Work Text:
- 10:40 PM -
The only sound that could be heard from inside the car was the whirring of wheels against the highway. Jake looked out his window, the night sky dark, the moon’s image a blur from behind the clouds.
The six club members had just gone to a concert. A very long, energetic concert, and it was safe to say that everyone was very tired afterwards. They were drained of energy, to the point where nobody wished to make conversation. The radio was turned off too; they’d had enough music for the night. Besides the traditional car ambience, it was completely silent.
It wasn’t the most comfortable in the car either. Sean was driving, and Milly had claimed the passenger seat as they were walking through the parking lot, which left Jake, Hailey, Zander, and Luke to be squished together in the back.
Luke and Zander were sitting next to each other, quietly watching a movie. Hailey was adjacent to them on their left, and Jake was on the far left, trying with all his might to ignore how close he was to the aforementioned girl.
If there was enough light in the car, anyone would’ve been able to see the red-ish color his face was tinted. Their legs were pressed against each other, and whenever the car made a turn their shoulders would collide. And every so often their hands would, for a second, just barely graze each other… Jake was going to lose his mind.
He wondered what was going through Hailey’s brain. Was she even aware of the close proximity they were in? And if so, did she think of it the same way he did? Did she think of him the same way he thought of her?
He took a subtle glance at her.
Hailey was mindlessly scrolling through her phone, in a slow, almost rhythmic loop, seeming to show no care for the content being displayed on her screen. Her head would lean slightly from side to side like a buoy, as if she didn’t possess the energy to hold its weight.
She’s tired. He realized.
Of course she was, who wouldn’t be?
He smiled to himself, and went back to looking out the window before she noticed he was staring.
His mind was plagued with thoughts of her. It had been, for a while now. He didn’t know when it happened, but at some point, all he could think about was Hailey, and her stormy gray eyes, as dark as the night outside the small car.
Part of his brain was still in denial, most likely the overthinking part that believed he didn’t have a chance. Or maybe it was the part that believed he was still in love with Daisy. Whatever it was, Jake seemed to be at war with himself.
The car hit a small bump on the road, and their hands touched again, sending Jake’s conscious mind into another round of internal panic.
Oh my god, oh my god, I’m gonna lose it… He thought.
You’re killing me, Hails, you know that? Thank god she couldn’t hear what he didn’t say out loud.
He took another quick glance at her again.
She’s so sweet.
He immediately went back on his previous thought.
No, no, don’t say that, nope, nope, stop it, Jake. What if she’s secretly reading your mind right now and can hear everything??
Hailey, if you’re reading my mind right now, give me a sign.
Of course, Hailey did not give him a sign.
Wait, no, if you could read my mind you wouldn’t tell me that…
Hailey? Hailey?? Hailey! Hey, Haileyyyyyyyy…
This was definitely not his proudest moment.
Hailey, I think I’m in love with you…
He would only ever be brave enough to admit that inside his head.
Jake then went on to daydream about various ways that they could end up a couple. For every positive response to a confession, five negative ones loomed in the back of his head.
There’s no way she loves me, not with our history, there’s just no way. Especially after that audio? There’s no way. No chance. I have no chance.
He still couldn’t forgive himself for that incident. Even though she’d forgiven him, and everything was okay now, he still couldn’t let go of that feeling of guilt. It haunted him on dark and lonely nights, usually in the form of nightmares.
Hailey, I’m sorry… He thought, letting out a long sigh.
Hailey, you’re too good for me. You’re too forgiving, this is what, my third chance? How many do I have left? When is it finally going to click inside your head that I’m not someone worth forgiving?
His dreadful thoughts were interrupted when he heard her let out a long yawn.
Poor thing… She needs sleep.
He took another subtle look at her. She was so close from drifting off to sleep, that although her thumb continued to swipe with muscle memory, it wasn’t touching the screen anymore, which had darkened due to inactivity.
He then got to watch as she suddenly snapped out of falling asleep and resumed to scroll through her phone as if nothing had happened.
He worried about the tired girl. He wished they were back in town, so she could finally rest properly.
His worries for her also reminded him of his own tiredness, and how his eyelids were growing heavy like Hailey’s; he paid little to no attention to it, focusing more on the teal-haired girl beside him.
Jake then pulled out the map on his phone to check how much longer it would be until they were back in town.
Just another hour or so, then you can go to bed. You can make it, right?
He smiled subconsciously. You’re too precious.
…too precious for me to be thinking that. Sorry- sorry, I’m trying hard not to, I swear.
Hailey, you should like… hold my hand, or something. You know I’m too chicken to make a move.
Come on, pleaseeeee…? Just holding my hand, that isn’t too big of a deal. Come on, it’d be so easy. I won’t say anything, I promise.
It’d be literally so smooth if you held my hand right now.
Please…? Hailey, I love you so much, you know you’re one of my favorite people, Hailey. You’re so perfect, you’re like- literally so beautiful, and talented, and kind, and- and… everything else, I don’t know.
He then realized he was being absolutely ridiculous by remembering that there was no way Hailey would be able to hear him if he didn’t speak. Despite that, his miserable thought process didn’t stop.
Okay, I know I’m not the best person, but please give me a chance? I’d be the best boyfriend you’d ever have, I promise. Just one date, I’ll get you ice cream or something, and I’ll buy flowers too; I don’t know where from, but I’ll get you them. Just give me one chance and you’ll see that I-
He felt a sudden weight fall onto his right shoulder.
Oh my god.
Hailey had fallen asleep, her head resting against his shoulder.
No fucking way.
If the gentle grazing of hands against each other was enough to drive the boy mad, only one could imagine how he felt when Hailey leaned against him.
He couldn’t help but crack a wide, proud smile. He moved his hand to grab onto hers, interlocking their fingers in one fluid motion. He then adjusted himself by resting his head onto hers, letting out a soft sigh as he did so.
He tilted his head to whisper in her ear, “Goodnight, princess…”, at such a volume that no-one would’ve been able to hear but her.
Jake finally closed his eyes and attempted to let himself rest. It proved difficult at first, but his heavy fatigue prevailed over the thoughts of his beloved, so he soon drifted off to sleep with her.