Stick To Your Guns

“I wouldn’t have done it, or said anything if I didn’t think it was right!” Jaron tried to explain, though it was difficult. “He’s gone back to New York anyway, got on the first flight or.. whatever.” He sighed, his orbs searching the empty apartment he was now sat in, noting how quiet it was.

Kaleb had never been in a situation like this, and mostly he wasn’t sure what Jaron was thinking. But Jaron had his reasons surely. Whatever it is he wanted was on him. “I don’t blame the guy. Sounds like you two do have same patterns. Straight flight to New York?” Kaleb questioned, though the irony and karma was really taking place. “What’s said is done and he’s gone, you’re in love with a straight guy. Clearly Seattle is making you miserable now. Do what’s best for you.” 

Jaron didn’t answer for a while, hearing Kaleb curse and literally tell him how he’d made a mistake. Great. He could feel his heart want to burst from his chest and he couldn’t help but to let his emotions spill. He was in Seattle, alone, with no one but his cast mates around him. “I need to come home.” Jaron breathed out, before swallowing hard as he tried to cry silently, though he was sure Kaleb could hear him sobbing. “My life’s a fucking wreck, right?” 

“Whatever.” Jaron sighed as Kaleb went on about reverse psychology and how he had done Erik wrong. He knew that, of course. “Fine, there is someone else.” He mumbled. “I thought I did right, you know? Breaking up with Erik. I’m kind of falling for someone else, yes, and like.. I didn’t want to continue with Erik and just.. this is so dumb right now. The guy I like is perfectly straight.. Oh gosh, what the hell am I doing, Kaleb?” 

“Because it is my fault, Kaleb!” Jaron cried out, obviously very frustrated. “I broke up with him, I hurt him and.. I feel like the worst person in the world right now.” He honestly couldn’t stress that enough, the thought of hurting another guy was crushing him. “No, he said he was going back to New York or, whatever. I don’t blame him. Kaleb, he looked so upset!” Jaron’s voice broke, picturing the look on Erik’s face at the time Jaron told him how he felt. “Ugh, what’s the point.. The guy I like is - wait, who even said there was another guy?” 

Jaron released another sigh as Kaleb questioned him, of course, he should have expected the ‘what? why’s’. “It’s my fault..” He swallowed, wanting to make that clear that this was him, not Erik. “I just.. wish we didn’t have to feel feelings, you know? I feel terrible, Kaleb. Like, I feel so awful right now. Ugh.” Shaking his head, Jaron set himself back in his chair and pouted his lips out for a moment. Soulmates. He honestly thought that Erik was his soulmate, until he started developing feelings for someone else. “Yeah but, I don’t hurt people Kaleb. I hurt you and now I’ve hurt him. I’m a bad person. I just… ugh, I don’t even know right now.” 

“The next time someone comes into my life, can you warn them that I’m a jerk?” Jaron asked with such an exasperated sigh, as he held his mobile up against his ear. It was taking every inch of him not to cry right now, it was his fault, his mess. As much as he was head over heels for Erik, he was developing feelings for someone else, and figured it wasn’t fair on Erik to continue their relationship and with that, they parted. “I ended things with Erik..” He barely muttered, noting the confused voice on the other end. “Ugh, I’m such an idiot!” Jaron growled in a frustrated tone, dropping his face into his other hand, rubbing his forehead slightly. “I’m sooo annoyed at myself like, all I ever do, is hurt people and like.. It’s never something that I set out to do. Gosh. I might just come back to Denver, but like, I don’t even know. How am I supposed to concentrate on rehearsals and performing now? I so wish you were here right now, I could do with a hug.” 

“Too long. Seriously, It’s been life…four or five months since I did your back piece, right?” Declan asked, trying to remember the last time he had tattooed Kaleb. But he honestly lost track, considering how many different clients he had with multiple tattoos of his. “Yes, you can get squeezed in. I actually have about an hour and a half until my next appointment, so as long as you’re not wanting anything crazy huge, I can ink you.” He nodded with a smile. “What were you thinking?”

Kaleb was calculating in his head of how long it really had been and he nodded when Declan claimed it was at least four or five months. “Almost five I believe?” He spoke to the guy. They had definitely ventured away and dealt with their own lives that they missed each other. “No, nothing too crazy. Normal sized tattoo but I was thinking a maple leaf, colored? But with a wolf and bird inside the leaf” he said spit balling the idea. 

Aspen always liked the attention and to see people’s reactions who enjoyed his work and films he had been on. The Hobbit had been one of his favorite to film and was glad that the other man was a fan of it. Shaking his hand he smiled widelt, “It’s my pleasure, Kaleb.” He released his hand, eyes giving him a quick look over, “And please, call me Aspen.” he chuckled, “Don’t be sorry.” his grin only grew, enjoying seeing the other’s smile. “A diner? Sounds perfect. Would you care to join me at all? I don’t really have many friends around here yet.” he admitted, “Just taking a little break and sort of preparing for a role. I’ll be filming over in Boulder this fall. I wanted to get to know the area a little better.” 

It took a solid minute for Kaleb to really cool down, to let the fandom boy in him relax and know that Aspen was just as much as a normal person as he was. Still it was surreal for Kaleb and he would definitely be texting his friend about this soon enough. “Well I can get very annoying when I’m overly excited and this is one of those moments. And yea totally I’d be down for joining you are you kidding me? Who wouldn’t want to eat a dinner with you, Aspen?” It wouldn’t go away that Kaleb knew the man’s work and admired him. Just seeing him close and in person was mind blowing. “And I can totally be your friend, I’m not a Denver native much but I’ve been here long enough to know the ropes. Let’s go shall we?” Kaleb flashed the man another wide smile. So wide it should hurt but Kaleb didn’t care. 

Aspen couldn’t help but laugh at the other man’s response to seeing him. Getting called Bard brought back old memories from filming the Hobbit. “I am me.” he chuckled a little more, running his fingers through his hair quickly, “I take it you’re a Hobbit fan?” he grinned widely, offering his hand to shake the others, “Aspen Maddox. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He then recalled what he had been asking as well, “I was wondering on places to eat and you mentioned a diner?” 

Due to Kaleb’s over exaggerated energy and nerd ways, this was heightened for him. Making him fan boy over the fact that Aspen was standing in front of him, after seeing the man on the screen as Bard from The Hobbit and the second addition to the film, it stunned him. “Yes, oh my god yes. I just can’t believe you are here” Stepping forward as he saw the hand offer, Kaleb shook his head with a firm but not too firm shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr Maddox. I’m Kaleb. I uh.. wow. I’m so sorry. Right diner. Just a few blocks from here, there’s this diner. They have great food and even better dessert menu. What brings you to Denver?”