𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 13
3𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐯

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— COLBY BLINKED TIREDLY, the screen of his phone becoming blurred, his eyes unable to focus after hours of staying up.

The sun peeked through his curtains as he tossed his phone down beside him on the bed and blinked up at the ceiling. He'd been up all night thinking about yesterday. About Jasper. About their past. About what he would say once they were able to talk without interruptions, and then trying to forget it all, pushing it away until his mind wandered back to baby blue eyes.

He cursed himself and grabbed his phone, his eyes wandered to the clock. Seven in the morning — was that too early to text him? Shaking his head, he opened up the text messages before he lost the courage. He typed a message and hit send, then stared at his phone in surprise, eyes growing even wider when Jasper responded.

Shaking his head again, he stood up and went downstairs, pouring a large cup of coffee to wake himself up after a sleepless night. When he went upstairs, he was already gulping down the large cup of coffee. He turned the corner to enter his room, closing the door behind him.

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JASPER closed his bedroom door after getting dressed in a baby blue sweater that brought out his eyes, a thin black flannel underneath with the collar curled over the collar of the sweater, he paired it with his signature black jeans with its knees ripped and a pair of black Converse.

He had spent far too long picking out his outfit after getting the message from Colby when he woke early this morning. Typically, he wasn't a morning person at all, but something left him waking early his mind already on Colby before the man messaged him.

Pouring another mug of coffee, he held onto it like a lifeline as he waited for Colby to arrive. It didn't take much longer before he heard a knock at his door, nearly spilling his coffee with the speed he stood up. With wide eyes, he set it down carefully before rushing over to the door at an embarrassing speed. Once at the door, he paused, calming himself and putting on a nonchalant expression before he opened the door.

Colby stood on the other side of the door his hands drumming against his legs, his eyes downcast until the door opened and he looked up with wide eyes. "Jasper." He greeted, sounding almost breathless, instinctively moving forward, reaching out.

Jasper stepped away, oblivious to the hurt expression that spread across Colby's face. "Come in." He managed to choke out a moment later, realizing he hadn't spoken yet.

The man outside his door blinked slowly before realizing what had been said and hurrying in, gently closing the door behind him, "I'm sorry it's so early." He apologized, "I just..." he shook his head, as though not believing what he was about to say, "I couldn't stop thinking about you." He winced, the words sounding cheesy to his own ears despite being the truth.

"What about?" The blonde responded nervously.

Colby settled down on the couch, his leg bouncing anxiously. He thought for a moment before he glanced over while Jasper sat down beside him, "About how we left things." He spoke cautiously, "Yesterday," He clarified, and then hesitantly added, "And before." Jasper inhaled shakily, but now that the words were out, he couldn't stop, "I never got to say goodbye, never even knew why you left, I just showed up to your house that day to-" he cut himself off, and then continued, "I didn't even know you moved until your neighbor told me." His voice cracked as he repeated, "Your neighbor, Jay."

"Colby..." Jasper whispered brokenly. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't explain why his family had packed up and moved from his childhood home, why he wasn't able to say goodbye before disappearing. There was so much he wanted to say, but he couldn't find the words. He sighed and looked down.

Colby shook his head in return, speaking before Jasper could find the words, "I don't care why you left, Jasper. But I need you to know why I didn't." With the blonde's gaze on him, he hesitated, before forcing himself to continue, "I was at your house the day you left. Your neighbor said I just missed you. She thought I was looking for your sister because I had flowers and a cliche sign." He chuckled, shaking his head, just like that the dam broke, and he couldn't stop himself from telling him everything, "But I was there for you. To ask you to be my boyfriend, officially. I even told my mom about us before, I was gonna tell Sam after I talked to you but I didn't want us to hide anymore. I don't want to have to wait to hold your hand behind closed doors."

"I was ready to shout my love for you off the rooftops, but when I showed up to tell you, you were already gone. I thought it was my fault, and I didn't think I'd ever see you again until one of your videos popped up on YouTube."

"Colby..." Jasper said, reaching for his hand. He hesitated and then frowned to himself, Colby had just spoken from the heart and he couldn't even hold his hand, "I would've said no." He admitted, chuckling sadly, he didn't dare look him in the eyes for he knew there would be hurt caused by him, instead, he continued, "Not because of you. Because I love you-" he paused, because that wasn't supposed to slip out, not like this, "loved you." He corrected, "My family — well, my dad at least... he was— he wasn't..." he cut himself off and took a shaky breath before he cleared his throat.

"He found out about us. That's why we moved. Well, we were anyway, he got some stupid promotion at work so we had already started packing, put our house up for sale, and started looking for a new one. But when he found out about us, he went crazy. Decided we had to leave now, so I wouldn't be corrupted any more than I was." It was a relief to share this story and these memories. Before it had been a family secret, one they had never spoken of. Until now, he'd never told a would. But if there was anyone he would tell, it made sense it would be Colby. The man who showed him love was worth the pain. Who would carry the burdens, the sadness, and the pain of those he loved with a smile.

"My mom left him a year later after he caught me talking to a guy — a friend, but he didn't believe that — and he punched me. My sister punched him back, my mom kicked him out. His stuff was all gone the next day, like he'd never been there at all." The last words came out bitter and left a sour taste on his tongue. His mom and sister tried to pretend none of it had happened and move on, thinking it would be better for him, better for all of them, yet somehow it was worse. The memories still plagued his mind however with his family ignoring it happened, he felt isolated. He shook his head, because he wasn't alone now, and the past was just that — the past. They were making a future now. "I loved you, Colby, I did. But back then, it wasn't enough to love you in the daylight."

"What about now?"

A smile twinged at his lips, he couldn't hide it as he forced his eyes to meet Colby's, "I'd shout my love from the rooftops if you asked, Colby Brock."

"I don't need you to shout it." Colby chuckled, "I just need you to say it and stay as long as you want me."

"I'll always need you, Colbs." Jasper responded easily despite the flicker of doubt that whispered but do you need me? "I- I don't want to rush into this again, like when we were kids. I want to take my time and show you I'm worth it, that we're worth it." Colby went to protest, to profess his love because clearly the blonde didn't understand, but Jasper continued, softly, "Please, Colby. You deserved better before and I want to give that to you, let me do this."

Instead of answering, shouting "of course," Colby leaned forward, his eyes flickering to Jasper's lips before he paused, not wanting to push when the blonde had just said he wanted to go slow. But then, like a miracle, Jasper leaned forward too. They could feel each other's breath, their lips less than an inch apart.

At last, their lips touched only to break apart as rapid knocking erupted from Jasper's front door. They hesitated, waiting to see if it would go away. They didn't want to pull apart, however when it not only continued but grew louder, Jasper pulled away entirely. He cursed under his breath as he stood, apologizing hurriedly as he went to check the door.

"Ethan." He whispered in disbelief.

Colby stood, watching curiously from afar he was unable to make out the name the blonde had muttered, but when he opened the door to reveal a man who looked shockingly similar to himself but with well kept medium length light brown hair and dark brown eyes that he realized looked familiar because not only did the man bear a resemblance to himself, Colby had seen him before online. Kissing Jasper. "We need to talk." He heard the man mutter to Jasper anxiously, he saw the way Jasper hesitated, glancing back at him.

He took matters into his own hands, stepping forward with a shaky smile, "Sam and I will get in contact about doing another video." He told Jasper in an attempt at indifference, clearing his throat, "See you later." He added, ignoring the way his voice cracked, his display of indifference as fragile as his heart.

He tore his eyes away and stepped past Jasper's boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend, he reminded himself but it didn't help matters. Not right now. "No, Colby, wait-" Jasper called out, reaching for him but he was already out the door and...

gone.

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1,720 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

this was supposed to be a happy chapter 😭

— the fact I realized I started ramping up anticipation for the revelation of why Jasper's family moved... and realized I had no idea so I planned to leave it a mystery until I had this idea... you're welcome! 😈