Jean calls him Saturday afternoon while Jamie is still in bed, who can’t be bothered to get out of it. Though Jamie’s head is loaded with rocks and his body is a boneless blob, he answers his phone almost too cheerfully. Jamie guesses he understands now how people feel, waking up to the voice of someone they like deeply. He almost wants to smile foolishly and play sunny, happy music while reading disgustingly sweet love poetry.
(Almost. Because he refuses to turn into those lovesick people from those sickly romantic teen movies. He won’t allow it. Alexandria won’t allow it.)
Jamie buries his head into his pillow and presses the phone close to his ear.
“How are you still asleep?”Jean chuckles, before talking about other nonsense musings when he breathes this happy sigh.
“What is it?” Jamie asks.
“Just thinking about the band getting signed again. It’s really gonna happen. We still have a few things to work out and stuff, but. . .” he trails off and Jamie can almost picture him with this dazed look, eyes clouded over and staring at nothing, like he’s high.
“But what?”
“Nothing. It’s kind of funny. Now that it seems like a real possibility, it seems too close to be true. Like if I mess this up it’ll mess up everything else. Does that make sense?”
“I guess so.”
“You have such a way with words,” Jean laughs and Jamie almost falls out of bed, flipping over and groaning at the ceiling. Jamie wants him here, with him. Wants Jean to kiss him again.
No, not here. Never here. They can be together, just not here. Jean must sense what Jamie’s feeling, because he says, “Would your aunt mind if you hung out with me for awhile? I don’t have work today.”
“You make it sound like she never lets me out.”
“Past experiences have taught me some parents are peculiar about who their kid hangs out with and for how long.”
“Girlie won’t care. It’s only you. She likes you,” Jamie explains.
“Really? Seriously?”
“Not like that.”
“What if I was in love with Girlie and we started dating. How much would you hate me?”
“Do it and you’ll find out.”
“Does she count as a MILF? ‘Cause AILF sounds too awkward . . .”
“I’m hanging up.”
Before Jamie ends the call, Jean spits out he’ll come get him around three. It takes a few minutes to erase the thought of Girlie and Jean together before Jamie can get out of bed. He walks out into the hall and sees Girlie in the bathroom, rummaging through the medicine cabinet for something. He tells her he’s going with Jean later, and she glances at him in confusion briefly before smiling and saying, “Okay. When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure,” he says.
“Don’t be out too late. And call me when you’re on your way home.” She leaves the bathroom, still smiling thoughtfully, like she’s so glad he isn’t a lonely, antisocial fool anymore.
While taking a shower, the only thing he can think of, besides seeing Jean, is that Girlie must be so proud. He’s improved so much. He’s like the normal, happy kids who have no problems.
She must be right.
*******
“Is your mom home?” is the first thing Jamie asks as they enter Jean’s home. But soon after the question is asked, Jean kisses his cheek. Jamie has a feeling he wouldn’t have done that if Celeste was there.
YOU ARE READING
Psyche
Teen FictionJamie's other name might as well have been Silent. He went to school, visited his therapist, daydreamed about Jean Paul, and tried to never be alone when his aunt's boyfriend was in the house. He kept to himself. He was fine with that pattern till A...
