three years later

18

jude and jacob left maddie's at about one in the morning, maybe a poor choice on their behalf as they missed the last bus home by about thirty seconds.

"he saw us running!" jacob complained, leaning over to catch a breath after running for that bus.

"i swear bus drivers purposely do that. it happens too often," jude replied, looking down the street. it was quiet, cars infrequently passing as they stood under the dimly lit bus stop.

"so, what do we do?" jacob asked, looking around as if magically a bus will appear.

jude huffed, looking lost, "i guess we walk?" he pulled a face of annoyance as he said it and jacob drew a face to match, "do you want to crash at mine for the night? it's closer."

"that's, like, half an hour away!" jacob groaned.

"better start making a move then!" jude said, holding out his hand. jacob groaned again in protest, but he took jude up on his offer and intertwined their fingers together.

the walk was quite nice; the streetlamps lit the path, the sky clear to show the stars above. the air was cold too, helping to slightly sober them as they walked the route to jude's - "how long do you think they knew?" the blond boy asked a while into the walk and jacob looked at him, confused.

"about what?"

"us, silly!" jude nudged him playfully and jacob gave a soft laugh back.

"well, adam questioned me in the scavenger hunt on the camping trip. plus, somehow max knew, i think, i swear he's all knowing!" jacob laughed, "maybe all the reading is a front so he can eavesdrop when we think he's not listening."

"a conspiracy theory? i like it," jude laughed, "i think maddie's known since the movie night, you know the one when we watched twilight."

"we weren't even together then, jude."

"no, but she gave me a look when you fell asleep on me. i think she knew we weren't exactly.. platonic, and if she mentioned it, you'd probably disagree," jude said, looking to the path ahead with a slight smile on his face.

"sometimes it's scary how well she knows me," jacob gave a laugh, "i guess it was the least surprising surprise then."

"yeah, we were acting pretty coupley for two friends, i think.'"

"mates.. some might say?"

"don't remind me of that!" jude complained, an embarrassed look falling on his face with a blush to his cheeks as jacob laughed and looked to him, "i must say, i've never been so glad to have been down the toothpaste aisle in tescos."

"me too," jacob met his gaze and then looked back to the path ahead, noticing that they were now nearing jude's house, "it's funny. i thought this summer was going to be a few film nights with my little group, a barbeque here and there. instead, it turned out to be the best thing to happen in the history of everything."

"really? the history of everything?" jude said doubtfully as they walked up the path to his house and he started to fumble for his keys.

"if historians knew how it felt to just be around you, i think they'd agree," the brunette smiled, giving a soft giggle as he did.

jude looked to him, unable to believe he was as lucky to be loved by him again under the silver tinge of the moon they stood before his door. to jude, jacob was the prettiest being in the entirety of space, not even the brightest star could compare - "is that so?" jude said, his heart feeling a melting warmth.

jacob hummed, "hm, yes, you're just so lovely," he smiled. jude smiled back, lifting himself up slightly to kiss him. jacob broke the kiss a few seconds later, looking at his boyfriend, smiling. the moonlight lay on them like a blanket.