A Birthday Roadtrip - Jadam/ SomethingOdd

Day 2 - Part 2

Day 2, 17/06/2020 - Adams birthday
11:25am

James and Adam sit and enjoy the rest of 'what' until it ends, leaving the car silent. James strikes up a conversation, "Okay, so like, Adam. I have a question." "Yeah?" "What if we never gained an audience on YouTube? Either one of us." Adam thinks for a moment, "What are you asking exactly?" "I'm asking, do you think we'd know each other? Do you think if the algorithm just wasn't right when either one of us had small channels, we'd be in this car together?"

"No definitely not," Adam states confidently, "We only met because we liked each other's content. If let's say, I didn't grow enough for you to discover my channel, we never would've talked or become friends." "Yeah but, you watched my content, right? So we could've easily met at Vidcon and become friends don't you think?" The debate goes back and forth as they both present valid arguments. "True, but you'd probably only treat me as a fan. How many fans do you meet that you're willing to get to know well?" "Not many..." James admits. "Exactly. So I don't think we would end up as friends." "Yeah, but I said not many. Most of my audience is, like, ten-year-olds. You're my age and an amazing friend and person in general. I'm sure I'd wanna talk to you more."

"I have to disagree again. You wouldn't know that. All you'd see is some weird kid with a lisp grovelling at your feet cause he's meeting the 'all-mighty' James." A chuckle escapes James' mouth, "Alright then fine. You win."

Adam smiles victoriously. "Okay how about this," James starts, nervously, "What if we were dating?" "S-sorry, what?" Adam stutters with a more than slightly red face. "I just... I dunno. We do all that fake flirting all the time and sometimes I just wonder... What if it was real?... Y'know?" They sit in a strange silence, only the hum of the air conditioner filling the car.

"I... I don't know," Adam finally speaks up, "How do you think we would've told each other?" James stares straight at the road while he thinks about his response to Adams question, "I'd probably... just say it. I think I'd just pull you aside and tell you how much you mean to me. How your smile keeps me going when nothing else does and how you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen. How I study your face when you aren't looking so I can take in every part of you..."

Adam stares in shock. What James just said sounded so... genuine. Like it came from the bottom of his heart. "Th-that's just hypothetical though, haha..." Adam laughs along awkwardly before James asks, "What would you say?" Adam swallows the lump in his throat, although it feels like he's swallowing his shame, "I'd tell you... I'd tell you I feel the same and that uh... That you're my favourite person and I've always felt this way... How I get lost in my thoughts thinking about you and your dumb smile. And how it makes me happy for hours. How one laugh or a cute giggle from you can brighten the rest of my day no matter what had happened. And that... I love you..."

Both their faces are the brightest red they've ever been as they stare forwards at the long road ahead. "Wow... Haha, that was a lot of imagining for one day," James laughs quietly. Adam agrees before getting lost in his mind. What James had said about him felt so real. And what he'd said about James felt so... right. James has quickly moved on and is talking about Floof now but Adam can't register any of what he's saying.

Come on, Adam. Pull it together. That meant nothing. You heard James. It was hypothetical. A what-if. Just a bit of imagining. Just calm down, and talk to your best friend. Simple. Yeah...

"And then she fell off the couch. It was adorable," James finishes telling another story about Floof. "Floof is such a cute doggo. Thurnis just sasses me 24/7." James laughs, "He's gotten so big though! Soon he'll be taller than both of us I swear." Why does it feel like we're an old married couple talking about our kid? No- nope not gonna think that. This is my friend. Friend. Do you hear that brain?