The night sky sparkled over Beverly Hills as Jamieโs car sped through town, one hand on the steering wheel, the other interlaced with Marshallโs. So far, their night had been perfect by all of Jamieโs standards, and now he was looking to really win some sort of fantastic date award.
In Marshallโs mind, that award was already won. Dinner was lovely, and their conversation had been even better. It was shaping up to be one of the best dates heโd ever had โ certainly the best first date. Everything about being together felt comfortable and right, and this night was a much needed respite from the hell that was this week. Everything might seem like it was going to shit, but as long as Marsh could hold Jamieโs hand like this at the end of the day, everything would be alright. Everything was worth it.
Jamie had been keeping his lips sealed on where they were headed on the next stage of their date night. Marsh was happy enough to play along and be surprised, it was more fun this way. But as the sleek luxury car pulled down roads that took them away from the city lights and out into the hills, Marsh looked over towards his date with a teasing glance. โJayyy~, do you think you can just wine and dine me into playing some backseat bingo?โ He tisked. โWhat kind of boy do you take me for?โ Marshall made a show looking out the window, as if he was disinterested, but the smirk on his lips betrayed him.
โOh no! Youโve figured me out!โ Jamie feigned embarrassment before looking over at Marshall, a grin spread across his face. โYouโll see where weโre going in a second,โ Jamie assured him.
Atlasโ Peak was a lookout destination, high in the hills around LA, one with a clear view of the sky, and an even better view of the twinkling lights of the City of Angels. Jamie pulled his car into a patch of dirt and stepped out, grabbing a blanket from the backseat. He walked over to a small patch of grass and draped the blanket across the ground, before sitting down on it, crossing his legs. He looked over at Marshall, smiling and patting the spot next to him, before letting his eyes drift over to the sparkling city below them.
The entire scene was enough to make Marshallโs heart do flips in his stomach. It was so overwhelmingly romantic, the kind of thing that would make most people gag. For Marshall, though, it was perfect. To be expected, even, for the boy who chases the kind of love that you only see in fairy tales and movies. With a wide grin and eyes sparkling enough to give the city lights a run for their money, Marshall knelt down to sit beside Jamie. He sat close, leaving barely any space between them, hoping that they might close that gap before the night was over. Following Jamieโs gaze out towards the city below, he hummed in appreciation of the urbanic beauty. โThatโs one thing LA has over New York. The views from the hills are unmatched.โ
Jamie smiled and lead his hand over to Marshallโs, resting it on top of his. โThereโs nothing quite like LA at night,โ the young journalist said, taking a moment to appreciate the glamour of the city. โWhen my dad first moved to LA, he spent his first night here driving around, exploring. Somehow he found this place, and he stood here and looked out at the city and he says he just knew that he had to make it. That there wasnโt another option. I guess thatโs why I like this spot so much.โ
Marshall bit at his bottom lip softly when he felt Jamieโs hand settle on top of his. It was such a comforting gesture, sending waves of pleasant warmth all throughout his body. He tilted his head to watch as Jamie spoke, looking utterly like a lovestruck fool as he studied the curve of the other boyโs jaw below his ear. The clean, straight cut of it as it reached his chin. The smooth, tempting lines of his lips, moving with words that Marsh found himself struggling to focus on. Not for lack of interest, but for distraction. It wasnโt fair, it was like he was carved out of marble โ gorgeous and artful. โThatโs sweet. You must be pretty close with him, thenโฆ your dad?โ He asked once the object of his adoration fell silent. Marshall wondered what that felt like, his curiosity buried in the pregnant pauses of his question.
โI am, yeah. I wishโฆ I wish I could be more like him sometimes,โ Jamie said, his eyes falling to the emerald stalks of grass on the ground, stalks that Jamieโs free hand found and pulled up. โHeโs one of the few people in this town who hasnโt let it all change him, yโknow? He grew up in New York, the youngest of six kids, and all of them are either on drugs, in jail, or both. But my dad got out, and he got rich, but heโs still that kid from New York. Itโs hard to keep your head in this life, but he does it anyways,โ Jamie continued, before turning to Marshall. His eyes scanned the soft, pale face, his immaculate dark hair. As serotonin flooded his brain, he asked, โWhat about you? I feel like you know everything about my family, and I know nothing about yours.โ
โThatโs becauseโฆโ Marshall looked downward and away from him. Jamieโs gaze, although lovely at times, could be intense, especially when you were feeling slightly uncomfortable to begin with. โThatโs because I donโt talk about them much. Itโs not the happiest story, and I like to be the happy kid, you know? I make people smile and stuff.โ The fingers of his free hand toyed with the edge of the blanket and he sighed. Relationships, if thatโs what this was going to turn into, were about trust and openness, so he might as well start with the basics. โMy parents are divorced. Marjorie, Marty, and me, our mom and dad are separated. He still lives in NY, they split right before we moved here, pretty much. Thatโs why we moved here, Ma had to get away from him for her own sanity. He cheated on herโฆ like, big time cheated, got his mistress pregnant and everything.โ Marsh chewed at his lip again, this time in less of a positive way. โThatโs why I acted how I did with Owen, when the photos came out. I couldnโt believe it was happening again, that another man I looked up to could do something like that to someone that they claimed to love. Iโฆ didnโt even think about Owenโs truth, I just reacted. It wasโฆ stupid of me.โ He sighed, his blue-green eyes focused on his own lap now. โSorryโฆ that was rambly. Anyway, yeah, Iโve got two half-brothers too, in New York. They live with dad and Olivia, his new wife.โ
Jamie offered Marshall reassuring smile and gave his hand a firm, affirming squeeze. โIโm sorry you had to deal with allโฆ that. I canโt imagine what that mustโve been like,โ Jamie said. โBut, if you hadnโt, you wouldnโt be here,โ Jamie moved closer as the words left his mouth until he was only a couple inches from Marshallโs face. His eyes ran over his full lips, his piercing blue eyes, and he could feel the desire building in him. โWith me,โ Jamie finally said, piercing the dramatic silence heโd let hang between them, and closing the gap with a kiss, letting his hands roam up and into Marshallโs dark hair.
Marshall gasped into the kiss as a rush of endorphins flooded through him. The kiss was sudden, but by no means unwelcomed. Marsh loved how bold Jamie was, if he wanted something, he took itโฆ and Marshall was all too happy to give. The scent of cologne and shampoo and whatever lotion Jamie used to keep his skin so fucking soft clouded Marshallโs mind as he was lip-locked into this moment. A moment that he wished he could keep in a locket to live over and over again later on, kissing the cutest boy in all of Beverly Hills under a beautiful starry night sky. And that wasnโt even the best part, the best part was held in the words spoken just before this kiss. โWithโฆ you?โ He fished for clarification, butterflies doing laps around his stomach after he pulled a few centimeters away from Jamie. Dark eyelashes brushed the apples of his cheeks as he opened his eyes to meet the other boyโs heavy gaze. It was almost oppressive, but in a way that Marshall would be glad to be crushed by.
Jamie blushed and looked down for a moment, contemplating what he could say, before bringing his eyes back up to meet Marshallโs. โIf thatโs what you want, I meanโฆโ Jamie said softly, holding Marshallโs gaze in his own as his heart began to race in anticipation of the other boyโs answer.
โIโm here, arenโt I?โ Marshall responded with a sassy smirk. He accented the jest with a quick peck on Jamieโs lips. โBut am I what you want?โ The dark-haired boy pulled away from him coyly. He wouldnโt be satisfied unless Jamie said it. Call it smugness, or pride, or vanity โ Marshall just liked to feel wanted.
Jamie smiled and looked over his date. He had imagined this day for months, and here it was, right here in the palm of his hand. So he did what any rational boy would do.
He took it.
โYou are all I want, Marshall.โ Jamie punctuated his words with a kiss, before pulling away once more. โSo, does this mean, weโre dating now?โ
Soaring on cloud nine, his heart had up and left his body. Marshall had never felt so wrapped up in his feelings before. Was this lustโฆ or was this the real thing? Love. The only thing that he knew, was that this feeling was new, and heโd never get enough of it. Never. โYeahโฆโ Marsh replied breathlessly, the wind clearly taken out of him. He moved from his seated position on the blanket-covered ground and straddled over Jamieโs lap. โBoyfriends.โ He confirmed with a grin. He traced the line of Jamieโs jaw with his thumb, the delicious line heโd been admiring so much earlier, before pressing a hungry kiss into his lips. He didnโt let up in his urgency and passion, not even when Jamieโs back was flush with the blades of grass beneath them.