[right][sub][color=dimgray][color=31ba9f][b]Jamie[/b][/color] & [color=ff9c23][b]AJ[/b][/color]
Collab with [@Lovely Complex]
Flashback: Thursday, end of school day.[/color][/sub][/right]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180921/4f9e75f98b6bb8c0bb86472cf7bbcbf0.png[/img][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/dC6B4U8.png?1[/img][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/acDDZg9.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/O9KB3Oi.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/bkfqSIR.gif[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/OZZNI9x.png?2[/img][/center][right][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180921/740841dcb39ee9264e8142e1bb14a1a5.png[/img][/right]
[indent]Jamie’s fight with Marshall had left him with a bad taste in his mouth for the rest of the day. Marsh’s words had stung, and the way they’d left things had Jamie pretty unsure as to where they stood. The last thing Jamie wanted was to see AJ Tyler. Of course, the universe saw fit to throw that exact person at him as he was leaving school.

His head dropped down, looking at his phone, Jamie walked straight into the Gearhead, resulting in a startled noise from the journalist, and a muttered apology, until he saw the familiar brunette locks of his ex boyfriend, and panicked.

[color=31ba9f][b]“Uh-I...Hi.”[/b][/color] he said, after considerable difficulty. Whenever AJ was around, Jamie seemed to get awkward. Those butterflies hadn’t ever gone away, not really. They were just a different breed now.

The Gearhead himself had a lot going on in his headspace, having not expressed his stress and turmoil to his best friend, because his best friend was going through his own shit. Shit that involved a [i]girl[/i]. That same girl who was related to none other than the boy that just crashed into him. Jamie-fucking-Callaghan. 

Usually, AJ would either be a asshole or a prick or both, solely because he was still into Jamie. A boy who was clever as the devil and twice as hot. That new article of his, where he teared HOT a new one, was cruel and full of hearsay, but you know what? AJ loved it. It was [i]juice[/i] and full of spite, which was hot. The only downside was it brought Owen more down than he already was, and that would only make the Lyon more angry. Owen was already [i]angry[/i]. Make him even more...what? 

Rest in peace, Jamie. Eh, but that wasn’t AJ’s problem, [i]even[/i] if he cared about the kid. Jamie chose to break things off, which meant the Gearhead wasn’t obligated to protect him. The backlash Jamie would receive from Owen was a personal problem and as far as AJ was concerned, they — Jamie and him — were not personal. 

Who knows, though? Maybe the halls would get chaotic enough to where he could skip school to spend hours on end in his garage with his cars. With the school newspaper tucked in his back pant’s pocket, so that he could cut out Jamie’s article… for something, AJ was actually ready to compliment his ex on the success of his story, but instead immediately caught the signs of bad feels. 

Ah, fuck. 

His Jamie senses were tingling. 

AJ leaned in, pulling up his sunglasses. His eyes stared intently into Jamie’s for a moment too long, before he genuinely and softly asked, [color=ff9c23][b]“Rough day?”[/b][/color] There was a pause, his unwavering gaze watching Jamie like a hawk, before he leaned back up and gestured his head towards the parked sports car, right by the front entrance, [color=ff9c23][b]“If you got a few, we can talk.”[/b][/color] That was the considerate, kind, and willing-to-listen side of AJ coming out. The side only those close to him knew about. If Jamie asked, AJ would even offer to take him home. Regardless of how awkward things were with them, AJ was still a good friend. 

One thing Jamie would know was the reason why AJ’s car was brought close to the front door, sitting in the drop off area. It was because he liked showing off his hot wheels while kids left the building. As the Gearhead that got all the Gearheads together, it was in his job description to peacock. 

Jamie sighed at AJ’s question. Of course he could tell that Jamie was in a mood. Jamie often forgot that just because you broke up with someone, that didn’t mean they stopped caring. AJ knew him better than just about anyone. Hell, he probably knew some things even Katie didn’t know. Hell, he [i]definitely[/i] knew things that Katie didn’t.

Looking out at AJ’s [url=https://robbreportedit.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/01-ford-gt-front-three-quarter1.jpg?w=1024]car[/url], one of his many pride and joys, Jamie was reminded of late night drives and a number of thrilling, against the hood make-out sessions. He couldn’t help but grin a bit. Things with AJ had been simpler. He was his first love, his first everything. He hadn’t been hurt yet. It was easier in a lot of ways. Maybe it was this nostalgia, or maybe it was something else, but for some reason, Jamie agreed to talk.

The interior of AJ’s car was warmer than the outside, but not by much. Breathing warmth into his chilled hands, Jamie shook his head and began to chuckle. After a moment, the chuckle became a sigh, and he rested his head back against the seat. [color=31ba9f][b]“I’m guessing you read the worst article ever written?”[/b][/color] Jamie asked. What had been his favorite piece from his time as the school’s resident gossip columnist had slowly but surely become his biggest regret. 

[color=ff9c23][b]“Are you looking for validation?”[/b][/color] Answering a question, with a question. Classic. Before AJ had taken his seat behind the wheel, he slipped the newspaper in the backseat, where it couldn’t get crumpled.The silence lingered afterwards, as the speed racer switched the heat on, instinctively, to warm his ex up. [color=ff9c23][b]“Everyone loves gossip until it involves them. You just happen to be the one that spreads it. Fast.”[/b][/color] Taking off his sunglasses, he slipped it in his overhead glasses holder. [color=ff9c23][b]“Do I hate that?”[/b][/color] 

Intentionally, he leaned back in his reclined chair, turning his head towards Jamie, pausing, always with those unnerving pauses, [color=ff9c23][b]“Fuck no.”[/b][/color] His lips slyly curved into a grin, [color=ff9c23][b]“You’re a damn snake, and to get what you need done, you play the game, like everyone else has played it. You hurt people.”[/b][/color] AJ’s words weren’t necessarily trying to cheer him up or bring him down. He simply was speaking in a matter-of-fact way. [color=ff9c23][b]“But that doesn’t make you special, because well, we’ve all hurt someone.”[/b][/color] The gearhead’s gaze softened, and in silence, his eyes conveyed his own regret for hurting Jamie. [color=ff9c23][b]“Your writing is phenomanal. You don’t need me to tell you that and if someone has a problem with your story? They can kiss your ass. Own it. You did it. Be unapologetically you.”[/b][/color] Because at the end of the day, all they had were themselves.

Jamie sighed. He was remembering what had drawn him to AJ in the first place. That complete disregard for what everybody else thought, it was hot, especially for someone like Jamie, who often cared way too much about what other people thought. Or at least he had. AJ had taught him some stuff, whether he admitted it or not. [color=31ba9f][b]“I hurt people. Huh. Did I...did I hurt you, AJ? Like, I mean, when we broke up, did I hurt you?”[/b][/color] Jamie was wallowing, and when he wallowed, he was a bit of a masochist. 

Jamie knew the answer to it already. [color=ff9c23][b]“Not as much as I hurt you.”[/b][/color] AJ lied through his teeth. Arrogantly prideful. Although his actions spoke louder than his words, like the kiss in the hallway, in front of Marshall, AJ would never admit how badly he was affected by the break up. He would never say he spent nights crying in his mom’s arms and asking what was wrong with him? No.There were somethings better left unsaid. [color=ff9c23][b]“But why would you care? It’s over. No use in thinking of a time that didn’t last.”[/b][/color] Unfortunately, AJ was shielding his heart and so his nonchalance gave off the vibe that maybe, just maybe, he was finally getting over Jamie. Sighing to himself, he ran his fingers through his hair, wondering if he should take this conversation somewhere he knew would cheer his ex up. Words were useless. And yet, he waited to hear more.

[color=31ba9f][b]“I…”[/b][/color] Jamie paused, his words stuck in his throat. Here they were again, that same impassable canyon that AJ always seemed to lead him too. On one side, him and some mirage of AJ, and on the other, every other part that AJ wouldn’t let him see. Somewhere at the bottom of that abyss was bits and pieces of Jamie, who’d tried in vain to reach the AJ on the other side. [color=31ba9f][b]“I don’t want to hurt anymore people. At least, not like I hurt you. Marshall...he read that article. And it upset him. And I feel bad. Because...y’know,”[/b][/color] Jamie explained, unable to tell the boy he once loved, the boy he very well might still love, that he was moving on.

[color=ff9c23][b]“You love him, I get it.”[/b][/color] If AJ hadn’t been so preoccupied with his erratic emotions dealing with Bailee, getting her so emo to the point that she almost got alcohol poisoning, he would’ve dealt with this situation differently. Extremely differently. He would’ve made Jamie worse. The boy was already sinking in his own self pity and usually, AJ would’ve pulled him down deeper. But not today. 

Adjusting himself, to where his body was turned to Jamie, AJ shook his head in reluctant agreement, demandingly saying, [color=ff9c23][b]“Stop.”[/b][/color] AJ brought his finger to Jamie’s forehead and flicked it, [color=ff9c23][b]“You’ve already wrote the article, you can’t take it back. But if you want to change, then do it. Stop thinking about it. Just do it. You hurt Marshall? Fix it. You don’t like hurting people? Stop writing gossip, write things to lift people up, not bring them down. You want to be happy? Stop being so hard on yourself and just be.”[/b][/color] Why was he helping Jamie again? He wasn’t getting anything out of this besides false hope. 

Jamie blinked, and looked at AJ for a moment, before nodding, quietly mulling over AJ’s words. [color=31ba9f][b]“I can’t believe I’m saying this but, you’re right. You, are absolutely right.”[/b][/color] Jamie paused for a moment, struggling to find the words, to articulate the complicated mess of feelings he had at the moment. [color=31ba9f][b]“I don’t love him. Marshall, I mean. I like him a lot, but I don’t know if I love him yet. It’s complicated, and I care about him very, very much, but there’s only one boy I’ve loved. At least, so far.”[/b][/color]

[color=ff9c23][b]“Well, there’s only one boy I’ve loved too.”[/b][/color] There were so many things he wanted to do right now. So many things. Like pull that strand of hair out of Jamie’s face. Or grab his hand and kiss it. Or trace his fingers on that leg of his... 

To resist pulling a typical AJ surprise kiss was incredibly hard, but he was [i]trying[/i] to change for the better. Trying to not be this constant puppy that [i]wants[/i] Jamie and would go out of his way for him. No matter what, AJ Tyler was no one’s [i]bitch[/i].[color=ff9c23][b]“But hey, thanks for the memories, right?[/b][/color] There was a smug grin on AJ’s face and the nostalgic feeling of the past crept into the car, as they stared into each other’s eyes. 

AJ knew it was time.

Time to change where they stood. 

[color=ff9c23][b]“This boy can only hope he treats his girl right.”[/b][/color] Okay. He did it. He confirmed a rumor spreading through the halls this very day. [color=ff9c23][b]“That’s all we can do! Learn from our mistakes and try to make it work with someone else. If I want to keep a girl like her at my side… I have to be better.”[/b][/color] Sting. Intentionally, he refrained from saying the girl’s name, not just yet. Bailee Helmsley was AJ’s weapon, regardless if she was aware of it or not. 

That was a shock. A girl? Like, a girlfriend? It wasn’t necessarily that Jamie was jealous or anything. It was just that he had gotten used to the idea of AJ always wanting him. And now, he didn’t. That was the shock. [color=31ba9f][b]“Thank you, for listening, but I should go.”[/b][/color] Jamie collected his bag and stepped out of the car, pausing for a moment to say, [color=31ba9f][b]“Bye, AJ.”[/b][/color] He shut the door behind him with a loud thud, and walked over to his car, even more confused than before.   

[color=ff9c23][b]“Bye.”[/b][/color] AJ whispered, and for once, he didn't say Jamie's name. After revving up his engine, AJ pat himself on the back. [color=ff9c23][b]“You did good."[/b][/color] It was rough, but he survived temptation. 

What was Bailee doing anyways? He glanced at his phone, wondering if she had texted him.

Before Jamie knew it, the yellow sports car, car number five in AJ's large collection, sped off and disappeared in seconds. 
[/indent]