'Why did he walk away? Did I say something wrong?'

Jericho felt numb. Leaving with Abel and then shutting himself up at home in his room seemed appealing. This was why he wished he hadn't said anything, now or earlier. He finally opened up to him, after all the promises and the declarations and everything he'd been through up until this point, and for what?

To become an invested, emotional wreck whenever he fell in love with someone? It was pathetic, and it hurt, and now precisely what he thought would happen, happened. But it was far too late now. Joseph had already carved out an exceptionally large place for himself in his heart, even before realizing his feelings.

He couldn't move. Fiddling with the polyester hem of the jersey Joseph let him wear instead and staring down at his sneakers. It smelt like him; ginger, vanilla, and tobacco leaf.

And, at the moment, he disliked the warmth blooming in his chest and his cheeks. His hands were colder than before, but he couldn't be bothered to put them back into his pockets either.

Knowing full well that it wouldn't feel the same. The brown-haired boy was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice Joseph standing right back in front of him again until he leaned over the wire barrier.

The other's eyes softened considerably after he glanced up, concerned crocodile green irises trying to search his for something, what? He wasn't exactly sure.

"Jericho?"

The blond frowned, reached out, and put a knuckle under his chin, lifting his head fully, and definitely seeing the stupid fucking tears in his eyes now.

Jericho clenched his jaw and glared as he reached up to grab his wrist. Fully intending to pull the big hand right off him and then demand to know what the hell that was.

"Joey, please just—"

Joseph let go first and started yanking off his jersey and then the bulky shoulder pads, still being careful of his nose and placing them on the ground next to him. Leaving him in only his compression top. He hopped over the fence that separated the field from the bleachers and dragged him away from prying eyes, engulfing him in a hug.

"Sorry, I'm sweaty."

He wrapped his arms around his neck and shoulders and squeezed. The shorter kept his limp at his sides and tried to squirm out of his hold, but to no avail. The embrace seemed to tighten the more he struggled until he couldn't move much at all.

"You done?"

Jericho hesitantly returned the hug, squeezing as hard as he could, out of spite, and pouting but making sure he didn't see it. He always seemed to have an explanation for everything. But he wasn't letting go of the quarterback until he was satisfied with the reason he gave for why he bounced after the brown-haired boy bared his soul to him.

Too much had happened this morning. He was... sensitive, and his usually stone-cold and uncaring façade had been crumbling away slowly but surely throughout the day. Things that he didn't usually let bother him upset or angered him to a concerning degree. Joseph amplified his emotions even more. He swears he'll be the death of him.

"'Cho, baby, you jump to conclusions faster than lightnin'. Given the situation, though, I should've said somethin' before I walked off." He was quiet for a bit as he gently rocked them side to side and then continued in a mumble, "Truth be told, I was a little mad at me too; you looked so anxious about mentionin' it. I don't ever want you to feel like you can't talk to me."

The shorter boy snuggled further into his neck and hummed against the damp skin there in response.

"I told Jessica about us, and then she went off on me. Guess she didn't believe all the rumors because she said some shit about wantin' to hear it from me herself. If I had told her earlier, none of this would have happened, though. Hey," Joseph loosened his hold and leaned back, "look at me."

Jericho lifted his head, not all the way but enough to return the stare; the blond was quiet for a little while. Inky pupils dilating in their cloudy green pools as his face split into a goofy grin.

He could feel his cheeks getting warmer again, and he was about ready to shove him off out of embarrassment. But, Joseph probably saw it in his face because he moved his hands down to his waist. Thumbs massaging his obliques and the smile on his face widening.

"I'm not goin' anywhere, and I'm not lettin' you run away from me again either. God knows I love you, but I need you to trust me a lil' more."

He exhaled. The brown-haired boy studied him, really studied him. Every plane, smooth curve, and the galaxy of freckles on his face; thought about all the long hugs, the forehead kisses, and the not so platonic touches.

The first time they met at orientation, spoke to each other, and the number of times he'd begged his mom to let him stay after school for Joseph's junior varsity games. Their relationship before everyone knew them, and they were just the "two weirdos everyone thought were already dating."

For the first time in his life, he wished it hadn't taken this long to realize it. That he loved him and wanted to, at the very least, try this whole relationship thing. Even though everything in the world could go wrong, he wasn't going to speed run it by being pessimistic and untrusting, not anymore.

The shorter boy nodded in response to his statement, "Ok."

"Just ok?"

The blond cocked a golden eyebrow and dragged his hands slowly down his back until they rested dangerously close to his tailbone.

Jericho shivered involuntarily and then pouted, looping his arms around his neck now and feigning ignorance.

"What?"

"You're breakin' my heart here..."

The shorter boy grinned, used his hands to yank him down, and then tangled his fingers into soft blond hair. He kissed him, mollifying his over-eager tongue into a slow drag of lips until neither of them could breathe properly and whispered, "I love you, too." Nipping the swollen flesh of his bottom lip and coyly peering up at him through dark lashes.

Joseph ended up bumping their noses together while chasing after his retreating lips. It seemed like the pain didn't even register because his pupils were blown wide, and the tips of his fingers dug almost painfully into Jericho's skin even through the jersey.

"Baby, come on. Don't play with me like that."

He leaned in again, but coach Williams barked at the quarterback from across the field, thankfully, before he stopped resisting. The blond certainly wasn't making it easy for him.

"Turner! Quit canoodling with your boyfriend already and get your ass over here!"

Joseph growled and settled for smacking his ass and kissing his bottom lip.

"Don't move. I'm not through with you."

It wasn't a suggestion. He watched him hop the fence again and grab his equipment to run back to the team. Jericho looked around and saw that no one was paying them any mind.

They were in a semi-seclusive area. Most of the students were already chatting in the parking lot, so he was relieved, but the peace was short-lived as usual.

The twins turned the corner, always seeming to pop up out of thin air and at the most inconvenient times. The brown-haired boy couldn't even imagine what they Jessica wanted now.

She stood at the forefront of the little party with her arms crossed and her lips pursed. She was the spitting image of the cliché mean girl in a high-school coming of age film. He almost wanted to point it out.

"So, you and Joseph, huh? Took y'all long enough. The two of you are denser than a neutron star."

She spoke first in a sugary voice, too familiarly for his liking. Jericho glanced down at her, "Do you need something? Or..." and held back a grin when Johanna chuckled behind her sister. The red-head glared at her but turned back around and regained her composure.

"I'm bitter, but I know he'll never change his mind, and I'm not gonna bitch about it to the guy he's in love with, so I'll keep it short, sweet pea. Joseph isn't who you think he is, and he's got that big ol' bruise I had to cover up to show for it. Do with that what you will."

So the makeup was her? At least she was honest, though, plus he had been made aware of that fact by several other people a long while ago. But sweet pea? Really? She said it all condescendingly too, Jericho couldn't recall ever having done anything directly to her. They just have a mutual dislike for one another because they were down bad for the same dude.

"I appreciate that you helped him out, but I'm aware. I know he probably has his reasons."

Jessica shrugged, "It's not my place to show and tell, so I won't. Prepare yourself for a whole new world if you're actually serious about him, though." hooked her elbow with her sister's, and dragged her away. He had a feeling that wasn't the last he'd see of her.

The foundation of every "normal" relationship is supposed to be trust and communication. That's not something he's used to giving or receiving without it being abused within the first three months.

Jericho had a lot to work on in that department, and he didn't want to admit it out loud in case he jinxed it, but he had hope that they would get there eventually. He and Joseph are supposed to talk tonight; it's a start, and he's trusting him to tell the truth.

If it's something the blond can't speak about, he'll just have to accept that, though. The shorter boy waited by the bleachers for the coach to finish speaking to the team, and eventually, they all broke off with several love taps and a series of weird barks.

Jericho nodded at him in confirmation when he pointed at the school and held up five fingers. After a few minutes, Michael, Joey, and a few other players came back out of the school's gym exit; he dapped up the captain and then broke off from the small group.

His face was still glowing from earlier, but a knowing smirk adorned it now while he made his way over. Teasing Joseph was surprisingly easy to do, and he knew just how to get that cocky look off his face too.

He heard him fish his keys out of the sweats he changed into and ask him: "You were lookin' all lovesick, miss me already?"

Jericho, who was in front of him, turned around and started walking backward, making sure Joseph watched him as he scanned his body from head to toe slowly, and then tuck his bottom lip into his mouth.

"Every waking moment." He added, "I'm missing something else of yours quite a bit, though." And then winked.

The quarterback almost came to a full stop, and his eyes widened considerably. The brown-haired boy laughed at his jolted expression until a crazed smile replaced it and bolted as soon as he began sprinting after him.

"Nah c'mere!"

Shouting, "it was a joke!" While Joseph chased him down the sidewalk, around the parking lot, and then his truck's circumference like they were playing a game of tag.

The taller boy almost got him a couple of times, but Jericho was determined not to get caught up like he did previously. Apparently, the game had switched to hide and seek because as he rounded the front, he saw football gear sitting on the ground, but there was no sign of the matching player.

He tried peeking through the tinted windows to catch a glimpse of him on the other side, but he couldn't see over there or behind him either.

"Shit."

He felt Joseph before he saw him, the big body right behind him radiating heat like a furnace. A hand curled around his and pulled, using his arm to turn him around and push him until his back was against the passenger seat door of the other boy's car. Joseph leaned in near his ear.

"Can't say things like that to me and then run. Actions and words have consequences. You know, I've been missin' somethin' of mine too."

Without warning, the blond grabbed a healthy handful of his ass through his cargo pants, and Jericho bit back the sound climbing his throat. He thought his face would melt off because of the heat burning through his cheeks.

They were still in the school parking lot, for god's sake. Earlier, he just wanted to wipe that arrogant smirk off his face. It worked for a good seven seconds, and now look where that got him.

"You been keepin' this away from me."