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"You're David, right?" Some voice said. Davey had been so caught up in his work that he hadn't noticed that anyone was there. When he finally looked up, he saw someone so beautiful it hurt. He recognized Jack from his classes from the past few years.
He didn't realize he had been staring until he saw Jack sway uncomfortably, "Uh, yeah, sorry. And you're Jack?" He tried to stay calm as if he hadn't been admiring him for the longest time.
Jack sat at the desk in front of him, "Yeah, um, I was kind of wondering-" If I'd date you, yes, absolutely, "If you would be my partner for the history project?" Eh, close enough, right?
"Yeah, I'm surprised you'd work with me, though."
"I've heard that you're smart, and I need more than just a little help," He chuckled as he spoke, "I promise I will try to actually help, though. I'd say that a lot of people probably try to just get you to do their work, don't they?" David nodded, and Jack smiled. The things Davey would do to see that smile again.
They sat in the library for a few more hours to get to know each other and get a grasp on how and where they wanted to work on the project.
"We could work at my place but my brother, Race, is really annoying."
"My house is it is, then."
☆*☆*☆
After a week of only messaging each other, they finally went to Davey's house after school. Esther was at the door when they arrived and knew just how to embarrass her son, "David, you never told me your boyfriend was coming over! I would have made something nice for dinner or at least cleaned up the place!"
"Oh, um, he's-" Davey started.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Jacobs," Jack stuck out his hand to shake hers, "And you don't have to worry about cleaning up for me." Both of the Jacobs' looked at him in surprise.
The boys walk into David's room, and he shuts his door. "Why didn't you say anything about the boyfriend comment?" he asks, a little too hopeful.
"I don't know, I thought it would kind of throw her off guard. If it made you uncomfortable I can tell it was just a joke." Right. It was a joke. He'd never want to date me. He's literally the straightest person I know.
"It didn't make me uncomfortable. Just surprised me, is all." Jack's expression changed for a split second, but not long enough for him to tell what it meant.
"Uh, so should we start working?" Davey rubbed the back of his neck and looked away."
David listed off the requirements of their project; they had to choose a historical to create a presentation for. They shortly got to work and decided, first, to start researching. There was somewhat of an awkward silence throughout most of the night. Neither really wanted to say anything after the boyfriend joke.
"I'm sorry, it was kind of a dumb joke." Jack paused, "I shouldn't have said it."
"It's fine, seriously. It just caught me off guard."
"Okay then," Jack looked at his phone. 8:15 PM. "Oh god, I need to get going, or my ma might worry about me. It was nice hanging out with you, we should do it more often."
"Yeah, we should." David felt a little surge of confidence as Jack was about to leave the house, "See ya later-"
"Yeah see you-"
"- Babe." Either he was imagining it, or he just made the ever-intimidating Jack Kelly blush.
☆*☆*☆
The two boys started to hang out for more than just school projects. They hung out every Friday night just doing whatever they felt: staying in and watching a movie, playing games, going out to eat. In David's mind, they were basically date nights. They continued their flirty banter, though it was clear to Davey that it didn't really mean anything to Jack.
This Friday, this special Friday, was a year since they started hanging out. But Jack decided to cancel on him. I mean, it's not like he would have remembered. It's a stupid thing to remember when you're not dating. But later, he heard that Jack ditched him to hang out with some girl. Her name was Katherine. It wasn't that David didn't like her; she seemed pretty cool. It was the fact that Jack basically refused to tell him what he was doing that night when he asked.
Davey: hey, can we hang out later?
Davey: i just kinda want to talk.
Jackie ❤️: uh yeah, sure. Where do wanna meet?
Davey: just come over ig
It got a little more complicated than either of them wished it had. It grew into an argument that left both of them frustrated.
"I just don't understand why you couldn't tell me what you were doing! It's not like it would have upset me!"
"I mean, it clearly is now! What difference would it have made?!"
"You lied to me, Jack. You said you were feeling sick-"
"Yeah, and I got better." Another lie. "Y'know, you could just tell me that you don't like hanging out with me anymore."
"Davey, it's not like that." David sighed, "What else could it be? You've been avoiding me at school, and when we're with friends, you treat me like I'm not there."
"It's just more complicated than that, okay? Kath and I aren't dating. She was asking me questions about the girl she liked. And for the other stuff I can't really tell you right now, you'll see in a little while."
"I'm sorry, I just don't have many friends other than you and our friend group. I'm just scared of losing you, y'know?" Davey felt stupid admitting that, but Jack hugged him, knowing the exact feeling.
☆*☆*☆
A few weeks later, it was prom season. It was practically thrown in Davey's face anytime he was in school or with friends.
"Hey Davey, has anyone asked you yet?" Race made sure to be loud enough so everyone heard.
"Uh, no. Not yet. I haven't asked anybody either." He didn't really care if they knew he was just planning on going to hang out with people.
"Really?!" Jack seemed to be more surprised than everyone else. "I mean, yeah?"
"But, you're like really hot? How has nobody asked you yet?" David was shocked, to say the least. He noticed that Katherine was trying to get the boys away to give them some privacy.
"I mean, it's not like I put myself out there or anything. And the one guy that I do like, really does not pick up on hints."
"Oh, who was the guy that you like?" Davey had never heard him speak so quietly, he almost didn't think it was Jack.
"Um, just some guy that was in our history class last year."
"This is kind of random but will you come over to my house tonight? I wanna show you something." Jack was still quiet.
"Yeah. Is everything okay?" Jack silently nodded.
A few hours later, Davey arrived at Jack's wearing his regular jeans and a hoodie, but when he saw Jack, he felt he should've dressed nicer.
"Oh, wow," he paused, admiring his friend for a moment, "Should I have dressed a little nicer?"
"No, no, no, you look amazing as is." Jack still seemed out of it. "Come here, the thing I wanted to show you is in my room."
"Is it now?" Davey flirted and Jack just chuckled.
When they got there the room was dark other than a few lit candles, and on Jack's bed there was a bouquet of orchids and a painting of the two of them. But then he noticed a small card in the corner, 'Will you go to prom with me?'
"Jack, I-"
"I know you said there was another guy you have feelings for but, I already had this all planned so I thought I might as well show it to you." This is the first time that he had truly seen Jack this vulnerable.
"Y'know, I never pinned you as a romantic, Kelly," There was a pause as they finally made eye contact, "Do you happen to know what basorexia means, Jack?"
"Do I look like I know what it means?"
Davey chuckled and continued on, "It means the overwhelming desire to kiss someone. I feel that literally every time I look in your eyes."
"So I'll take that as a yes then?" He said and leaned in to kiss his "friend." That was never really the right word to describe them. Even from the first day, there was always something just a bit more.
"Also, how did you know my favorite flower was orchids?"
"You mentioned it a few months ago while you were on a rant." David smiled that he had remembered something as simple as his favorite flower. He smiled at his relationship being as bright and happy as it was before.
He smiled at the fact that he was able to kiss and hug the man he loved so much whenever he wanted.