Chapter Text
Summers in Sunset Bird have always been scorching hot. Jamie, having lived here for 13 years now, is well acquainted with the feeling of wanting to tear your skin off and hang it out to dry. Though, knowing that it's coming doesn't lessen the suffering.
Jamie's laid out on the living room couch, his room was way too hot, a soft melody bouncing around the room from the speaker he set up on the table.
When he eventually grew bored of staring off into space and willing a draft of wind to come his way, Jamie lifted his leg to poke at Cove, who was slumped face down on the other end of the couch.
When the green haired lump remained motionless, Jamie drowsily asked, "Alive?"
Cove thought a muffled groan an appropriate response before turning his face to the side. "I'm melting Jamie!" He whined out in his typical dramatic fashion.
"But I haven't even poured water on you yet?" Jamie giggled.
"Hey!"
Being the usual victim for his family's teasing, Jamie always found joy in getting to tease someone else for a chance, and Cove Holden makes it so easy. Derek isn't one to fluster easily, ever so confident and every bit able to counter any attempts from the Sunset Bird pair.
Cove was actually the first friend Jamie had ever made. He didn't count Elizabeth (cause she didn't really have a choice) and Shiloh was basically an extension of her so he didn't count either.
Jamie Moor was naturally shy around strangers, clinging to his moms and Elizabeth for the entirety of his childhood. He'd always struggled to start conversations with kids at school or at the dance academy. He really didn't know how he managed to befriend Cove, who was quite resistant to conversation with, well, everyone.
It wasn't something he'd realized whilst experiencing the shift from elementary to middle school, but everyone's dating now. And not in the silly way kids would declare someone else their husband or wife, relationships were apparently pretty serious in middle school.
It had never crossed Jamie's mind until couples strolling down the halls hand-in-hand became commonplace. It didn't seem to affect Cove at all, though Cove would sooner be moved by a snail on the side of the road than anything their classmates get up to.
Jamie, however…He thought. It could be nice. To be close to someone. To bring color into their life as they do to yours. To be swept off your feet and have your heart pound in your ears, like in those romances Jamie finds himself reading late at night.
"Jamieee-AH!" Cove now sat on the floor nursing his elbow with a pout on his face. "Ouch."
Jamie, having finally returned to the land of the living, sat up, a bit flustered, suspiciously so Cove would say.
"Are you okay?" Jamie knelt beside his childhood friend, extremely apologetic.
"I should be asking you that. You were totally zoning out." Cove playfully accused. "Actually, what were you thinking about?" He raised one of his eyebrows and smirked as if knew something. Of course he didn't, but the possibility was enough to make Jamie flush with embarrassment.
Before Jamie could find a crack in the couch to disappear into, his moms came through the front door fanning their red faces and holding a ton of groceries. Elizabeth trailed behind them, doing something on her phone (as per usual).
Jamie perked up at the sight of his family and promptly stood up to help his moms organize the groceries. Elizabeth, eager to return to her room, left as quickly as she appeared. Cove, having nothing better to do also stood to help out, his guest privileges had run out a long time ago, Cove was basically family.
"Thank you Jamie." Ma ruffled Jamie's light brown, bordering dirty blonde, hair. Jamie was kinda short, so he was well used to receiving head pats. He'd just accepted his head would always look like a birds nest.
"And you too Cove. Our neighbor is always such a gentlemen." Mom teased from the other side of the kitchen, a satisfied smirk on her face. Cove, predictably, flushed bright red, scratching the back of his head with an awkward smile. As Jamie stifled giggles and ignored Cove's annoyed glare.
"Alright Cove, I think it's time you head home. We wouldn't want to keep you late." Mom says, leaning against Ma in a side hug.
Jamie huffs, lamenting the fact that he and Cove barely did anything today because of the heat. He had to admit it was getting pretty late though. Jamie walked Cove to the door with a regretful smile.
"Sorry Cove, we'll hang tomorrow?" Cove nods and leisurely makes his way across the street. He waves his hand in big goofy motions from side to side, and finally enters his house. With a small chuckle, Jamie closes the front door and turns to head to his room, only to be met with his moms blocking the way, their gazes determined.
What is this? An intervention? But as far as Jamie can recall, he hasn't done anything to warrant a 'talking to'. "Um…Am I in trouble?"
At his question, his moms burst into laughter, Mom even smacking her hand on her thigh and stomping on the floor. "Oh no dear, we have good news we wanted to tell you!" Ma exclaims, excited to tell him whatever this 'news' is.
"The Cypress is hosting a Summer Soiree. Your mom and I are going to attend and we've decided to bring you along." Ma stated frankly. Jamie's eyes widened a little in wonder. It's been a while since he's been to the Cypress. Elizabeth goes all the time to golf, unfortunately golfing appeals very little to Jamie. A Soiree sounds like it could be fun. He did like to dance.
"Elizabeth has been begging to have the house to herself so that she can have her friends over. She's old enough, so your Ma and I figured we could let her stay home while the three of us go out." Mom says.
"Is that all alright with you Jamie?" Ma asks. Now, usually Jamie would avoid places that force him to socialize, but he figures the Soiree should be okay. He's been to the Cypress before, and his moms will be nearby the whole time. And truthfully, Jamie is excited to listen to some live music and dance somewhere other than at the academy. He's been wanting to be more confident anyway, so what the hell.
"Yeah!"
The Soiree was simply magical. Soft lights were strewn about everywhere and people dressed up in nice dresses and suits mingled underneath a white gauzy canopy. A bit past the dance floor Jamie could see the band setting up. They had arrived a tad early, but there was still 'plenty to do', as Jamie's moms told him a few minutes ago.
Looking around at the groups of mingling adults, with a few kids his age here and there, his moms were in engrossed in conversation with their fellow county club friends. Dutifully giving Jamie the space he asked for.
Jamie decided his first order of business would be to check out the food and refreshments. He could usually pick out the really good stuff from the really bad, it was a skill developed through many events attended at the Cypress, and many many failures.
He wasn't very hungry, so after a few bites the food table became his lookout spot. Jamie once again observed the scene, hoping to find a group of people he could chat with, or more accurately attempt to chat with.
There was a group of 6 or so kids forming by the dance floor. He could go join them…
'Come on Jamie just GO.' And with that, Jamie reluctantly separated from the table at the edge of the room and traveled into the fray of bodies. He edged carefully on the outside of the group's circle, catching hint's of conversation. Jamie kind of hoped he could just stand next to someone and pretend he'd been there all along. So of course someone immediately spotted him.
It wasn't all bad though. The girl who caught him seemed pretty bubbly and friendly. "What's your name?" She said with a bright smile.
Well now Jamie had to address the whole group didn't he. It's okay, this is what he wanted! He cleared his throat quietly before waving at everyone. "Hi. I'm Jamie Moor." He was greeted with a bunch of 'hey's and 'sup's before the prior conversation was picked up again. Something about a new movie that came out. Jamie hadn't watched it so he wasn't really focused on the discussion.
After a few minutes of nodding along, the band started to play. Finally. Jamie slipped away from the group and found a spot close to the stage but on the outskirts of the dance floor. The song was upbeat and Jamie found himself swaying along to the beat. He found his fun watching all types of people busting a move at the center of the dance floor. A dance circle was even forming, nice.
While Jamie could dance other styles, he was waiting for a slower song to play. Though, even then, he'd need a partner. He could barely join a conversation, so asking someone to dance with him wasn't looking likely.
Unfortunately for Jamie, there was no more time to ponder his dilemma because the long awaited slow song had started playing. A soft, low strum of an acoustic guitar cut across the room. As the singer's airy voice filled the venue, couples made their way onto the floor. Holding each other tight, under the red and orange hues of the setting sun.
Jamie's hands were clammy, his heart-rate picking up as he scanned the room for any potential partners. Someone alone, someone approachable. Much to his disappointment, it seemed everyone was already paired up. Jamie's heart sank.
Maybe he should just go find him moms…
Suddenly, Jamie could hear the crisp sound of dress shoes hitting the floor behind him. Probably someone passing by. At least, that's he thought until he felt a tap on his shoulder.
A little startled, Jamie turned around. His wide eyes took in the stranger in front of him.
It was a kid, around his age, Jamie guessed. He had dark brown eyes, but they kind of glowed under the lights, a warm, honey-like amber.
The boy held his hand out to Jamie. He seemed like someone with a lot of self confidence. He stood tall, and held an easy, yet perfectly poised, smile on his face. Though nothing had been said yet, the stranger's eyes held a hint of interest, maybe amusement, maybe curiosity? Jamie couldn't read him very well. He just knew that he couldn't look away if he tried.
The strange eye contact they maintained didn't bother the mysterious stranger one bit. His smile widened a little before he stepped closer. "Would you like to dance?" Jamie blinked a few times, his eyes finally leaving the other's as he processed the strangers voice, the held out hand, and finally the question.
'He want's to dance? With me?' Jamie's breath stuttered in his chest. A fluttering feeling traveling through his ribs before running rampant in this throat. His heart was pounding so hard, he wondered if the other boy could hear it. Jamie felt so nervous, but at the same time, it's like nothing he's ever felt before. He didn't want to run. He wanted to say yes.
And so he did.
"Yes. I'd…love to." He finally lifted his hand to place it firmly in the stranger's outstretched palm. The hand was a bit bigger than his own, which fit quite comfortably in the boy's hold. The hand was warm as it squeezed briefly around Jamie's fingers, almost reassuringly.
There wasn't much said between the two. Their eyes met again as the stranger led Jamie through the jumble of bodies moving slowly to the music. The stranger's other hand grasped onto Jamie's waist with ease, pulling him closer. Jamie's hand, the one not in the stranger's palm. rested against the their shoulder. It felt as natural as breathing.
The stranger led him along as they danced to the music. He was quite experienced, Jamie noted. His steps were confident, and he handled his partner skillfully. Jamie, of course, could match him perfectly. It was satisfying to see the strangers eyes light up a bit as he realized Jamie was a fellow dancer. They swept through the venue in graceful and fluid movements, garnering quite a bit of attention, not that either of them cared very much.
It's strange. He doesn't know anything about this person and yet. Holding their gaze, it felt like Jamie had known those eyes his entire life. Known how deep the brown goes, or how blinding the golden flecks really are. How charming it is when their eyebrows flicker up in amusement whenever Jamie finds himself grinning like an idiot. How easy it is to follow their lead, to trust in their hands to dip him low or raise him up high.
The dance is intimate, playful, sweet. Jamie has never danced like this before. With anyone. The music, with it's emotional builds and explosive bursts into the chorus, pull at Jamie's heart like a puppet on a string. It's beating loudly, unrestrained and so very wild. He's sure he's a blushing mess right now, but he's too entranced by this moment, by this person.
It almost didn't feel real. A lingering fear at the back of Jamie's mind nagged at him, telling him that this moment will pass, and it will become nothing but a fading memory. Jamie could only wish in his heart that this moment would never end.
If he could, he'd dance forever with this stranger.
If it could, he'd wish this song would never end.
Against Jamie's wishes, the end did come. The song slowly fizzled out, snapping everyone out of what felt like a dream. It seemed the Soiree was over. "Oh." Jamie remarked, a little (maybe a lot) sad.
The stranger released Jamie's hands, and Jamie already missed the feeling. Now that they weren't standing so close, Jamie's brain could finally form some thoughts. He had never seen this guy at any previous events here at the Cypress. Jamie didn't know his name or if he even lived in Sunset Bird.
"Thank you for dancing with me." With that same polished smile from earlier, which now registered to Jamie as a little distant, the stranger prepared to make his exit.
Before he walked off, he paused to look at Jamie. His smile quirked up at the ends as he said, "You have nice legs." And just like that he walked away.
"Wait!" Jamie tried to get his attention and follow after the stranger, but the sheer number of people in the way made it difficult. Jamie lost sight of the dark haired boy and with that he fell into a sullen mood. His heart felt heavy at the realization that he may never see the boy again.
His moms noticed his down mood when they met up again, but they thankfully refrained from commenting on it. They did pay him many compliments for his "dazzling" performance on the dance floor. He would usually preen at the praise, but his thoughts were stuck on the mysterious stranger and the fleeting encounter that now seemed permanently etched into Jamie's mind.
Realistically, Jamie knows that he'll one day forget the events of the Soiree. His life will continue as if this stranger never appeared. It would be so easy to believe if only this moment hadn't changed him so profoundly. It feels like he'll forever be wondering, what could have been.
The dance he shared will echo in his memory until he meets that stranger again.
Jamie can only hope that day comes soon, if it comes at all.