You All Over Me [BxB]

Forty-Two

The night sky stretches infinitely, but with the scarcity of stars in the cloudless, obsidian canvas, Jacob's attempt to distract and calm himself down is in vain. The sky is as bleak as the feeling weighing on his chest.

Beside him, Theodore casts him a concerned glance, and he places his hand on top of his.

"Hey, you good?" Theodore asks. "Don't worry. It'll be okay. If he isn't there, then we'll look elsewhere."

"It's not that, Theo," Jacob responds softly. "I'm just... not sure exactly what to feel. I'm lost. Anxious, yes, but why? Because my mother is? Where exactly is this worry coming from? I don't know if I still... I still care about him. Do I? Or should I?"

He heaves another sigh, his lashes fluttering downward in apparent exhaustion. "I haven't really spoken to him in so long that I..."

"You don't need to explain yourself, Jake," Theodore says. "And you don't need to do this if you're not a hundred percent okay with it. Tita, Mom, and I can take care of it. I shouldn't have—"

"No, Theo. I know I should be here," Jacob interjects, gazing at his side profile. "I'd rather be here for my mom. And for him. Because despite everything, I don't want anything to happen to... to Dad."

Theodore nods as he brakes at a red light. "Then do whatever you think is good for you. Whatever feels right."

"Thank you. For doing this with me. I'm sorry you might need to call in sick."

"What do you mean? This is nothing. You're the one who's constantly doing me favors."

One side of Jacob's lips curls up into a smirk. "But who's counting?"

"Me," Theodore utters, grinning. "And I'm on your team. Always."

Jacob's hardened shoulders conspicuously relax, the erratic beating of his heart adopting a steady rhythm. He couldn't have made this decision, couldn't have talked to his mom, if not for Theodore.

"Let's switch gears," Jacob suggests, turning up the volume of the speaker. Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas begins to play.

"And talk about what?"

"I don't know. Just anything... Ah. When did you realize you liked me back?"

Theodore is unable to hold his snort. "I honestly cannot pinpoint the exact moment. Maybe during internship when you were kinda ignoring me? Perhaps earlier?"

"It was earlier. I'd known for a while," Jacob replies, a cocky smile on his face. "I was just waiting for you to come to your senses."

Theodore scoffs. "Humility is your greatest strength."

"Yeah, Theo. Don't deny it. You couldn't stop thinking about me," he adds cheekily. "But it's like what they say. You'll only realize what you've got when it's gone."

"Sounds too dramatic even for me."

Jacob erupts into a fit of laughter, and Theodore joins him, a state of serenity descending upon them.

"You know what? I don't care. I've got you now. Took a while, but it's worth it."

In the dimly lit surroundings, Theodore's cheeks are painted red.

"I'm... happy you think so. But I am still confused why you'd pick me."

"Why not?"

"You could've gotten any person you wanted."

"That's exactly what happened, though," he chuckles once more. "You just don't realize you're a catch, too. You're too busy studying to notice."

Their conversation flows on, and by the time they reach the fishing grounds, the clock has crept closer to 12 a.m.