Jerejean C8 (I think, the numbers are kind of weird on my phone but it's the celebrity publicity relationship) OR C2
Ok, so I started this and it is turning into a M O N S T E R and so I’ve decided to keep this idea for the next Big Bang. But, since you were so kind as to give me the idea, I’m going to post a little snippet of what I have so far. I chose to do C2. “Hey listen. I booked a couples’ cruise months ago and now I’m single. Wanna come along?“
Jeremy sniffed as he looked at his computer screen and the email he had just opened up. Every colourful picture and excited blurb just another stab to his tattered heart. And there at the bottom, the biggest blow of all, “non-refundable.”
He sighed and slammed his laptop shut, not caring that his rough treatment could damage it. Right now, he wanted to damage something. A significant portion of his savings had gone into these tickets and now he had nothing to show for it, no girlfriend, no awesome vacation, and absolutely zero chill.
A knock came at his door and Jeremy was tempted to roll up like a burrito in his favourite fluffy blanket and ignore the outside world but instead he wiped his swollen eyes and trudged over to the door. “What do you want?” he scowled.
Jean stood there like a pale scarecrow, arm raised to knock again. “I uh…thought you might want to drill with me,” he said softly, eyes fixed on the doorframe to Jeremy’s left.
“What for? We’re officially on vacation. We played our last game yesterday, remember?” Jeremy glared.
Jean hunched his shoulders a little but forced himself to meet Jeremy’s eyes. “I just thought you might need to blow off a little steam.
Jeremy slumped against the doorframe a little. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Let me just get out of my pajamas.” He shut the door, expecting that Jean would head over without him but when he opened it again a few minutes later, Jean was still lurking awkwardly in the hallway.
Two hours later, Jeremy was dripping with sweat and had managed not one, but three genuine smiles at the other boy. “Thanks, Jean,” he said.
Jean shrugged and half turned to head to the showers. Jeremy collapsed to the floor of the court and a hesitant few seconds later, Jean joined him.
“Like, fuck her,” Jeremy said. “Fuck Claire for existing.”
Jean turned his head slightly to look at his captain and nodded, signalling to Jeremy that he was willing to listen.
“Like, was I seriously such a bad boyfriend? How could she do this to me?” Jeremy brought up his left arm to cover his face. He could feel the tears trying to leak out once more. “I didn’t tell anyone, but she’s been cheating on me almost the whole time. There were at least four others. I knew she was distant sometimes, and she was a very private person. But I believed her when she said she loved me.”
Jean reached out and loosely clasped Jeremy’s right wrist with his hand.
“She sent me a picture of her kissing another guy with the caption ‘we’re done’ and that’s it, relationship over,” Jeremy continued. “And the worst part is, I had this big romantic gesture planned for after final exams since I’ve been so busy. I was going to give her tickets to this great, all-expenses paid couples cruise and we were going to really get our relationship back on track…” Jeremy trailed off into a sob. “She sent me that picture one hour after the deadline for cancelling with a full refund and three hours before I was going to send her the tickets.”
Jean lightly patted Jeremy’s wrist and Jeremy realized that he actually felt better, lighter. He looked at Jean and Jean pulled his hand back. “Wow, thanks,” Jeremy said. “This really helped. You’re a good friend, Jean.”
There was a dusting of pink on Jean’s pale cheeks but all he did was nod and offer Jeremy another fleeting bit of eye contact.
“Oh,” Jeremy said, shooting upright. “I have an idea! Why don’t you come with me on the cruise? That way we won’t waste the ticket and I don’t have to go alone!”
Jean sat up too, a little more slowly. “I thought this was a couple’s cruise.”
“Oh, yeah,” Jeremy deflated. “They don’t allow single people on the cruise. Forget I asked.”
“Unless…” Jean started, his cheeks now a true, deep red, “we could pretend?”
