Two Player Game

~Chapter Seven~

They get there. Jared's been here before whenever he came with his mom. Evan ushers him in and up to his room.

"I've got an Xbox too, but again, not a lot of games." his room is a little messy, but not too much so. Just enough to reflect Evan.

"I'm fine with whatever." Jared's actually very good at playing video games. Evan isn't very good, but he has fun. They end up playing Xbox, some game about Zombies, a co-op game. Jared's keepin' himself alive but he's also helping Evan as much as he can.

"Aw hell, oh jeez-" He's really not good, but he laughs when Jared makes fun commentary and when he dies for stupid reasons. They laugh a lot. Jared absolutely adores this moment but he doesn't show it. He's just not like that.

"Oh man, not again! Go on without me, Jared, you have Ray Gun!!"

"No, I have another med kit I can heal you, you dead bitch." He's trying to heal a dead person.

"Jared their gonna overrun you before you're done reviving me, just go!" He's stubborn and persistent. He revives him and gets them outta there. See, good at gaming.

"You're so reckless, dude, it's badass."

"It's how I like to live my virtual life."

"Probably because I'd actually die."

"Well, I didn't - shit- I didn't mean EXACTLY like this, but like, similarly. Even in games I'm jumpy and anxious and paranoid, why can't you be... Badass?"

"....I don't know. I never really thought about it."

"I think you could do it."His phone buzzes. It's Conner.

C: [I feel like shit. Come over tonight instead and cheer me up, tree boy]

"......"

E: [Later, promise. When it gets a little darker]

Jared doesn't have anything to do. He could stay there all night if he wanted. That's probably what ends up happening. He tells Conner later that something came up and that he'll come over right after school tomorrow and stay all afternoon into the evening. Conner is satisfied with that and Evan and Jared are left to themselves. It gets real late. They even snuck a few beers into his room. This isn't Jared's first rodeo. "C'mon Evan!"

"Oh man, Jared, I really don't think this is a good -"

"Just try it. Please? For me?"

"...... Fine. Fine! But I'm not responsible for anything that happens afterwards, you are."

"I'll take the blame."

"Good. Okay. Here we go. I'm going.... To do it." Jared watches is excitement. Evan licks his lips and then looks at Jared pleadingly.

"Do I have to?"

"I'll pay ya if that's what you want"

"No, I don't want your money"

"Well what's it gonna take for you to do it?"

"..... I don't know. I've never done this, Jared, I'm nervous."

"I'm here all the way. If you throw up, it's alright." He sighs and silently counts to three before just fucKIN CHUGGING HALF THE BOTTLE IN ONE GO.

"Woah there. I just asked for one drink not the entire bottle." HE stops when he starts to choke a little. He coughs.

"It tastes like tea made of wheat. Liquid bread. It's... not that bad."

Jared smiles bright. "Thank you. That's all I needed darlin'." He's a little tipsy himself. He gets a little too flirty when he's drunk. Evan stops at the nickname.

"Isn't that what you usually call girls?" He cracks a small smile.

He blushes deep. "uh, well, y'know I'm definitely not ready to tell anyone this but I seem to be.. Pansexual... I just said that out loud didn't I?" He chuckles.

"Yeah. Not that I think I needed to at his point, but I guess I can tell you that I'm Bisexual then."

"I would've never guessed."

"Oh shut up." He takes another drink. "Conner is uh... He's the first guy I've ever been with though. My first relationship actually. First kiss. All that."

"Wow. Poor You."

"Zoe was my first crush. And the first girl I've kissed, did I tell you that I kissed her today?"

"Woah, what? What happened to going with Connor?"

"Well- I am. But I still haven't given him the definitive answer of yes, Connor I will be your b- your boyfriend. So I kissed her. Once. Never again. As long as I'm with someone else. But yeah. Technically, right now, I'm still single."

"uhhhh..." He's trying to contain himself. "I, uh, I haven't had my first kiss yet either." Evan takes another long drink and his bottle is empty.

"Yeah?" The alcohol is getting to him. His cheeks are lightly flushed.

"I've always been rejected... except for Martha Dunstock in the 5th grade."

"Well... I don't see why. You're pretty cool when you get passed the large amount of asshole." He giggles and huffs in amusement. "It's hot, I'm taking my shirt off. Hand me another bottle." Jared blushes even more.

"O-Okay." His heart starts racing as he hands him another bottle. Drunk Evan lets all his anxieties fade away. He's shirtless, he's taking alcohol like a champ, and he's having fun. This is gonna be romantic as fuck, but Jared needs to make it that way.

"You're such a light weight." Evan laughs.

"Yeah, but I'm also a light weight." He realizes what he just said and laughs harder. Jared starts to laugh with him and subtly scoots closer. Evan doesn't notice. He scratches at his neck. The make up has come off. The marks are only slightly faded. Jared takes his hand and brings it away from his neck.

"You'll make it worse if you scratch." Evan looks at him and their faces are inches apart.

"I bet." All that's running through Jared's mind is, 'I could kiss him right now If I wanted- GOD HIS EYES ARE BEAUTIFUL.'

"Evan shifts to face Jared, face flushed all the way to his chest again, and says, "You've never kissed anyone?"

"Nope... am I going to tonight?"

"If you want. Connor can wait." He's breathing a little heavier than before in anticipation, eyes flickering between Jared's eyes and his lips. Jared hesitates but slowly connects their lips. Way different than Connor.