blisters ; jayson

unraveling;

∴ ∴ 

Ethan can sense the tension from metres away, the air sparks between Grayson and Jack even as they pass each other that evening.

He shakes his head when it's nighttime, remembering whatever happened that night two years before.

 Even a few hours ago when they sat alone, Jack continuously apologized. What he did wasn't okay, and he also explained, he hadn't intended to do it at all, but had intended to just be near Grayson, enveloped in his warmth. He tried to explain, that he had mistaken it for love, true love.

"Where does that put you?" Ethan had asked, pulling up a cold bottle of root beer and chugging it quickly, his other hand offering one to Jack courteously, but also casually. 

And casually, Jack takes it. He's a little confused by the question but begs his pardon for formality, "What do you mean?" 

"We're friends, Jack, I forgive you and.. hopefully Gray will too once he stops being so sour, and I'm sorry I don't mean to pry, but I think I have a right to know.." Ethan clears his throat, scratches at the blunt hairs growing on his jawline, they're coarse and black and it all suits Ethan too much, even if his hair is shorter, it's the dark hues that complement him the most.

 And it's a little funny or ironic, how opposite Grayson and Ethan can be. Grayson drowns his life in colourful palettes, his favourite things are endowed in colours of the sky, the ocean, his car truly suited him, his golden locks brightened him up like his blinding white smile.

Ethan is vanta black, poisonous and lurking if it weren't for his light-hearted humor. It really doesn't look like it but up close, it's easy to tell that he harbors dangerous thoughts, eyes always dark and scheming. It's easy to be scared of him and his intentions. Because he is calm, reserved, just like Jack.

Jack sighs in acknowledgement, but it's no use interrupting Ethan because you better believe he will beat you to it and he makes himself clear, "Jack, are you gay?" 

"No."

The answer is curt, blunt and gives no room for further questions. The older's eyes avert to the wall, he busies himself with finishing his beer, lips wetting everytime and he's so careless with it that some of it dribbles down his chin. 

Jack looks troubled even if he tries not to seem like it. 

Ethan stays quiet, judging that it would be better for him not say at all, the secret that Grayson has learnt about himself these couple of years. So he doesn't. 

The silence is comfortable. And then the other twin arrives.

"Sorry, guys, I was cleaning around the house because I live with a five year old," Grayson's comment is now directed to Ethan as he rolls his eyes and Ethan's beginning to get tired of it, because all of them know Grayson was probably pacing around the house calming himself down and it's funny how transparent he really is, "Um, so Jack, you'll sleep in my room, I already set up the mattress and everything," he gives a sweet smile now, as if he hadn't been shooting him death glares in the middle of the day.

"That's great, thanks. So I guess we call it a night, huh?" Jack pushes himself from the edge of the foam pit and Ethan sends him a reluctant look of 'good luck' though he hates them both right now. 

They smile to each other and Jack follows after Grayson like a guilty criminal, eyes trained to the floor and Grayson walks with an abnormal confidence.