Read Twisting Heart :: Chapter 10

After settling into the rather large chair, Jack picked up his red Xbox controller, and went back to playing what looked to be Halo. Hugh has never played, being a Nintendo kid, but he had heard quite a bit about it, both from when he was younger in school, and also from Jack himself, as it seemed to be one of his favorite games to play. Hugh sat quietly and watched Jack play, sneaking glances at the man every once in a while. Every time he looked at the man, he felt his heart pick right back up. His mind would swirl around the many talks he had with Jack, the weeks of nerding out, of keeping careful secrets, of hiding parts of themselves, and felt a form of whiplash knowing that Jack was REAL. He wasn’t a catfish, he wasn’t a figment of Hugh’s imagination, he was real, and really... intimidating. Hugh had a weird feeling a punch from Jack would be rather painful, and, while he sincerely doubted such an action would ever happen, he also couldn’t shake such an idea from being possible...though maybe those muscles could be used for other things…

Hugh turned red and snapped his head to look away from Jack, who sent him a mildly confused glance. Now was not the time to go thinking dirty thoughts about Jack, his friend who he only just met in the real world. “Hey dude, you alright?” Jack asked. Hugh turned back to him, desperately hoping he wasn’t still blushing. “Oh yeah, I’m fine, just a bit warm,” he said, nervously laughing. Jack blinked owlishly at Hugh, the light of the TV reflecting off his glasses, seemingly confused. “Oh, cool, I’ll turn down the heating a bit.” He got up, stepping around Hugh’s long legs, and went to the thermometer in the entryway. Hugh admired the view he was getting of the back half of Jack, the blue jeans hugging his frame well, and his t-shirt barely hiding strong back muscles, likely from the meat manager job Jack works.

“Liking the view you’re getting, boyyyyy?” Jack said smugly, shaking his ass, clearly teasing Hugh. Oh shit, he had noticed me staring, he probably thinks I’m a perv, ahhhh. But Jack just chuckled at Hugh’s desperate attempts to stammer out an apology, waving him off and walking back over to the couch, his task with the air conditioner finished. However, instead of sitting back down, he stood beside Hugh, making Hugh realize just how tall this man is. “Are you hungry?” Jack said, looking down at Hugh. “I mean, I could eat.” Hugh said, as his stomach growled. Jack laughed fully, the first hearty laugh Hugh had got out of him all day. “Let’s go get some Wendy’s.” Jack said, grabbing his keys off the kitchen counter, walking back over to the entryway. Hugh got up, stretching his arms towards the sky, then walking over to his shoes in the entryway, where Jack was also putting on his tennis shoes. As they stepped out of the apartment into the sunlight, Hugh watched Jack lock the door, and wondered what next. I mean, I never thought I would even get this far, now, well…

Walking over to Jack’s blue car, they both climbed in, their tall frames meaning they really had to climb in. As they pulled off, Jack spoke up. “So, how’d the date go? Not well, I’m guessing, since you’re here, but…”

“Yeah, he just stood me up! I sat in that diner forever waiting on him, and he just, “Oh, I can’t make it, sorry.” and like man, it’s so frustrating!”

“It sounds like it. The last time I went on a date, it ended up worse than that though, so count yourself lucky”

“What do you mean?” Hugh said, curiously.

Jack went quiet, seemingly never going to answer Hugh’s question. Soon the awkward silence stretched all the way into them pulling into the drive through, until Jack asked what Hugh wanted to eat.

“A plain spicy chicken sandwich with a Dr.Pepper! I like the spice a whoooole lot.”

“Hey same, spicy foods are pretty good. I usually cook spicy food, you know.” Jack said, as he leaned out the window to talk to the speaker. It seemed Hugh wasn’t going to find out what Jack had been hinting at with that off-color comment about his last date, so whatever. It was frustrating all over again, and now he was sitting here in person, so it shouldn't even be happening! He thought bitterly, as he reached to take the bags of food and the drink carrier Jack was handing him. This man seemed to never reveal his secrets, or even his past. Soon they started talking about work as Jack drove them back to the apartment, Hugh’s head slowly getting more and more full of questions.