Jab My Heart [Boy×Boy]

Chapter 3: Birthday Bash

"Here. Take this," Richard hands me a black cap and bandana. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "If you enter without any type of disguise you'll have to give everyone in there an autograph and I didn't think you'd appreciate that."

"Of course...good thinking." I say as Richard exits the car leaving me to put on the cap and bandana.

I sigh in relief as we enter a house that is not so packed. Seems like we're a bit early. I turn to look at Richard who is greeting some of the people that are present so far. "Let's just find your cousin so I can leave." I interrupt him before he gets too far with his socialising.

"You'll leave when I leave otherwise who'll take my drunk ass home." He says giving me divided attention while scanning the few adolescents in the house that look like they're working rather than partying now that I look closely.

"Isn't this supposed to be a...part--"

"Found him!" Richard beams as he hugs a man with a smile so bright I'm sure the angels are singing right now. "AJ this is my good friend Steven." I tense up as Richard mentions my name. I study the young man in front of me silently waiting for a crazy reaction from a fan...except he looks indifferent. His toothy smile still plastered on his face. Good. He doesn't watch boxing. I sigh in relief as I reach out to shake Steven's hand but he goes for a hug instead. Startling me for a sec.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, AJ!" The brown head beams, breaking the hug before I could even return it. Not that I was going to.

"Likewise I guess" I mutter as I quickly erase a smile I didn't even know was creeping on my lips. Man this guy's smile is contagious. Luckily the bandana was covering the lower half of my face so nobody saw me. I definitely don't want a bunch of kids familiarising themselves with me thinking I'm a friendly person.

"A friend of Richard's is a friend of ours." The shorter male assures me. Giving me a genuine bright smile once again. No wonder he's Richard's friend.

"Thanks." I say bluntly before asking. "Where is birthday boy anyway?" Directing the question at Richard.

"Oh no he won't be here until late."

"What?!"

"It's a surprise party so JP is stalling him while we sort out everything." Stevens explains matter-of-factly not taken aback by my overreaction. Richard must have told him about my personality. Great. "Were you rushing off somewhere?"

"No." I give a blunt reply, not wanting to cause a scene and look like a total jerk. "Whose JP anyway?" I change the subject as I look around the house. His cousin's family seems well off. I wonder how he ended up being a cleaner at my father's gym.

"It's my other friend and Nathan's bestie," Richard says " You'll meet all of them as soon as they--"

"INCOMING!"

"Speak of one of the devils!" Steven says excitedly

"Oh yeah! Here comes the booze." Richard exclaims as he starts walking towards the man who almost broke the door down. Leaving me with my thoughts. I close my eyes briefly as I slowly breathe in and out.

This is going to be a long night.

***

"SURPRISE!!" I heard everyone shout in unison inside the house. I guess birthday boy has arrived. Finally. I am in the pool area where there was no one at all at the moment. Everyone went inside the house in anticipation for Nathan's arrival. So the huge house was too packed for my liking.

"You not too fond of people I see." I immediately recognise the voice behind me as Steven's.

"Is it that obvious." I snort sarcastically before taking a sip of soda water. Anything but alcohol. After all I'm driving.

"I'm surprised Richard doesn't annoy you, I mean knowing the person that he is." He states while sitting on the chair across mine.

"What makes you think I need company?" I ask keeping an ice cold expression. Trying my best to scare him away but he simply just smiles. Toothless this time but still contagious.

"I saw you were alone. It's not healthy Mr Howard."

"So Richard also told you my last name. What else did he tell you?" I squint my eyes at him, daring him to speak. Unfazed he speaks anyway. It must be my disguise that's hiding my 'meant to scare' expression.

"He didn't have to. You're quite famous you know."

"I thought you didn't kn--"

"There you are!" Richard cuts me mid-sentence, "Nathan, I'd like you to meet someone." Richard says standing next to me. A satisfied grin on his face. I stand up to greet Nathan not taking off my disguise though especially now that the poolside is starting to fill with people.

Nathan is very different from Richard. He looks too mature for 21, although you can tell by his face that he's quite young. He gives off an air of confidence and his facial expression is neutral. He kind of reminds me of myself.

"So..." Richard breaks the silence, "I know how disappointed you were when you couldn't go and watch a live championship match so I thought since we couldn't get you to the match why don't I, Richard Branson, get an element of it to you." The young man looked confused. "This right here little cuz is your favourite boxer!"

"AJ?! Tell me you're joking right now," Nathan cups his cheeks in disbelief. I take my cap off, just to indicate that it's really me, and let my hand through my brown hair that is just above my shoulders lengthwise before wearing the cap back again. "OMG!! IT'S HIM! How?! YES! I love you so much." Nathan exclaims before hugging his cousin. Then turns to me. He blushes and smiles shyly. Where did the confident and cold boy I just met go.

"Hey, nice to meet you Nathan." I finally speak with a little wave aimed at him.

"Hey cutie, I've been looking for you." An unknown figure suddenly chimes in as he gives Nathan a back hug. I quickly turn my gaze to the floor. I won't risk blowing my cover. "Whose that?" The new male asks. There's something about his voice that makes the hairs at the back of my neck stand.

"Babe you won't believe who this is!" Nathan says still excited. Wait...did he just say babe? And why is he blowing my cover!

"JP isn't into sports. I don't think he knows him." Richard states

"Lemme guess, it's a boxer." The male whom I now know as JP says. His voice hits a nerve. It's awfully familiar. I can't help but look up, but my gaze meets his hand which is now stretched in front of me.

"I'm JP."

My mind spirals out of control with thousands of thoughts and I start to panic inwardly as I finally remember where I heard that voice from. Except last time it said...

"I'm Jimmy."

A/N: Please comment on what you think of the story so far. I know the build up was pretty long but I had to introduce AJ fully so y'all can understand his personality and his future actions.

Lots of drama coming up so don't stop reading♡:)