Philophobia

Answer

Pic above has nothing to do w this, just thought it was cute
Sorry it's been so long
-Lyn

The soft pressing of feet on carpet echoed in the noiseless room. Mark, who walked back and forth silently across the floor, claimed a tight expression, lip bitten and brow furrowed. Occasionally he stared over at Jack, battling with himself on what to say. In the end he would always turn and continue walking however, and ever time he did Jack felt the weight of the room grow stronger and a buzz in the back of his mind get a little louder.

Shifting uncomfortably on the soft sheets of Mark's bed, Jack built up the courage to speak.

"Mark, you need to talk to me," Jack said warily, "I'm worried about you."

Mark stopped abruptly and stared at him, unmoving, hands clenched tightly. A drop of sweat roll down Mark's neck. Jack swallowed, mouth dry, and avoided his friend's gaze.

"Jack I- well- how, how old do you feel?" Mark sputtered, unsure and messily.

Eyes wide, Jack's mouth dropped as he slowly moved so he was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"What are you asking?" Jack asked, laughing slightly, lips curling into a small smile.

Mark said nothing and shook his head, considering pacing back and forth again, but settling for nervously running his fingers through his hair.

"Mark say something what do you mean?" Jack said, slightly louder with a serious tone to his voice. Leaning forward he pleaded silently with his friend. Not but minutes ago everything had been fine, then Mark started looking at him like he had just killed his family, and with such sincerity that Jack couldn't help but feel as though he had.

Mark suddenly walked over and grabbed the measuring tape. He fiddled with it for a moment before speaking.

"I'm- getting taller, Jack. It doesn't take a genius to get what I'm asking." Mark explained slowly, arms crossed defensively while leaning back against the bedside table.

Jack went through a million different ways this conversation could have gone better. How, with anyone else, what Mark was implying would have been incredibly positive, and the two of them would've rejoiced.

Jack's mouth parted, and he knew what he could say to comfort Mark, but looking into the unforgiving darkness of Mark's gaze he found, for the first time since he'd met Mark, that he didn't want to stay positive.

With anyone else it would have been 'so what if I feel older? That just means we are soulmates, right? Yay!' Jack smiled dejectedly to himself when he imagined the nice, happy, scenario that was the opposite of this one. How lucky people like that must be.

Now he knew though that wasn't entirely right. Those people were lucky, yes, at how easy it was to get along with their other half, but Jack was like that too.

The only problem right now was Mark, who was the only person harboring any unchecked feelings towards relationships of any kind.

"So what if I do feel older? If I am growing then what's the big deal? You can't just walk in here, angry at me, and then give me no explanation as to why!" Jack found himself saying, feeling justified in his defense.

Mark's expression morphed from confirmation, fear, and then to raw anger.

"Do you understand-" Mark began talking in a low voice, but Jack was done.