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The start of summer break. It was usually such a carefree time of freedom and fun for the students, yet the events of the last day of school left most of the clones uneasy.
First, the sudden decision of getting accepted into college, then the death maze they were all forced to partake in, to the reveal of Joan of Arc going against everyone to ensure her success. It was all too much for some of them.
The ones taking it the hardest, though? They were JFK and Abe Lincoln.
Both clones had pined after the girl. Everything they did was for her. Their feelings for Joan had boiled over in the maze. JFK had gotten angry at the other boy for revealing that he had also liked her, leading to some tension.
It wasn’t until they both realized that in helping their group escape from the array of number two pencils, that the two made a formidable duo. Quickly forming a bond of friendship to both of their surprise.
Their relationship solidified as Jack stood up to Topher’s white leveraging, as well as assured Abe that he would be happy to help the other with his crush on Joan. The little acts meant the world to Abe. He never would have expected the other boy to go out of his way to help him. Nor did he ever think that he would actually care to be friends with him.
Things had definitely changed. Abe was now unsure of his feelings for Joan and the only person he could go to regarding these feelings was JFK.
He could have gone to Topher, they were sort of friends. After the stunt the smaller boy pulled, though, Abe wasn’t sure he could be trusted with his secrets… JFK on the other hand, was someone who understood what the betrayal was like.
Abe had been spending a lot more time with the popular boy. It was honestly surreal how well they got along considering their rivalry in the past. It seemed like when there were no girls in the picture, there was nothing for them to compete over.
The two were hanging out in JFK’s bedroom, it was getting late and they were winding down for the night. The sudden peace allowed Abe to drift into his thoughts. Thoughts about his friend.
Abe had always found himself jealous over the other’s good looks, a part of him wishing he could have that same charm. But now? He found himself admiring the boy. It was like he was looking at him through a completely different set of eyes.
Abe noted that he’d been staring at the man a lot more since earning his friendship. John was pretty, there was no denying that. He was a well put together man. From his perfectly coiffed hair and neat outfit, there was nothing messy about him. His tired eyes and big dumb smile were key components that made him up.
Now that Abe thought about those things, it really was no wonder he was so popular with girls…
“Abe?” JFK asked, snapping the other out of his thoughts. The name fell off his tongue so naturally. It was a nice change of pace from only being referred to as ‘Lincoln’ by him for years. “Hm?”
“Whatcha thinkin’ about?” He questioned him. “You still, uh, hung up on Joan?” The words came out quiet, like the whole predicament was a secret just for the two of them to know about.
“Honestly? Not really… I mean, I’m upset about it but…” He suddenly stopped, realizing how embarrassing this must sound.
“I was thinking about you, Jack.”
JFK’s eyes widened, his cheeks flushing a slight pink. “Me?” He pointed to himself dumbly. The man’s uncertainty was honestly cute... Wait, cute? No, Abe did NOT think JFK was cute. It would be weird to think about his friend like that. Their thing was loving Joan, not… He shook the thoughts from his mind.
“Yeah um… This is gonna sound corny, but I was just thinking about how I appreciate you, man.” He could barely get his words out, face heating up.
JFK wasn’t used to having male friends who regularly told him how they valued him, so this was a surprise. He tried to hide his growing smile.
“I er uh, do too! Appreciate you, that is.” It was hard for the boy to be sincere so he copped out on a repeat of Abe’s words. His response had an effect though, as he noticed the other’s expression soften.
It was in that moment that the two realized how close they were. Sometime during their conversation they had both placed themselves on JFK’s bed, sitting next to each other.
JFK bit his lip, deciding whether or not he wanted to be closer to the other boy. His body seemed to not obey his mind, though, as his hand placed itself ontop of Abe’s. The sudden contact made the taller man shiver.
It was like the entire energy in the room shifted, both men staring at each other with wide eyes. Did they both feel this change? There was only one way to make sure.
JFK gulped. “Abe?” He whispered, looking away. “Yeah, Jack?” The other replied. Both of their heartbeats quickening.
Abe nearly lost his mind as JFK scooted closer to him, leaning in a little. “I, er uh, have a crazy idea…” Abe did nothing to stop the other man, deep down wanting to try whatever he had in mind.
“Yeah?” He repeated again, exhilaration coursing through him now.
For once in his life, Jack felt nervous. “I, er uh, usually only ever do this with broads but uh…” He paused, swallowing thickly as he gathered up his words. “Would you, uh, be against me kissing you?” His voice cracking as he realized how obscene that must have sounded.
Abe’s heart thudded against his chest, face immediately flushing a bright shade of red. “I, um… N-Not at all!” Abe stuttered, trying to mask his excitement.
Why was this so exhilarating to them? Hell, they weren’t a couple. They barely even had time to acknowledge their growing feelings for each other up until this point. The clones knew they were rushing things, yet neither seemed to care.
They were inches away from each other now, breaths mingling.
“We’re gonna regret this…” is all Abe said. He meant his words. There was no way him and JFK could have a sustainable relationship. “I’m okay with that if you are…” JFK said in response, a grin spreading to his lips.
The space between them was now broken as the two leaned forward. Their lips pressed together and god, it felt magical. It was like all of their problems and stress melted away.
JFK so rarely ever had a real kiss, his specialty was open-mouth kissing but this… This was nice. He chased Abe’s lips, wanting more of his sweet nectar-like kisses.
“You’re pretty good…” JFK mumbled once they broke away, shooting the other man a grin. The fact that JFK had complimented his kissing skills was the ego boost Abe needed to continue.
All he cared about in that moment was impressing his friend. Or would he be his boyfriend now? It was complicated and Abe didn’t want to think about labeling this.
JFK moved his hand to Abe’s waist and pulled him closer, the other instinctively wrapping his arms around him. The only sounds heard in the room were the occasional separation and reunion of their lips.
The clones could have continued kissing forever, but eventually they had to break away for air. In their pause, the taller of the two began putting together a rational thought.
JFK leaned forward again but was stopped by the other man’s hand. He shot Abe a look of confusion, wanting to see what the problem was.
“Okay, okay, let’s not brush over this. Why do you suddenly like me?” Abe questioned him. JFK could have anyone he wanted, yet here he was with him. John pondered the thought before speaking up. “I, uh, don’t know… I guess ever since the, uh, maze, everything about you just… changed.”
“It’s like, you’re no longer some, er uh, dweeb I want to throw milkshakes on! It’s freaking me out!” He confessed.
His wording wasn’t exactly how Abe felt, but it was pretty similar to his thought process. “I know! I used to think you were just some douchebag but now? I can’t get you out of my head.” He confessed. Jack’s smile in response to that made Abe’s heart flutter.
“So… what are we?” Abe couldn’t help but ask. He could possibly ruin everything by putting a label on what they had, but the question was eating at him.
“I , uh… don’t know. I’ve never, er uh, dated a guy before.” Jack admitted. Abe chuckled at that. “Neither have I. Maybe, I don’t know… We could be each other’s first?” A nervous smile spreading to his lips.
“But, uh, I’ve already had sex?” JFK responded blankly.
Abe’s face fell. Of course he would ruin the moment. “First boyfriends, Kennedy.” He corrected him. It seems like dating JFK would entail lots of sexual innuendos, clearly.
“Oh, yeah! I say we, er uh, throw a rager announcing this then!” JFK already began to get ahead of himself.
Now THAT caught Abe off guard. He assumed if they dated that JFK would want to keep it secret out of embarrassment.
“You’d want to be seen in public with me? Really?“ He realized how pathetic that must have sounded as he verbalized it. His doubts were squashed as John took his hands in his. “Abe… if any knuckleheads wanna judge us, I’ll just, er uh, sock ‘em in the jaw!” Jack assured him.
There was that side of JFK that made Abe reconsider everything he’d known before. He felt safe and secure around the other boy. There was only one thought on his mind as he pressed his lips to Jack’s again.
Yeah, maybe this could work.