Two Player Game

~Chapter Fifty-Six~

Evan snorts at something someone said and turns to come face to face with the chest and throat of someone in a Minnesota state hoodie. When he looks up he drops his drink.

"C-Conner?"

"Evan?" Conner looks equally surprised, hair pulled up into a messy ponytail, face much healthier looking than last time they saw each other. They stare for a long time, taking each other in as much as they can in the dim lights.

"You've... You've grown."

"Yeah. You too."

".... Your arm."

"Another tree. It comes off next week, so..."

"... It isn't signed."

"I didn't want anyone to."

"Ev-"

"Don't. Just- Conner, I missed you." It doesn't take long for Conner to go home with Evan, giggling and talking quietly and catching up and it's so nice. They both missed this so much. It takes no time at all to turn innocent chatter and friendly contact into Evan ending up shirtless under Conner, Conner kissing him like he is a drowning man and Evan is air. He kisses all over him, mumbling apologies and that he missed him and how much he loves him, Evan returning all of it breathlessly.

"Evan, I've missed you so goddamn much-"

"Conner, I've had you on my mind since you left, I can't get you out of my head."

------
Jake sits there. He wants Rich back. He knows it's selfish. But he wants him back with him. Sitting there on the couch with him. Jake ends up getting absolutely wasted and can't get back to his dorm. He hesitates before Calling Rich. Rich answers hurriedly.

"Hello?"

"Rich," You can tell he's been crying. And from the muffled sounds, it sounds like he's in a sort of closet. Away from everyone else.

"Jake, what's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry, baby, I miss you so much.." he sobs quietly. He slurs his words.

"... Jake, where are you, I'm coming to get you, baby, are you still at the party?"

"Mhm... please hur-" you can hear faint voice get louder. Yelling angrily.

"I'm coming, baby, I'm coming, I gotta run from the other side of the building, I'll be there, Jakey, sit tight."

"Rich...."

"I'm coming, baby, I'm coming." He's sprinting up and down the hall. He's a floor below where he needs to be. Jake just hugs his knees closer to his chest. He's so scared. All he lets out are shaky breathes. Rich makes it there and looks around frantically.

"Jake! Jacob, where are you?"

"Rich!" He bangs on the door. They've locked him in. He's panicking. Rich hears. That Fucker gets the closet open.

"Jake, what happened, baby, why -?" Jake wraps his arms around him as soon as he sees him. He did something. Bad. A whole bunch of guys ganged up on him and beat the shit out of him.

"Jakey, honey, what happened to you, what - Jake you're bleeding, we gotta get home, we gotta go."

"Rich, please,"

"Jake, you're scaring me, what happened??"

"I told a guy to Fuck off and he and his friends beat me up. They shoved me in the closet and locked it.."

Rich sees red. "I'll kill em. I'll rip their goddamn limbs off for touching my man, I swear to God I will Jake, I'll -"

"Rich. Please just take me home. I don't want to be here anymore."

"Okay, Jakey, let's go to the dorm, c'mon." Rich takes him back to the dorm. Jake sits on the toilet seat while Rich cleans him up.

"Thank you so much Rich."

"Anything for my boy." Evan and Conner are asleep, having no idea the other two are there.

"........I miss you. A lot."

"I miss you so fucking much, I've missed you since the minute you told me to get out of your apartment, baby."

"And I-I still love you. So much."

"I'll never stop loving you, I love you more than you'll ever know."

"I want you back so bad, Rich. I beat myself up every day because I regret it. I don't want to make you wait. I don't want to wait."

"I'm right here, say the word and I'm yours again, baby. I'm all yours, I've missed you so much."

"I'm ready Rich. I'm so goddamn ready. I miss you too much."

"Can I kiss you again then?"

"Absolutely." He surges forward to kiss him hard, filled with everything he's felt while Jake was ignoring him. Jake pulls him closer by his face, deepening the kiss. Rich places himself in Jake's lap, straddling him and kissing him desperately.

"Jake, baby, oh Jake, I - I'm so sorry -"

"I love you so much. I love you I love you I love you."

"I'm s-so sorry, Jakey, I'm so s-sorry,"

"Shh just kiss me."

"I g-gotta say this, Jake, I- Jacob, I feel horrible and I d-don't expect you to f-forgive me, baby, I'm so - I just want to know y-you really want me back, I feel terrible, Jakey, completely and t-totally horrible."

"I do want you back. Richie I love you so goddamn much. I can't live without you.." he pauses.

"To be honest, I wouldn't of made it if you didn't come to the apartment every day.."

"Jake, don't say that, don't you ever fucking say that, I cannot - you aren't allowed. I love you so much, I- Jacob-"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Jakey- Jake- kiss me, c'mere baby, kiss me." Jake crushes his lips onto Rich's, holding him up by his lower back. Rich shoves his hands into Jake's hair. He missed this. Jake picks him up by his thighs and carries him to his bed. Rich continues to apologize softly between kisses. Jake sits with Rich on top of him, kissing him sweetly. He's wanted this for so long.

"I've missed you, I've missed you so much." Conner groans and sits up.

"Hey, I realize you're having a reunion or something, and it's very heartwarming, but we're trying to sleep. Evan is a super light sleeper, you're gonna wake the guy up." They quiet down but don't stop or go any further from that.