He Came to Get Me - Bruiseshipping AU

What's Awkward? You're Awkward

Zane tried his best to manage time today. His plan was to finish at least his sketch for his final art project, but his class friend was keeping him from doing anything. It was hard to concentrate on anything when the person next to you was having his own little problem. A series of grunts and groans left Jay as he drew mindless circles on his sketchbook.

"Jay, are you okay?"

A second passed before Jay answered.

"What was that, Zane?" Jay asked, his voice partially muffled by his hand.

"Something is bothering you, but I cannot tell what it is. Are you okay, Jay?"

Jay scoffed, opening to a fresh page. "Whoever said I'm not okay is clearly wrong then, hah, hah," Jay pressed his pencil down harder on the pad of paper. "I didn't get enough sleep last night, that's all."

Genuinely, that was the truth. Jay hadn't got enough sleep that night he learned about Cole's crush on him.

The questions flew at him like cannons firing from a pirate ship.

How long had Cole kept this a secret?

Who else knew?

How had he never noticed?

Why did he want it all to be a lie?

He never actually like liked someone before. Jay bit the inside of his cheek. 'Like like' sounded like something a five year-old would say. He never actually... admired, someone before. Trying to seduce girls with Kai was kind of just their thing - they were more infatuations than actual love.

But Cole? ...Cole was his friend.

Knowing that his best friend was in love with him didn't change his way of seeing his friend, right?

He just... didn't want to deal with any of it now.

In fact, he had asked his parents to drop him off at art class today instead of catching a ride with Cole. Knowing this only made things awkward for him.

Of course, he didn't want Cole to think something was up - heck, he lied to him about not having Cole's almost diary - so he told his friend that he woke up late and didn't want to keep Cole from coming into work on time. Unfortunately, he would be riding back home with Cole since his parents were too busy to pick him up.

"I sense whatever it is, it is distracting you from improving on your art," Zane blurted through Jay's thoughts.

"Yeah, well, it's nothing."

Zane gestured to the sketchbook and picked it up, flipping through the previous pages. "You haven't drawn anything but circles for the past hour. Jay, I'm worried."

Jay shakily drew in a breath, plopping down on the floor and starting for the door.

"Where are you going, Jay?" Zane asked.

"I'll be back in a bit!" He said right before pushing the door open and sliding into the bathroom.

He looked himself in the eyes from his reflection, jabbing a finger in his direction.

Sometimes, all he needed was a little push from himself. He found this helpful once when he was stuck at a party and hid in the bathroom for what felt like eternity, until Cole pleaded for him to come out.

"You, are his friend, Jay." He started, trying to sound confident. "So what if your best friend has a crush on you, and you don't know how long it's been and you've been completely oblivious to it all! You are his friend and that doesn't change a thing! You hear me?" He shouted, raising his voice louder.