Paradiso (Lookism Fanfic)

Chapter 3

How do you find out everything about the one you love? For Jay, the answer was: watch him.
He noticed everything that made Daniel smile or frown, the way that he was still shy over being admired, and still drew back from confrontations despite being overwhelmingly strong.
He knew that Daniel loved dogs and singing, and hated breaking the rules and bullying. The only thing Jay didn't know was how Daniel felt about him.

Jay smiled bittersweetly as Daniel laughed with his other friends on the other side of the room.
He sometimes wanted to lock Daniel in his basement and force him to pay attention to him alone, but Daniel was like an innocent sparrow. Keeping him caged didn't seem right.
Jay would have to win him over some other way.

So he continued to watch...
Until noon came and for the second time, his crush walked up to him and broke him out of his thoughts.
"Jay! Let's have lunch together!"

Jay glanced away.

"You didn't bring anything? I can share with you.
.....
You're just going to buy something from the vending machines? Let me come with you at least!
....
No need? Sorry, am I being a bother again?
....
Not possible? You wish I would talk to you more often-"

Jay was slowly turning into a blushing mess.
He shook his head for Daniel to stop and hid his head between his arms on his desk.
Daniel inwardly squealed over how cute Jay was acting, even though he no idea why.

He smiled and tore his sandwich apart, giving half to Jay. "Take it, haha. And you're not allowed to give it back."

Jay nodded and obediently took a bite. His left hand fiddled with a piece of paper in his pocket, but he wasn't sure if this was the right moment to bring it out.
Instead he listened as Daniel blabbered on about the weather and his friends, his mother, school, a random girl who had approached him and stuttered out a confession but ran away before he could reply (Jay felt his eyebrow twitch in annoyance), and how Vasco had given him another chocolate milk today (Jay clenched his fists).

The bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch hour. Daniel stood up apologetically. "Time for class again, I guess." He began to walk away.

No, wait! Jay stretched out his arm in regret.

At that same moment Daniel happened to glance back. His eyes widened. "What's wrong, Jay?"

Jay quickly fished the note out of his pocket and handed it to Daniel, then rushed out of the room before Daniel had the chance to read it.

Daniel stared after him, bewildered, before looking at the note. It had so many words and phrases crossed out it reminded Daniel of an essay test after it had been graded, but at the bottom the message was written clearly. Meet me at the movie theater at 6 tonight, Daniel read. "Wow."
He hummed to himself, excited.
-------------------

Jay was already lounging at the theater when Daniel showed up at 5:45 that evening. Daniel had changed into one of Jay's old favorite outfits, and he couldn't help but admire how they clung to his body in just the right places.
Jay stood up and glared silently at the girls who were already staring at Daniel's modelesque physique. Those were his old clothes, and only Jay knew just how the front of the shirt was supposed to be unbuttoned and slid off to reveal that godlike chest and abs and-

"Hey Jay!" Daniel waved at him. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."
Jay shook his head and held up their tickets.

"Oh no, I couldn't ask you to pay for me-"
Jay grabbed Daniel by the wrist and dragged him into the theater.

"Whoah, it's completely empty. I heard this is a popular movie. I guess we got lucky?"

Jay smirked. Not that he would admit it, but every seat was empty and a little extra cash had made sure they would stay that way.

The music played and Daniel settled in to watch the movie, while Jay settled in to watch Daniel watch the movie.
Okay that wasn't his original plan, he just noticed at some point that the action-packed plot didn't make his heart race nearly as fast as Daniel's leg brushing against his own.

Not even a John Williams soundtrack could distract him from his crush's quick, heavy breathing when the tension picked up. And when they hit the climax-
(in the movie, of course ;)
Daniel unconsciously gripped his armrests, eyes glued to the screen. But what he thought was his armrest on the left was actually Jay's hand, which he now held in a Vasco-like death grip.

Jay was torn between pleasure and pain. He tried to bear it, but about 45 seconds later he was afraid for his circulation--his fingers were going numb. He gave Daniel a poke in the ribs, but he remained oblivious.

Jay's second idea made him blush just from the thought.
So he took the third option instead, and leaned over next to Daniel's ear. In a low, soft voice, he whispered a single word:

"Daniel."

Immediately Daniel's jaw went slack and all of his attention was focused on the warm breath on his cheek. "J-Jay?" he said with wonder. "You just said my name."

Jay nodded and looked towards the hand that was still being crushed.

Daniel winced and removed his hand. "I'm so sorry."

Jay shook his head and pointed towards the screen.

Daniel smiled and watched the last few minutes wrap up. While he wasn't paying attention, Jay reached over and brought his hand back to the center, where he laced his fingers through Daniel's. Content at last.

The plan was back on track.