GyllenHolland: Cherry

Fixing Things

"Here, wear this." Harry said handing him a Hawaiian type shirt.

"No, I don't want to look like I'm going to the beach." Tom said, frantically throwing clothes out of his closet. He picked up a burgundy shirt. "I'll wear this." He slid on the shirt, and put on black jeans to go with it. His hair had grown back during rehab, so he had to tend to that as well.

Harry picked up a few of his colognes, smelling each one. "I like this smell." He handed it to Tom.

He pushed it away. "No. He hates that smell." He picked up one that gave off a faint masculine scent with a hint of subtle spice.

"Stop freaking out. It's just Jake."

Jake was going to be here in less than two minutes now, and Tom was more nervous than ever. He went to check himself in the mirror and groaned. The armpits of his burgundy shirt were already stained with sweat, and his curls were falling out of place.

His nerves were getting to him. "Fuck!" He ran back to his closet and picked out a nice dark green shirt instead. He quickly slipped it on, and his heart dropped when he heard a honk from outside.

"Good luck." Harry said as he rushed out the door.

He opened the door to the passenger seat and sat down into Jake's car. Jake's jaw dropped when he saw him. He looked handsome, perfect even. His hair fell in all the right places, and his body, looked incredible to say the least. Tom was hypnotizing.

"What? Do I smell bad?" Tom asked, sniffing the collar of his shirt.

Jake snapped out of his fantasy world. He cleared his throat. "Not at all. You look good."

"Are you just saying that to make me feel better?"

"No, I mean it." He smiled, and started the car.

As they arrived to the fancy, rented out, restaurant Tom really started to get anxious. He cracked his knuckles in the palm of his hand. What would they discuss? Three months is a long time to not see or talk to someone.

When they sat down at their candlelit table, and had ordered their food, Jake was the first to make conversation. "I hope this isn't too fancy. I wasn't sure on where to go or what to do so, this is the best I could come up with."

Tom smiled. He could tell Jake was just as nervous as him. "I like it here, it's cozy." He cleared his throat. "You know, one year ago today you invited me to your place for the first time."

"How do you remember that?" He chuckled.

"Snapchat memories." His lips fell into a smirk. "I never told you this, because I was being nosy. But that night while you were in the bathroom, I went through your computer."

Jake's eyes widened. "Well, what did you find?" He curiously asked.

"A lot of porn." He couldn't help but giggle. Jake ended up laughing with him. It was pretty funny.

"Maybe I should've cleared my history." He said rubbing the back of his neck. He took a breath, and then exhaled. "Can we be serious for a second though?"

Tom's smile slowly dropped. "Sure."

"I've fell in love with you, over a year's time now, and it hurt me to know that you were hurting yourself." He looked down into his lap. "I know it was selfish, to leave you." He inhaled and continued. "But I would rather be with you, and work though your problems then leave you like I did again."

Tom stiffened. "I'm better now. I'm in therapy, weekly, and I'm on medication."

Jake smiled. "I'm happy for you." A moment of silence rushed through the candlelit room. "Can I ask why you started feeling like this?"

He stiffened again, his breath becoming shaky.
"I um, fell into a really dark place. Filming for Cherry really took it out of me and-" His breathing fastened. "My mental health was shit for the longest time."

Jake became pissed with himself. He knew portraying this character would be hard for him, but he had no idea how hard. "I'm sorry. I should've checked in with you more."

"I don't even think you could've helped me. I was too far gone. But I'm better now, and that's all that matters."

A sudden tension rose in the room. It just came in from nowhere. Neither guys liked talking about heavy subjects such as this. Finally, Jake popped the question.

"Will you take me back Tom?" His blue eyes started to water. They seemed to grow a size as he awaited a response.

Tom stiffened in his chair again. Should he? He wanted Jake. In fact, he probably needed him. He reached for his hand under the table, and looked him in the eyes. "Yes." He huffed. "Just don't... leave me like that again." He squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to imagine another horrible breakup.

"I won't." Jake kissed his hand. "What a year it's been." They both giggled quietly.

The waitress brought out their food. Everything smelt divine. When she left, Tom continued the conversation. "I'm pretty sure my entire family hates you now." He chuckled.

"Understandable. Is there any way I could win them over again?"

He shrugged. "Just give them time." He opened his mouth and slid a bite of salad into it. Jake observed him, trying not to be too obvious.

"Did I mention how good you look tonight?" His eyes combed over Tom's fit body.

Tom watched as he basically undressed him with his eyes. He blushed. "You mentioned it once or twice in the car." He joked.

After they finished eating, Jake paid the bill, since he offered to take them out tonight. As they were walking out to his car, he asked a precarious question. He fiddled with his keys. "Would you like to come over?" He looked up from his shoes. "It'll be like our year anniversary of you staying the night."

Tom found it cute when he got nervous over small things. "I'd love too but I don't have any clothes to change into." He gestured at his fully dressed self.

Jake smiled. "You can just wear mine." He cleared his throat. "I mean, if you want."

Tom agreed. How could he turn down wearing one of his strangely comfortable hoodies? They drove back to Jake's place. Concluding the fun evening.