onto one of Misha's weird arm chairs.
"As always," says Misha, not looking up from his laptop. "What's up?"
"I might have lied to Jensen. Not--too much," he corrects quickly. "It was just--he asked if I went to the conservatory, and I don't. And I was too embarrassed to say I went to community college so I said I went to Northeastern. Because that makes sense."
"So he thinks you go to Northeastern," Misha says, always quick on the uptake.
"Yeah."
"So tell him you don't."
"Thanks, genius."
"Seriously, you don't have to explain everything. Tell him he's pretty and you got tongue-tied and stupid. It happens to everyone. When I first met Vicki, I told her my name was Maria."
"Really?"
"Honestly. It was very embarrassing, but I am not always smooth."
"So--the truth."
"I know it sounds crazy."
Jared sighs. "I just wish I didn't worry about this stuff."
"You'll stop," Misha says. "Or at least get a little better. Everything seems overdramatic in college."
"Thanks, that makes me feel better," says Jared, groaning.
"Just breathe," Misha advises. "It's a first date with a boy you like. It's an exciting event."
"It's true," says Jared. "I am really excited for that."
"And for telling him the truth about your school, which he really will not care about."
"I know," says Jared. "Okay. So, what do I wear?"
Misha laughs. "There you go, that's getting your priorities straight. I'll help."
Jared changes and stashes his work clothes in Misha's car after work and then heads over to meet Jensen at the conservatory. He's more excited than nervous, which he's glad about. That lasts about until he sees Jensen, who's sitting on a bench, gnawing on a pen and reading a book. He's wearing a soft black sweater and jeans and his glasses, and he looks like something out of a movie, probably the bookish best friend who's secretly the romantic lead.
Jared doesn't feel like he fits in the same picture. But Jensen looks up and sees him and his whole face lights up like he's been waiting for Jared.
Which, obviously, he has.
It's impossible for Jared not to smile back.
"Hey," he says.
"Hi," says Jensen, standing and stowing his book in his satchel. "How was work?"
"The usual," says Jared, with a shrug. "My coworker Chad was an idiot, my other coworkers ignored us because they think he's contagious. Good times."
Jensen laughs. "How'd you get stuck with him?"
"I think it's their version of hazing," Jared confesses. "I'm the new guy, I have to put up with Chad." He smiles. "But he's not actually that bad. He doesn't care that I'm gay, and I'm pretty sure that's not everybody."
"That sucks," Jensen says, sighing. "Music conservatory is kind of one of those places people are more surprised if you're straight than gay, so it's pretty easy for me." He grins. "Not to stereotype or anything."
"Yeah, I can imagine," says Jared, smiling.
Jensen stretches. "So I was thinking we could walk over to Kenmore and see what we find for dinner?" he suggests, looking like an excited kid. Jared kind of feels the same. "I'm pretty pumped about spring, I just want to be outside all the time."
Jared laughs and shakes his head. "You are such a Texas boy," he teases.
"God, I know," says Jensen, sighing. "I miss the sun. It's pathetic. My friends all make fun of me."
Jared smiles. "Kenmore's good," he says, and he follows Jensen as they start walking. "So how'd you decide to come to Boston?" he asks.
"I wanted to get away from home," says Jensen. "It was a little awkward with my parents, and I just felt like--if I went to UT or whatever, I wouldn't ever get away, you know? That's what my brother did, he's married and has a kid on the way." Jensen grins. "Which is great, don't get me wrong, I'm psyched to be an uncle. But Texas isn't the place I want to be, much as I miss it sometimes. And, honestly--I got into BU."
Jared laughs. "So nothing special, huh?"
"Not before, anyway," says Jensen. "But now it really feels like home. I don't know, it turns out it's a great city." He winks at Jared. "Shame about the weather."
Jared laughs, looking over at Jensen and licking his lips. "So, I have a confession to make."
"Yeah?" asks Jensen, tilting his head.
He sighs. "So--have you ever met someone, and you think they're awesome, and it kind of kills your ability to think like a normal human being?"
Jensen laughs. "Yeah, I've been there. What's up?"
"I don't go to Northeastern," Jared admits. "I was just--you asked and I wanted you to like me, so I--lied, I guess. I, um. I actually go to a community college in Southie."
Jensen blinks, looking a little surprised. "Okay," he finally says. He smiles. "I've definitely said weirder."
Jared smiles, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I was kind of--embarrassed," he admits.
"Well, don't be," says Jensen. He knocks his shoulder against Jared's. "So, what kind of food do you like?" he asks.
Jared laughs. "Pretty much everything."
Jensen grins. "You are so my type."
Jared ducks his head, flushing happily. "Yeah? Awesome."
Jared realizes when they get to Kenmore that he hadn't really thought about dinner. Jared has a strict weekly food budget, and eating out isn't really factored in, especially somewhere actually nice. Jensen is dressed smartly, but not so much so that they could go anywhere with a dress code, but Jared's out for anything much pricier than McDonald's.
The worst part is, the walk over was great. Jared really does know how to talk to people--he was always pretty popular in high school, lots of friends, even some acting. And he and Jensen are natural together, settling into an easy back-and-forth that distracts Jared from feeling even slightly uncomfortable. Jensen tells stories about sibling rivalries and how excited he is to be an uncle; Jared doesn't feel the stab of longing he usually does when he talks about his own brother and sister. But now suddenly he's worried again, palms sweating and not sure what to do. He somehow hadn't even thought about paying for anything--he was so worried about his hair and his outfit and not making an idiot of himself that he forgot he only has $9 in cash on him.
"So, are you in the mood for anything in particular?"
Jared looks around, trying to find somewhere cheap that isn't obviously cheap, but he's having a little trouble thinking. He can't believe he managed to forget about paying for dinner.
"Um," he says. "I dunno--burgers?"
Jensen grins. "I could do burgers. Am I gonna lose points if we go to a fast food place for our first date? Because I swear, U Burger is awesome." He laughs a little. "I'm really losing all my cool guy points right now, huh?"
Jared laughs, relief flooding over him. "Nah, you lost all your cool guy points a while ago," he teases. "Fast food sounds awesome," he says, smiling. "We could get it to go and eat outside, maybe? Since it's nice out."
Jensen grins. "Yeah, that'd be cool. I kind of miss eating outside. My place has a yard now, I want to see if I can do barbecues when it warms up."
"A dog and a yard?" asks Jared, impressed. "That's so--grown up."
Jensen laughs. "Yeah, it's all a facade. But you should come by and visit sometime. Kal is always looking for more suckers to lavish affection on him."
"Kal's the dog?"
"Yep. Short for Kal-El," says Jensen, laughing. "My ex was into Superman. So now I have a very nerdy dog."
"How long were you guys together?" Jared asks, as they head into the restaurant. "I mean, if you don't mind telling me."
"About six months," says Jensen. "I wasn't actually that upset when we broke up. I kind of thought I was supposed to be, but--" he shrugs. "I didn't think he was my soul mate or anything."
"So why were you dating him?" asks Jared, before he can think better of it.
Jensen looks over at him, a little surprised, but his face softens into a smile. "He was nice," Jensen admits. "I felt like I wasn't meeting anyone I really liked. Danneel said I was too picky. It wasn't a bad relationship, we had fun. But, you know."
Jared doesn't, actually. But he nods and smiles anyway.
"So, what do you want?" Jensen asks. "I asked, so my treat."
"What?" asks Jared, flushing all over. He should be grateful, but he feels kind of embarrassed. "No, I asked you first," he says, even though he can't afford to pay for him and Jensen. He could use his debit card, but he doesn't have a lot of flex room in his checking account, and he doubts they'll let him split it between cash and debit.
"Yeah, but I was an idiot and turned you down," says Jensen, with a grin. "Seriously, I'll cover tonight, you can treat me next time, okay?"
Jared relaxes. Next time is safe. He'll be able to prepare. "Fine," he says. "I can live with that."
They get their burgers and head over to a park nearby to eat, sitting down on the grass. It's starting to cool down and get darker, but it's still warm enough, and Jared likes the smell of cold in the air.
"So why did you come to Boston?" Jensen asks, settling back in the grass, propped up on his elbows.
"It seemed like a good place to try out," Jared says. He shrugs. "I don't know. I knew gay marriage was legal here, I liked that."
Jensen smiles. "Yeah, that's nice."
Jared wads up the foil from his burger and tosses it toward a garbage can, smiling when he sinks it. He leans back next to Jensen. "I guess I didn't want to go anywhere I knew anyone. I wanted to get away."
"I get that," says Jensen. He smiles. "I'm glad you did," he offers, and it should be cheesy, but it's kind of adorable instead.
And then Jensen's look turns soft and serious, and he's leaning over, and Jared realizes that Jensen is about to kiss him in the same second he pulls away.
Jensen looks a little surprised, and he looks down and flushes. "Sorry, I shouldn't have--"
"No," Jared says. "It's okay, I just--"
"First date," Jensen supplies. He grins. "I usually don't try to move that fast."
Jared looks down, fidgeting a little. He wouldn't mind kissing Jensen, but it's a little surprising that Jensen wants to kiss him. Even though it shouldn't be. "Well, there's always the second date," he offers finally.
Jensen laughs. "And the third date, and the fourth date..." he says, flopping back on the grass and stretching out with a yawn. "God, I'm tired. This jazz quartet is gonna kill me." He looks at Jared. "So, if I cut tonight short, can we go out again on Sunday to make up for it? Like, afternoon? My friend Alona has a concert at two, we could go to that and then hang out? If you're into classical music."
Jared laughs. "I could do that," he says. "I, um--I really did have a good time tonight," he says.
Jensen grins. "Yeah, me too." He pulls himself off the grass and offers Jared a hand up. "So, are you heading to the train?"
"Yeah," says Jared. He smiles. "You too, right?"
"Yup," says Jensen. He makes to let go of Jared's hand and Jared just--doesn't let him. He threads their fingers together, determined not to make it a--thing. Because it's not. Jensen's hand is a little smaller than his, warm and firm, and he likes the feel of it in his.
"So, Kenmore?" he says, keeping his voice light.
Jensen's smiling, looking like he's as excited about holding hands as Jared is. He squeezes Jared's hand and starts walking. "Kenmore," he agrees.
Misha isn't home when Jared gets back--he's not really surprised, Misha is rarely around on Friday nights. But he's left a note for Jared:
I am not going to say I hope your date was awesome, because I KNOW it was. If you are not home tomorrow, I will be impressed, but also worry, so I hope you will call. But you will not see this note. Or WILL YOU? xoxo, Misha
Jared smiles to himself and goes to double check his bank account--his paycheck should have deposited earlier today, but he never feels safe using his debit card until he's checked. He owes some of it to Misha, but still should have enough to buy Jensen lunch. Which he's decided he's going to do on Sunday.
He checks his e-mail and finds he's got one from Chad too--hope u got laid--which he figures is pretty much the same sentiment as Misha's note, just translated from the Chad.
He flops back on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. It's not very late, and he's somewhere between tired and so awake, buzzing on the feeling of having gone out with Jensen. It's not just that he went on a date, it's that he went on a date with a gorgeous boy who he really likes, who really likes him too.
He licks his lips, thinking about how Jensen was going to kiss him. He can't believe he turned away. He should have just kissed him as soon as he figured out what had been happening. Jensen would have let him.
Jared feels his dick stirring, and he feels himself flush even though he's alone. He's never exactly had anyone to think about when he gets off, no one real. Celebrities, or ideas, never an actual guy he's going to see again.
A guy he might actually have sex with.
Jared's a virgin, but he's not ignorant about sex. He watches porn, sometimes, when Misha isn't home, and he knows how everything is supposed to work. But thinking about it with Jensen is a lot better.
He tries to remind his dick that he's getting ahead of himself--he might not get laid.
But, God, he wants to.
He pops the button on his jeans and slides them off, not bothering to shed his boxers or his shirt. He just trails his hand down his stomach and into his underwear, wrapping his fingers around his dick and starting to jerk himself slowly.
He wonders how Jensen likes it. He's probably had enough sex to know what he likes, how he likes to be touched. Jared wonders if he likes having his dick sucked because--Jared would really like to try that. It makes his mouth water a little when he sees it in porn, the idea of having some faceless guy--Jensen now--lying on the bed while Jared crouches between his legs, learning the feel of his dick in his mouth. Jared doesn't know what would feel good with his mouth, but he'd try everywhere, kissing and sucking and letting Jensen fuck into his mouth if he wanted to.
And maybe Jensen would suck him afterward, too. Switch their positions and show Jared how he does it, and--God, just the thought is enough to make Jared come.
He likes in bed, breathing hard, for a long moment, half-formed images of Jensen between his legs dancing behind his eyelids.
He expects to feel guilty but he's mostly just very, very hopeful.