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 Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 12:31 pm
Nelson knew that Jace was stressed out. Xander had told him about it, and while Nelson knew he couldn’t really do anything to help...and that visiting the brother of his boyfriend and the friend of his sister...might be…dangerous at this moment in time…
Jace was his friend too...even if not as much as he was to the others but…
Nelson cared about him!
He had no experience with anything law related...but he knew what made good study snacks...he knew tests. He knew the stress that they could cause.
So, he had made a gift basket filled with snacks. A spicy hummus, some crackers that he had baked himself, which were sprinkled with a mixture of salt and cayenne that were actually really good...even if they brought tears to Nelson’s eyes from the spice. There were several bars of dark chocolate, as well as another package of the spicy jerky that Jace had seemed to like when he had brought it for Xander last time.
When he saw that their mother’s car was in the driveway, Nelson wrinkled his nose and quietly made his way around the building, peeking into Jace’s room and tapping on the window, hoping to get the attention of the other male...without getting him into trouble for having a guest.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 2:06 pm
The house was nearly dead silent, sans his mother’s angry voice from her office, scolding someone for...something. Jace was doing his best not to pay attention to anything she was saying, specifically because she was so distracting, but it’s not like he could go out and ask her to be quiet because he was studying.
Instead, he was hunched over his desk,massaging his temples as he stared down at this stupid ******** textbook and--
There was a tapping on his window. Not a bird. Birds didn’t tap like that. Not unless they were Holden.
Cautiously, begrudgingly, he went to the window and blinked when he saw Nelson.
What was this! Did Xander stand him up? Xander wasn’t even home today! Ugh! Stupid boyfriends!
He carefully opened his window so that it wouldn’t make a sound.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, more gruff than he meant it to be. It wasn’t accusational or hostile, just blunt in the way that Jace could be, especially when he was busy. His hair was done up, not in any elaborate way, but in the way that said he’d taken it down and put it back up at least a dozen times since he woke up this morning and, since his mother was home, he was dressed like he was in the office.
He was wearing black slack and a sharp, button down shirt--tucked in, even, belt even. His sleeves were rolled up but the room was strangely cold, especially considering the winter weather outside.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 2:32 pm
Nelson gave a bright smile that dimmed just a little at the tone that Jace had...but he was stressed. That was all! It...couldn’t be personal. “I...I know you’re busy. Xander has told me you’ve been living in your room, and I know your mom must be going utterly crazy…” Not that such a thing was out of the norm but…
Still.
He held up the basket of snacks and his smile brightened again. “I made you a care package, snacks to help you get through the studying so you can avoid going out to the kitchen as much as possible! I made the crackers myself, and everything is spicy, even the chocolate has chilis in it…”
Quickly, Nelson closed his mouth, not wanting to seem annoying, not wanting to keep prattling on, but…
“Studying can be really stressful, and I just...wanted to help. I...I know I don’t know much...anything about law but...I can do this. I know snacks well.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 2:53 pm
Jace blinked, visibly surprised as he adjusted to comprehend the situation. Xander had not stood up his boyfriend. Instead, it seemed like Xander had just been talking about him behind his back.
...Not anything bad, at least, so far as he could tell.
He hesitated for a few second before he shifted positions in the window and his face seemed to relax.
“Oh. You brought me snacks?” He hesitated. “Your sister didn’t put you up to this, did she?” he asked, but if she had, he supposed Nelson couldn’t have lied about it; a baby had a better poker face than Nelson did.
“...I don’t think I’ve ever had homemade crackers. Um. Thanks,” he said, and rubbed the back of his neck before he leaned over to accept the basket.
“I’m sorry that my mother’s home or I’d invite you in through the front door. Do you...want to come in for a minute and warm up? It’s chilly out here. I can’t send you home half frozen or your sister will kill me.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 3:55 pm
Nelson shook his head, giving what was almost a pout. “No...this was all me. Q’s busy with her own studies this week, and I’m pretty sure she’s at the library right now so...you don’t have to worry about me being cold! I...I know your mom’s here, that’s why I’m at the window like a creepy stalker...I saw her car.”
He nodded grimly at the thought and gave a small shudder. “I hope she’s not being awful. I’m glad that you um…” That he what? That he took the food? That he didn’t reject the snacks?
“I’m...glad to see that you’re okay! I know you’re going to do so well on this test, Jace. I believe in you! I...I do. I hope you like the crackers! There’s some spicy hummus to go along with them, it...it should be refrigerated, but you could maybe get away with leaving it near the window with the chill? Until you want to face the dragon, I mean…”
Nelson swallowed and his face scrunched up in sudden worry. “...N-not that your mom is a dragon! I…” He fell quiet and whispered. “...She actually terrifies me.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 4:19 pm
The idea of Nelson as a creepy stalker was comical; he didn’t have a bad bone in his body. Even now, Jace found it hard to huff at him, even if he’d stolen his best friend-slash-brother.
“...I can definitely tell you’ve been spending a lot of time with Xander,” he said, a little amused and a little insulted. It was one thing if it was them, if it was someone else…
He pushed down the anger and frustration, because he didn't want to blow up like his mother was doing three rooms away.
“...Yeah, I guess she can be scary if you’re not used to her.” Or if you were, but he wasn’t going to admit that to Nelson or himself. “But, um. Yeah, this means a lot, thanks. You sure you’re not just trying to butter me up since Xander squealed that you two are…”
...What was he supposed to say, dating?
“...A thing?”
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 5:55 pm
Again, Nelson’s smile faltered and he looked away. “Um...no. I mean. I just. We’re friends too...you know. I…” He shrugged and seemed to shrink just a little. “...It’s okay! I know that...ah. I mean. Just...good luck on your test, okay? I am rooting for you. And not because of my sister or my b-boyfriend. I…” Nelson couldn’t find the strength in him to even lift his head. Jace didn’t like him for himself at all. He really was just...the boyfriend of Xander and the brother of Q...and that…
...Sure, he had never been close to Jace but…
He had always thought of him as a friend.
“I should get going before she finds me here, I don’t want you getting into trouble. I...I’ll tell my sister you said hello, if you want...or. Ah. Maybe not. She’d be annoyed that I...bothered you I bet…” Nelson looked ready to flee now, utterly unable to look back at Jace, save for a small, quick smile that left as quickly as it had come. “...enjoy your snacks, and study hard...we...we want to celebrate when you pass…”
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:35 pm
"Hey," he said, almost a shade softer than before. He reached to rub the back of his neck. "...I'm teasing, Nelson," he said, a bit gruff because he wasn't the sort to apologize unless he had to, not if he was in any way in the wrong.
"...It's just a joke," he tried to reassure. "If your sister wanted something delivered, she'd have done it herself, and Xander's not exactly the type to be discreet. I mean. You made me crackers, Nelson."
...Had he made them just for him?
Guilt was swimming in his stomach now and he bit the inside of his cheek to ground himself. "You didn't bother me. You don't bother me. Just so you know. This was, you know. Nice of you. I'm...glad you all have so much confidence in me. I won't let you down," he said, because even if he had his own array of doubts, he tried not to share those, and the encouragement from Nelson, from the rest of his friends, was so different from what he was used to from his mother.
She seemed like she was almost threatening him to pass. Nelson...
Nelson just seemed like he genuinely believed in him and thought he could.
Jace rarely smiled, like the muscles in his face were just stuck that way, but for Nelson, now, he managed one.
"This, uh. This helps," he said, lifting the basket. "It'll keep me going. Mom's in a mood right now, so I appreciate it. You came just in time, I was starting to get hungry too. Thanks, a lot."
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:21 pm
Nelson finally looked back up at Jace, and managed another smile, a real one that made his eyes warm a little. “Of course we have confidence in you. You’re so smart, Jace. Besides, sometimes I worry you don’t have confidence in yourself, so I...try to have double for you...I mean. It’s easier...I don’t.” He shrugged and looked away again. “...I get not having confidence and I am not the one for advice on that but...ah. I’m glad you like the basket!”
The male drew a step back and rocked onto his heels. “You need to keep eating, keep snacking. That’s how I do my best studying. So, eat up and do your best! We’ll all be here for you after, no matter what!”
Not that he wouldn’t pass. He was smart, Nelson knew that.
“We’re proud of you, Jace! Keep it up, keep fighting!” He smiled again, and gave a little wave. He didn’t want to be there when Jace got to the bottom of the basket, to the card he had bought on a whim. A very fuzzy sheep, textured with some cotton, winking up at him, with the writing of Ewe’ve got this!.
The note inside was simple, a quick, I’m so glad that we’re friends Jace! I hope this makes studying a bit more bear-able! along with a textured teddy bear sticker. It was dumb but...it made Nelson smile so…
He hoped it would do the same for Jace.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:45 pm
Nelson still seemed like he was ready to leave, and Jace really couldn’t stop him. He needed to get back to studying--and now, admittedly, he wanted to dig through the basket and see what he could snack on. It felt a little better now; if he let Nelson leave now, he didn't have to worry that he’d hurt his feelings. Not when he was smiling like that.
For the briefest second, Jace was visibly flustered, like he wanted to argue and contest that Nelson was wrong, that he obviously had a surplus of confidence, but he had to mentally remind himself that when people did nice things for you, you should shut the ******** up and be appreciative, especially when they might be your brother in law next month, or however quickly Xander moved.
Instead, he raised his hand in a little wave and kept the smile on his face, no matter how much his muscles burned from it.
“All right. I’ll text you later. Hey--text me when you get home safe, okay? I’ll tell Xander you stopped by, too.”
Because...even if Jace didn’t know what was going on with them, even if he had so much to catch up on…
This was nice. He and Nelson hadn’t been the closest before, mostly due to Nelson being sensitive and fragile and deerlike and Jace not really finding it easy to tone it down and not scare him, but…
Maybe they could make something work.
This was nice, after all.
...He’d have to find some way to pay him back, but.
After the test. When he could go back to focusing on any other aspect of life again.
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:14 pm
Nelson hesitated, but gave a bright, warm smile, nodding to Jace and giving a little wave. “Yeah! I can do that! I’ll be thinking about you, Jace! Seriously! You’re going to do so well!”
He had to do well...or his mom would filet him. They all knew that for a fact...a terrible fact, but a fact.
He would though. Jace was smart! Pretty soon, he would be done with the test and they could all go out and have some fun. Would count on it..
For now at least...he had good things to munch on.
And with that thought, the boy hurried away, feeling pleased with the fact that Jace had only gotten a little angry…
It was better than normal!
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