audrey

Currently, Jack Kelly is in his run-down apartment living room. He is in his run-down apartment living room while the person he is head over heels over is in the next room. He is in his run-down apartment living room while the person he is head over heels for is staying with him for the college semester. He is in his run-down apartment living room absolutely freaking out because Davey Jacobs is staying with him for fifteen weeks. 

   Granted, it's not just Jack and Davey. Jack's younger brothers Charlie and Antonio live in the apartment as well. But Charlie does his own thing most of the time, and Antonio is his boyfriend's place so often that "Albert's apartment" might as well be "Albert and Race's apartment." But because there's no one else at home most of the time, Jack will be living alone with Davey. And that means Jack Kelly has two options: give in to his feelings, or lose it trying to resist. And living with the person you feel like blurting out you're in love with them at least twice a day? Not easy.

  They had met two years earlier during their freshman year of college, and Jack was already head over heels in love from the start. He found his mind drifting to Davey during his classes and had put up with countless pestering from his friends who claimed that it was ‘so obvious’ that he was in love with Davey (much to the annoyance of Jack, who was in love with Davey). But for how in love he was, he never made a move. 

   A couple of months ago Davey had mentioned that he should probably move home as a result of it being cheaper than living on campus or trying to rent his own apartment, and how living at home wouldn’t be the best option travel-wise. Jack, without thinking, had offered a space at his apartment. He hadn’t come to the realization of what that meant for his (huge) crush on Davey until he had already okayed it with his brothers and had sorted the situation out. 

  And once he realized the implications of it, he had already committed. Davey was going to be living with Jack, and as far as Jack knew, Davey didn’t feel the same way. That is what landed him in the current situation: on the couch of his run-down apartment living room, desperately trying - and failing - to not freak out about the fact he will be spending 15 weeks straight with Davey. It felt like he was in high school again.

   "Thank you again," Davey spoke, exiting the room he would be sharing with Race for the semester (that was, if Race ever came home, Jack is not exaggerating about how often he is over at Albert’s). “For letting me stay for a bit.” 

   "Of course, sorry it isn't a perfect paradise or anything," Jack let out a breathy laugh "Just three guys who haven't gotten around to grocery shopping in a while.”

   "Better than trying to commute from home and much cheaper than dorms at least," Davey sat down next to Jack on the couch "Plus I get to hang out with you more, so, win-win."

   “Yeah, win-win,” Jack repeated, trying to ignore the rush of heat to his cheeks. “Did you wanna do anything? Racer and Charlie won’t be back until later.” 

    “I mean, it’s your place, we can do what you feel like." 

    "Hey hey , it's our place now, Dave." 

    "I mean, I'd say we just order something and watch TV, y'know, get a headstart on this homework I got." 

    "What homework are they giving you on the second day of school?"

     "I got a ton of classes to get through, better to knock them out early, right?" 

      "I- I guess you're right." I think I'm in love with you remains on the tip of Jack's tongue, forever bound to his thoughts, but never said out loud.

      Sometimes, there's a moment where there's no one else around. The whole world focuses and drowns out everyone else. His heart pounds and cheeks are on fire, but sometimes, he can't bring himself to care. Sometimes, and just sometimes, all Jack Kelly can focus on is Davey.  The summer after he graduated high school, Jack traveled the country. It was an expensive trip he made work with his own hard-earned wages, and saw the most breathtaking sites in the entire world. But not a single site or view could ever compare to Davey Jacobs. 

    And god . Jack hoped he felt the same way. 

    Tonight, when they eventually retire for the evening, Jack will probably go into his room and gush to himself like he was experiencing his first crush. When Davey goes home for the holidays, his brothers will finally pester him about his relationship with Davey. And maybe, just maybe, one day they might be the real deal.