Paintball (Open)

[Trent Frey]

It was so much more than a kiss. Kisses were easy. A press of the lips, the smooth motions of tongue against tongue, and enough of the physical to distract. This was so much more. The feel of Jory's hand at his neck brought a moment's reflexive tension. But it wasn't enough to hinder the kiss, something he'd wanted so badly that the rest faded enough to tune out. He felt like he should touch Jory back, and what if he didn't get this chance again? He made himself pull up one hand, and gently, hesitantly, his fingertips touched the side of Jory's face, just at the highest spot of his cheek near his hairline. He hadn't taken off his fingerless gloves, but this he could feel, and it was so strange.

[Jory Addison]

You have a boyfriend. The thought was a shock to Jory's floating mind, though it didn't quite stop him from this. One that's everything you wanted, you know it. But Jamie kept him almost constantly afraid or hurt or confused. It seemed like nearly every time he let his guard down with Jamie something else happened. Was it worth it? This was worth it, feeling all of this happening so easily, and Lyric wasn't pulling away. If his kiss became distracted, he didn't let himself acknowledge it.

[Trent Frey]

Jory's skin was warm to the touch, something that surprised Lyric every time his skin came into contact with someone else's. It was so strange, and so his fingertips explored lightly, sweeping against him, then walking lightly down toward his jaw. He wasn't thinking, not really, but suddenly he wanted those little noises that Jory had made so long ago. He hated breaking his lips from Jory's, but it felt nice bringing them against his neck.

[Jory Addison]

Lyric got at least a couple of those little sounds before Jory was firmly reminded of Jamie. He slid his hand down to Lyric's jaw to urge him up to break it. "I have a boyfriend," he whispered, closing his eyes. "His name's Jamie." Had it been anyone else, he wouldn't have used the name, but Lyric was different, and it felt like he owed him something for stopping it. He opened his eyes after another moment to look up at Lyric.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric's arms released Jory now and straightened, his dark brows drawing together. A boyfriend. Was that what he'd said? He could hardly think through the pounding of his blood, through undeniable shock. Jamie. The name triggered a memory, but Lyric couldn't put it together just yet, not when a moment ago he'd been wrapped around Jory—wrapped around Jory. He took half a step back, telling himself that he shouldn't have done that. The old familiar guilt began to creep in.

[Jory Addison]

Jory wrapped his arms around himself at the absence of Lyric's touch. He kept his soft tone as he continued. "I'm sorry. Jamie's good, most of the time." Most of the time? It was about half and half, wasn't it? He did tend to hover on the good without thinking of the bad. Was he just trying to rationalize why it was okay to kiss Lyric?

[Trent Frey]

"Jamie?" Lyric repeated. This time the name stuck, and a ghost ache streaked up his jaw. How many Jamies were there at Hogwarts? And how many were gay? Lyric was hurt, and he wanted to hurt back. His chest constricted as he hardened himself, the Lyric he'd chosen to become snapping back into place. "I hope it's not the Jamie I almost f~ed," he said, the words perilously close to vicious in both meaning and tone. "He's a good kisser, but he doesn't last long." Because he'd gotten scared and run off, which made more sense now.

[Jory Addison]

Jory didn't know of any other Jamies, but why would he do that? He felt like he was choking, it couldn't be the same one. It had to be. He brought up wide eyes to look at Lyric, confused and hurt....and confused. Jamie had promised! He had said over and over that he wouldn't hurt him. "He's tall," he said softly. "And he's got brown hair and blue eyes. And he promised he wouldn't hurt me." Please tell me it's not the same guy. He shouldn't even be feeling this way, not when he had just cheated, but it hurt, and he could feel his eyes burning already.

[Trent Frey]

"I tried to pick his pocket, and I kissed him," Lyric said. "And he kissed me back. We went to the Room of Requirement together." Someplace he'd told Jory so long ago that they'd go find, and they'd never been. He knew what he was saying. "He didn't say he was with anyone when he left, just put his shirt back on." He felt cold satisfaction at sharing his pain.

[Jory Addison]

Jory shook his head. They had gone to the room of requirement together, and Jamie had promised again not to hurt him. He moved to sit behind the barrier, dazed at the information. He was so stupid, who was he to think he could actually find the guy of his dreams and keep him? "Thank you for telling me," was all he could think of to say.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric could almost feel the corners of his lips curl, but he kept a straight face. He looked back over his shoulder to see that the group hadn't followed them, then walked around the barrier and sat down next to Jory. "Some people lie," he said, a basic truth that was a laughable understatement. But Jory was so innocent—no, naive—that it needed said. He looked at Jory, wondering if he would be able to kiss him again soon.

[Jory Addison]

Jory nodded. "I know," he mumbled, though he didn't want it to be that way. "I wanted to believe him, though," he said, looking over at Lyric. He probably shouldn't have, considering what had happened the first time they had met. And the second. And the whole thing with Verity. "I am so stupid." He had wanted so bad to have a good relationship for once.

[Trent Frey]

"Then don't be stupid again," Lyric said. "Learn from it." There were a hundred ways he could have applied that to himself, but he applied it to the hard lessons. People lied. People thought about themselves. People hurt others to make themselves feel good. Letting people in only caused trouble. His eyes traced the side of Jory's face, since he wasn't looking, as he tried to think of what to say to get him to forget Jamie entirely.

[Jory Addison]

At least he had found this out with someone there to talk to, right? But it was so weird to hear that from Lyric, of all people. Jory tried a smile as he nodded and looked at Lyric again, "Yeah, I'm so not with him anymore." He would meet up with him one more time to tell him it was over, and that was it. That didn't mean he wouldn't think of him, but he would not let Jamie talk him out of it.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric was heavily debating whether to lean over and steal that kiss when he heard footsteps approaching. The guy that rounded the corner didn't even see them sitting there before Lyric's wand was up and coating him in paint. The guy grunted and turned away, and as the footsteps faded again, Lyric turned back to Jory. "Let's get out of here," he said.