Shitty at Best

Chapter 6

  It had been two months since Jacques had moved in with Michael. In that period of time Michael had learned a few things about him.

One of them was that, although he didn't really look like it, he was actually a really tidy person. After he moved in and put away his stuff not even once did Michael see anything on the floor or out of place. His books were sorted by height, his clothes colour coordinated and had all of his pencils in a metal case, so he could sort them out by length.

One time he walked in on Jacques in the living room, sorting out his sheet music. He just said that Michael's life was a mess and continued sorting silently. He didn't know if he was supposed to be feeling grateful or kind of insulted. He chose the former instead and in return made him dinner, when it was supposed to be Jacques's turn. Somehow, unconsciously they had created a routine. They would take turns with cooking, cleaning and taking out the trash. As if they had been together for years.

Michael tried to keep all of his "It's so domestic!" and "We are like a married couple!" thoughts away. But he guessed that he had the same mentality as a teenage girl in love with a movie star.

Another thing he learned about Jacques was that he really loved drawing. It was clear on his face that he was really happy every time he doodled in his sketchbook. Michael wished he could peek inside, but Jacques always hid it somewhere whenever he was around. So stubborn. He would always say that it was just a hobby and that his drawings were ugly, but Michael knew he was lying. One time he sneaked a peek inside when Jacques wasn't around. His style so fluid and captivating. He got his attention with only one drawing. Of course he only saw one page, before he figured that it was bad to snoop around when he wasn't allowed to and put it down in the exact same spot, so he wouldn't be found out.

He hoped that one day he would get to see the whole thing.

For now he was just focused on not accidentally letting him self out on the whole liking ordeal. If he did he was sure that things would get uncomfortable between them and his now happy and content days will go out the window fast.

He kept his distance. Which was a pain, because he was always either too far away and it looked like he was doing it on purpose or he was too close to him and it was hard to move away.

Michael knew that Jacques was into men of course. It was his first job to tell him after he moved in, because it seemed that it had been bothering him for a long while and he needed to get it out of his chest. But even knowing that still, he was still doubtful that Jacques could ever like Michael. That was the one thing that was stopping him.

And because of that he was even more like a school girl. He was insecure about everything he did nowadays, trying really hard to not be in his way or upset him somehow. That was probably how it was going to go until Jacques found himself a boyfriend and moved out. Maybe then he would get over his feelings.

-

It was getting dark as Michael pulled over in the driveway from his grocery shopping trip and walked up into the apartment, muttering a quiet "I am home." as he walked in.

It turned out it was loud enough to be heard, because he heard Jacques say "Welcome back." With what Michael assumed was a full mouth. He blushed a little, still trying to get the domestic thoughts out of his head. He walked into the dining room and saw Jacques, stuffing his face with donuts.

Michael frowned sadly as he set the groceries down on the table. "Are those my jelly filled donuts?" He had been hoping he would get to eat them after he was done with work. Honestly they were the only things on his mind the whole day and he felt his heart break a little. Jacques was eating the last one as well.