#askrache

For reference:

But oh my god have you been looking at mine and Louise and nic’s gc bc that was literally the last thing I sent her. anyway here you go anon.

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James threw his phone against the bed with a frustrated sigh. He’d thought things were going well with this new guy: he was cute, honest, so smart, showed an interest in James’ career— until he’d gotten a text that had changed all of that.

Hi, J. I’m sorry, I just got to thinking last night and we’re not gonna work out. You’re so loud and you love to be into everything and I can’t date someone in the public eye. I’m not ready for it. Wish you the best.

Which, fuck him for leading James on and making James think they had even a slither of a hope together. They always did this. They loved the fame, the money, the promise of prestige, but the first time James actually had to work everything went to shit.

He grabbed his phone again and sent out a tweet, not even bothering to read it before he was pressing the blue button. He hugged his knees to his chest and shoved his face between his knees and cried.

James’ phone was bursting with notifications when he finally got up the will-power to climb out of bed and start his routine. He didn’t bother checking it right off, knowing there would be the usual “you deserve it,” tweets and comments thrown at him. He wanted to be at home, with Drew and a pint of ice cream but he had to work— he always had work.

He heard Linda’s text tone and grabbed his phone from the dresser. James started to reply when a familiar name crossed the screen and he smiled, exiting out of Linda’s contact and into Grayson’s.

i never liked his bitchass anyway

Which, who would have thought that Grayson would be the one person James could always count on to tell him how shitty the guys he dated were.

James’ face crooked into a smile and his fingers were clicking away on the keys almost immediately.

I don’t think I did either

When will you be home?

Tuesday

James twirled the phone between his fingers and waited for Grayson to answer back. Why was he even up at this absolutely ungodly hour (he’d never understand how the boy went to sleep at 8 and woke up even earlier)?

let us take you out

gray I really don’t want to do that

then just come hang out with us. We haven’t seen you in like a year james

You saw me two weeks ago, Grayson

Best two weeks of my life, honestly

GRAY

just kidding. But really. Come hang out. I miss you.

Fine, fine. I’ve gotta go Gray. I’ll see you when I get home

And if James caught himself smiling and much happier than he’d been before, that wasn’t anyone’s business but his.

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James tugged his luggage into his house and yelped (screamed) when he say Grayson sitting on his couch with a shit eating grin plastered on his face.

“Hi.”

“What the hell, Grayson!”

“I wanted to surprise you. E and Emma are off doing who knows what, and I was bored and Ian was home and then I just decided to stay until you came home so—“ all of this was one breath and faster than James had ever heard him talk and it sounded partially made up but James was too tired to really care about anything at all.

“I was really hoping to get some sleep, Gray.” Which was true. Partially. He wanted to get at least an hour or two before Henry came by to pick up the few shirts he’d left before he’d broken James’ heart.

“That’s okay. I’ll just hang out down here. I was in the middle of a game anyway.” James lip quirked into a smile and he shook his head fondly.

“Go home, Gray. I’m just gonna sleep until Henry gets here to get his things and then I’m going back to bed.” He was exasperated, frustrated, and he didn’t want to explain (didn’t need to explain) to Grayson why James was so hell bent on him going home.

“He’s coming by here?”

And honestly, what else should he have expected from Grayson.

“Just to grab some clothes he left after he spent the night.”

“He spent the night?” Grayson tone rose and he quirked an eyebrow and he was nearly off the couch completely when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” James responded, thankful for the break in a conversation Grayson had no business starting.

The door swung open and Henry stood outside, a small duffle unzipped and ready.

“I, uh. I figured I’d just let you do it,” he explained as he handed James the bag. James mouth hung open and he looked at Henry confused and exasperated at the man’s ignorance.

“Why don’t you take the clothes James has ready for you and leave?” Grayson’s voice came from behind James’ ear and a protective hand rested on the small of his back.

Henry didn’t need much more warning, considering Grayson had a good 4 inches on him and at least 100 pounds.

When the door closed and James could relax, he swatted at Grayson’s chest.

“You asshole! You scared him,” he squealed, his tone playful and thankful.

“I can’t believe he was gonna make you pack it,” Grayson chuckled as he plopped down beside James on the couch. His arm rested lightly behind James head and his thigh touched James’ knees where they were crossed.

Their laughter died down and Grayson glanced over at James.

“I’m sorry I butted in, J.”

“No, it’s fine! He was an asshole and he deserved to pack his own clothes.”

“No, J. I, uh, I told him to break up with you.”

The house was quiet save for the washing machine going in the garage and Ian’s clicking and tapping coming from upstairs.

“You what?” James’ words hissed through his teeth and his eyebrows furrowed.

“Thursday morning I text him and— and asked him if he was going to be okay with us hanging out now and— James, he wasn’t a good guy.” Grayson fished desperately for a reasoning to what he’d done to keep James from having someone who cared about him, finally.

“So you’re telling me, that the one guy I’ve found who I actually really liked and who really liked me — Grayson, you told him to dump me?” James was seething. He crawled off the couch and stood up to pace in front of Grayson.

“James, I never told him to break up with you, that was all on him. But — But I didn’t discourage it either and I — James, I’m sorry,” Grayson murmured. “I told him we were filming a collab with you and asked if he’d help because it was a surprise and he— James he pretty much said if E and I filmed with you he wouldn’t keep dating you.”

James was quiet for a long time. Eventually he sat down beside Grayson and thought, long and hard, about what this meant.

“And you told him?”

“That you’d never give up your friends for a guy.”

“You’re right.”

“I know.”

“Sometimes you know me better than I know myself.”

“That happens when you love someone.”

A long pause as they registered the confession Grayson had just slipped out.

“What?” James whispered, quieter than he’d been in months. His voice was small and hopeful.

“When you love someone,” Grayson cleared his throat and tried to gather up the courage to say what he wanted to. “You do strange things for them because you know them better than they do.” Grayson sat up straight and watched for James’ reaction, cracking a smile when James realized what Grayson had said.

“You do?”

“Yeah.”

“Kiss me?”

Okay hands down in no particular order and definitely not comprehensive:

A03

Let’s Go Get Mexican Food - AllisonKayleen

The House - hmmwatt

Wattpad

Angel + Run - valntyn

A Guy Like Me + Baby Steps - ohbutmewithmyribbon (nic is amazing luv her)

Holy shit oh my god this is the best prompt yes.

I understand this completely, and he is so young, but I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt too many times (Tati, Gage, Sister Squad, calling Ari the rudest celebrity ever bc she unfollowed him, his transphobia and obnoxiously ignoring people’s sexualities) and I just had enough. I know he’s a kid and I know that he’s in the public eye, but he needs to understand that he can’t say whatever he wants to. His PR team needs to step it up and crack down on him tweeting/saying whatever he wants to.