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 Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:54 am
Jace snorted, unable to resist being amused at the idea of Nelson frantically trying to find excuses not to eat his own food because Xander had spiked it with too many spices.
"All right, all right. Do you want a sandwich though, for real? --Because if your stomach starts growling in the middle of him eating it..."
He looked at Nelson, quite seriously. "You'll be lucky if he doesn't start hand feeding you more jerky to try and 'help'..."
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:29 pm
Nelson paused and gave a nervous laugh. “...I would love a sandwich, Jace. Please.” He was right. He was so right. That would be exactly what Xander would do...and oh. That wouldn’t end well at all. “I...ah. I’m glad that you’re here and actually thinking...it helps a lot.”
He gave a shy smile and finished the last of his milk, taking the cup to the sink and rinsing it out. “...Do you have...advice on getting better with eating spicy things? Because, I’m all ears if you do. I don’t want to be a disappointment to your brother...and I’m...I ah...I’m afraid that I will b-be...sometimes. He’s amazing, you know, Jace.”
Nelson’s eyes flickered to the floor, even though he had his back to the male. “You know. L-like you think my sister is. Probably…”
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:03 pm
Jace sighed, exasperated with the praise about his thinking. He was gathering a few things for a sandwich when Nelson started talking about being a disappointment, and Xander being amazing, and Q...
He almost dropped the mayonnaise and fumbled to put everything on the counter so he could prepare a decent sandwich.
"What?" he demanded, not looking up as he began to put things together.
"If you want to get better at eating spicy things, just find what level works for you and try to go a little spicier. That way you can enjoy the flavor, and a little heat, and keep going from there. Eventually your taste buds will settle, but if you just go from mild to super hot, you're just hurting yourself. There's no shame in taking small steps, they're still steps."
No shame unless you had to deal with his mother breathing down your neck, but still.
His lips were pursed, screwed to one side. "--Why did you bring your sister up, what's she got to do with this? If this is about you and Xander, keep it about you and Xander, don't drag my thoughts or feelings into it. --You know, while we're on the topic, if you keep talking about how amazing he is, someone's going to get the wrong opinion, you know. You sound--like. Like a lovesick puppy," he muttered, angrily chopping up lettuce--because anger was his default emotion when he was flustered or out of his element.
Like, now, or any other time feelings were on the table.
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:27 pm
Nelson stiffened, his eyes fixated on the stream of water that had filled the cup and was now running down the sides. His brain felt frozen, stuck and terribly uncomfortable. “...Sm-small steps, yeah...ah...you...ah. We can get o-off the topic if you would like. I...I would like that very much I think. There...you can’t...I mean...I…”
He should just leave now. Put the glass in the sink and just...make a run for it. He didn’t need to see Xander anyway, right? He just...He could…
Xander didn’t even know that he was here for goodness sakes...he could leave and...nothing would be wrong at all… “I...maybe...maybe don’t...don’t worry about the sandwich...I just...s-suddenly remembered I...was supposed...do do something.” Anything. So long as it got him out of the house and away from Jace.
Finally he looked up and shrugged, blurting out. “...You like her though, right? Q?”
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 2:17 pm
Jace looked so confused, mouth falling open like he didn't know how to answer the question. They were friends, of course he liked her? Did she think he didn't? --No, Q wasn't so insecure that she'd worry that they weren't friends. Wait, they were friends, right?
Seconds away from a premature midlife crisis, Jace had to stop his thoughts and focus on something else--which just so happened to be Nelson, and Xander, and not him or his feelings or his thoughts or him.
"--Eat the sandwich!" he demanded, shoving it over. "If you want to leave, leave, but don't make excuses. You said you wanted one, so I made you a sandwich--so if you don't want to be around me, take it with you."
He leaned over the counter, face closer to Nelson's to make sure he could pick up any trace of dishonesty. "Did your sister say something? --She's not mad at me for telling her to stop telling me to go to bed last night, right? Because I did go to bed after I finished that chapter, so if she's sent you over here to nag at me too, I won't have it. I got six hours of sleep, and that's closer to eight than I usually do. I like her just fine, even though she's so pushy. Why?" he questioned, like he was offended at the concept that their friendship could be in danger. "What does she have to do with any of this?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 9:31 am
Nelson took the sandwich and hurriedly had a large bite, filling his mouth so he had an excuse not to talk. The regret that he was filled with was enormous, and he couldn’t believe he had said anything but...he had wanted to distract Jace from continuing to talk about himself and Xander...it...
After swallowing the first mouthful, Nelson shook his head vehemently. “N-no she...she didn’t say anything...ah. No I came to...to see Xander she..I didn’t even tell her!” Not that he had to but...he wasn’t going to continue to poke the already riled up bear.
“C-could we just...move on from...from the subject I...I might...I mean. She likes you too, there’s nothing wrong. I just...I don't know...I...I’m sorry…” He took another large bite of sandwich, surprised when it was half gone in just two bites.
But...Jace was scary when he was angry.
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 10:14 am
Jace was quiet for a moment and then just grumbled, propping himself up on the counter on his elbows.
"...You brought it up," he countered, already playing a dozen different conversation options in his head and wondering how he was still in the wrong when he hadn't even started this chat. But Nelson looked like a scared animal and Jace had to force himself to tone it down.
"...You don't have to--this isn't even worth apologizing over, Nelson. It's okay. Just breathe. You're going to choke on that sandwich. Is something going on with you and Xander? --Because you got all jumpy when you started talking about him."
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 11:24 am
“I…” He choked out, wincing as he swallowed the large mouthful in the completely wrong way and coughed for a moment while his airway cleared. “...You said...I was like a puppy...I’m...not a puppy. He’s just. My best friend...we really…” Nelson drew in a breath, putting the sandwich down and going to sit in one of the kitchen chairs. “...It really...isn’t a big deal, I’m sorry I...I upset you, I didn’t mean to...the um. The sandwich is delicious. Nothing is going on with me and Xander, I promise.”
Not that he didn’t want something to be going on...but he would rather eat that whole bag of jerky before admitting such a thing to Jace.
...He was pretty sure that Q already knew, but his sister was easily the smartest person in the world…
Though…
“...Thanks…”
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 11:51 am
Jace squinted again, and donned an expression that was remarkably similar to a pout, once you got past the resting b***h face syndrome. "...I'm not upset."
No, he figured if Nelson really saw him upset, he'd be passed out in fear right now.
"...You just got so jumpy. Made me wonder if something was going on. I don't like secrets, that's all."
He crossed his arms over his chest and then frowned, because something was there, he just wasn't quite getting it. So, he looked at Nelson, intently, because he knew if he looked for long enough he'd crack.
"...Are you sure nothing's going on? Because I can always call your sister and ask."
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 12:53 pm
“I’m sure...I’m sure nothing’s going on! I...I’m glad that you’re not upset, there’s nothing going on...ah…” Nelson took another bite of sandwich, chewing hard and staring at the soft bread with a level of intensity that was definitely not needed.
When he got that bite down, he looked up imploringly at Jace. “...Q doesn’t...I mean. She’ll think that I told her...and...look it just...I mean...you don’t have to worry! There aren’t any issues! I promise...ah…”
He had to stop talking. He should just finish the sandwich and leave before things could progress any further. If Jace found out about his feelings for Xander...that could just be a big mess. Especially if he used that to figure out Q’s feelings for him...and...well. Oh he would be so dead if his sister thought he was trying to set them up.
He had no desire to die! There was so much of life to enjoy.
Nelson swallowed hard and paused when he heard the front door open, his face lighting up as though the sun had come out from behind the clouds.
Safety.
Xander.
“He’s home!” Without another word to Jace, Nelson left the remaining bites of sandwich on the plate and left the kitchen, going to meet Xander and thankfully put an end to the awkwardness.
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