A New Arrival (Jory)

[Jory Addison]

Jamie hadn't run away, or hexed him or called him names. Jory peeked up just as Jamie spoke again, though his eyes fell immediately at the tone in his voice. "Yeah," he said softly. Maybe Jamie was just too nice to run, maybe he was just waiting for an excuse to get away. It was easy to interpret the darkening of Jamie's eyes and the tone of his voice as disapproval. "I can go if you don't want to talk to me anymore."

[jamie]

It took a couple of seconds for Jamie to realize what he said. He snapped out of his daze. "No!" He said a little to enthusiastically. "I mean, no you certainly don't have to leave. Why would you think you did?" He asked making sure his voice was more even. Jamie really didn't want him to go. It was a relief to be able to talk to somebody without questioning whether or not they were talking to him as a distraction before they crushed him. Although Jamie hadn't completely let down his guard yet, he trusted Jory more already.

[Jory Addison]

Jory blinked and looked up cautiously at Jamie. "Oh...I...it just sounded like..." He tilted his head and tried to figure out where Jamie's mind had been for his voice to sound like it had before. "So....you're okay with it?" he asked, still feeling unsure about it. His fingers still ruthlessly turned his thumbring, every few seconds moving to a different ring on a different finger.

[jamie]

Jamie sighed. "Of course, it's not my place to disapprove of who anyone is or what they decide." He responded. He dropped his gaze. Was he ashamed of what he was? Is that what it had come to? Jamie couldn't even accept who he was? When he lifted his eyes back up, he could only focus on how Jory kept playing with his rings. He wanted to place his hand on Jory's. Telling him that it was okay, not to worry. Before he realized what he was doing, Jamie's hand did just that. He reached out and placed it on Jory's hand steadying it.

[Jory Addison]

When was the last time Jory had been touched? His eyes widened as his eyes focused on Jamie's warm hand against his own, and his fingers stopped their nervous motions. After a few moments he looked up at Jamie. He had always played with his hands, they were always in constant motion, and it had only gotten worse over the past few weeks, but now his hands were still. A smile pulled at his lips, one that reached for his so-blue eyes. "Thank you," he said. "You're like.....the only guy that's said that."

[jamie]

The touch sent a shock through him. Jamie pulled his hand back and shoved both of his hands into his pocket. His heart began to race and his head was practically spinning. He was thankful that it was dark outside because he could feel the tips of his ears turn red. He knew if he said anything right away, his voice would not be steady. He took a sharp breath in and let it out slowly. "Oh...er...no problem...I'm...er...glad to hear it." He was rambling and it made no sense. When had he ever felt like this? He thought back to third year, but had didn't have much recollection of what he felt that one pathetic night. It was a strange feeling, but exhilarating all the same.

[Jory Addison]

Jory immediately missed the contact, however short-lived it had been in the first place. He reached up a hand and ruffled it through his short hair. "Are you okay?" he asked, tilting his head up at Jamie again. What was going on? Jamie was being confusing, but Jory had definitely been around much worse before. As long as Jamie didn't hate him yet, he would try to help.

[jamie]

Jamie closed his eyes for a moment. He had to pull himself together. What was going on with him? "Yeah man, I'm alright. Sorry about that." He said, not entirely sure what he was sorry for. When he thought he could handle it, he opened his eyes. The moment his eyes brushed over Jory, he had the desire to touch him again. To feel the warmth from the contact. He kept his hands in his pockets balled up into fists.

[Jory Addison]

"It's...okay." Whatever it was, it wasn't a big deal. Was Jamie apologizing for touching him? Jory definitely hadn't minded the momentary contact, so Jamie shouldn't be apologizing for that. He had never felt the need for contact at MI, but then with Lyric and especially Eros, he had gotten used to it. Then he had been all but forced into a lack of contact again and he was starved for something. "Are you sure you're okay?"

[jamie]

"No." Jamie answered. "I mean, yes. I mean--Well, I---Sort of. I'm just confused, I guess." He stammered. That's it he was just confused. He just needed to control himself. It was nothing more than a temporary lapse of judgment. He was over reacting over nothing. But he still wanted to go back to that touch, a simple gesture that had left him feeling overwhelmed. If he could go back, would he have let go again? Oh how he wanted to feel it again. The softness of the skin, the heat from the contact against the cool metal of the rings. Jamie had meant to take a step back and away from these thoughts. Instead, he found himself closer. How had that happened? He was dangerously close to not being able to control his actions.

[Jory Addison]

"Confused?" Jory asked, his eyebrows coming together. "About what?" An idea was tickling at the back of his mind, but Jory refused to let it form fully until he had more proof that it was true. As far as he knew, it could just be his intense hope to find someone making something out of nothing. "I don't know how good I'll do, but I'll try to help." He seemed to fail at it the majority of the time, but he thought he was getting better at talking to people.

[jamie]

Jamie ran his hand through his hair. It was only fair of him to be truthful...to both of them. "I didn't mean to grab your hand earlier. But when I did, it felt as though a shock went through my body waking me up. Then when, I let go, it took every bit of control not do it again. It still is." He began. "I haven't felt this way in a long time, you know? About a guy, I mean." Or any girl, for that matter. Sure he's been with many girls over the years, but it never meant anything. It was robotic, something he needed to get out of his system with them. Now, it was something more, some he wanted, longed for. He waited for Jory's response, imagining the worst and cringing at the thought.

[Jory Addison]

Jory was stunned, and the widening of his eyes and slight parting of his lips showed it. So much had happened in the past...what...five minutes? He had seen a brief glimpse of Jamie, thought he was cute, and followed for a better look, and now... "You're...too? Really?" How had he managed to stumble on this guy? Jamie was taller than him, broader than him, with dark hair and eyes, it was like someone straight out of his imagination. He didn't stop the smile that pulled at his lips.

[jamie]

Relief flowed through Jamie. His muscles relaxed and a huge grin spread across his face. "I am...not out of the closet, so to speak." He said. He doubted many people who were still around would remember what had happened in his third year...or at least what the rumors had said what happened. He had, after all, spent the last few years trying to do anything and everything that would make the rumors seem like a lie. He had built up a reputation as a womanizer, but was that any better?

[Jory Addison]

"I won't tell," Jory said, "Promise." One finger came up to cross his heart, something left over from his childhood that he had never stopped doing. His smile widened into a grin as he brought his hands together in front of him again. "Not unless you say it's okay." It wasn't like he had someone to go tell, anyway, not anymore. Ideas and hopes were flashing through his mind incredibly quickly, and Jory let them come. He thought he deserved to be able to imagine.