All The Ways We Touch [BxB]

fifteen - change pt. two

Jamison sat down on the other side of the bed, taking licorice from the tray, not realizing how affected Elliot was by their conversation. He took a big bite and immediately smiled. "This is so good," he said, quickly taking another bite. "It's so sweet." Jamison loved sugar, though it seemed juvenile to admit.

"You're the sweetest thing in here," Elliot mused, staring at the wall across from them. When he realized what he said, he turned back to Jamison. "How much did you end up eating today?"

At this rate, he could go through all of the peppermints in an hour. Perhaps shortsightedly, he was so happy with the sugar that he continued to eat the candy instead of turning back to trying to soothe his nerves. Elliot's comments were beginning to paint a picture that he couldn't bear to look at. "Don't be mad, but only one slice," he said, taking another bite of licorice as Elliot gave him a look. "I was full all day!" He protested. "I don't normally eat that much."

"Stop worrying that I'm gonna get mad at you, jeez," Elliot muttered, finishing his piece. Reaching over, he grabbed his drink and took another long gulp. "What do you normally eat? It can't only be apples and peppermints. You're not that skinny, thankfully," he said, rubbing his face. "You know, I don't know what I'd do with myself if you were completely wasting away."

Jamison's face grew red hot, and he reached over, taking another drink, needing the cold that the ice provided to cool him down. Elliot had been looking at his body? And now he was trying so hard to take care of him because he was filled with such a deep worry about his well-being? Burying the thoughts down, he tried to focus. "Peanut butter."

Elliot nodded. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

Jamison frowned, though he understood what Elliot meant. It was very typical of him. "I'm not trying to gain or lose weight, Elli. I told you, I don't easily feel hunger signals, it's the best I can do."

"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your body," he assured. "Though I am going to try and remind you to eat because I know you need support in that area of your life, that's all." With the way that Jamison was going through the licorice, he broke into a smile. Eating was eating. "You never answered about candy earlier."

"Oh yeah," Jamison said, a hesitant smile back on his face. "No, I've never celebrated Halloween," he explained. "It's Satanic, don't you know?" Rolling his eyes dramatically, he frowned deeply before shaking his head, as if he was physically trying to shake it off. "And no, but you're gonna take me to the movies for the first time."

Elliot wasn't sure where to start. 'Does he mean, like, on a date?' But the first part was more information about his past, and if Jamison was in a sharing mood, he didn't want to shut him off. "Oh, you were one of those houses," he said, wrinkling his nose back up. "Like, crazy Christians, huh? Is that why you didn't go to high school?"

Nodding, Jamison took another drink, not wanting to get into it. "Something like that," he muttered. "Do you want to smoke?" The cold night air sounded very helpful.

"Sure," Elliot said, getting up from the bed. At least he'd learned something, even if Jamison had cut the conversation off at the knees. On top of the mini fridge was a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, which he grabbed before going over to the closet. "I'll grab our jackets."

"I don't need mine, I'm extremely hot," Jamison said, heading for the door. "I need the fresh air before I catch on fire."

Although Elliot didn't like the idea of him being out in the cold without being properly dressed, he couldn't force Jamison to put on a jacket. Fortunately, he could always step back inside the room for it if he needed it. "I actually have a balcony." Stepping over to a large, wall-length curtain, he pulled it back, exposing French doors. "We can smoke out here."