ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ｔｗｅｎｔｙ

Jasper didn't know how to approach his friend after their almost kiss. There was a split in what he wanted to do: act like it never happened and try to act normal, or force them to talk about it and figure out what was going on between them. The college student knew already that it would pain him to ignore the situation at hand, but also to talk about it and it possibly be a ' in the moment' kind of kiss with Mikey not even liking him. Jasper saw that as a lose-lose situation in all aspects. He didn't want to go to Ricky either, because he didn't want the knowing look from his roommate.

So, the college student went the first option, shoving the almost kiss the back of his mind and acting like it never happened. He talked to Mikey the same, acted the same way around him, but when it came to sex he refused since he didn't want to change anything with these feelings out in the open. It left him pent up and frustrated, but he found time by himself to fix the problem he created.

A text from Mikey asking to go shopping with him was what flipped the switch in Jasper's mind. He wanted to be around his best friend no matter what; it was also getting lonely without really talking to Mikey. So, he agreed, telling him it'd have to be after his finals and the latter agreed to that.

Jasper had three finals in one day, then the rest were in two days. He'd have to pack most of his belonging and move out of the apartment by the end of the week and it sucked from him. The Kirk household was quiet and his parents barely talked to him, so he'd be by himself. But, Jasper told himself to just deal with the quietness for a month and he'd be back to college for the second semester.

After Jasper's last final—his criminology final—he left the classroom with his mind on Mikey. His phone was out while he ducked into the college café and quickly texted Mikey.

Hey, I'm done with finals for today let's go shopping

The college student bought a hot chocolate with his flex dollars, walking back to his apartment. Mikey answered him with a thumbs up and both were heading to Jasper's apartment.

.

..

...

The ride to the mall in Mikey's car was silent and just a tad bit awkward. It was like both boys had something to say, but neither wanted to come out and say it. So, they were sucked into a weird car ride and walk into the mall until Mikey saw the store he planned to buy from.

He turned to his best friend and smacked his arm. "C'mon, we're going to Hollister."

Jasper laughed, "I forgot you unironically buy from there, you jock."

Miller rolled his eyes, but led them into the suffocatingly scented store. They browsed until Mikey picked out shirts and jeans he wanted to try on, making his best friend hold them until he snagged a dressing room. Then, he took them from the twenty-one year old's arms and closed the door.

Behind the door Mikey had an erratically beating heart and he felt like he was going to combust. It didn't even look like Jasper tried with his outfit, but somehow he looked hot; he caused Mikey's pants to constrict.

After trying on the clothes Mikey pushed open the door to find Jasper talking to one of the workers. Everything of him clearly screamed 'gay' and something in Mikey snapped. He didn't like the guy talking to his best friend and wanted to leave the store as soon as he could. He left Jasper there to talk with the Hollister worker, and he checked out the clothing items he wanted to buy.

They were still talking, Jasper typing in his phone now, and there was it for Mikey. He huffed and walked off, jealousy and anger leading him out of the store to sit on the bench right outside of Hollister. He took the time until Jasper came out to calm down and get rid of the jealousy.

The college student collected his moody best friend and dragged him away from the store. Mikey asked nonchalantly, "what were you guys talking about?"

Jasper shot his eyes over to Mikey in shock of him seeing the worker and him talking, but told him, "I asked him about something in the mall and he told me where it was." Mikey curled his lip but nodded.

It was back to being awkward and quiet between them and Jasper tried to break the silence. He looked around the mall for something to talk about until he saw one of the vendors selling calendars and gasped.

"You know," Jasper started. "Your birthday is in like two weeks..."

Mikey shrugged. "Yeah, and?"

"Are you gonna do anything? We can drink legally now."

Both boys had a flashback of Thanksgiving and their cheeks flushed. But, Mikey covered his and shrugged again, trying to stay calm and cool around his best friend, someone who he shouldn't be thinking about kissing still. Especially when he could easily get the number of the Hollister worker.

They stop in another shop, a candle store for Marlene Balm for Christmas, and soon the shopping trip turns into a Christmas gift shopping. Jasper sneakily buys Mikey a Funko Pop and a poster from the same show, and Mikey buys Jasper a small glass figure that was the shape of a crab. He brushed off the question of who it was for—he bought it when Jasper went into the FYI store for a gift for his sister (really it was Mikey's)—as one of his brothers, and they went on their ways.

By the end of the trip it was back to normal for the two, each had forgotten about what worried them the most, and they acted how they usually would around the other. Mikey forgot about the Hollister worker, and Jasper forgot about the almost kiss. Each went home with a smile and glad they were back to normal.

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God, this chapter sucked. But I have a great idea for Mikey's birthday, which will be in a few chapters. And holy crap, I had the world's biggest issue getting into this account the last week. I would try to log out to go into another account I have, but when I tried logging back in here, it would say my password is wrong and it was a whole train wreck. But, I have it back and now a third account that I will never use.

I hope you had a good week and are staying safe and masking up.

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