Unrequited Love. (A Jaustin One-Shot)
[ Completely unedited!! I didn't even proofread ]
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James Krown has never been one to hide his feelings. He has never had a reason to, being the trend-setter at school and having a best friend whom he could trust anything with.
But not this; he can't share this.
This isn't supposed to be allowed. It is against the bro code to be feeling this.
Sitting on the edge of Austin's bed, he can't help but be overly aware of the way their shoulders and thighs press together, or the way Austin leans into James slightly, or the way the light highlights the tips of his dark brown hair into a watery gold color that makes his fingers ache with the desire to run them through the soft strands.
He instead clasps his hands and leans forward, turning his gaze to the television. He has no idea what has happened in the last ten minutes of the movie, too caught up with Austin, Austin, Austin.
He doesn't really know when he started to like him as more than a friend; maybe it began after Austin started hanging out with that Yumi girl. She is way smarter than James and super pretty and the way Austin looks at her makes him think that he likes her as more than a friend.
Now, though, seeing Austin with her makes his stomach twist painfully and his jaw clench. He wants to make Austin look at him and laugh with him instead of with her. She should be nothing to him; James is the one who has been with Austin for years. He knows everything about him and can tell in seconds if he is lying or telling the truth.
When he asked Austin if he liked Yumi as more than a friend, Austin said no.
It was a lie.
'Hey, James? James?' Austin is snapping his fingers in his face, cobalt eyes narrowed in a mixture of annoyance and concern. 'I've been calling your name for a good thirty seconds, man. Where did you go?'
James feels his stomach constrict. For a moment, he is torn between kissing him and lying to him. He instead settles for a half-truth. 'I don't know.' He shrugs and flicks a glance to the television screen, seeing the movie has ended. He pulls his phone from his pocket and checks the time. 'I gotta go. It's almost five.' He shoves the device back into his pocket and stands, stretching.
Austin stands as well and grabs James's shirt collar to pull him across the room.
He stumbles slightly but lets himself be pulled along, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on the back of Austin's head.
Austin leads him from his room to downstairs, where he pushes him out the door. James isn't surprised by the strange dismissal. He waves goodbye and zips up his jacket, bracing himself for the walk home.
It's chilly and the wind nips at all bared skin. In hindsight, he wishes he had called his mother to come fetch him.
While he walks, he thinks about Austin.
He doesn't understand the sudden change of feeling for the boy. James has been friends with Austin for as long as he could remember; he's never thought of him romantically. Plus, he is pretty sure he is straight, at least he had thought so. Now he's not so sure.
But why Austin? Why couldn't he have fallen for anyone other amazingly hot boy? He knows Austin isn't homophobic, so he wouldn't be disgusted if James tells him. But the fact that the amazingly hot boy he likes is his best friend changes things.