Harmless Things (Jean Hobbs AU)

Part seven

Dean P.O.V.

I felt myself blush furiously as Jack slipped his hand into mine and I couldn't help but smile. For a while we stayed silent and listened to the sound of each other's breaths slowing, but my mind was loud with thoughts.

Was Jack gay? If he wasn't he wouldn't just hold my hand like that, right? Did he have a crush on me? Did I have a crush on him?

I've known this guy for a day, a day, and yet just sitting with him holding hands didn't feel weird or awkward, instead it just felt right, it felt natural. I had never been in a relationship with before, let alone a relationship with a boy. I probably wondered what it was like to have feelings for someone that were returned more often than I liked to admit, but relationships required commitment and time which was something I didn't have because of my responsibilities at home, but if the chance of having a boyfriend was handed to me, I would take it without a second thought.

I wondered what Jack was thinking and glanced up at him as if to see if I could read his thoughts, but of course the attempt was a waste of time and I ended up quickly looking back down to the grass in embarrassment because I found he was already looking at me.

"Hey," Jack squeezed my hand lightly and I followed my gaze up from our hands to his eyes. They were a nice clear green colour - quite a contrast to my muddy brown eyes. "Are you okay, Dean?"

"Yep, you?"

"I'm great."

"Good," I wanted so badly to know what he thought of the whole situation. The questions I had were burning the in the back of head, but I didn't want to make him uncomfortable and I bit my tongue in fear they would slip out without permission.

"Tell me about yourself, I hardly know you."

"Like what?"

"I don't know... Who do you live with?"

"My mum, my sister and my brother. What about you?"

"My mum and dad but they work all the time so I may as well be living alone. I don't have any brothers or sisters," I wondered what it was like not having anyone to worry about. I almost dedicated my whole life to my siblings, without them I would be nothing.

"Do you get lonely?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"Sometimes," he shrugged without looking at me, "but I have friends. How old is your sister?"

"She's six, so I'm the oldest. Daniel's in Year 7, but he's very dependant on me. Everyone is, actually," I laughed without much humour.

"How come?"

"Things happened," I said shrugging. I didn't want to go into too much detail because I wasn't 100% sure if I could trust Jack yet. I knew I probably would in time, but talking about family problems seemed to personal and private to discuss in a public park under a tree.

"Oh. Let’s go for a walk," he jumped up then looked down at me expectantly. 

"I don't like moving," I moaned. 

"Tough luck, because I do." 

"I'm not going anywhere." 

"So you're going to stay there all night?" 

"Yep." 

"Dean, come on!" He took hold of my wrist and attempted to pull me up, but I stayed seated and smirked and crossed my arms.

"It's not going to happen Jack," he frowned for a moment, considering his options then crouched down next to me. 

"Hey Dean, are you ticklish?"