Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

'Clank, clank.'

The repetitive sounds of metal clinking against metal was heard from the small wooden house on a tree. It wasn't too high on a tree, since it was obviously owned by a little kid previously, but now was owned by a young man that probably shouldn't be spending time in one anymore.

The said young man was currently working on making a small toy car made of wood, plastic and metal he found and collected around his hometown.

The car didn't look very good, barely even looking like an actual car although he thinks that kids would probably still want to play with it anyway despite It's look.

"Ugh! Why can't you stay in place?!" The boy yelled out to himself, feeling incredibly frustrated, tired and impatient at the little wheel that didn't wanted to get attatched to the rest of the just as small vehicle.

He tried to put the wheel back into the socket as hard as he could which only led to another wheel to fall off and to roll away to the other side of the tiny space.

"Oh my..." Jay groaned out, dragging a hand over his face as he put the toy car down. "Stupid wheels and stupid car." He kicked it away and suddenly shivered because of the cold wind that managed to get inside the little house. He couldn't even secure it from a damn wind to be warmer inside.

The young man wrapped his arms around himself to warm himself up a bit and leaned against the wooden wall, his head hitting against it a bit too hard, causing for him to wince in slight pain before grumbling to himself, irritated.

He let his head fall down, his forehead resting against his knees as he breathed out, exasparated. He really hated winter. It was always so cold and uncomfortabe, especially with rain or snow falling from clouds and forcing him to stay inside whole day while doing some boring shit instead of being in the tree house, surronded by all his beloved stuff that his dad didn't aprove of or would just laugh at him. He never took him seriously.

Well, hopefully It was the end of winter and the warm spring would come back eventually. Not only it was always warm outside but all the cool animals and intersting insects would come back along the beatiful plants and the beatiful weather.

And of course, it would be his 18th birthday. He would finally be a mature adult, just like his dad, and he could follow his dreams without having to listen to him like an 8 year old. He could even move out and start his new free life far away from him.

The young man sighed dreamily and stretched his legs that started to ache, cause of sitting in same position for too long. The house was so small that his, now stretched out feet almost reached the other wall of the house in front of him. He sighed again and fumbled with one button of his dungarees, suddenly remembering that it was too loose and had to fix it. He fumbled some more which only led to the button to fall off and the strap to fall down too.

"Shit, all that tinkering is harder than I thought... If I only I had someone to teach me all those things..." Jay whined out pathetically to no one in particular but as if wishing for a random genie to appear out of nowhere to grant all his wishes and dreams.

He sighed loudly again and just sat there quietly with closed eyes, before snapping them open at hearing his name being yelled out. He quickly stood up, brushing his clothes off any dirt and trying to fix the button of the strap. He walked out of the little home and jumped down onto the ground, before sprinting back to his real, big house.

The blue clad boy walked inside, smooting his hair down and wiping his face to look as presentable as possible despite wearing a dirty and simple dark blue dungarees, a white sweater with black gloves and boots.

He stopped in the doorway of the big living room that was filled with various decorations and fancy furniture, and knocked on the already open door to get his fathers attention and cleared his throat to sound calmer. "Uhh, you called, father?" He asked, his voice sounding slightly strained.

The older man, his strict dad, stood in front of a small wooden but still fancy looking table that had a bonsai tree on it, some photos and little fancy containers, probably filled with expensive jewellery, watches and other type of stuff that makes you look like an important rich person.

"Where were you all day?" His father asked with a stern voice, not even looking up at him to at least greet him.

"Uhhh, you know. At acting lessons and then in the tree house, like usual..." Jay said, scratching the back of his neck nervously while also trying avoiding eye contact, even though his dad wasn't staring at him now. It was almost like a habit now.

"Don't lie to me, young man. Your teacher told me that you didn't came to him for the lessons. Again." Cliff snapped back.

"Well, I can explain-" Jay laughed awkwardly only to be stopped by Cliff yelling out at him.

"Jay! For fuck's sake! You can't just skip those classes like that! Don't you know that they cost a lot of money? And that I have to pay your teacher even if you don't show up?" The older man asked, angrily, finally glancing at him but with a mad face. Jay wanted to speak up again, to try to defend himself but Cliff held up a hand that immediately silenced him. "You have one thing to do and you still do everything but that." He sighed heavily. "Literally my whole life, I was a well-deserved actor, just like my dad, my grandpa, my great grandpa and our other ancestors. You're suppoesed to follow after the tradition, son! Not be a worthless and unknown mechanic or whatever the hell you're doing in that damn tree house all days with those little tinkering trash things."

"S-sorry, father, but I just- I just enjoy all those technological stuff, that you don't quite understand. Plus, the teacher is always so mean everytime I do a minor things wrong. It just stresses me out too much, I'm not able to work under stress..."

"Because you don't even try! Maybe if you actually put some heart into it then he wouldn't be so harsh with you." Cliff sighed again, fixing his tie to calm down and seem profesional at the dad-son talks. "I pay a lot of money for the best acting teacher in the town to teach you anything. I even paid him more than normally so he'll only have time for you, not others. You don't understand that many other kids would be grateful to be in your place."

"I'm sure not all kids..." Jay mumbled under his breath, frustrated.

"What was that? You still have the nerve to talk back?" Cliff glanced at him with sharp eyes, instantly making Jay straighten up his posture.

"Dad, I just meant that I don't want it." The ginger fixed his hair to seem more confident in his father's eyes and continued with an even more strained voice. "It's what you want, not me, alright?"

"You don't understand it, do you?! It's not about what you want, It's about what you have to do for me and our family tradition, without complaints!" The man, dragged his hand over his face exasparated, his other hand resting on his hip as he walked further into the living room, his back facing Jay.

"Fuck, why was I given such a failure for a son?" Cliff laughed sarcastically, his voice cold, distant and bitter. He seemed to not even think of what he was saying to his own child.

The young man only stood frozen in the doorway. No words or at least a single retort, were able to escape his mouth at those harsh but still expected words.

He was always different than other people his age. All of the boys were strong, manly, dominant and succesful with many intersting and useful qualities and hobbies. And, of course, they had all of the town girls being all over them, even if the boys were treating them as shit and objects.

Meanwhile, Jay was just a simple scrawny, not that tall, weird boy with annoying look, personality and hobbies. Just a little boy with crazy hair style, working on his little gadgets like a poor, simple mechanic that his dad absolutely hated jus because they were nothing to him.

He was also nothing like his praised and well known father, who was a succesful and rich actor. Cliff Gordon was a handsome, strong and loved by everyone, womanizer just like all those similiar, plain actors. Only famous for what they had to show in movies, not give in real life.

The poor boy didn't even know who his mom was. He only knew he had her almost exact personality but much more overwhelming and annoying. It always pissed Cliff of how he was a copy of his mom and not him.

Jay took some small, calming breaths and slowly answered, trying not to seem too shake up by his harsh words. "Da- Father, I-"

"No. Shut the fuck up for once and listen here, brat." Cliff snapped back again. "You were suppoesed to follow my legacy, not tarnish it and play with your stupid toys like the poor ones. I gave you everything you ever needed and your ungrateful ass can't even repay me now with just going to those damn lessons?"

"I-I know I should've been an actor like you. But I just..." Jay sighed nervously and continued. "I just don't think that acting is for me. I'm good at other things like inventing, model building, cooking or poetry, for example..."

Cliff hit his clenched fist against the table to silnce him again and finally look at him, but not with a loving face of a dad, but a hateful one of a monster. "It's studf for the poor and women to do, not men like us! Why don't you get it? I've been drilling this knowledge into your stupid head for years and you still are the same small and useless kid."

"I know, I'm sorry. I'll try harder..."

"That's the point! You never do! Your teacher said you're not trying at all! And lately you were skipping his classes again and fucking again." The man suddenly inched closer to his son, with a literal death stare. "What will people in the town think of you, of me?! You're suppoesed to obey me, to be the copy of me!"

Jay unciously stepped back to create more distance between them. He wanted to interupt again, at least tried to fight for himself a little but Cliff now stood only few meters away and held his hand up, silencing him like a dog again. "I've wasted enough money on you to be succesful in the future, and here you are being no one. No one. Remember it."

Cliff turned around with a heavy sigh and approached the big window and looked outside at their big yard, filled with various plants, flowers and trees. "Without me, you'll just fail at life and all of your dreams you've ever had! Kids obey their parents, that's all they have to do in their lives."

The room was filled with a tense silnce, so thick that you could cut it with a simple butter knife and eat it, if you're hungry enough for angst.

Jay fumbled with the broken button of his dungarees and breathed out, blinking few times to block out the coming tears and spoke with a slightly quivering voice. "Father, I just don't feel like I'll be as good as you. I think It'll be better if I'll just give up now and not embarrass you on my first show ever." He laughed awkwardly, pushing his hands into his pockets and looking around the room anywhere but at his dad.

Cliff crossed his arms over his chest then nodded to himself and looked at Jay again. "Well, It must be first time we ever agreed on something."

"Right?" The boy immediately locked eyes onto him, disbelief etched on his face before he started yapping without thinking. "So maybe, instead of being forced to be an actor like you I'll just do whatever I want? Like, I could just do my stuff that I enjoy and you won't have to waste money on me and have the fear of me dissapointing you."

His dad didn't answered immediately but Jay, being Jay, tried to add some more. "I mean, there's already a lot of new, young and more talented actors in the world who are better than me. And I still could be succesful and popular with whatever I'll do in the future." He asked with a small smile, feeling a bit hopeful yet scared at what his dad would think of it.

"I suppose you're right but no, I'm not gonna let you be nobody. You'll follow the tradition." The man stopped for a second, thinking for a moment of what to say next. "I'll send you to your uncle and aunt, from your mom's side. They're just as weird as you and your dear mom."

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" Jay asked, not believing what he was hearing. His voice being weirdly calm and low.

"Also, you could work on your, uh, weird technological hobbies, I guess." Cliff exclaimed nonchalantly with a small shrug, his tone a lot more calmer than moments ago.

"Really?!" Jay yelled in pure shock mixed with slight happiness.

"Don't be so happy. You'll see how poor people live, with no money, no food, no stable future and no knowledge. You'll be there for a week, no, 2 weeks to teach you a lesson. You'll be beggining to come back by day one, you're too spoiled and dependant on the money."

"But-!"

"No buts. That what you wanted, right?" The man, stared at him harshly as if to challenge him to argue back.

Jay immediately recognized that look and tried not to push too hard, which for him, was always hard. "Uh, I mean, yeah sure. But 2 weeks without my stuff and when the winter is still present? They probably don't have heaters there."

"Yes, not even your stuff. Uncle and aunt will definitely have some spare clothes for you, you'll live like an actual poor person and not just look like one on daily basis with those clothes of yours. Plus, they always have some junk with themselves that you can play with. And also, they should have a fireplace and thick blankets for your whiny ass."

Jay wanted to argue but Cliff just waved a hand at him, clear sign to leave. "I'll write to them now, and you'll go there as soon as I get their response. Now shoo and have some fun time here before you leave to the dark reality and learn something meaningful."

The ginger stopped the groan of desperation that wanted to leave his mouth but finally stormed out of the house, opening the entry door with a loud push.

Jay kicked a nearby pot that still contained a barely alive plant in it causing it to fall over onto It's side and some of the dirt to fall onto the ground below. He cursed to himself and quickly picked up the pot, putting it in It's original place and then stormed off towards his old tree house.

This time, he kicked the tree to get his anger to subside, which didn't worked at first time so he just kicked the poor tree again and again without thinking, wincing slightly but still continuing.

Few minutes later, the boy finally stopped with a huff, his breath a bit ragged from the rush of strong emotions. He yelled out without thinking, gripping his hair tightly. He grabbed the ladder that led to the tree house and quickly climbed up. "Stupid, fucking dad and stupid acting lessons!" He hit his forehead against the low entry, wincing, and then kicked the bucket with trash as he walked inside.

He punched the wall and then grabbed the car from the floor, that he was earlier working on and threw it against the wall. The small car made a loud noise and fell down ontot the ground, some of It's parts fell of.

Jay stared down at the car in shock, he couldn't believe what he just did, he couldn't believe that the anger could take control over him so easily. He breathed out, heavily leaning against the wall and fell down to the ground. 'This is so stupid... I'm so stupid.' He thought to himself as he sniffed and leaned against the cold wall to curl into himself like a small, scared child.

He sniffed and wiped his tears, trying to take a hold of his emotions. 'I just wish that I could talk to someone about this.' Jay sighed again, much calmer now but still a bit frustrated. He got up and slowly approached the broken car and carefully picked it up along with the parts that fell off. He set the parts on the small, wooden table and sank back down onto the ground with a huff. "Why can't he just listen? I tried talking to him but he just won't listen... Wish I had someone to properly talk to." Jay huffed out again, dragging a hand along his face.

'Wait...' Jay suddenly looked up, remembering something or rather someone. "Cole... Haven't seem him in a while. I could totally talk to him. Only if he would even want to talk to me after ignoring each other for so long.'

With that, he got up and walked out of the small house to jump down the ladder and ran towards his old friend's house.

Chapter Text

Jay run for a short moment before stopping in his track abruptly.

God, he couldn't just go to his old friend like that, they literally didn't spoke to each other in a long time since Cole was in the very known Marty Oppenheimer school of performing arts and didn't had time to hang out lately.

Although, Cole should currently have a short winter break so he should be at home and it would be a perfect opportunity to meet up and fix their friendship.

Ugh, it wouldn't be that easy. It was like months since Cole got stuck in that damn strict school and Jay started to isolate himself in his stupid treehouse.

Jay sighed to himself, it used to be their treehouse once, full of laughter and fun caused by two little kids without a care in the world. He really missed those times, if only he could somehow go back in time with help of some ancient, magical blades or something like that...

He should stop overthinking and overimagining things lke that. Magic doesn't exist and ot won't help him, even if it did exist.

He sighed and resumed his slow walk down the groveled path, kicking a nearby rock out of frustration, now thinking more about the soon visit to his relatives rather than coming up with how to get Cole's friendship back.

He sure wanted to go see his uncle Ed and aunt Edna, since he didn't saw them in some time and only wrote them lists once in a while, but he couldn't help but still feel a weird feeling in his gut about the visit.

He didn't really wanted to leave his hometown, even if life here was almost hell all the time. He visited a lot of places but this was still the only place he felt happy in. Maybe partly because of growing up here and having a very good friend who had to deal with a strict dad too.

With that, the ginger ran towards his best friend's house. He ran for about 10 minutes and stopped in front of a smaller than his own house and walked behind it, towards a window.

He tried to look inside but couldn't tell if Cole was there so he gently knocked onto the glass and quickly crouched down, in case Cole's dad, Lou, would walk up to the window instead of his best friend.

After a short, but long for Jay, moment the window slowly slid open and a black haired, tall, handsome, kind-looking and muscular young man looked out.

"Jay? What the hell are you doing here?"

"What, just wanted to visit my only and the bestest friend I've ever had. Is that so bad?" Jay asked teasingly, as he stood up from the cold, dirty ground and leaned against the wall with a smug smirk, hoping to distract Cole with it from the fact that they haven't taked in monts.

Cole stared at him for a moment in deep shock. "Ugh, give me a moment and I'm out." He groaned out and relucantly stepped back from his window then left his room to get shoes and a jacket.

After few moments, the black haired man finally got back and got out of his room by the window, standing next to Jay. "Long time no see, sparkplug."

"Yeah, were you working out lately?" The said sparkplug chirped out, shamelessly checking him out.

Cole blushed, embarrassed. "Dude, knock it off! It's weird and we're both guys." He huffed out, crossing his arms over his chest, feeling a bit uncomfortabe at the oogling from his old friend. "And, yeah, I was working out. Maye you should too. It would do wonders for your scrawny ass and maybe you would finally get a girl. That would be the first thing your dad would be proud of."

"Shut up, you and your dad are no better."

"Low blow but I agree. We're really similiar, eh?" Cole said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yeah yeah, we're both just guys having to do unpleasant for us things that our dads want us to do. And apparently being more like our dead moms." Jay sighed, a small cloud of steam got out as he rubbed his arms to get warmer.

"A great duo, right?" The taller man laughed dryly before sighing and looking away.

Jay sensing the mood change, grabbed Cole's shoulder and spoke in an apologetic tone. "Hey, you know I didn't meant anything bad with that."

"Yes, I know you didn't meant that." Cole said, shrugging his hand off. "It's just..." He sighed again, looking away. "My dad is kind of getting neglectful towards me. It's like he doesn't really care about me anymore. I know I'm already 18 which means I'm an adult already, but I'm still his son. I mean, he does talk to me from one to time everytime he acts like everything's completely fine then gets back to isolating himself."

"That's rough, buddy." Jay said, looking at him apologetically. "I think after your mom's funeral and the stay at school for so long affected your relationship with him. He might be suffering too..."

"You think I don't know that?!" Cole snapped back, his unfamiliar anger spiking. "Of course, it could've been his way of grieving but we should grieve together and be there for each other. He shouldn't have send me to that stupid school and then isolate himself from me for most of the time everytime I visit!"

"Oh..." The shorter boy simply said. He didn't know that Cole's dad was like that during the grieving after losing his wife. It did happen like few months ago before Cole and Jay stopped talking but he didn't know they could hold onto grieve for so long and suffer because of it.

Shouldn't Jay grieve his dead mom the same? Maybe not, since he barely remember her and his father wouldn't tell him a lot about her. Only that she was a pretty, young man. That's all. Maybe that's what she was to him, only a pretty plaything to use that got him stuck with an useless baby after dying.

No, he shouldn't think about his dear dead mom nor his father like that...

At seeing Jay so uncharacteristically quiet, Cole finally decided to speak up to fill the silence and remove the thick tension. And to change the subject from himself and his parents. "Well, what about you?"

Jay glanced over at him for a moment. "Uhm." He started but genuinely didn't know what to say.

They stayed like that for a moment in complete silence before the black haired guy spoke up first yet again. "Is something wrong with your dad too?"

This time Jay groaned out exasparated, while gripping his hair. "Ugh, It's not that. It's... about something else."

"Wanna talk about it? I think we should actually have a long talk to catch up with everything that happened since our last meeting." Cole said reassuringly, patting his shoulder. "Let's go on a walk, okay? To the river that we always spend time in during summer."

Jay hesitated for a moment but nodded anyway. "Yes, let's go."

They walked trough the small city for about 15 minutes just chatting about simple things they did, like what Jay invented, or at least tried to, and Cole talking about what's been happening in his boring school he hated so much but still proudly talked about his achivekents there.

They stopped next to a river they used to visit a lot as kids where they played in the water or on the trees. It was their favorite place for playing, after the treehoouse of course, since the adults didn't know about this place and they had more privacy.

The boys sat down on the nearest fallen old log. For a moment they just sat there in silnce either staring ahead at trees, the ground or the moving river.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Cole sighed and started talking. "Alright, dude, so what's really going on? I mean, yeah, we're friends, even though we haven't spoken to each other in some time. But what could be so important to tell me now out of sudden after breaking contact for so long?"

The other man weirdly avoided eye contact and kept quiet so Cole continued, irritated. "Like, you just wanted to renew our friendship or what?"

The blue clad boy sighed and rubbed his neck. "No, I mean yeah. I just... Ugh, I know I should've visit you more often or whatever, but you could do the same, you know. Not my fault we stopped talking."

"It's not my fault either. It's our dads' fault, they just want us to follow their dreams not listen to ours." Cole leaned back against the tree that was behind them, hitting his head against the bark.

"Yeah, but in my case my father wants me to be an actor like him. Like, I think it would be cool to be one but I also don't think It's something I should do for the rest of my life. It's too short to be a stupid, rich, egoistical womanizer that is expected to be perfect by the society just because of popularity." Jay exclaimed, getting a bit frustrated for having to talk about something else than he actually wanted to. "Also, I have to go to individual classes with no friends to talk to but to an annoying teacher instead... You don't know how awkward is that!"

He grabbed his head again, resting his elbows on his knees and stared down at the ground. "While, you're in a cool, big school that is filled with mass of people you can talk to! And from what I remember, you do enjoy singing and dancing so why are you complaining?"

Cole stared at him and scoffed in disbelief. "I might enjoy singing and dancing but that doesn't mean I like the school. And It's just hard for me to do so when it was my mom's favorite thing to do but she's gone and my dad's acting like I'm not there."

"Fuck." Jay said. "We really got the worst luck on this fricking planet, right?."

"Chill, there are definitely people with worse lives than us. That's at least what I'm getting told at Marty's." The taller man retorted and began talking with a high pitched voice as of mimicking one of his teachers. "That we should all be grateful for what we have because others have it worse."

Jay huffed out a laugh at that. "That was so bad."

"Hey!" Cole exclaimed, acting heartbroken at that. "Speak for yourself, mr. 'I wanna follow my dreams so much that it makes my poor daddy all pissy'."

"Okay, that was low." The shorter boy playfully punched the other's arm causing him to snort in response.

They laughed together for a bit longer before falling into a, this time, comfortable silence.

The black haired man finally broke the silence again, now intently staring at his friend. "Although, I have a feeling that's not what you actually wanted to talk about. Isn't it, Jay?"

Jay visibly stiffened at that. Maybe, he didn't wanted to talk about it now that he actually had to, but on the other hand he still wanted toet it all out and tell someone about it.

He muttered something out under his breath and leaned his back against the same tree as Cole and crossed his arms over his chest. "Alright, well I wanted to talk to someone about it and I thought that it could be you." Jay slowly looked at him with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, dude. For ignoring you and all that..."

Cole chuckled and gently smacked his back in a playful gesture. "Don't worry about it. I also kind of ignored you because of school. At least we finally talked about it and fixed our friendship, right?" He extended his arm for a fist bump which Jay reciprocated with a small smile.

"Right." Jay answered, smiling aswell.

Another silence fell for a few moments, neither Cole or Jay wanting to break it. They just sat there, enjoying each other's company and the comfortable silence, even if the cold breeze that made them shiver was still there.

Finally, the older man managed to speak again. "So?

"Ugh, well..." The blue clad man stopped for a moment, gathering his thoughts and what he should say. "My father kinda wants to send me to my aunt and uncle for two weeks and I don't really know how to feel about it... Like on one hand, I sure wanna go there, spend time with my relatives that understand me and be as far away from my father. But on the other hand, leaving my home for 2 weeks to live in some strange place isn't really that appealing."

The other stared at him for a moment, before muttering under his breath. "Damn, I gotta say I didn't expected that from your old man." He paused for a moment. "What did you do again?"

Jay looked at him incredoulously. "I didn't do anything! What makes you think it was entirely my fault I'm going to them?" He huffed, annoyed. "I mean, I kind of skipped the acting classes and my father found out... But anyway I wasn't even doing good there."

"Still your fault."

"Oh, shut up. I can't even take my stuff with me, not even clothes or comics!"

"What, why?" Cole asked, caught of guard.

"Because my father wants me to live like 'the poor'. He thinks that sending me to my aunt and uncle that are kind of poor will make me realise that I don't want to end up like them by following my interests and hobbies. And that I will sure regret my actions and let go off my dreams and just be the rich, popular actor like him to continue his 'mighty legacy'."

Cole whistled lowly and raised his eyebrows. "Damn, I think he's obsessed with you becoming the same as him. Both my parents wanted me to follow they're lead, to be a good dancer and singer. But they at least first made me love doing it not just forced that onto me like your dad is doing with being an actor."

"Lucky you, huh?" Jay answered, sarcastically.

Cole rolled his eyes at his response. "Quit it. What about you moving out to them? When is it?"

"Father said that as soon as they would answer him and knowing them it could be even today..." Jay grumbled out.

"So you do wanna visit them but it also makes you feel weird? Well, that's tough because I have no idea how to help you." Cole admitted a bit embarrassed at not knowing how to help his own best friend in this situation despite being usually good at reassuring.

Jay huffed in response but it sounded more amused than angry. "Wow, real help you are."

"Dude, just think about the positives and don't overworry about little things like you sometimes tend to do." The black haired man said. "Maybe you could get your dad to let you take some of your stuff or maybe send you for a lesser time."

The other man stayed quiet for a moment, actually pondering about the idea. "Huh, that must've been the first smart thing you've ever said."

Cole sputtered back in response. "What's that suppoesed to mean?! I say a lot of smart stuff and you know it. You just can't accept that I'm smarter than you."

"Uh-uh." Jay said, mockingly. "Your next advice is probably gonna be to tell me to ran away or something-" He cutted himself off. "Wait, that's not a bad idea..."

"What?" Cole said with a shocked face. "You've got to be kidding me. You can't just ran away like that out of fear, dude. Plus, what will you do after you ran away? You have no job, no money and you're still underage and have no other relatives than your dad, uncle and aunt that you want to avoid."

"W-well, there was a lot of succesful people in the past who had no one to help and had nothing! I could totally be like one of them!" Jay stuttered out, waving his hands around.

"Are you kidding me?" The black haired man sighed exasparated and shook his head in disbelief. "They most likely had a plan on who to do and they had their own money and stuff unlike you. You have nothing and you can't think ahead."

"Pretty sure not all of them..." Jay grumbled out, still trying to argue like a pouty child.

"Okay, I don't understand you, dude." Cole started, pinching his nose. "You really wanna visit your uncle and aunt but you're also nervous about the visit since you haven't seen them in some time and because you're comfortable with luxury life. And you want some freedom and peace from your dad but you don't wanna leave your town, house. But also, you wanna leave your town and family to start a new life without anyone else."

"I..." Jay started, unsure of what to say next. There was so many things he wanted from life but couldn't decide what was that. Nothing seemed good enough or satisfying. And he shouldn't just ran away to isolate himself for the sake his own dreams. He felt selfish, even if he entirely wasn't. "I just... I mean, ugh, you're right. I have no idea what to do with myself and my future."

"No, you have an idea for your life." Cole cutred him off. "You just don't know how to make it all work. I don't blame you. You just would need a help figuring out all of that." He stopped for a moment, trying to chose his next words carefully. "For example, your aunt and uncle. They could help you guide your life. It's nice to listen to opinions and advices from people who have more experience and knowledge."

Jay didn't answered, just stayed quiet, thinking it all trough. "Didn't know you were a therapist now..." He laughed bitterly.

Cole punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't joke now, dude."

The shorter boy sighed. "I know. And you're right about that too. You always are, somehow."

The taller man snorted in response. "Yeah, I know."

They sat there in another long silence before Cole spoke up. "You know, you should just follow your heart."

"Gosh, that's so cheesy. Did they gave you drama classes in the school too?"

"What?! No!" Cole exclaimed, offended. "Shouldn't you be the one to have drama classes? Since you're suppoesed to be an actor?"

"Ugh, don't remind me." The shorter boy groaned out then stood up and approched the river, staring into It's clean depths. "I wish I wouldn't have to be an actor like my dad. It's not fair that all the sons in the family gotta follow the 'legacy'!" He picked up few rocks and started throwing them into the water one by one.

Cole watched Jay's back, as he kept on throwing the rocks and sighed to himself before getting up too. "Listen, I didn't wanted to go to my school at first too but... That's what my parents wanted me to do. To follow their steps. My mom wanted that especially and I had to keep her a promise."

"Your point?" Jay asked, completely focused on his little game.

"Even though I don't want to do it, I do it for her. I know, It's not a good reason to stay there, but It keeps me up and helps me improve my skills." The taller one picked up some small rocks too and tried to throw the rocks further away into the water than Jay. "At some point, dancing and singing is enjoyable when I think that I do it for her."

Jay stayed quiet for a moment before speaking up, a bit confused. "You can't hate something but also enjoy it at the same time because of someone else. Right? I mean, my father wants me to be an actor like him, but he never really showed me the happiness of being one. If I ever became an actor I would only do it to satisfy everyone else around me, not myself. I don't even know if my mom would even want me to follow his steps. Maybe she would encourage me to be anyone I want, she could even care about what I want..."

"Oh, dude."

"You do have a reason to do it, I don't. I should probably just leave, it would be better for him that way. No son to be embarrassed about or care for."

"Don't say that. He loved you. He just..." The taller man stopped, desperately trying to think of what positive to say. But what was even positive about that man?

Was it even true? Did Cliff loved his own son or only the idea of who he could be? Just another succesful actor in their rich, known family. That's all they were for others.

An awkward silence fell upon them again and Cole decided that It's a good idea to change the subject now. "Okay, we're getting away from the real subject. We should just talk about the trip. You know, visiting your uncle and aunt won't be a bad idea in my opinion. You'll get a rest from your dad and all his bullshit and could bond with your relatives that are so similiar to you."

"Ugh, you might be right." Jay huffed, clearly not keen on talking about any of the late subjects. He threw the last rock into the water, causing a small splush of water.

"Just give them and their style of life a chance. You might like it."

"You don't know-"

"It's only 2 weeks-"

"I don't care-"

"You should."

"But why?"

"Didn't you wanted to visit them?"

"I did but-?"

"But what?" Cole mocked. "Scared of their 'poor' life?"

"What-?! No! I'm not like that, I don't judge people about how they live." Jay argued, feeling extremely offended at the accusation.

"Yes, but are you scared of living like them? You don't judge people about their lifestyles but you're scared of living like them."

"What are you talking to me about?"

"Prove that you're not scared."

"I'm not-" The shorter boy's face reddened a bit as he tried to argue and safe himself and his dignity.

"Then prove it and go visit your poor aunt and uncle. If you'll stay with them for the next two weeks, without running away or beggining your dad to take you back in a list, if he'll even reading anything from you, then I'll pay you up and I could get my dad to let you secretly live at our house, far from your dad."

"You're insane."

"I know. Do you agree?"

Jay was speechless for a moment. Cole was still a good friend ready to help him with anything like always. He really wanted to agree on that bet. But living with Cole's dad, that he barely knew, and in secret from his father who literally lived only few minutes of walk away from Cole's house wasn't a good idea.

What benefits would he get from it? It was only a possibility of living in a strange house, being able to do whatever you want, with your father thinking that you simply ran away. No, he wasn't a coward. At least he thought so.

But also, his father wanted him to prove his worth and prove that he's able to spend the time in a more poor place without running away. He had two very similiar bets to prove but with two different outcomes.

He should prove to both of them his worth.

"Okay, but I also have to prove my worth to my father." Jay finally spoke up, feeling weirdly calm out of sudden as he stared at the sun that started to dissapear over the horizon, casting a soft orange color across the sky. "I'll prove to you both that I can stay there for the whole 2 weeks without leaving earlier. And my dad will let me have my hobbies and you'll pay me up, alright?"

"Greedy ass." Cole laughed out, playfully. "So you won't stay at my house?"

"Uh, no. I'm not some scared child to hide away from my father like that. I'll show you both, just you wait."

"Uh-uh, sure. We'll see." Cole chuckled again. "But I'm proud of you. You're trying to fight for yourself and finally show others your worth." He gently patted Jay on his shoulder to show his admiration in more than just a talking way.

"Thanks, dude. You're the best. We should've talked sooner." Jay stopped for a moment, quickly glancing at the taller man for a second before looking back at the slowly dissapearing sun. "I'm sorry again."

"Don't apologize so much. No hard feelings, really. I didn't spoke to you in some time too. It's our fault, not only yours." Cole smiled at him. "It could've been more my fault since I had school."

"Yeah, but you couldn't just leave it whenever you want to just meet up with me. But when you did had time, I only wasted it in the treehouse..." Jay mumbled under his breath, frustrated. It was definitely his fault. He should've had time for his only friend that understood him so much and was like a close brother he never had.

The black haired man shook his shoulders a bit, trying to get to him. "No, dude. Stop blaiming yourself. It was our fault. Not entirely yours or only mine. Our. We just... Didn't had time, It's completely normal for young people like us to not have time. But at least we've had a talk amd fixed things right back up, right?"

Jay smiled softly. "Yeah, you're right. Again."

"Yep. Now let's get back before it gets too dark and our old mans will start to worry."

The younger man didn't said anything at that. Did his father even care if he never came back? He pushed that though and quickly followed after Cole who just left.

They walked trough the trees in a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company, as the sun set lower and lower behind their backs, casting a nice orange light on the path in front of them.

The two young man, finally approched Cole's house after some more minutes. They had to speed up their pace a bit before the sun set up completely. They waved each other a goodbye and Jay ran towards his own home. Already dreading either a harsh scolding from his dad or no care for his safety at all.

Chapter Text

It was already getting late. Jay quickly made his way towards his house, his boots making crunching sounds against the groveled straight path as he ran

He did made the bet with Cole, and his father, which he wanted to prove so bad. But he still had doubts about it. Maybe running away was the right answer? But running away to where? Gosh, he's so stupid soemtimes. Maybe his dad wasted money on his other classes as well as the actor classes.

He never had clear thoughts, they were all messy. Even if he had everything planned out and shouldn't worry about it, he still could feel some doubts of anxiety, always building deep in his chest, like a creeper ready to attack him out of sudden.

The young man stopped right in front of his house and stomped his boots against the hard ground to get any dirt and the remnants of melted snow to fall of his soles.

He quietly opened the door and walked inside, closing the door behind. He took his boots off, slowly placing them down onto the ground on the little mat.

He tried to tiptoe as quietly as possible towards the stairs and to his room but only managed to go few meters before a firm, stern voice he knew so much suddenly called out after him.

"Son, come here for a second." Cliff's gruff and slightly tired voice called out from the big living room that Jay just tried to pass.

"Uh, yeah. Coming." The boy called out awkwardly. He stepped back and pushed the door more open to enter the room, trying to appear as collected as his own father. "You know, I was just going to my room to get ready to sleep. I feel a bit tired. And sleep is the best cure for it." He laughed a bit awkwardly as he stood few steps away from the armchair that Cliff currently sat on.

"When I was your age," The older man started in a slow, monotone voice, looking into distance as he got lost in his own thoughts. "I already knew what I was gonna do in my life. I knew I was gonna be the same, succesful and known actor as my father and grandpa and many other men in our family. The acting is the passed down legacy for the men in our family."

Jay only rolled his eyes in response at the typical guilt tripping lecture. He really didn't wanted to listen to his father's lamenting about how his own son is a complete failure and will become no one in future. Just an embarrassment for all of the male, and maybe even female too, ancestors and a joke for all the neighbours and other people that knew them.

He was about to repeat what he said earlier about the sleep and his, non-existent exhaustion. Honestly he didn't feel tired at all but he just wanted some alone time to think. And mostly to just avoid any deeper converstations with his father. Maybe that's what was making him tired.

"But with you, It's different." Cliff exclaimed, more to himself rsther than Jay, still deep in thought. "Honestly, I should've expected that our acting tradition, passed from father to son for years, wouldn't be followed for years. It was bound to happen that one of the descendants would follow his own route and not the ." He stopped for a moment and licked his lips, probably gathering his thoughts and what 'smart' words to make of them. "I should've known It would be you. You were always more like your mom anyway."

Was that suppoesed to be bad? Was it bad that his own son was not only dreaming about being an inventor or a handyman, anyone other than a known, rich actor but he was also more like his mom. He should be manly after his father and be like him and his ancestors, right? No traits or genes from a woman should be so strong on the perfect man he should have as a son.

"She was... Everything to me..." Cliff started quietly. "Smart, strong in her own way, talkative and damn beatiful. We both were big flirts years before meeting. Flirting and sleeping with everyone around. Maybe that's what led us to be together. Like, some kind of destiny thing. I might've had many women before her, but when I met her, I instantly knew she was the only one for me."

Jay stood there frozen. He didn't expect that. His father sounding so sad, vulnerable, yet happy as he remembered his dear, deceased wife. He never talked about her a lot but now maybe, finally, after years of silence, Jay would find out more about his mom, he barely knew but still missed and loved so much.

Cliff dragged his strong, calloused hand over his face as he exhaled deeply and slowly. "She really loved you, despite you always being a troublemaker and, well, different than other kids from families withe the same status as us. If you were born a girl, you would've already been enough for her. She always wanted a daughter, but I only managed to give her you."

Of course, she wanted a daughter. A mother always prefers a daughter, but she'll still love the son the same. Why did she had to die so young? Couldn't she at least wait for the time to build a stronger bond with Jay? So he could remember her better and feel the motherly love. It's the strongest type of love after all. It wasn't fair that he couldn't experience it. Not fair.

There was a moment of silence.

"Is..." Jay started but hesitated to continue. What was even the point of this conversation? To just remind Jay about his dead mother that he barely knew? To compare them so his father would have at least one reason to love him? Because he was the only living thing that resembled her?

The younger man exhaled sharply and fidgeted with his fingers at his sides before speaking up, his voice weirdly shaken up. "Is it bad that I'm more like her and not you? Would you wish for a better son than me?" He cutted himself off, taking another shaky breath. "Maybe that's the whole point of sending me to my aunt and uncle, to just get rid of me like I'm some stupid dog. Like you got bored of me and realised that I'm nothing like you. Is that it?"

"Oh, Jay." Cliff started, still not turning to look at him. He was definitely avoiding doing so. "You're no Libber. You're your own person with your own goal apparently. I just thought that you could've spend some time with them and maybe explore those hobbies of yours. Is that bad?"

"N-no-!" Jay argued but his voice cracked slightly. "But I just know It's not the only reason! You were always against my dreams or hobbies but now you want to send me to my aunt and uncle who are just as 'weird' as me." He stopped talking, probably expecting his father to say something or maybe argue against that. "Maybe you got an idea to finally get rid of me after realising that I'll be nothing like you? You're just trying to get rid of me. Hoping that maybe I'll like living with them better and what? Move out to them so you could finally have the problem solved?"

Cliff still didn't looked up, he only stared at the wall in front of him filled with various paintings, mirrors, taxidermies and a big window, covered with a dark red curtains. He looked as if something or someone hypnotized him.

Maybe perhaps the little, blue snake taxidermy with big red eyes that always scared Jay as a child. What was it called again? Hypnobrai snake? What a dumb name. That snakenwas probably fake anyway, nothing to be scared of.

"Look at me." Jay breathed out, getting more desperate at his father's suffocating silence. "Just look at me, damn it!" He snapped back, he never felt this type of anger building up in his chest and the ache in his eyes and throat before.

After a moment, Cliff slowly turned his head around, giving him a tired, unreadable glance.

"What did I ever do to you?" The younger man exhaled. "I-I'm sorry that maybe I'm not the ideal son that you always wanted but I can't help it! Not all kids are gonna become what their parents want them to be in the future! And maybe It's the time you finally realise that before you'll lose the last person, that despite getting treated like a worthless trash still loved you! That's how selfish people die, dad!"

Cliff still didn't said a word, just letting Jay let it all out. Or maybe he didn't even care anymore about what his own son thought of him.

"Of course, you're not gonna say a word because you know I'm right!" Jay almost wanted to laugh in his father's face like a complete maniac, he finally felt like he had the upper hand after all those years. "And what will your precious friends and the town will think about you when they'll hear that their favorite celebrity would rather lose his only son, only relative, because he couldn't accept him?! Oh wait, they would still be on your side because they don't give a fuck about people like me! And you're one of them apparently! They would see you as the victim of an ungrateful, spoiled brat, isn't that right?!"

"You don't understand it. You have no idea what you're saying-" Cliff tried to cut him off, his voice progressively growing more frustrated.

"Then what do I not get?!" Jay pointed a shaky finger at his father who sitll remained weirdly calm. It was driving Jay crazy at his reluctance to defend himself and his actions with anything that would remotely make sense for his son, to just get a reason to not entirely hate his own father. "You just wished to have a better son. Gosh, even a daugther would satisfy you more than whatever mistake am I!"

Cliff only managed a small scoff at that. "You're overreacting..."

"I'm not and you know it! You never truly loved me, you only loved the idea of my future carrer and the stupid legacy and tradition continuing. You probably wanted to be like them, also raising a future succesful and very well known actor." He laughed bitterly, slightly enjoying making his father sit so quietly. "But I am sadly different. I guess, the great legacy of actors will finally end!"

The older man crossed his arms over his chest and slowly sooke up in the sane bitter voice. "Maybe that visit will teach you something. Now go to sleep, I don't wanna see you for the rest of the evening."

"What? That's all?" Jay asked in complete disbelief. "You're not gonna argue? Why are you so damn calm out of sudden?"

"Tomorrow, son. Go to sleep now." Cliff waved his hand as if shooing him away like an annoying fly, then turned his head to face the window again.

"No." Jay shook his head, incredolously. "No, not tomorrow. You can't brush me off like that. I am done with you just ignoring me and my questions when you don't want to listen to me and answer them."

"What? Is it bad that I want you to maybe, just a bit experience your weird, useless fantasies and hobbies?" The older man snapped back.

The younger couldn't believe his own ears at this point. This entire conversation didn't made sense for him anymore. "No, of course not! But you'd rather eat a worm rather than give me free will on the things I'm interested in!"

"Huh, maybe you did took the dramatic classes after all." Cliff mumbled out under his breath, slightly amused.

Jay rolled his eyes, incredolously. "Don't joke now."

"Alright, I might've been thinking about what you've said in the past and what your mom would want." Cliff stopped for a moment, looking like he was trying to force himself to speak. Like, someone was holding him at a gunpoint, maybe it was Jay's mom's ghost or his own fatherly love that he finally discovered. The old man was probably fighting against his own ego, family traditions, legacy and the stupid ancestors.

The boy stood there in disbelief. What the hell was he suppoesed to think or say now? His neglectful father, always stomping on his dreams was now suddenly eager to help him expand them.

"Now go to sleep. We'll talk tomorrow again. I don't have the energy for it today. Neither should you, right? But grab something quick to eat before."

"Uhm, uh, yeah. I guess." Jay awkwardly fidgeted in place for a moment before slowly backing away from the living room. He walked out and quietly made his way towards the kitchen to make himself a quick snack for an evening meal.

He entered the slightly smaller than living room but just as much as it cozy room filled with white walls and bright colors that almost glowed in the almost dark room. He switched the light button on and walked over to the counter to start working on his lazy sandwich.

He took two slices of bread and put an unhealthy amount of the peanut butter on the two slices with a smiple butter knife then put them together, creating a two-breaded sandwich with a sickly and overwhelming amount of the disgusting, creamy peanut abomination.

He ate it like it was the best meal he ever had in his entire life. He sure tried some expensive food from different cultures, that some could even kill each other for it. But Jay still enjoyed the simple sandwich with the peanut cream. It was easy to make and satisfying enough for his hunger and the stomach of an endless black hole.

He swallowed the last bite and sipped from a cup of fresh, cold water. The cool liquid soothing his tongue and throat after the overwhelming taste of the peanut. He placed the cup into the sink and walked upstairs towards his room.

Even if he haven't felt quite full after the simple sandwich, he preffered to go to bed and avoid any further pointless interactions with his father.

But before, he went to the bathroom to pee, brush his teeth clean and change into a pyjama. He then finally entered his big room and closed the door behind.

It was filled with various movie posters attached to all of the four walls as well as some photos, paintings and other decorations like ancient weapon that hanged high and some taxidermies of animals that looked scary and ugly as hell. He could never understand how anyone, even his father, would like something like that enough to have it in their own house.

There were other typical furnitures like a big, wooden closet, a comfortable chair next to a desk filled with his amateur drawings of some blue prints, sheets of paper and a box on the ground next to the desk's leg, filled with tools and other trinkets. Some big bookshels filled with various books about history, future od technology, mechanics and his precious comics and personal stuff.

There was a also a big, fluffy carpet laid on the ground next to the wall with a big window with an even, almost comically big, dark blue velvet curtain and a lamp standing closely by.

Next to it was his big bed. At seeing his beloved craddle, he instantly felt tired and sleep deprived.

He yawned and stretched lazily then walked over to the big window, looking out of it. The sky was already a pretty dark blue hue filled with multiple small, white stars and the slightly shining moon itself.

He stared out the window for a moment as he smiled softly, just simply enjoying the queitness. It was somewhat comforting, despite all of the recent events.

Jay yawned one more time and shoved the long curtains shut and threw himself onto the bed, quickly falling asleep as he laid under the thick, soft blanket.

In the morning, Jay woke up earlier than usual, If you consider waking up at almost 10 am early, when he usually woke up past 11 am, and relucantly opened his eyes as the sun peeked inside trough the small gap between the curtain and the wall, casting a small part of sun's light to fall directly over his eyes.

He moved his head away from the spot that light fell on and laid there still for a moment, closing his eyes again. Probably hoping for the dreamland to take him back and save him from his problems. He just wanted to avoid the reality for some time and think about something else.

When that didn't happen for the next 10 minutes he groaned out loudly before slowly moving to get up, pushing the thick blanket off of himself and throwing his legs over the edge. His bare feet touched the cold wooden floor and he felt himself wake up a bit more at the cold reality.

He didn't wanted to get down. But he had to. He already felt his stomach growling loudly like a beast waiting for a good, fulling breakfast.

Also, he had to have another one of those useless talks with his father. What was even the point? It would bring nothing new. He was going to his aunt and uncle without discussion and his dad never listened anyway. Stupid old fuck.

Jay rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and yawned. He stretched his hands above his head, something good popping inside as he stood up and straightened himself, rolling his shoulders back.

He sighed heavily and then pulled the blanket back into It's place, trying to make it look neater. He walked over to the window, pulling the curtains apart and letting the full light of the sun in the cold season get inside the room.

He picked up some casual white shirt, baggy jeans and some socks then went to the bathroom and get himself ready for the day and another stupid, boring, completely pointless and useless lecture from his father.

After changing and taking care of his hygiene, as much as he had the energy for, he walked out of the small place and scurried down the stairs towards the kitchen.

He hoped that maybe, just maybe, his old man would somehow still be asleep or be anywhere else than the kitchen.

The young man, stood just outside the door, trying to listen in and guess if someone's inside or hopefully not.

There was no sound, just a peaceful silence. It seemed like he had the kitchen all to himself and could leave the house without any interactions with his father.

He swiftly pushed the door open, a big, smug smirk already appearing on his face like a kid happy for presents on Christmas.

Though, his smirk dissapeared just as quickly as it appeared when he saw his very own father standing next to the counter, wearing the same formal suit and making himself a coffee.

"Good moring, son." Cliff spoke up, weirdly calm. "Did you slept well tonight?"

"Uhm, yes. I did." Jay grumbled out, a bit resigned at seeing his father get in his plans.

"That's good." Cliff exclaimed, weirdly calm.

The younger man eyed him up and down, suspiciously then slowly moved to the other side of the counter and started preapering himself a quick breakfast - the same sandwich filled with the unhealthy amount of the peanut butter cream, like yesterday for dinner he ate right before sleep.

Cliff sighed then suddenly spoke up in a monotone voice. "You're leaving on Monday at 6am. With a paid horse carriage." He grabbed his favorite mug and poured some grinded coffee beans from the cranked wall-mounted grinder. "You'll pack tomorrow."

"Pack?" Jay asked in slight disbelief, as if he was hearing wrong. Or maybe his father was, hopefully, sick for something. "I thought you forbbiden me from doing so?"

"Well, yes but I changed my mind." Cliff shrugged off, pouring the boilong water from the black percolator into his favorite dark blue mug with his own big autograph hand-painted in gold on it. How narcissist.

Cliff threw a small, slightly wrinkled list onto the table as he began to mix his mug of coffee and bringing it to his mouth to drink the warm liquid.

Jay looked down at the paper and walked over to the table and picked up it. It was the list from his aunt and uncle. He could tell it was clearly written by the said woman since it was in a neat, pleasant for eyes cursive.

It said that they were both really happy and awaiting for his visit and all that mushy stuff about connecting to each other. It made Jay feel some weird tinge in his chest, a mix of warm love, anxiety and a bit of weirdness.

Jay gulped and began reading the list from the start:

'Dear, Cliff.
We are so happy that you finally wrote to us after so long. It was some time since our last talk but we are still happy to at least recieve this list from you. We're even more happy about you sending Jay to us for two whole weeks. We promise to take good care of the young boy, he won't get bored with us. Although, it would be better if you let him take his clothes and other stuff. It's not like something will happen with the added luggage to our van but we don't really have any stuff suitable for him since he's been growing like a real beanstalk. Can't wait for him to visit us on Monday, it would be very pleasant for us if you visited with him too but we understand if you don't have time.
Your dear, Edna and Ed.'

He didn't know what to say at first. He just cleared his throat and finally spoke up after a moment, his voice slightly strained. "Wow, they... Answered quickly. Very quickly. And apparently even more enthusiastically too..."

"Nah, I paid the mailman extra to deliver my list to them and their list to us faster than usual. He skipped delivering other lists to deliver mine directly to them, and the other way." Cliff smirked to himself, from under the mug. Of course, he did. He was always so impatient and thought he could use his money for his own pleasure like that.

Jay rolled his eyes and sighed, folding and placing the list back onto the table next to the white vase with some old, crusty, dead gray flowers.

"You got lucky there." Cliff said, turning around to face his son, as he mixed the liquid in his mug with a spoon.

"Uhm, yeah. Whatever." Jay replied, ignoring his father's suffocating glare as he got back to making himself breakfast. He still couldn't believe how fast they got a reply from them. His father send the list yesterday but today morning they already got the answer. Jay hoped they would have to wait for longer so he could get more in touch with the idea of moving out to them for the next 2 weeks.

"What? I thought you'll be happy." The taller man exclaimed, sounding a bit surprised at the lack of happiness.

"I mean, I am. But It's just all going a bit too fast for me. Like, you send them the list yesterday but I'm already going to visit them tomorrow." Jay replied, his typical energy gone.

"You'll manage. Adult's life is coming in big steps. There will be many troubles and problems in the future but we all always manage them. Eventually."

The young man nodded in response, understandingly. "I know, I know. Adult life is full of adult problems and all that crap. Can I go out to Cole?"

"Cole? From Lou's household?" Cliff asked, slightly surprised at the sudden question. "You two haven't talked in some time. Got back to the old good terms together?"

"Yeah, yesterday. When I was out." Jay mumbled out, biting down onto his sandwich with a happy sigh at the good taste.

"Well, good." Cliff exclaimed, a bit thrown off the sudden information, he looked rather surprised than happy. "Cole's a good guy and an even better son. Now that you two are back to being friends you could learn a lot from hi-"

Jay suddenly cutted him off, already feeling where the conversation was going. "Okay, I'm going out. See you later." He quickly left the kitchen and practicallly ran towards the door. The sandwich was in his mouth as he put on his favorite brown oxfords and the black jacket. He practicallly bolted out of the house, running to Cole's house, mid-eating his small snack for breakfast.

He didn't even knew if Cole had time to talk, they didn't planned another meeting anytime soon. But Jay desperately wanted to talk to anyone but his father.

Jay was at his destination a bit slower than yesterday hence he made a small break to finish his sandwich. He didn't really think it trough, just running out of the house with the peanut butter filled sandwich and not taking any water with himself. He wasn't even sure if Cole's dad would let his son, Cole, let him inside.

Despite, Cliff somehow tolerating Lou, even a bit liking him and his performances with his band of the Royal Blacksmiths. Lou, on the other hand, hated Cliff and considered him his rival. Although, they had two different jobs, their similiar main goal was to entertain people. And obviously people preffered to watch movies with handsome actors rather than listen to some average dudes singing and dancing like a bunch of old donkeys - like some people, mostly young women, would compare them to.

Jay slowly and catiously approched the door, already raising his hand in a fist just about to knock on the flat wooden surface but he stopped himself mid-air.

He shouldn't risk it. Lou would definitely not let him step inside. He might've tolerated Jay in past with hard effort, everytime he visited or spend some time with his precious son. But now, especially after Jay and Cole stopped talking, Lou could've believed that they probably argued or something, which definitely made him happy, and now if Jay came in out of blue, Lou would kick him out the door faster than lightning.

Jay rolled his eyes at his own paranoia and sighed, he lowered his hand and walked behind the door, towards Cole's bedroom window and gently knocked against the glass. He quickly moved away, pressing his back against the house's brick wall, hiding from view if Cole's old man answered his knocking instead of his friend himself.

He stood there patiently, waiting for any answer from Cole but none came. Maybe he went outside or something.

Great, now his only friend that he could trauma dump was gone. Jay huffed out, a bit annoyed at that but understanding that Cole shouldn't give him reassurement everytime the boy needed it. Maybe he was attention starved... Or just selfish and pathetic.

What was he suppoesed to do now with his miserable life? He couldn't go to Cole's house or go somewhere else with him and didn't wanted to stay at his house or his tree house, too close to his father. He had nowhere else to go.

Or maybe he could just go to somewhere in the town. But where? He couldn't buy anything, he didn't took any money with himself, nor did he even had any. He could just hang out all alone, but where? He didn't fit in anywhere. Well, at least the actor classes gave him a good dramatic attitude.

Alright, he could actually hang out a bit in the town before visiting his aunt and uncle. The 2 whole weeks will definitely make him miss this city, even though he spend more time in his house and around it rather than there.

Maybe it was finally the time he could and now definitely would visit the local junkyard. It would be like heaven for him. Why didn't he go there before? Was trying to follow his dreams and hobbies of becoming a known inventor to the point of isolating himself from his only friend, his father - that he already had a bad relationship with - and other people and places that bad? He could've leave his comfort zone more to go out, experience something more but now he couldn't since having to move out and live with his relatives for the 2 next weeks.

He dragged his hands over his face and sighed hevaily, placing his hands on his hips. He shook his head, deep in thought and turned around to walk away but soon enough he stopped himself. He looked back again at Cole's window and couldn't help knocking onto the glass again, just to make sure...

About one mimute passed and there still wasn't any answer. Maybe Cole was just avoiding him. Well, you can't blame him. Not everyone wants to be someone's free therapist. Cole was a really helpful and comforting friend but he couldn't always be there for him. And he might've not wanted to anyway.

With one final glance at the window, Jay abprutly turned around on his heel and began his long walk towards the town amd seeing it for the last time before tomorrow's day.

But suddenly the window opened harshly, causing it to make a loud, unpleasant sound against the wooden sill as Jay turned around at the sudden sound, slightly wincing. A loud, rough voice yelled out. "Get off my lawn, young Walker!" It was Cole's dad, Lou. He did not sound very happy. At seeing Lou after so long time and so angry, Jay immediately ran away like a child who got caught red handed, doing something bad. Yeah, the town sounded really good to visit.

"Where were you for so long again?" Cliff asked sternly, eyeing his son up and down suspiciously as he crossed his arms over his chest. His glare was so sharp and intense that he could probably melt steel and metal. Maybe even something diamond from their house.

"Nowhere." Jay grumbled out, closing the door behind as he walked in and taking his shoes off and placing them on the mat.

"Don't 'nowhere' me. Yesterday, you were gone for a long time without telling me where you're going and you were suddenly with Cole, who you didn't spoke to for literal months." The older man huffed out, he sounded so angry that clouds of smoke should be coming out of his ears at this point. He couldn't stand his own son's disobedience anymore. "And today, you also go somewhere, presumably to Cole. But you weren't with him, Lou came here to nag me about you being annoying and trying to seemingly break in before running away. Also, I know you weren't in your tree house either, I looked there too."

"What?" Jay asked, in complete disbelief. Why on Earth would that old fart come here for? And why tell Cliff that he was around his house, totally not doing anything suspicious. "Why was he here?"

Cliff laughed to himself bitterly. "Lou might not like me, but he would still rather nag me about you than ignoring me. He's still holding a grudge towards our family, even though we didn't do anything to them."

"Uhm," Jay licked his lips awkwardly, looking anywhere around the small hall, excluding his father. "Where you standing here all the time, waiting for me to get back to lecture me as soon as I get back?"

"What, no." Cliff exclaimed with an exasparated huff as his face furrowed in offense. "Don't change the subject."

Jay's face scrunched slightly, trying not to laugh at his father. Even the smallest smirk would send him into an infinite lecture paradox without exit till his father was finally tired of looking at him.

"It's almost 8pm. Where the hell were you wandering for so long?" Cliff leaned against the wall, with the still stern face.

"Uh, just in the town. Not doing anything particular." Jay lied, still avoiding eye contact.

The older man looked at him for a moment, as if trying to read off his expressions and body language. "Where you at the local junkyard by any chance? Like some pathetic, homeless man?"

The younger man's jaw almost dropped to the floor like a cartoon character's, where they exaggerate every movement, reactions and scenes.

'How the hell did he knew?!' Jay thought to himself, staring at his eyes in shock, disbelief but slight awe that despite them having a hard relationship, Cliff still could tell where he was. Or maybe Jay just made himself being an inventor his whole personality to the point that it was easy to guess where he would went into the town.

Jay sighed under his breath, bracing himself for a hard lecture, looking down at the ground like a kicked puppy. Just because Cliff somewhat accepted his son's hobbies and dreams, doesn't mean he actually supports it.

"Go to your room. You're getting up early, right? Just eat something before sleep." Cliff simply said, with a monotone voice.

Jay's head shot up so fast, looking almost as if his neck would break in mid motion, as he looked at his father. That's all?

Cliff didn't said another word, just stared at him firmly. Jay exchanged a glance with a nearby wall, not sure of what to make of this little interaction but he obeyed and walked past his father, trying to avoid further eye contact or conversations.

Weird, but maybe he decided to finally apprieciate what his son wants in the future and he could finally accept that he was not gonna be some dumb, brainless, rich actor.

Maybe his father could think it all trough while he's gone for so long? The 2 weeks without each other could maybe help their relationship and apprieciate each other more.

Jay smiled slightly to himself entering the kitchen. He suddenly felt really hungry, he forgot to eat while being so excited about being at a real, big junkyard with all that stuff just beggining to be used for some of his blue prints.

Well, at least he felt a slightly good twinge in his chest at the thought of leaving to his aunt and uncle. He wasn't scared anymore, just hopeful for the better. He shouldn't overthinking everything so much.

Chapter Text

After eating the dinner and drinking some cold, fresh water, Jay quickly stepped back from the kitchen and walked upstairs towards his room to pack and get himself ready to sleep. He still felt anxious about the visit but he felt a slight tinge of happiness at the thought, or maybe he was just happy that he could at least pack himself whatever he wanted.

He opened the door to his room and shoved them back closed as he stepped in. He walked over to his big wooden closet, opened it and pulled out a big, leather black suitace.

The young man placed the suitcase down on the bed and unzipped it, opening it as wide as possible. He moved back to the closet to pick up some clothes.

He picked a dark blue suit, black tie and few white shirts with stiffened collars. His dungarees, some pairs of jeans, few T-shirts, his two favorite sweaters, pyjama, long and thick pair of socks and his underwear.

He placed all the clothes on the soft sheats of his bed and began folding them and packing inside the suitcase. He placed the all on the left side, leaving the right side completely empty for his hygiene products and shoes that he planned to pack in the morning.

He grinned at his own handy work, placing his hands on his hips in a proud posture. Damn, all the tinkering, fixing and drawing blue prints with his hands caused him to be very expert with them, even with neatly folding clothes like a precise machine. He was just that good with using his hands apparently.

He then picked up the half empty, half full suitcase up and placed it down onto the ground, beside the bed, closing it back behind. Maybe he should leave himself a note saying to not forget about the hygiene products and shoes to add later.

Now he just had to change into his pyjama, brush his teeth and go to sleep. Not a big deal, expect for waking up in so early in the morning part.

Jay sighed and looked around the room, trying to spot more personal things to grab and push into the suitcase. His eyes finally landed on the stash of the comics he reread milion times. It was the comics he got from his father - the popular Starfarer comics, there was no people on this Earth who never heard of this masterpiece.

It was also one of the main and most known roles that his famous father played in his actor carrier. They made a show based on the comics, and of course, his very own father played the main character Fritz Donegan.

When Jay was a small kid he always looked up to Fritz Donegan because he was confident, handsome, famous, girls were all over him and everyone loved him. He was also bravely fighting against evil forces, never giving up. Jay wished he would be like his role model.

Or maybe, he just like the comics and the show so much because his father played them and everytime he was feeling alone, he just watched it or read it. It felt like his father was there with him and actually aknowledging him.

Other kids probably watched the show with their own dads while Jay had to watch his own trough the screen while he spend hours working.

The young man stood there, deep in thought before finally coming back to his senses and coming over to the shelf towards the comics. He picked up the first one, deeply staring at the cover where Fritz Donegan himself was planted in the middle. There was a big, white spaceship, planets, stars and meteors behind him, all of that on a cosmic background.

He smiled to himself and picked up all of the comics, wincing slightly at their unexpected weight combined. He walked over to the suitcase and got on his knees, resting the comics against his knee while securing them with his hand and opening the suitcase with his other as he gently placed all the comics inside. Great, now there was less space to fill. Well, it will be his problem for tomorrow.

He quickly changed, brushed his teeth and went to sleep, hoping to wake up well rested.

The next morning Jay was laying on the bed not well rested. He was staring up at the ceiling, looking as if he was an alcoholic, middle aged man who just lost all of his money and his imaginary wife and kids just got killed by his biggest arch nemesis. He felt so exhausted, he barely even slept. Maybe it was caused by the deep-seated worry and fear in his body that he didn't even realise of until now.

His mind was currently stuck on the thought of the quickly coming trip that awaited him in so little time. He should pack the rest of his stuff but he couldn't even find the energy to do so. He barely slept, he couldn't possibly even get up in this state.

Suddenly, he heard some quick, heavy steps coming towards his bedroom. It was surely his very own angry father about to scold him that he's still in the bed instead of getting ready.

He quickly sat up, pushing the blanket away and getting up towards his still open closet to grab clothes.

In that exact moment, Cliff barged into the room, the door bursting open and hitting the wall as it flew towards it making the metal hinges sqeak loudly.

"Jay!" Cliff yelled. "Do you know what hour is it?!"

"Uhm, no? Why?" Jay asked, already fearing the answer.

"It's 5.45am! And you just got up! The carriage will be here soon!" The older man was almost loke a bomb, ready to go off with the way, his face going all red as smoke practicallly came out of his ears.

"I'll be ready on time!" Jay yelled back, holding back a loud groan of despair and agony as he quickly pulled his pyjama off and put on neater clothes. A white shirt, brown sweater, jeans and socks. While Cliff left the room.

Jay went to the bathroom, grabbing all off his hygiene products and putting them in his leather portable cointainer. There was no time to brush his teeth as he packed the toothpaste and toothbrush, no one should notice his smelly breath anyway.

Jay quickly used the bathroom and got back to his room to pack the container, trying to squeeze it into the suitcase. The comics took too much space apparently.

He picked up the half-closed suitcase and carried it downstairs while slightly grunting at It's weight. He placed it down on the ground and put his oxfords and boots inside, trying to push them inside as hard as possible into the suitcase so he could finally close it, without caring about somehow securing them and his other packed stuff.

He closed the suitcase and put on his jacket, hat and shoes, fixing himself in the mirror in the hallway. He looked at himself in the large glass and couldn't help but make a stupid flirty face, the reflection mimicking it. He did look good like that.

"Jay, I got you food and water." Cliff grunted under his breath, holding a small metal container with the said food and a metal canteen with the liquid. He looked and sounded as tired as Jay currently felt, the exhaustion of the lack of sleep suddenly hitting him.

The younger man nodded and took the food and water from his father, his voice a bit strained. "Uh, thanks."

"Alright, go. The carriage should already be here soon." Cliff stated as he pulled out a small bag of coins from his pocket and passed it to Jay who now had his hands full. "Give it to the coachman." He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, as he watched his son struggle with all the stuff.

Jay nodded again, while pushing the bag into his pocket and unlocked the door, stepping out of the house but he stopped himself before closing the door. He looked over at his father and opened his mouth as if to say something.

For a longer moment, no words came out of his mouth, he didn't knew what to say so he just smiled slightly at him and walked out, closing the door behind.

He walked towards the side of the road, placing the suitcase down on the ground, putting the canteen into his pocket and resting the metal box with food against his side as he dove his hand into the pocket for his watch.

It was 5.55am. 5 minutes left. He could already feel his heartbeat rappidly speeding up. He exhaled heavily, trying to calm down and watching as a small cloud of steam came out of his mouth.

"Jay!" A sudden yell came out from his left, making Jay startle and jump in surprise. He recognized the voice, it was Cole. He looked over his shoulder to his left, seeing the other man quickly make his way towards him.

"What's up, man? Already going?" Cole asked, a bit out of breath. His every breathe making small, short clouds of steam.

"Uh, yeah. How did you know?" Jay asked curiously. Genuinely, how the hell did he knew when he leaves? Jay doesn't remember ever telling Cole anything.

"My dad told me." Cole laughed, breathlessly, his posture slumping a bit.

'Ugh, of course he did.' Jay thought to himself, irritated. His father probably told that to Lou while he came here to shit talk about him.

Jay wanted to roll his eyes at that but somehow held himself back, at least Cole got to know at what hour he leaves so they could say goodbye after Jay forgot to even tell him when he was leaving, so he changed the subject. "What? Can't catch your breath?" He teased lightly.

Cole huffed out, but smiled widely after. "No, I gave up sweets. My body is a temple now." The black haired man joked, but with the way he said that, it did sound almost serious. "And also, I got you something so you wouldn't forget me again."

"Huh, really?" The other boy asked in surprise. He should've expect that though. It was Cole after all. "Well, what is it?" Great, another thing to add to his already full hands and pockets.

Cole pulled out a long, neatly folded scarf with red and dark brown scarfs from his pocket and extending his hand with it towards Jay to take it. "Here."

'Wow, what a weird color combo.' Jay thought to himself, amused at that but also somewhat touched at the nice gesture. He wanted to grab it but his full hands didn't let him.

Cole seeing that chuckled and moved closer to the shorter boy, tightly wrapping the scarf around his neck. "I got it for you because I know that you needed one. I mean, you move to a, how to say it, less richer place and they could have freezing homes so that scarf should keep you warm." He laughed to himself again, making Jay smile and feel less anxious about the visit.

"It's cool. Did you made it? I didn't knew you could crochet." Jay teased as he smiled widely.

"Uh, no." Cole exclaimed, his tone wavering slightly. "It was from my mom but I wanted to give it to you."

Jay's smile immediately fell. "What-?! From your deceased mom?! Cole I can't take it!"

"Yes, you can!" The taller man argued back.

"No! It was a gift from your mom to you! You shouldn't give it to me, I don't deserve that!"

"I know but the point is that the scarf always comforted me when I was stressed or something so I thought you would need it too. Since you're so afraid now." Cole's voice was quiet with a sad tone to it.

Jay couldn't believe what the other was saying. Was he sick or just completely nuts? "Cole, I really apprieciate that-"

"Then take it-"

"But I can't!" Jay practically screeched out.

"Dude, I got that scarf as a kid now right before my mom died. It just helped me deal with things after she passed. So everything's fine and you should just accept that as a gift from your friend." Cole said sternly.

He wanted to argue more but Cole was quicker to speak up again. "I got it from her for comfort and security, so now I give it to you to do the same."

"Ugh, okay!" Jay agreed bedrudgingly, muttering under his breath about becoming possesed by some evil spirit now by the scarf.

Cole smiled at him and patted his back. "Just take care of it."

"Yeah, I will." The shorter boy said, nodding along.

Finally, carriage pulled by two old but still large white horses, appeared and stopped right beside the two young men.

The cabin of the carriage was fully enclosed, made of black painted wood with some golden and brown accents. There were windows on both sides and door with an accesible low step and the high coach box in front where the said coachman sat on, wearing a long, neat black coat that reached his knees, over black suit, while holding the long, leather reins.

The mysterious, slender and tall young man put the rein aside and got off of his coach box and bowed his head a little in greeting. "Hello, you must be Jay Gordon. I am your current coachman Zane. Let me take your luggage." He straightened himself, not even waiting for a response and extended his hand for Jay's suitcase. He seemed nice but somewhat distant and weird, in Jay's quick, judging opinion.

The said boy quietly stared at him for a moment in almost what seemed like a mix of slight surprise and awe at this man's looks, voice and the way he acted so obediently and nicely.

Cole, who stood there awkwardly, feeling like a ghost completely unnoticed by the coachman, only rolled his eyes and elbowes Jay in his side making the other boy flinch but snap back to reality. "Uhm, yeah right." He extended his hand with the suitcase passing it towards his coachman who took it without any further interactions and placed it on top of the carriage roof rack, securing it with some straps. 'God, what am I even thinking about...' Jay thought to himself, as his cheeks reddened slightly.

The two young men watched the other man for a moment longer then turned to each other.

"So..." The taller started, his tone a bit awkward. "I guess we'll see each other in 2 weeks?"

"Uh, yeah. I'll probably will be stuck with some boring tasks and duties from my aunt and uncle." The shorter joked lightly with a small, although not amused smile. "I just hope the 2 weeks stuck with them will be more bearable than my entire life spend with my father."

"Hey, I know you barely know them and remember but they're still your family. And family sticks together." Cole replied with a wide, soft smile, friendly patting Jay's back. "Now go. You'll ride in that thing for hours, right?"

Jay chuckled, his smile becoming more genuine. "Yeah, thanks." He approached the horse carriage and stepped on the step with one leg and grabbed the handle before turning back to his friend. "Just don't miss me too much, man. Maybe I could write to you."

"I expect you to write to me as soon as you arrive, dude. Take care of yourself. And the scarf." The black haired man replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I will! Don't worry!" Jay called out as he opened the door of the carriage and looked inside. There were two soft cushioned benches facing across each other and short, white see-through curtains on each window. He threw his food and water down on the soft seating.

He turned around staring at Cole with the same way he just stared at his father before walking out of the house. He stepped back from the carriage and approched Cole. He hesitated for a moment before hugging him tightly.

Cole stood there surprised but quickly reciprocated the hug, gently squezzing the shorter boy back. They hugged like that for a little longer then finally let go as the coachman called towards Jay. Jay smiled at him and approched the horse carriage where the said coachman awaited for him. He got inside, closing the door behind and waving back at Cole. Cole waved back, still smiling. "See you soon! Just don't forget about me again!" He joked and Jay laughed, shaking his head as he settled back against the cushioned seating.

Only one single hour has passed. Jay was extremely bored as he just sat in the same spot and looked trough the window at the no changing landscape.

The horse carriage currently rode on a dirt road between some boring plain fields and a small village nearby. Sure, at some point this typical village look looked cozy and pretty but Jay was staring at the same view for a longer time.

Maybe he could talk with the coachman. He acted like a nice person but seemed rather, how to put it gently, less talkative and social? Well, he send a slightly weird feeling to Jay, just after the weird fluttery feeling he felt in his chest.

He must've seen the way Jay stared at him earlier, like he was hypnotized. Jay hoped the Zane dude wouldn't think bad of him now. He was not gay after all.

Jay watched many movies, read many comics and even, occasionallly, some books about romance between a man and a woman. It's a standard and a tradition to have a forever partner that is the opposite gender. That's what he was always taught since he was a kid.

But then, when he was a teen, he had to only focus about studying and being the best among other boys his age. And now, as an older teenager, almost an adult, the thought of girls and a future wife was back on the track. At least, his father didn't bothered him with talks about girls a lot, like he cared more about Jay's future carrier than a good wife.

And Jay was absolutely scared by interacting with a girl in anyway, or maybe he was just scared of girls. He didn't knew how or what to talk about with them. But what girl would even love Jay? He was a total weirdo with weird hobbies and looks, none of them ever looked at him anyway. And being with another man was a sin, he sure would end up single and die alone.

Jay groaned to himself, slamming his face against his hands. Can't he just stop overthinking, or even thinking at all, for once? Being single but happy with yourself and what you is way better than being with someone who doesn't support you or maybe doesn't even like you.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jay decided to slightly opened the door, enough to call out to the coachman. "Hey! Could I... Could I maybe sit with you on your bench? I don't have anything to do in here and I'm bored. I would really like to talk to you, or just anyone... Or do something else, I'm open for your suggestions too."

There was a long silence. The coachman didn't said a single word, didn't make a sound, he didn't even turned around to look at Jay. The only sound being the occasional bird chirping or the gust of wind hitting against the carriage.

"Uh, so..." Jay started awkwardly. "You wanna talk? Quick answer, yes or no?"

Another short silence before the other man's gentle voice called out back to him. "Talk about what exactly?"

"I don't know! Anything!" Jay yelled back in case the other couldn't hear him properly. "Could I at least sit with you, please?"

Zane didn't answer right away. Again. But he pulled on the reins and made a signaling sound, making the horses stop with the carriage. Jay took that as an invitation and shoved the door open and got out of the carriage, leaving his still untouched food and water back.

He got outside stepping onto the muddy ground, instantly shivering as another strong gust of cold wind blew straight at him. Almost the end of winter but it was still cold like they were in a damn freezer.

He quickly made his towards the front of the carriage where the coachman should be seated on his bench, while trying to calm down his shivering. Maybe it was a bad idea to get out of the warm, comfy carriage.

He stepped on the small step and sat next to Zane, who moved slightly to his right to make space for the other. Jay rubbed his hands together then rubbed his arms, trying to create some warmth.

Zane noticing that didn't made the sign for the horse to keep going and just stared at the other boy for few more moments before asking with a monotone, confused tone. "Are you sure you don't want to go back to the cabin? It's really cold and you only have your jacket on."

"Yeah, well..." Jay started awkwardly, he really didn't want another person to lecture him, especially a stranger who seemed so nice. "I don't think It's fair how I'm sitting in warmth while you freeze here alone." He cringed internally at the weak argument but on the other hand Zane couldn't send him back to the cabin, he wasn't his father to order him around.

"Yes, it is cold." Zane deadpanned. "But I'm wearing a thick coat and I've worked in cold many times for really long periods so I barely feel the cold. I'm more immune, unlike you."

The thought did not cross Jay's mind. Wow, he either overthinks everything or doesn't think at all. "Well, I'll survive some stupid wind and slightly chilly weather." Jay scoffed, trying to downplay the situation.

"Uhm, alright if you say so." Zane replied with a monotone but calm and collected tone, easing his grip on the reins and making encouraing noises causing the horses to start walking again.

Meanwhile, Jay watched in slight awe at how he could control strong animals like horses so easily. He caught himself silently staring for too long and cleaned his throat. "Uh, soo... You come here often?" His voice cracked mid sentence, not even realising what he was about to say before the words left his mouth.

"Pardon?" Zane asked, a bit thrown off.

Jay sputtered and blushed, embarrassed. "Uh, I mean... Uh, what made you chose this job-?" He wasn't really interested about the other's job but he'd rather talk about anything to just change the subject.

"Well, I grew up with horses and I do really like them. But also my dad used to be a coachman too. I mean, besides being a coachman, he was also a scientist and an inventor." Zane smiled softly to himself at the memories of his dad.

The other boy immediately perked up at the mention of Zane's dad being an inventor like Jay himself. What a great coincidence. "Inventor you say?"

"Yes." Zane nodded. "He was always either tinkering or building some robots and other inventions like that. He always had ideas on what to do. He was a really smart and great man."

"That's really cool!" Jay exclaimed, clearly eager to hear more. "I bet he was known for being a very good inventor, right? And- and he was probably rich too, if you could afford two whole horses and that beatiful, elegant carriage."

"Not really. Being a coachman was his main job mostly because being an inventor and a scientist didn't pay off. People did like him but considered him crazy. And no, he wasn't a known person. Neither he should've been known around someone like you." Zane replied smoothly, although his voice was slightly strained, pausing his monologue for a moment to exhale and inhale in peace before continuing. "The horses are old and can only walk, no running for them. The carriage is old too, it was renewed by me and my dad alone."

Now Jay wasn't so happy and eager as earlier. He expected to hear some cool story about a great inventor but apparently that job didn't pay off like he thought it should, it was probably just a stupid hobby for Zane's dad not a real working dream like for Jay.

Maybe his father was right about that? No one would take him seriously if he took that path, but he couldn't just drop and leave his dreams behind like that.

Another silence.

"Okay, It's weird now..." Jay finally muttered under his breath, his mixed mind making him completely forget about the chill air surronding him. "Your dad must've liked inventing all sort of stuff, right? It's like you're a creator creating whatever you want. You use your creativity for that, but people only find it weird..."

"Yes, exactly. I wanted to be like him but apparently money matters more." Zane sighed, his tone now cold and distant.

"Is... Is it hard to live like that? I mean, when you would want to do something you've been dreaming about for years but you're forced to do something different just because of money?"

The other boy sighed heavily again, his breathe making a cold steam appear in the air. "Correct. But that doesn't mean you can't still do that. I still tinker some stuff from time to time, but that is not gonna help me survive."

"Oh." Jay deadpanned. Yeah, oh. Well, his future dream job didn't sound so appealing now. As long as he wanted to follow his goal, he didn't really wanted to be poor or seen as some psycho.

"Why are you asking about it so much anyway? I never met another person who was curious about tech stuff like me, I mean not counting my girlfriend." Zane stated, now curiously staring at the other boy without blinking like some owl.

The sudden mention of Zane's lover kinda caught Jay off guard. Great, not only was Jay now rethinking his future path but now they were going for the partner talk.

Jay huffed out, steam coming out of his mouth. "Well, I sure do have some interest in the tech stuff, inventing, fixing and tinkering, I guess." He tried to sound proffesional and nonchalant at once. It didn't sound as he hoped it would though. "But my father thinks It's stupid so he decided to sent me to my aunt and uncle who live far away and are really poor. He thinks It'll teach me a lesson to apprieciate what I already have. And that living poor but with your dream future is much worse than hating your life but having money."

"That's... A weird train of thought." The blonde young man replied softly. "But I think your father's actions are made to provide good life for you, he doesn't mean harm."

"Yeah, I know! I think- but he's acting like I'm some mistake and I'm never enough and he forces me to be someone I don't want to!" Jay scoffed, throwing his head back accidentally hitting it against the wooden carriage and wincing slightly.

"That's why communication is key to everything." Zane exclaimed cheekily. He seemed so smart but also stupid, it was both amusing and endearing.

"Ugh, It's not that easy. He doesn't even want to listen to me! But when he actually, somewhat, tries to hear me out, he still argues back! Like he can't even see my point of view."

Zane pondered for a moment in his head. "How about getting a family therapy?"

"What?! Are you insane?!" The shorter boy screeched out like a crazy banshee. "He would rather die than to go to some 'stupid' therapy. He wouldn't want his precious friends and public to think of him as some crazy dude with an even crazier son that needs some special help."

"Well, in that case, that's not a healthy relationship between a parent and their child." Zane simply said, his face a bit saddened in empathy.

"You think so?" Jay deadpanned. "I mean, I don't have to listen to that old fart. I'm almost 18 anyway. As soon as I'm able to legally drink, I'm out of that damn house. I'm sure finding a good stable job wouldn't be so hard and I'll be a known, rich inventor someday." He added, feeling a sudden rush of arrogance and confidence.

"I'm not sure It's a good idea but also staying in an abusing household isn't good either." Zane said. "I could help you with getting a good job if you want. It might not be something good or satisfying for you at first but anything is better than nothing."

"Really?" Jay asked in slight disbelief but he smiled friendly at blonde young man. "Wow, we barely know each other but we already act like we've known each other for years. It's just so easy talking with you, you know?"

Zane smiled back at him. "Yeah, I get that a lot. Pixal, my girlfriend- I mean, fiance now, tells me that a lot." He blushed slightly.

"Ooh~ Fiance, you say?" Jay teased him lightly, wiggling his eyebrows. "You said girlfriend earlier."

Zane blushed a bit more, completely embarrassed. "Yes, but I've proposed just recently, its still new for both of us." Oh, damn, he was already taken...

"Well, wish you two good luck."

"Thanks. I also wish you good luck with your father." Zane replied, his blushing face finally but slowly coming back to It's original pale skin tone. "Just remember that talking it over first with your father wouldn't be a bad idea. But if it still doesn't change, you could always contact me, I'll give you my number later."

Uh, sounds great!" Jay sputtered out, his own face being the one to become red and flushed. "Thanks again, dude."

"No problem." The blue eyed boy smiled at him warmly again. "I always help others. Although, you might want to come back to the carriage. You started shivering again."

Jay looked down at himself and noticed the slight shivering. He didn't even felt it at first, maybe he stopped feeling the cold somehow. "Uh, yeah. I'll get back. I'm kinda hungry anyway and I probably only got a single sandwich. I could practically eat a whole horse now instead." He glanced at the two old horses who in reply made almost offended-like huffs. "Uh, not you guys." He joked as Zane stopped the said horses so Jay could get back to the carriage.

As soon as the auburn haired boy closed the door behind himself, the carriage began moving again, in It's own slow pace as the two old white horses moved like turtles. He picked up the metal canteen and opened it, silently praying to see actually nourishing meal instead of some stupid simple small sandwich. He opened it fully and his eyesight was met with the same stupid bread with the peanut butter cream. Okay, he liked the cream but he didn't feel like eating it now, at least Cliff somewhat knew what his own son likes.

Jay, due to the sudden hunger, quickly finished the small meal and chugged down half of the water from his metal bottle. Now, after eating such a elegant and wealthy meal, he needed the well deserved nap he suddenly craved so much.

Despite the soft benches not being a good replacement for an actual bed, it couldn't be that bad. He laid down on the cushion, trying to lay as straight as possible while bending his legs a bit to even fit on the softness of the bench. It fucking smelled like a dead rat that fried in the sun for the past 5 days and got pooped on by an ill donkey.

He could currently only pray for the dreamland to take him back for at least few horse from this horror.

Chapter Text

The carriage still moved at a slow pace, the two old horses peacefully moving like snails with no care in the world. Finally, about two hours of the long boring trip already and hopefully passed. The sun was now much lower on the sky but not enough to dissapear behind the horizon yet. There were still few hours left for the night to arrive, if Jay assumed right.

The said man leaned heavily against the window, looking trough it at the colorful sky. He was really tired, despite just sitting in the same place and barely moving. Who knew sitting still for the past 2 hours, trying to fall asleep, could make someone so tired.

The earlier attempt to fall asleep wasn't that much succesful. He did slept for about two hours but when he finally woke up, he felt even more exhausted than before falling asleep.

Now he was wasting his time looking out the window. Can't blame him if the cushioned benches sure looked soft and in fact they were but sleeping on them was horror, especially because of the smell. He couldn't sleep while sitting but he couldn't lay down either, there were too little space to lay straight like he tried to and curling into a ball would be weird. That's not how a real man sleeps.

He was kinda hungry again, and he had no food anymore! Why didn't his dumb father pack him more? He also had barely any water left. He felt like some prisoner in some sick jail that treated It's inmates like shits and not human beings. At this point Jay could just get out of the damn carriage and eat one of the horses. It wouldn't be a big deal if one of them was gone, they already moved frickishly slow.

Maybe Zane had some food and water. It wouldn't hurt to ask. No, it would surely hurt Jay's pride, it would be too weird to beg for some food like a homeless man. Starving wasn't that bad of an option. He didn't ate a lot at his house anyway, he could only make himself a decent sandwich and maybe sometimes cereals with milk.

He couldn't cook, no one ever taught him how to since it was seen as a job only for women. And Cliff despite having a lot of incomes was still kinda greedy and only 'wasted' money for a housekeeper that only cooked them a lunch and cleaned a little at the house. It didn't made sense.

He could just hire two housekeepers and make one clean the house and the other cook every meal for them but no. He preffered to have his son, who didn't knew how to cook, to make himself a good meal. And seeing what Cliff packed him into that canteen, it seemed like his father was in a similiar boat. But he never starved, he must've left to go and eat at some fancy restaurants everytime Jay wasn't around. It definitely happened like few times a day.

But nooo, be a fucking greedy bastard.

Jay leaned heavily against the soft cushioned bench and groaned loudly to himself like a pathetic and dramatic person he was. He couldn't even read his damn comics since they were still stuck in his overpacked suitcase that was currently trapped on top of the carriage.

What was he suppoesed to do? Die from boredom?

Jay sat like that for few more moments before bedrudgingly lifting himself off the seating and slightly opening the carriage door. "Hey, Zane?!" He yelled loudly, not caring how loud that was. He just wanted to make sure the other would hear him. "Are we there yet?!"

"Not yet!" The young coachman called out from the front of the carriage, the wind making his voice fly all over the place, barely getting to Jay's ears.

"How long till we arrive?! I'm bored here!" The auburn haired man whined out, his voice still high and loud as it cut trough the strong cold wind, trying to get to Zane's ears.

"About two more hours, I think." The blonde man exclaimed. "We could take a break. The horses need it. And you probably have to stretch your legs, right?"

"Yeah, we can stop..." Jay exclaimed, closing the door behind.

The carriage stopped after about 10 minutes later when they arrived at a small village by the road. Zane got off his coachman box and took the horses' reins leading them towards troughs,with the carriage. He tied the leather ropes to the near wooden bar.

Meanwhile, Jay got out of the carriage and stretched his arms above his head as much as he could, feeling his muscles tighten than slowly relax. He took a long, deep inhale of the cold, fresh air and straightened, rolling his shoulders to ease the pain from sitting still for so long. "How long till we arrive? Long trips are not for me."

"Hopefully, about one more hour." The other exclaimed, patting one of the horses. "You can go use the bathroom while I go buy us some food and water."

"Oh, wait-" Jay scoffed. "You don't have to buy me stuff. I have money." He quickly dove his hands deep into his jacket pockets, searching them trough as his fingers didn't grasp at anything. He huffed embarrassed and shoved his hands into his pants pocket, still nothing. One of the most important stuff in the world and Jay didn't pack it. Just great. Not as if he even had a lot of it anyway. "Okay, I don't have any money on me now but that doesn't mean you're suppoesed to pay for me like I'm some damsel in distress."

"But-"

"No, I still haven't paid you yet- I mean, I will after we arrive-" Jay exclaimed, his face heating up just the slightest. "Forget it, I'm not that hungry or thirsty..."

"I understand the need to keep dignity and honor but accepting help isn't weak or pathetic. It's not like I lack any money and you're gonna pay me anyway." Zane replied, smiling softly as he put his reassuring hand on the other's shoulder.

Jay didn't want to agree, his pride yelling at him and his embarrassment thinking of ways to die didn't help at all. But he couldn't refuse his own hunger. "Ugh, fine."

"See? It wasn't so hard." The blonde laughed bluntly. "Watch the horses." He quickly went towards the nearest shop and got inside as Jay sat down on a big hard rock, keeping a small distance between himself and the two old but still big and very much intimidating.

It was honestly the first time the auburn haired young man even saw a real horse, especially from so close. It was... Fascinating, to experience something so simple, for some people, like seeing a horse. Maybe wherever his aunt and uncle currently lived in, there were horses or other farm animals like that. It was nice to think about something that simple.

After few minutes of freezing his butt of on the hard, uncomfortabe rock, Zane finally came back carrying two sandwiches and two bottles of water. The blonde man handed him the food and water and leaned against the wooden bar that the horses' reins were tied to and began eating.

Jay relucantly reached his hand towards the offered goods and began slowly unwrapping the sandwich and taking a big bite off it.

They silently ate together side by side for few more moments before Jay finally build up courage and spoke up in a strained voice. "Thanks..."

"No problem." The other answered almost instantly as he finished his own small meal.

They finished in now less tense silence and got back on the track with the horse carriage.

It was almost late evening now, the sun was half way over the horizon, casting a nice orange and yellowish light across the clear sky which ended in soft blue accents.

Jay was now half asleep and half willing to live. He pressed his back heavily against the cushioned bench as he stared through the window at the beatiful sky. They were almost at their destination now and Jay could only feel his heart bit faster from time to time from the fear, slight anxiety and excitment from visiting and living for the 2 next weeks with his relatives he didn't saw in years.

He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. No need to panic over anything. Everything and will be fine. He still had time before arriving there. He could just plan out and play the whole possible conversation in his head to get ready.

But what could they possibly talk about? He knew they were good people but he still haven't seen them in years, they were related but still so uknown to each other.

I mean, if his father's words and from what Jay remembered himself from the past when he spend time with them, they were very similiar to him. Maybe they could bond over that. Ugh, they would probably act like some mother hens and show him some stupid photos of his childhood memories he didn't even remember.

He rubbed at his eyes and yawned loudly, stretching his legs to maximum. He's gonna sleep for so long when they finally arrive there but now he could focus on his overthinking and potential conversation topics, he even closed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest to relax more.

Suddenly the carriage stopped abprutly, making Jay suddenly jump as his eyes snapped open. Oh no, they couldn't be here yet. He wasn't ready! Maybe if he didn't got out of the carriage and pretended to not exist, Zane could somehow think he didn't had any passengers and would just drive off.

But no, of course the stupid world didn't revolve around Jay and it had to torture him so much for no reason.

The carriage door widely opened up, reaveling the nice, handsome coachman who just smiled softly. "We're finally here. I hope you enjoyed the trip."

Jay wanted to groan but forced it down and relucantly got up and got off the carriage. He handed the blonde young man the bag of coins without a word as the other handed him his suitcase back.

"I hope you'll spend nice time with your relatives." Zane said calmly with his usual smile as he closed the carriage door back with his one hand and extended his other for a handshake.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks, man." Jay replied awkwardly as he swallowed thr lump of nerves down and shook the other's hand.

Zane let his hand go as Jay's stuck in place and he got on his coachbox and waved him as the carriage started slowly moving away. Jay almost wanted to chase after it but barley stopped himself from doing so. He wasn't a coward, he could definitely face his relatives with ease. He just had to stay calm.

The young man took a calming inhale and exhale and began walking but soon stopped. He was at the destination but he didn't know where exactly his aunt and uncle lived. Fucking great. Well, he just had to find some probably ugly, rusty and old van but it could be literally anywhere in that hole of a village.

He looked around the place. It was a big space with many trees, bushes, other plants and some river. Surronded by big mountains and hills and... Rice fields? Where the hell was he? On some damn rice farm? Great, now he'll become a dumb rice farmer.

He began walking on the trampled path, dragging his suitcase behind. Did the thing got heavier or something? He must've been very tired. He stopped few meters later, looking around in every direction, trying to pin point where could they be.

After walking in complete silence, the only sound being the breeze occasionally appearing once in a while, he stopped in his track noticing the big glowy 'Ed and Edna's junkyard' sign in the ground. One of the letters with yellow neon light annoyingly flickered in ugliest shade ever. Where they travelling with that big thing all over the realm? Jay groaned internally as he shivered at the sudden gust of wind. 'Great, they're gonna be soooo embarrassing.'

He relucantly started walking towards the sign, switching the suitcase to his other hand to even out the struggle in his hands from holding it. He finally arrived just below the sign and noticed the old, slightly rusty, honestly probably barely working van. There was no way he would spend 2 weeks living in that thing. He just hoped he wouldn't have to share a bed with them. If they even had normal proper beds in there.

He walked towards the van and stood in front of It's metal door, hesitating to knock. No, he couldn't do that. He wanted to get back to his real house. Maybe he could just run away or something.

The door suddenly opened wide, kicking Jay's hand away, making him hiss in pain, and almost hitting his anxious, and now slightly pained, face. "Oh, Jay, dear! It's you!" An old cheerful feminine voice spoke up. "You're finally here! Ed, Jay's here!" She called towards the inside of the van before throwing her arms around the taller boy in a crushing hug.

"Uhhh, yeah... Hey, aunt Edna." Jay exclaimed with a strained voice, while awkwardly patting her back. Hugging her back would be just too weird. They weren't really that close to make Jay feel comfortable enough to just hug like that.

"Oh, just call me auntie, Jay." She scoffed, pulling away but still gripping his arms, looking him all over. "We've been expecting you for so long. We're so happy that you're finally here."

"Jay! My favorite and only nephew!" An old masculine voice, this time, called out. It was uncle Ed with just as bright smile as his lovely wife. "Haven't seen you in a while, boy." He walked over to them and patted Jay's back reassuringly.

"We missed you so much. Come inside, you're probably hungry and tired, right? I'll make you something while you'll rest." Edna grabbed his wrist and quickly dragged him to the van agter herself, Ed following back behind them and closing the door.

"Yeah, uh, I missed you guys too..." Jay replied, gulping his stress down. It was worse than he imagined. What the hell was he suppoesed to do now?

Edna led him towards a cushioned seating, between a small counter and a closet, that was right in front of the door and pushed him onto it. He sat down as tense as a pole as he out the suitcase down onto the ground between his legs.

"So how was the trip, boy?" Ed asked curiously as he sat down next to the young man, who tried not to scoot away. He was siting too close for his liking.

"Good. It was good." Jay quickly replied, rubbing the back of his neck as he smiled awkwardly. "I mean, it was really tiring, just sitting in same spot on uncomfortabe bench without a dose of sleep and barely any food for hours." He rambled out, without thinking as his stomach suddenly spoke up by itself and growled loudly making Jay blush in embarrassment.

Edna just chuckled and began making him a tea and some quick snack. "You should go rest right after eating then. You're a growing man after all, you need food and sleep." She hummed as she prepared some bake beans on toast.

"How are you doing in the acting school?" Ed suddenly asked.

Jay really didn't wanted to talk about that, but he had to so he gulped the lake of saliva in his mouth down his throat again and exhaled calmly. "Well, It's not that bad, I guess..." It wasn't a lot information but he hoped it would be enough to satisfy ther curiousity.

He was so wrong. His aunt and uncle only stared at him with friendly smiles as they waited for him to continue. They probably expected some long ass pharagraph about every single detail about what he did in that dumb school for clowns.

"Well," He started hesitantly. "I don't have normal classes with other kids, I have individual ones. With the worst teacher in the whole world.

Edna's face turned into a visible frown mixed with surprise. "Oh, why's that, dear?"

"He-he hates me for no reason and he's always criticising me for smallest mistakes! That's mostly why I started skipping the school, I don't want to be an actor like my father..." Jay was already spilling all his life problems to them despite still being wary of them. What a hypocrite.

"Really?" Ed asked surprised. "That's not what your dad told us in his mails to us."

"What?" Jay's head snapped to his uncle so fast, he could already feel a harsh pain building up his spine.

"Cliff wrote us letters about you from time to time. What, he didn't tell you?" The women asked in confusion, looking over at her husband who just shrugged in response.

"N-no... What did he wrote to you guys?"

"That you actually do enjoyed and like going to the school. And that you do plan on following his steps and continuing the silly legacy of actors." Ed replied, a bit amused but still in disbelief that Cliff lied to them about probably everything.

'He lied to them in the letters so casually? Wasn't he scared that auntie and uncle would tell me the truth eventually when we finally meet up?' Jay thought to himself. What a prick his father could sometimes be. He really was able to lie about his own son's life in favor of having others admire it.

"I... Whatever he wrote you guys is not true. That school and teacher is literally hell with devils. I wish I could just drop out of it." The auburn haired man scoffed to himself as he sulked deep into the soft cushion.

"Well, we suspected it but we wouldn't want to argue with your dad and demand the actual truth trough mail." Ed exclaimed. "You've always had a knack for tinkering as a kid from what I remember. Everytime your mom visited with you, you would always try to help me around with stuff."

"Yes." Edna nodded as her smile returned. "You were always so excited about it too. Cliff did mention that you still liked the mechanical stuff and all that but he also wrote that you barely done anything in that regard for a longer time because you were, presumably, focused on your future as an actor."

"That's so untrue. Did I already mention that I completely despise that? I wish I could actually be do what I want to do in my future..." Jay huffed out in frustration, crossing his arms over his chest.

"But at least you're here now and could tell us the real side of you, Jay. We will love to hear you out and help you with your problems." Ed reassuringly clapped Jay on his back.

"Yes, but maybe leave it for tomorrow. It's already getting late." Edna chuckled as she handed Jay the warm toast with baked beans, that he almost immediately dived his teeth into, and a cup of tea. He already forgot his fear and anxiety from being here but now he felt at home. For the first time in some time, someone finally listened to him. It wasn't a lot, but for Jay - it was enough.

After finishing the dinner, Jay wiped his face with his sleeve then drinked the rest of his tea. It was first time in his life when Jay ate something like that, it was really good for his liking. He got up and placed the dishes into the small sink, before turning around and walking out of the van to his aunt and uncle.

The outside felt slightly warmer than before but Jay still wrapped his jacket tighter around his body. He noticed them standing near the sign as Ed fixed something in the electric box and Edna held a flashlight for him. "Alright, I think I'll go to sleep. Where's my bed?" He asked out loud, not really daring to approach them. They were nice and all but he really just wanted to throw himself into a dreamland instead of talking.

"I'll show you in just a second, dear. Wait a little." Edna called back towards him with her typical warm smile.

"I'll just fix it real quick and we're all going sleep, boy." Ed called out, fixing his small glasses. "The letter 'J' in junkyard kept flickering for some days now but I never had time to fix it but when I did, I completely forgot about it." He chuckled to himself at his own antics before continuing. "Now that you're here, I remembered to do it and actually got time now. It must've been a sign since only the letter 'J' is flickering and your name starts with a 'J'. I mean, your name could even be written as just the letter."

Jay held himself from rolling his eyes. Oh, how many times did he hear that. Or that if he got his last name from his mom and her family, he would be 'Jay Walker' which is close to jaywalking. He remembers Cole once saying it completely out of nowhere.

At seeing his uncle struggle with cables, Jay decided to help. He quickly made his way towards the old couple. "Uhm, may I help?"

Ed looked over at him, fixing his glasses again. "You sure? I wouldn't want you to electrocute yourself, boy."

"Nah, I'll be fine." Jay exclaimed. "Worse things happened." He approched the electric box as the pair moved out of his way, Edna still stayed close enough to flash the box properly in the dark night. He looked over at all the messy cables and buttons. Why did each letter had It's own 'on' and 'off' button and wire? Who the hell made this? It would be much easier if all would be connected together, the bill would be lesser too.

He looked at each cable that had a paper taped at the top of each with what letter it was connected to. He focused on the wire that belonged to the flickering 'J' letter. The wire was practically fried at this point, barely holding as the box made weird, queit buzzing noises.

"The wire is literally fried to nothing and It's barely working. We need a new one and we would had to turn off the power to fix it." Jay exclaimed, he wanted to touch the cable but he didn't wanted to risk it.

"Really?" Ed asked surprised. "I just usually pressed the wire deep into It's terminal and it always worked."

"What?!" The boy yelped in disbelief. "Uncle, you shouldn't do that! It could end badly. For how long where you doing that?"

"Like I said, few days now. Maybe a week."

Jay almost wanted to bang his head against this damn electric box. He couldn't be that dumb, right? "Alright, we'll, I mean, I will fix it tomorrow for you, okay? I wouldn't want you to accidentally hurt yourself, uncle Ed. I know you're all confident about what you've been doing for ages, but you're old now and... Not really in shape..." He muttered the last part, hoping his words wouldn't hurt his uncle's feelings or anything.

"Nonsense!" Ed just waved his hand at Jay, stubbornly. "I know what I'm doing."

Jay already opened his mouth to shot with a comeback but Edna cutted him off with her own declaration. "Okay, boys. I think It's time to sleep now. You two can fix it in the morning like Jay said, Ed."

The older man relucantly nodded in agreement at his wive's command. "Ugh, fine. But I entirely will assist you in this, boy." He closed the box as Edna chuckled at her husband's antics and quickly walked back to the van with Jay trailing behind her in silence.

They got inside and walked to the back of the van where a long curtain was. Edna pushed it aside revealing a bed big enough for two people to squish side by side. It was most likely their bed... Wait-

"I'm suppoesed to sleep with you guys-?!" Jay, again this night, blushed in embarrassment and screeched out like a little girl who just got scared by a big bad monster from under her bed.

"What, no!" His aunt laughed out at his sudden panicked reaction. "No, silly. You'll sleep here alone."

The young man felt the tension leave his body immediately as he relaxed. "Uh, okay then... But where will you two gonna sleep now if I'll take your bed?"

"We'll just sleep on the seats. They can be lowered enough to a sleeping position." Edna reassured him with a pat on the head. It looked almost amusing how she had to stretch her arm to maximum to do so.

"But... Wouldn't that be uncomfortabe to you, guys?" The auburn haired man asked, starting to feel guilty. "I mean, car seats are never comfortable, are the ones in vans any better?"

"Jay, you're our guest so you should sleep in the bed. You're young anyway and need proper rest."

"Yeah, I know but I can be the one to sleep in a seat." The guilt was eating him up now. He didn't wanted them to sleep on some stupid, probably really uncomfortabe seats just so he could sleep in a bed.

"Dear, we're old and we already have problems sleeping and don't sleep a lot anyway." Edna said, hoping that these words would reassure her nephew.

But they didn't, Jay still wanted to argue. It wasn't fair. "C'mon, auntie! I can't just let you sacrifice yourself for me like that. It's not fair. I'm young so I can handle it."

"Jay, don't argue. Just got to sleep now."

"But- NO." He wasn't gonna let it slide. He wasn't some selfish prick and make his aunt and uncle sleep in worse conditions just because he was their guest temporarily.

"I swear the seats aren't that bad. We have travelled around a lot and sometimes slept on the seats instead of our bed. We'll be fine. Besides, some slightly harder surface might be better for our backs."

Jay's face softened a bit at that. They slept on the seats before and claimed it was comfortable enough but he still felt the guilt nonetheless.

At seeing his relucance Edna shook her head and smiled softly. "You're a really good person, Jay. But don't worry so much. You came here to rest from your dad so you deserve it."

"Oh, uhm, thanks, I guess." The young man replied awkwardly. "But as soon as you're two done with sleeping on those damn seats, we're switching, alright?"

"Alright, promise. Now go to sleep. I'll go prepare the seats for sleep now." Edna pulled Jay closer by his shoulders and kissed him on his cheek. "Goodnight, dear."

Jay stood there still for a moment ad he registered what just happened. Weird... No one ever kissed his cheek for goodnight... He shook his head and took his earlier abandoned suitcase, placing it on the bed. He opened it and took his pyjama out and threw it onto the soft sheets. They smelled so good, it must've been washed recently and maybe even dried today.

Jay, still lost in the good smell of the sheets, pulled out the leather portable cointainer and took his toothbrush and the toothpaste out. He was too tired to take a shower, he couldn't just shower tomorrow. But... Where was the bathroom? He turned around, frantically looking around the whole van, trying to spot some secret door, that weren't a closet, he didn't noticed before but he saw none.

"Uhh, auntie?" The boy called towards his aunt who was now placing one pillows on each seat. His voice was full of dread. Did he had to shit outside for all people to see?

"Yes, dear?" Edna asked, looking over at him in confusion at his sudden behavior.

"Where's the bathroom?"

"Oh, well. There's a compostable toilet in the back."

"Uhuh, and shower?" Jay asked slowly. He just hoped it wouldn't be a random lake.

"There's a small communal bathhouse in the village."

"Bathhouse? Like... Where all people shower together?" Jay asked in disbelief. That was... Crazy. Dare he say, it sounded worse than the lake.

"Correct." Edna answered oblivious to his internal shock. "You can brush your teeth outside too. Just take a cup of water and then spit the toothpaste out onto the ground."

The young man inhaled and exhaled deeply. It couldn't possibly be worse than that. He was really suppoesed to do all of that outside where anyone could watch him? Ew.

Ed finally walked back into the van, leavung the door open when he saw Jay. "The toilet's free, boy."

'Oh, fucking great-' Jay gad to fight literal demons in his head from wincing at his uncle's words. It really could get worse any time. He should stop saying that.

He hesitantly took the toothbrush and toothpaste then walked over to the sink to fully fill the cup with water. He then walked outside and stepped to the side, near some grass. He opened the tub and squezzed some of it onto his toothbrush as he began quickly brushing his teeth while shivering when doing so.

He looked up at the sky, noticing the comical amount of milions of small white dots on the black as a coffee night sky. It looked... So beatiful. In his town, there were either too many trees or too much light pollution to see a lot of stars. But here, they were clearly visible. The silence around him just added to the effect, despite the stupid wind out of nowhere.

Maybe there was some stupid ghost that controlled it that tried to ruin Jay's mood and make him freeze to death.

He shook his head at his own antics and spit onto the grass before continuing on brushing his teeth. He walked towards the only near light which was the sign, looking up into it. The annoying yellow flickering light was still there. He really had to fix it tomorrow or he could just lose his mind from it entirely.

He rolled his eyes in slight annoyance and spit another amount of the saliva with paste down on the ground and walked away from the sign into the darkness. He could already feel himself live again after just being here for like 2 hours.

He spitted again and took a big gulp of water and threw it out of his mouth, he took another long sip and gargled the water in his throat before spitting it out too. He used the rest of the water to rinse the rest of the paste out of his mouth and hesitantly walked towards the toilet, stopping right in fron of it.

Now he had to chose between relieving himself or peeing in ed during sleep. Both would be just as bad. You either enter the stinky hell but release it or avoid the stinky hell but pee yourself. What was worse? Did he really even had to pee that much? Wait, he could just pee in the bushes. At least he didn't had to shit, because someone, or something, would definitely see his ass and junk.

He stopped in front of a nearby bush and quickly relieved himself onto it, hoping no one would notice. He fixed his zipper and ran back towards the van. He closed the door behind and washed his hands in the sink after putting the cup down along the toothbrush and toothpaste.

The three of them said goodnight to each other and Jay turned off the light since he was the last to get inside. He quickly changed into his pyjama, got into the bed, closed the curtains and laid down under the thick warm covers, letting the sleep take him away for the next few hours.