Less Talk - A Hangman Story

Part VI

Jake pulls up to your house and turns to look at you. "You sure you want to stay here tonight?"

You stare at the empty driveway with a heavy sigh. "There's no way he's coming back," you assure him.

Jake kills the engine. "I could stay, just in case."

You smile to yourself and then glance up at him with a slight quirk to your eyebrow. "Why're you being nice?"

Jake makes a face and scoffs uncomfortably. "I'm being practical," he responds defensively, as though you've offended him. He steps out of the truck and walks around to help you down.

You avoid his gaze as you take his hand, muttering a quick thanks after he shuts your door. He nods in response and then falls in step with you as you head toward your front door. "You really didn't have to walk me," you say.

"Force of habit," Jake responds flatly.

You glance at him with a grin. "With all the moonlit rides you've been handing out?"

Jake smirks and shakes his head, eyeing you in the sort of way that might be misconstrued as affectionate by an ill-informed bystander. He clears his throat as you walk up the steps of your porch, staying back with his hands in his pockets. "You coming to Rooster's party next weekend?" he asks.

You turn to look at him after sticking your key into the lock. "Bradley's having a party?"

Jake furrows his eyebrows, as though he's surprised that this is news to you. "He didn't tell you?"

You shrug. "Maybe it's just for his aviator friends," you respond, leaning into the door to open it.

"You're invited, trust me," Jake says.

You narrow your eyes at him, flicking on the light and pulling off your heels. "Maybe double check with him just in case. I don't want to just show up."

Jake sighs. "Fine, I'll ask."

You let out a groan once your shoes are off, curling your toes in and rotating your ankles. "Thanks for the ride, Seresin," you say.

Jake gives you a tight smile. "Have a good night, Y/N."

...

Jake comes home to find Bradley on the couch watching Family Guy reruns. The moment Jake walks through the door, Bradley lifts the remote and mutes the TV, glancing up at Jake with a smug smirk. "Honey, you're home," he says, in response to which Jake nearly throws his keys at him.

Instead, Jake removes his shoes in silence and drops his keys and wallet onto the coffee table. Then, he goes straight for the fan in the far corner and aggressively plugs it in. "This is stupid," he mutters under his breath. "I shouldn't have to plug it in every time I want to use it."

Bradley nods when Jake turns back around. "I agree," he responds. "Huge inconvenience. To think you have to perform an extra arm movement to reach the plug when you're already up to turn on the fan." He shakes his head. "Frankly, it's just an unrealistic expectation."

Jake narrows his eyes. "Of course, you'd take her side."

Bradley laughs. "I'm not taking sides! I didn't realize there were sides."

"There are always sides, Rooster," Jake says firmly, plopping down into an armchair.

Bradley leans forward on the couch, resting his forearms on his knees. "So, speaking of sides, are we going to talk about how you beat the shit out of Y/N's boyfriend?"

Jake grimaces. "He's not her boyfriend anymore."

Bradley raises his eyebrows, staring at Jake. He lifts a hand and drags in slowly over the bottom part of his face, apparently lost for words. Finally, he slumps back into the couch and says, "Dude."