Nameless ≫ Jarchie

_31_

"When's your birthday?"

"Archie, that is a stupid question."

"How?"

Nameless stared at Archie for a minute, giving him time to process what he just asked. After a while, Archie's face went red with realization.

"Oh. Wait, then how do you know how old you are?"

"Apparently I told the person driving the car my age before we crashed, so the doctors knew I was 12. When the new year comes I just consider myself one year older."

"Oh." Archie hummed. "That sucks."

"I guess it does." Nameless agreed. It was a Saturday afternoon, a whole week since little Jay's hazing fiasco, and the two were sitting in the living room as they waited for Jay to come downstairs. The trio were going to go go-kart racing but it wasn't Nameless' idea. He wanted to hang out with Archie and although he really did care for Jay, he was kind of upset that he was tagging along. Archie and Nameless hadn't gotten any alone time since last week because they'd both been so busy.

Archie was the one who suggested they take Jay out, considering the pictures from his hazing night got leaked throughout the school and he'd been having a tough time. Nameless appreciated his kindness but at the same time...

He really wanted some alone time.

"What are you going to do after high school?"

"I do not know. I have spent so long thinking about the past I have not really considered the future. It is too late for me to apply to colleges and I lack certain credentials to get into one. I do not think I can even apply for a job or a license since, legally, I still do not have a name," Nameless yawned. "What is with all the questions today?"

"No reason, I just realized that I don't really know much about you." Archie shrugged.

"You do. You know the important stuff."

"Like that you read books, love lucky charms, and hate Reggie?"

"I do not hate Reggie I just do not like him most of the time." Nameless shrugged.

"But I feel like I should know more about you since we're dating." Archie whined.

"You do not know less about me than I know about me. Everything I know, you know."

"Right," Archie sighed. "I keep forgetting. I know it sounds stupid that I keep forgetting about your amnesia but I do, like all the time. And it's not because I'm not listening, it's just because I don't see you in that way. I know my questions must be pretty insensitive."

"It is fine. It is not like you mean to upset me." Nameless waved off.

Archie smiled at that. Nameless always handled things the same way, calmly and nonchalantly.

"You know what upsets me though?"

"What?" Archie hummed.

"I will never get to hear you say my name. We are dating, but I will never get specifically addressed by you."

"I mean, there's always pet names?" Archie suggested.

"Pet names? That sounds demeaning."

"No," Archie laughed. "Pet names are like 'baby' or 'honey'."

"Oh, then in that case no. Those are so cliche."

"Okay, then I won't call you any of those. See, this is what I mean by knowing things about you." Archie pointed out.