Love Will Find A Way

6

When Eddie first met Jake, he was two weeks away from being nineteen. He had been working in a small cafe downtown New York, with his hair combed neatly and an apron wrapped around his waist.

"Hi, how may I help you?" He asked a kind looking woman, who had her hair in a messy bun and around three children trailing behind her. As she was stating her order, Eddie couldn't help but to look at that table again. The one with the boy - the boy with dirty blonde hair and who'd been staring at Eddie for maybe an hour. When he began to smile, Eddie looked away, an uncomfortable feeling washing over him.

He grinned and thanked the woman for visiting their restaurant when she was done with her order and walked away to the kitchen. As soon as the strange boy was out of sight, Eddie''s chest got lighter and he felt like he could breathe again. He handed over the order to a chef and stayed in the kitchen for a moment longer. He waited, gave himself a pep talk, and made himself go back outside. Eddie avoided the boy for as long as he could, only walking past him in order to go check on his other tables. When everyone in his area was finished, he could leave. He could leave, and he would never see the strange boy again.

He went home that day and told Richie about the man from work. Richie had only laughed, telling Eddie, "He must've just thought you were cute, Eds. Be stupid not to." Then, Richie had slapped his butt playfully and snorted when Eddie jumped. As he walked away, Eddie looked after him, confused.

Halfway through his shift two days later, the boy was back again. This time, Eddie thought about what Richie had told him. What if the boy really did just think he was cute? Maybe he just had trouble flirting and was scared to approach Eddie. The boy wasn't bad looking, either. He was actually quite the opposite. Now that Eddie was a little less freaked out by him, he was able to appreciate his looks. He was a rugged sort of handsome. Kind of like Richie, Eddie notes, and smiles. Maybe he'll give the boy a chance. So he walks over to him table, because today the boy is sitting in Eddie's section, and gives him a smile.

"Hi, my name is Eddie, and I'll be your waiter today." The boy still looks at him, and up close Eddie can see that his eyes are a pretty blue color. He smiles. "Can I get you started with anything to drink?"

"I'll have a water, please." His voice is rough and deep and it sends a shiver down Eddie's spine.

Eddie nods, smiles. He goes to get the water, giving himself another pep talk, and goes back to the table. He sets the water down in front of the boy and giving him what he hopes is a flirtatious smile. "Can I ask your name?"

The boy smiles for the first time since their interaction had begun, and Eddie does not fail to notice how truly attractive he is. "Jake," he says, still smiling.

"Jake," he says, testing it out on his tongue. "I like it. I'm Eddie."

The boy - Jake - laughs quietly. "You already said that," he tells Eddie, and Eddie can feel the blush rising to his cheeks. "But it's nice to meet you, Eddie."

He goes on his first date with Jake two weeks later, and a second a week after that. Him and Jake get along really well together, and this is important to Eddie. He's never really dated before, but he thinks that maybe you're supposed to get along with your significant other. No - this, he knows. He spends a lot of time with Jake, and less time with his friends. He doesn't notice. He's two caught up in Jake. After two months, he thinks he loves him.

He tells Jake this at two in the morning as he's falling asleep in Jake's house, his head on Jake's shoulder. He's asleep before he can see the devilish grin on Jake's face.

He's been dating Jake for six months when he hits him for the first time. Eddie practically lives at Jake's house by now, with a drawer of his own things in his bedroom. He's making breakfast on the day after their six month anniversary. He makes pancakes, because those are Jake's favorite. He's humming happily to himself while Jake watches football in the living room. He stumbles, and the pancake mix goes everywhere.