See if I Care!

The Worst Thing I've Seen

A/N: Thursday again!Right now there's only two chapters left after this one, I think, so the story is gonna have 19 chapters in total… then I'm gonna go back to fanfics for a while before deciding on my next original story… I still have the mermaid thing in the back of my mind… might be fun to write a bit of fantasy after 'realism', so to speak…

Anyway, have fun!

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Chapter 17: The Worst Thing I've Seen

Tuesday evening found the two couples at Lance's place, enjoying some snacks and talking very quietly, as Tony had just fallen asleep.

"So, are you getting the place?" Lance asked.

"Depends on the damage," Jake answered. "If it's not too extensive we'll take a second look, won't we?" he asked Mark.

"Yeah, I liked it. The kitchen layout was very similar to the one at my place, just a bit bigger."

"Let me know, I'd like to start looking too," the brunet said. "And I'm not allowed to be too far from my BFF, am I Mark?"

"You're not," Mark nodded with a grin. "Preferably in the same building."

"Whoa, it needs to be in my price range too. I'd be lucky to find an apartment a few blocks away. But I'll try."

"The area is rather cheap at the moment as there's a lot of renovations and developing going on. Once that's done the prices will skyrocket." Jake warned him. "But… Well, maybe I should discuss this with Mark first, but he's renting his place out-"

"If Lance rented my apartment, that would take him further away, wouldn't it?" Mark objected. "Besides, I don't have a second bedroom."

"No," Jake said, "But I do. And I live on just the next street down from the new place."

"You do?!" Mark gaped.

"You didn't know?" Jake sounded puzzled.

"I have a lot of things in here, but not a complete map of New York City," the blond said and tapped the side of his head. "Even the grid system confuses me sometimes. I was sure you lived further away than that."

"Sorry, I'm used to you knowing everything," Jake chuckled.

"Be careful with that teasing, Jacob," Mark growled playfully.

"It was praise!"

"Suuuure it was."

"Guys!" O'Connor spoke up, "Let's get back to the apartment thing!"

"Well," Jake coughed, maybe feeling self conscious about having been caught being silly 'in public' once again, "there are many 'ifs' of course: if we get the other apartment, if you don't mind renting, and if the tenant's association doesn't mind me renting it out."

"Are they tough?" Lance asked.

"Fairly. Might help that I'm the chairman, though," Jake admitted.

"Of course you are," O'Connor chuckled. "Three months after moving in you'll be the chairman at your new place too."

"I don't see why it would have to take that long," Jake sniffed, making Mark snicker.

"There's another 'if' too: if I get custody," Lance sighed. "I won't need two bedrooms if I don't."

"Oh, you never know. I might want to move some things to your place…" O'Connor said. "Besides, don't be so negative; of course you'll get custody!"