𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 10
3𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐯

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— THE NEXT DAY, it's time for the trio to leave Texas and fly home to Los Angeles. Surprisingly, most of the party is not excited about this. Although they will certainly be relieved to be in their own home, this also means saying goodbye. Goodbye to each other, goodbye to spending every day together. Goodbye.

And perhaps the two were being a bit dramatic about the ordeal as they sat in the back of the car, however after so long apart, after finally being reunited only to say goodbye again... Well, it felt big to them, even if it was only goodbye for now because they didn't know when the next time they would see each other would be. The last time... well, the last time Jasper didn't even get to say goodbye, and then they didn't see each other for several years. So saying goodbye now felt all too big and bitter, the very idea of it hung them, an overbearing shadow clouding their minds as they rode to the airport.

"What gate are you at, Jasper?" Sam asked casually from the front seat, usually, Colby sat in the passenger seat beside him but today he couldn't manage to tear himself away from Jasper, craving his touch, his very presence.

Jasper listed off his gate with absentminded ease, "We're at the same gate." Colby noted, glancing at him, "You live in LA?"

He nodded in return, snapping himself out of his thoughts to give Colby his full attention, "Have for a few years now. I went to college there. Sophomore year, and never left after that." He explained. Colby tried not to think of the implications of that, still he thought of it. He could see him every day still, call him up just to say hi, and go over to see him whenever he felt like it. It could be nice — good. But, he couldn't force it, and he couldn't get his hopes up either. Jasper could forget about him the second they land in Los Angeles, if not sooner, and he couldn't do anything about it.

He was brought out of his thoughts by a touch on his hand, he glanced at Jasper but the man was already looking back at him, his hand on his. He had a smile on but his eyes were clouded with worry.

Colby looked down at their hands and carefully intertwined them, right out of Sam's field of vision. It'll be okay, his eyes seemed to whisper to Colby, he nodded, attempting to seem confident however he was anything but confident, filled with worry and dread.

He wasn't worried about the flight itself, he was worried about what came after.

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IT took the group until they were boarding the plane to realize they had somehow gotten seats together without realizing. Sam and Colby had of course picked their seats together, but hadn't thought their guest and newfound friend (and old-time lover) would be beside them by chance.

Jasper led the group, sitting down next to the window before Colby sat beside him and Sam beside him. "And you guys didn't plan this?" He joked, buckling his seatbelt.

"Honestly, we didn't even know you lived in LA." Sam admitted with a laugh.

"Must be fate." Colby added, his hand brushing Jasper's as he reached for his seatbelt.

"Yeah," Jasper glanced at Colby, watching him steadily, unable to tear his gaze away, "fate."  Finally, he tore his eyes away and looked out the window as the stewardess came around to give the instructions for emergencies. He listened idly before putting his earbuds in, playing soft music to distract himself. He wasn't particularly scared of flying but his anxiety always liked to play games at the worst times and never asked for consent, so he was left extremely anxious before any travel, or... well, anything really.

Gripping the arm of her chair, he kept his breathing steady, willing his anxiety away. He tried to appear calm but it apparently failed —Colby nudged him and mouthed, "You okay?" He nodded, however, Colby didn't seem to agree as he grabbed his hand and intertwined them anyway, rubbing his thumb over his hand to distract and comfort. Jasper breathed steadily, surprised when Colby's actions actually helped. He squeezed Colby's hand, smiling softly as he looked out the window.

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AFTER the flight, Jasper knew exactly what he needed. Coffee.

Sam and Colby agreed so they all went together — not like it would've changed anything, Jasper was getting coffee either way but he supposed he didn't mind more time with Colby — err the duo.

They all ordered their drinks, Jasper got a sugar cookie Frappuccino with an extra shot of espresso since he was up at such an ungodly hour before they got a table in the corner to wait. A few minutes later, they called their name. Sam volunteered to go get the drinks, leaving Colby and Jasper alone. (He knows what he's doing)

"So, Los Angeles, huh?" Jasper spoke awkwardly, "It's a big city but... maybe we can hang out sometime."

Colby's eyes widened in surprise. He'd been thinking the same thing but was too nervous to ask, so he hurried to nod. "Yeah, yeah, I'd like that." He cleared his throat, gaze stuck on Jasper's blue eyes, "A lot."

"I would too." Jasper admitted, tearing his gaze away before he drowned, "I'm gonna miss seeing you every day."

He nodded in agreement, looking down, "I don't really wanna say goodbye. I mean, after last time."

Jasper didn't dare point out that this wasn't like last time because last time, he didn't even get to say goodbye. Instead, he reached across the table for Colby's hand before pulling away, "Let's not say goodbye then. Just see you later."

Colby looked at him, he didn't say that he didn't want to say goodbye or see you later, because that still meant walking away from Jasper and a part of him thought once he did that, he'd never see him again. But he couldn't say that, so he nodded instead. "Okay." He agreed, "But not yet."

Jasper smiled and awkwardly pulled his hand off the table as Sam approached with their drinks, handing them out before sitting down.

The conversation had just returned to normal, despite the odd glances Colby and Jasper were sending each other when Jasper's phone rang. "Shit, I gotta get this." He told them apologetically after seeing the caller ID, "It's Audrey."

Sam nodded, oblivious to the way Colby's heart sunk. Audrey. Jasper has a girlfriend. Of course. He stared blankly as Jasper walked away, answering the phone with a smile.

"I didn't know he had a girlfriend." Colby admitted quietly.

"He doesn't." Sam told him, and for a moment he had hope, until his friend continued, "Pretty sure he has a boyfriend." He was too lost in thought to respond, or to hear Sam adding, "or at least he did."

"Maybe we should have him on again, it was really fun and we all get along." He continued casually, sipping his coffee.

Colby hummed absentmindedly, his hand cold from holding his iced coffee though he hadn't taken a drink of it yet. He watched Jasper on the phone, a blush on his cheeks that made him wonder if they were talking about Jasper's boyfriend. Wondered if everything that happened between them meant nothing, if it was all a lie. If all that time, he was just waiting to go home to his boyfriend and leave Colby behind. Again.

He thought this hurt more than when he found Jasper's house empty when he went to ask him out after months of being scared because they weren't kids anymore and this heartache hurt even worse. He's reminded that Jasper had wanted to move on and forget their past. Colby should've agreed.

After a moment, he tore his gaze away and realized Sam was waiting for a response, he nodded, "Maybe."

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1,325 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

For all those worried about heartbreak — this is just the beginning 😈