Short song fic because I can't help myself and I love Maroon 5 and their new album more than anything

Song: Maroon 5 - Denim Jacket.

You're standing there with your cigarette

Looking at me like we've never met.

Mark hasn't changed much since high school, only hes lost the fashion sense he had, yet he still has the nasty habit of smoking. He looks more laid back and relaxed, like he isn't trying to force anything -- Jack thinks plaid suits him better but tries not to gaze upon him for too long, its strange to see him again its been what? Ten whole years since they had had their fling. Jack hates to admit but his heart does rise a little when he sees him but shakes his head - the man will have more than moved on by now and so had Jack well at least he had try too but hes got bigger problems than re-lighting old flames that burned out too much. It does sting a little the man doesn't recognize him but he has changed too - perhaps too much to recognize.

I know I fucked up

So I'll take the blame

And I don't expect you, to let me explain

You can't forgive, I can't forget

I know you're just too different now.

Their fling had been cut short when Jack had caught feelings and went running, thinking that it was easier that way - thinking back now he wished he hadn't, wished he'd just saw things through. Mark had avoided him after that too and that is a regret for Jack as well.

Yet seeing him here in the middle of some shitty reunion filled with people he barely knows but people who seem to know him, it makes him miss it all - Hes never missed high school until he spotted him glancing out the window. He notices the blonde girl who stands next to him happily and he thinks they must be together and assumes they'll be coming in any moment. It makes Jack want to run and hide -- if they bump into each other and Mark remembers him it'll be an awkward exchange of how is life and numerous questions hes been trying to avoid the whole time here.

;

But I miss you and that denim jacket

I let you get away, I let you get away

Of course Mark had to spot him, although he was probably staring. He approaches without the blonde girl Jack saw him standing beside earlier and he hasn't aged all that much - there's not a single grey hair amongst the raven. Jack remembers that Mark would always wear a denim jacket with everything, he looked like the schools resident bad boy as he he hung by the lockers. The teachers would always have a go at him for it but he wore it so much that they gave up after a week or so.

He always suited denim, it just sort of compliments him but now as the stands in front of him flannel-clad Jack thinks he could wear anything, Jack would like to see him in denim though just for the nostalgia.

Jack snaps out from his trip down memory lane just as the man smiles at him and offers a greeting and a 'its been so long.'

;

Do you still wear the denim jacket?

I let you get away, I let you get away

They spend the rest of the evening chatting and catching up -- they do have ten odd years to talk about. Mark talks about his girlfriend Amy and Jack says hes just been unlucky trying to sway the conversation else where. Its only here, now that he realizes maybe after all this time Mark was the one that got away from him. The one you know you love but are too scared to do anything about it, the one you meet when you are young and foolish and not old enough to know better than to run away.

Jack doesn't think Mark will think that way about Jack, he has the beautiful blonde girl and Jack thought he had moved on from all those days. Maybe hes just missing somebody to hug at night, that's probably just it - hes older now and sentimental.

Now someone else is taking you home, yeah

Hands on the waist, I used to hold

And I know it's my fault

I'm late to the dance

'Cause you couldn't wait for me and I understand

Why you never looked back

Once that door closed

I know you're just too different now.

They part ways at the end of the evening, everyone returning to their less than glorious lives but here they make it seem like they've had the perfect life -- Jack never liked that about these kind of reunions, everyone making them seem better than they actually are. Jacks honest and pure even after all this time. He hasn't had the perfect life and there is a lot of regrets but hell, hes lived it to the best of his ablilty and that isn't going to change for some hoity toity person from his math class.

At least he'll keep in contact with Mark although he cannot tell if that is a good or a bad thing with how he feels after that reunion. Jacks always said that looking towards the future is much better than looking back but he just can't seem to look anywhere else other than Mark right now.

;

But I miss you and that denim jacket

I let you get away, I let you get away

Do you still wear that denim jacket?

I let you get away, I let you get away

'Cause the color of that blue sky

Just remind me of our goodbye

Do you still wear the denim jacket?

I let you get away, I let you get away

Jacks standing in Marks cupboard, digging through old items. He was invited seeing as Marks terrible at getting rid of things from the past and a little bit of a hoarder (what a coincidence, Jack seemingly is too) When they stumble across the legendary denim jacket and although he tries to hide it Jacks face does light up.

"Its the jacket you wore every single day!" He laughs and Mark tries it on. Jacks heart stops.

The jacket is a little smaller of course but its still in good condition and he looks like the high schooler Jack had come to love and its almost too much.

"I cant believe I used to wear this all the time, what was I thinking? But, there's no way I'm getting rid of this." Mark utters, placing it neatly back into the cupboard alongside whatever else he has chosen to keep. It puts Jack at ease that he doesn't want to get rid of something Jack holds so dear, too.

Do you, do you still

Do you, do you still

Do you, do you still, wear that denim jacket?

Do you, do you still?

Do you, do you still?

Do you, do you still, wear that denim jacket?

Maybe the jacket was the last straw but, they do end up talking about the days they were together.

"I wish I knew what I know now, back then." Jack murmurs, soft. He gets a small hum of agreement in return.

"We were young and dumb, it happens. Its good to see you now though." Mark smiles at him. Jack doesn't think Mark has any idea of how happy he is to see him too but he just agrees. Even now hes running from his feelings, maybe he has not changed all that much. Never learned his lesson.

;

They're out for coffee, like friends do and Jacks making a bigger deal out of it than it actually is. But between the two sitting opposites in the small cafe it's there he decides its time to admit defeat, his feelings for the man in front of him have never left in the first place - Jacks just sort of forgot about them and upon seeing him, upon seeing him with the same jacket he wore all those years ago his feelings have ignited the old flame. Jacks still a sentimental fool.

"I always liked you more than I cared to admit. Sometimes I wish things were different between us and I wasn't such a coward but I'm not here to ruin what you have with Amy." He states, bold; truth and it makes him feel lighter but the rejection he knows is coming will sting a lot more.

Sometimes you just have to let go, and Jacks thinks this is his way of doing so, so that the pair can be actual friends and not have Jack freak out about things.

"You were my first love and my first heartbreak but its been years, Jack. I moved on and you should too, I want you to be free."

Jack knows what Marks says is true but the first parts sting more than the rest.

Sometimes you let people slip from your grasp too much -- Jack knows he'll find someone eventually but in the back of his mind, he will also know that Mark was the one that go away.

You're standing there with your cigarette (yeah)

Looking at me like we've never met

But I miss you and that denim jacket

I let you get away, I let you get away

Do you still wear that denim jacket?

I let you get away, I let you get away

'Cause the color of that blue sky

Just reminds me of our goodbye

Do you still wear the denim jacket?

I let you get away, I let you get away

Do you, do you still, do you, do you still?

Do you wear that denim jacket?