Do You Wanna Know a Secret? pt1
Jared crawled in the darkness to stop the pounding that he heard at the front of his apartment.
“What the hell?” Jared flung open the door.
“Hey buddy.” Jensen, torn jeans and leather jacket, pushed his way inside. “I got beer.”
“Do you know what time it is?” Jared whined but still grabbed one of the offered bottles and downed it. He flipped his bangs out of his eyes as he squinted at his friend.
“It’s time to rock.” Jensen hoisted up his guitar case and tossed it on the makeshift bed. He fiddled with the locks.
“No.” Jared reached past Jensen with his long arms and flung the guitar case to the floor. He then sprawled across the bed which was actually a huge mattress in the center of his studio apartment.
“Dude, I’m an artist.” Jensen began in his deepest voice, prompting Jared to pull his pillow over his head and groan. “My music, my art, it can’t be restrained by things like clocks and the sunrise.”
Jared threw the lumpy pillow in Jensen’s face. “Man, you still haven’t updated that lame ass speech? That’s the exact same thing you said at my eighth grade graduation.”
“It doesn’t need redone. It’s a hit just the way it is.” Jensen threw himself on the bed next to Jared, smiling into his beer bottle.
Jared sighed in defeat, grabbing for his beer from the floor. “How’d the gig go?”
“Great.” Jensen huffed with little enthusiasm.
Jared looped an arm around his friend’s shoulders. “Really? Why do I not believe you?”
“Man, the gig was cool. I’m just . . . blocked.” Jensen leaned into the embrace, a wave of smoke and whiskey filling Jared’s nostrils.
“Do you want some laxatives or . . . ?” Jared fought to hide his grin.
“That’s gross dude. No, I mean, writer’s block. I haven’t written any new songs in like six months. We need new material.” Jensen swallowed another gulp of the amber liquid, Adam’s apple bobbing against Jared’s arm.
“Can I help?” Jared rubbed at his tired hazel eyes.
“You? You sing like a wounded cat.” Jensen jabbed Jared’s arm affectionately. “And what does a hydrolical. . . hydro. . . heyl, what is it that you do again?”
“Besides take care of your ass?” Jared pulled Jensen’s still sweaty form into the crook of his arm, closing his eyes as he awaited a reply.
“You do not! I take care of myself! I live on the open road.” Jensen argued, trying to wrestle out of the larger man’s grip.
Jared huffed into the stiff spikes of Jensen’s hair, pulling himself and his friend off the bed. He dragged the probably drunk man to the bathroom, flipping on the light with a growl. “What is that?”
“My. . . . my Snoopy toothbrush.” Jared heard a childlike whine of defense to Jensen’s otherwise deep timber.
“Uh huh.” Jared yanked him further into the room to the closet, throwing open the door and pointing at the row of perfectly pressed band tees and stacks of black and blue tattered denim. “And this?”
Jensen voice softened. “My clothes.”
“One more.” Jared gestured Jensen toward a corner in the apartment, a street light shone through the room’s only window and lit up a collection of guitars. One leaned in a wire holder, the blue of its body casting an eerie glow in the streetlight’s harsh glare. Two were in cases stacked on the floor and another, the electric one, was connected to an amp with a large pair of headphones lying at its side.
Jensen pursed his lips together, pouting out his beautiful bow mouth. He stood silent for a moment as the wheels turned ever so slowly in his head. Then finally, he turned to Jared, eyebrow cocking ever so slightly. “Could I get a key? “
Jared threw up his hands, an exasperated sigh filling the room. “Good night.”
THEN
A fourteen year old Jensen Ackles infiltrated eleven year old Jared Padalecki’s small town existence after Jensen’s father had died in a car crash and his mother fell into drugs. Jensen was sent to stay with his Aunt Donna and Uncle Alan who lived right up the road from the Padalecki’s.
Jared walked out of his front door, ready to head to the bus for his first day of middle school. At the exact same time, an older boy, blond spiky hair and intense green eyes, passed his house. Jared, always known for being friendly, ran up to the boy and began to chatter on their way to the stop.
“Hi. I’m Jared. I’m starting the sixth grade. You?”
The boy mumbled something that sounded like eighth grade, never turning toward the younger boy.
“Cool. “ Jared smiled, dimples dotting his chubby cheeks. “We can walk to the bus together.”
So every morning, whether the older boy liked it or not, they walked to the bus together, Jared carrying the conversation for both of them. Jared found out that the boy’s name was Jensen when the bus driver assigned them seats.
Jensen was quiet, not in an `I’m really nervous about starting a new school’ kind of way though. Jared decided it was more of an `I’m moody and I don’t really like people’ kind of way. But, while Jensen sent eye daggers to anyone else who came near him on the bus, the little eleven year old who didn’t give him a choice only received tired eye rolls and quiet smirks.
A cold December met both boys bundled against the cold. Jared ran down his walk as Jensen crossed at the end of his driveway. Jared began to chatter as soon as he fell into step. “Finally, Christmas vacation. Can’t wait. I asked for a sled but who knows what I’ll get.”
Right before they got on the bus, Jensen’s gloved hand pushed a small box into Jared’s grasp. From his seat up front, Jared couldn’t see the older boy. He sunk down low, turning the small red box over in his hands. He shoved it into his book bag, weary of all the eyes on him and went about his day buzzing with curiosity.
Jared jumped off the bus after school, not even waiting for Jensen to walk home with him. He ran in his house, threw his back pack in the front hall and raced to his room. His dad was in his office tinkering with the adding machine and yammering on the phone with a client.
Jared huddled in the middle of his bed, ripping the present out of his coat pocket. He cupped the small box in both hands. Jared tugged off the lid, out spilled a piece of crumpled paper and a Rubik’s cube. Jared unfolded the paper and read the messy scribble inside.
Jared,
The guy at the store said this was a good gift for geeks Merry Christmas
Jensen
Jared fell back on his bed, a smile tickling his lips. He twisted the small block in his hand until dinner.
NOW
When morning rose on the tiny apartment, Jared woke and went for a run. He returned to find Jensen still sprawled across the bed, arms flailed wide and mouth hanging open. Jared watched the constant rhythm of Jensen’s broad chest. His eyes lingered on the thick bottom lip that quivered in response to a dream. Watching Jensen sleep was anything but boring, but Jared tore his eyes away from his friend and started fumbling with the week’s pile up of mail on his desk. The Rubik’s cube smiled down on him from its place of honor on a shelf next to his high school graduation picture. A few minutes later, still going through bills and ads, Jared felt a warm surge hit his back, like someone was boring a hole in him with their gaze. He spun around to see the warm glow of Jensen’s green eyes shine with something he couldn’t place. “Good, you’re up. Laundry and chores. Earn your keep.”
Jensen huffed, a smile on his still thoughtful face. “Yes ugly step-mother. I’m coming.” He slowly rolled off the mattress, stretching his denim clad form before heading straight for the coffee maker.
Jared grabbed some bread and started to make toast, their normal comfortable dance in the too tiny kitchen. “You’re surprisingly coherent.”
Jensen looked up, swallowing the hot sludge that passed for coffee in the Padalecki kitchen before answering. “Crazy dream that’s all.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Dude, you reek.”
“I’m going to shower. I just need to eat first.” Jared crammed the buttered bread in his mouth on his way to the bathroom.
He stood in the mirror, toothbrush hanging from his mouth, when Jensen slid the phone to him through the crack in the door.
“Hello?” He spit out the toothpaste as he waited for a reply.
“Hey Trouble. Dinner at our place tonight.” Katie’s voice rang through the phone.
“I’ll be there. I’m bringing chips and salsa, that okay?”
“Fine. Are you bringing the wife?” Katie quipped.
Jared didn’t acknowledge the joke, so used to it, it didn’t even phase him anymore. “Pretty sure if I leave him alone he won’t eat.”
“Tell him to bring his guitar. He can sing for his supper.”
“Do you want me to sing too?” Jared smiled into the phone.
“Oh God, no. I like my eardrums thank you! See ya tonight honey.” She clicked the phone before he could even respond.
“Dinner at Katie’s!” He yelled as he walked out of the bathroom.
“What are we bringing?” Jensen smirked from a sink full of dirty dishes.
“Chips and salsa, and your guitar.”
“Real men bring whiskey and beer.” Jensen scoffed.
“Dude, you brought a frickin’ white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert night!” Jared picked up a towel and started drying the pile of clean dishes.
Jensen wiggled his eyebrows. “That was my finest creation.”
That night at Katie’s, while everyone sat back with full stomachs around the small living room, Jensen perched on a stool in front of the fireplace. Katie and Chad snuggled on the couch. Jared curled in a recliner with Katie’s dog Weeble asleep on his lap. Aldis sat on the other end of the couch with Cindy on the floor below him leaning on his leg.
Jared watched Jensen strum at the strings of his guitar, a far way look in his eyes as he decided what to play.
Jared leaned back and shut his own eyes, hand stroking Weeble’s soft fur absent-mindedly as the swell of pride he always got when Jensen picked up a guitar surged up into his chest.
THEN
It hadn’t even been Jared’s idea, his mother plotted it after Donna Ackles showed up at their door somewhere in late February that first year.
“Sherri.” She began, not seeing Jared in the den doing homework. “I was hoping Jared could come to Jensen’s fifteenth birthday party next weekend.”
“Of course, he wouldn’t miss it.” Sherri offered, leading Mrs. Ackles into the kitchen, still within earshot of Jared.
Donna hesitated. “Jared’s his only friend. Getting held back a grade really messed with him. I don’t even know if he talks to the other kids at school.”
Jared heard the catch in Mrs. Ackles voice. His mother consoled her. “Donna, it’s a huge adjustment. He’s been through so much. He’s coping as best he can. And one true friend is worth so much more than ten people who you say hello to in class.”
“I knew there was a reason I came to ask you face to face.” Jared could almost hear the tears of thanks in her voice. “I just worry. He turns white as a ghost when she calls.”
Jared heard his mom clatter around at the coffee pot apparently knowing exactly who Donna was referring to. “Hang up on her. She has no right. She’s not a mother like we are Donna.”
“It just makes me sick to think she tried . . . to . . . . to touch him like that.” Donna’s voice lowered uncomfortably.
Coffee cups clanked in the cabinet. “How is he doing at school? I know he’s going now. Jared keeps tabs.”
Donna sighed. “His grades are . . . . . he’s so smart, but he’s just, shut down. He feels so unworthy of everything. I don’t know how to get through. If he could just . . . . work it out somehow. The only person he seems to even care about is Jared. He really is his best friend.
Jared skipped up the stairs, a little thrill spreading through him at the thought of being Jensen’s best friend. Not that Jensen opened up to him much. But Jared felt it was a small triumph that after giving Jared the Rubik’s cube, Jensen actually spoke. He’d complain about a teacher or talk about a story they were reading. It was nice.
Later that night, Jared heard his mother on the phone. When she finished, she called him into the kitchen. “Saturday is Jensen’s birthday party. Donna says he’s having a hard time expressing himself. So I called Uncle John to see if he had anything at the shop. What do you think about getting Jensen a beginner’s guitar? Uncle John will give them a good deal on lessons.”
Jared didn’t even speak, he just hugged his mother, much to her surprise. When he leaned back the smile on his face beamed. His mother had known the perfect gift for his best friend.
On Saturday, armed with the huge package, Jared waited for the door to open. Mrs. Ackles ushered him into the family room where Mr. Ackles, Jensen’s cousin’s Mackenzie and Josh, and Jensen’s grandparents MamMam and PaPa Robert’s sat around Jensen eating burgers and chatting.
“Hey.” Jensen nodded, looking extremely uncomfortable in the lime light.
Mrs. Ackles smiled. “Why don’t you boys go eat in the kitchen. We can have cake after you two visit.”
They sat at the table in silence munching on fries and burgers before Jensen finally sighed. “She knows I seen you yesterday right?”
“I think she was being nice. You looked like you were going to blow chunks in there.” Jared’s dimples peaked out.
“They’ve been interviewing me for the last twenty minutes.” Jensen rolled his eyes, long lashes flitting about frantically. “How does it feel to be fifteen? Do you feel any older? Now that you’re a man, what do you wanna do with your life? Hell if I know.”
Jared laughed at the high pitched voice Jensen used to mock his family and secretly thrilled at the curse that Jensen used in his presence. “Give them a break. It’s not like you’re any good at conversation starters.”
Jensen’s face spread into an honest to God grin, not the half-cocked smirk Jared had become used to. “What’s in the package, Geek?” Jensen used the nickname he had bestowed upon Jared after Christmas.
“Oh.” Jared’s eyes lit up as he pushed it toward Jensen excitedly. “It’s your present. Open it. I’m terrible at keeping secrets. It’s been killing me all week.”
Jensen spun the large box for a moment before tearing at the football wrapping paper Mrs. Padalecki had used. The box was plain brown giving no indication as to what it held. Jared bounced in his chair as Jensen pulled the lid off and stared at the blue shine of the guitar’s wood. His fingers grazed the strings in awe.
“My Uncle John owns Kline’s Instruments uptown. He bought it from old Mr. Kline a few years ago, well, when I was a baby actually. Anyway, my mom said he’d give you a good deal on lessons. He tried to teach me once, but I didn’t get it. Drums are more my thing. I might even join the school band next year.” Jared smacked at the table to demonstrate his talent.
Jensen hoisted the instrument out of the box, nestling it ever so gently in his lap like a new born baby. He cradled the neck, fingers experimenting along the fretboard. His other hand followed the body’s curve, feeling the smooth gloss under his skin.
“Do you like it? You’re always humming so I thought now maybe you can accompany yourself.” Jared bounced right out of his chair, standing closer to Jensen. “Well, after the lessons I guess.”
Jensen smiled up at the pudgy youngster. “I do like it. It’s the most awesome thing anyone has ever gotten for me.”
NOW
Jared opened his eyes back up to watch Jensen strum through the old stand-bys that their friends loved. Jensen used one of his newer guitars, not the blue one Jared had bought him almost fifteen years ago. He had quite the collection now, electric ones and acoustics, even a bass from a particularly experimental summer. But the blue one held its place of honor in the guitar stand in the corner of their tiny apartment.
Jensen unfurled his guitar from his lap, smiling widely at his hosts. “Chad, Katie, as always dinner was awesome. But I must take leave.” He winked. “Hot date.”
Jared laughed, his voice sounding tight. “Don’t you mean sleazy dumb groupie?”
Jensen strolled over to Jared’s chair, hand squeezing his friend’s shoulder. “For some reason, they hate being called that.” Jensen waved, everyone mumbling their goodbyes.
Katie waited until the rev of the motorcycle was long gone and she and Jared were putting away the last of the clean dishes. Chad was busy saying goodnight to Aldis and Cindy at the front door. “So, you really did it.”
“Did what?” Jared turned from the silverware drawer confused.
“Stayed friends with him.” Katie ‘s features took on a soft glow, her blonde locks framing the question in her eyes.
“Well, I’ve always enjoyed charity work.” Jared smirked, feeling as if he was only delaying the inevitable. “I think it’s my dad’s influence.”
Katie didn’t acknowledge the joke, just dried her hands on a towel and continued. “I mean, once you realized. . . . “
“What? That I was gay? Did you think I was just gonna start jumping all the guys I knew?” Jared hated the sound of his own voice, berating his friend when she’d said nothing of the sort. “Good thing I didn’t try to recruit Chad.”
“Not fair Padalecki! Did you forget I was there?” Her eyes grew stony as she remembered. “When he left? You didn’t even know who to be without him. You were so wrapped up in him.” She softened, hand reaching out to stroke his shoulder. “I wonder sometimes if you still are.”
Jared swallowed, hating everything she was throwing in his face, but knowing she only did it because she cared. “I’m Jensen’s best friend.” He heard his eleven year old self say with deep devotion.
“Yeah, you are sweetie. But is that what he is to you?”
THEN
The summer Jared turned thirteen was eventful. He discovered sports like basketball and football. He grew six inches so the chubbiness everyone was used to suddenly disappeared and he kissed a girl. Or rather, she kissed him.
Jared’s birthday party was a backyard barbeque and all his friends were invited. Jensen leaned against a tree strumming his guitar, the late afternoon sun dancing in his honey kissed locks. He had gotten so good, Uncle John began letting him give lessons that summer at the shop for extra money. All of his other friends were eating or playing Frisbee or just talking. The only person Jared didn’t see was Amy. Amy was petite and blonde, with a sweet cherub face and clear blue eyes. She loved all the things Jared did, like Transformers, Superman comic books and tackle football. It was rare to see the tiny blonde terror without skinned knees and oversized tee shirts. Her hair was a permanent bun on top of her head. So when Jared heard the car pull up, he stopped dead in his tracks running toward it when he saw the girl getting out. Her dress was as bright pink as bubble gum, with layers of ruffles and fluff. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders with a ripple of curls held back by a headband with a large daisy attached. She walked daintily up the walk in new patent leather shoes. Jared was impressed that she only stumbled once.
“Happy birthday Jared.” She smiled shyly, handing him a square package with Superman wrapping paper and the largest blue bow he’d ever seen. As her father drove away, Amy leaned into Jared. He bent down thinking she needed to whisper something, instead, the pink bow mouth that usually spit farther than any other kid he knew, touched him. It wasn’t long, just a split second of warm and slick along his lips followed by an inhale of sweet strawberry. He licked his lips, tasting the gooey gloss she’d left behind. He turned to see a shaken Jensen standing at the corner of the house, lips parted in surprise.
By the next week, Amy returned to torn jeans and her sloppy bun, the kiss never mentioned. Jared couldn’t fight his curiosity as to why it had happened, but felt relieved that it never did again. Jensen never mentioned it either. Jared guessed he was jealous of Jared for getting kissed first.
That summer also brought a personal discovery. Jared found that his dick was good for something other than going to the bathroom. He woke most mornings with a hard ache between his legs. He figured out quickly the pleasure that stroking himself could bring. The bathroom became his new oasis. Jared’s usually ten minute showers began doubling in length, leaving him clean and sated.
Two weeks before school started, the Padalecki’s held a family meeting in their dining room. Mr. Padalecki watched Jared and his brother Jeff shovel apple pie in their mouth for a moment before beginning. “You guys already know that Mack is still sick.” Donna slid an arm around Megan who sniffled a bit.
Mackenzie Ackles, Jensen’s little cousin, had been friends with Megan since they were born. Their mother’s used to take the infants on walks in the neighborhood, pushing their strollers side by side. At the end of the last school year, Mackenzie had been hospitalized.
“The doctors still have high hopes for her recovery.” Jared’s dad reassured. “But the procedures are difficult. Donna told your mother that Mack is going to have to go to a special hospital in Chicago. They really aren’t sure how long they’ll be there. She’s asked us if Jensen could stay with us so that he doesn’t miss out on any school.”
“Jerry Padalecki to the rescue again.” Jeff grumbled. “Man, I already live in the damn attic.”
“Jeff!” Sherri warned. “Now we know this is going to make tight living quarters even tighter, but your father and I feel that Jensen is already like a part of our family. And we’d hate to see his wonderful progress at school go to waste. And your father does do a lot for other people Jeff, because other people have done a lot for us. You know we wouldn’t be as well off as we are if Alan Ackles hadn’t put in a good word for him at his father’s business.”
A hush fell over the table.
“Now we haven’t hammered out all the details, but Jensen can stay in Jared’s room.” Mr. Padalecki continued. “He will have curfew and chores the same as everyone here. Friday night, the Ackles’ are coming over for dinner, and Jensen will stay then. Donna and Alan have to take Mack early Saturday morning.”
Jensen didn’t go out like Jeff did. Jeff was always running around with this group or that to parties and such. Jensen preferred to stay home. Sometimes he’d curl up by himself in the corner of Jared’s room listening to his music. Some nights Jared heard him cry, soft whimpers that were barely audible over the hum of the katydids outside. They never talked about it, although Jared desperately wanted to ask. He knew Jensen wouldn’t answer. He’d throw up his wall of sarcasm and grunting and leave Jared in the dark. So Jared waited. Waited until Jensen needed him, needed to talk about the late night crying and the way he yelled for his father in the cold night air.
It was late on a Saturday night. Jeff was on a trip with the school scholastics team. Jared listened as his parents’ car pulled away to take Megan to their grandparents’ house and his mom and dad went on a much needed night out. Jared thought about what could be in the fridge for them to snack on, when Jensen opened the bathroom door across the hall and emerged from a puff of smoke.
Jensen strolled into Jared’s bedroom bringing with him a sudden surge of heat and the heady scent of soap. A drop of water traveled down his chest and Jared’s eyes followed its journey all the way to the haphazardly slung white towel around Jensen’s surprisingly narrow hips. Jared squirmed on the bed, feeling a surge through his most private parts. His breath quickened as he stared at the soft apex of hair barely visible peeking out from the top of the towel.
Jared’s hazel eyes darted back up to his friend’s green gaze just in time to hear the end of a sentence. “up for whatever. Whatta ya wanna do?” He threw himself on his mattress on the floor, flashing the pale skin of his upper thigh to Jared’s suddenly wide gaze.
“Um, shower.” Jared muttered, feeling his dick harden as he tried not to study the dusting of freckles that disappeared into the vortex of Jensen’s legs.
“Fine, Geek.” Jensen huffed after Jared who scurried across the hall into the safety of the bathroom.
That school year, the only image that Jared needed to make himself hard and ready, was of Jensen’s almost naked body dripping before him open and pure.
NOW
Monday mornings in Jared’s apartment always brought an air of resentment. Jared dragged himself out of bed to the sound of the alarm. If Jensen had even bothered to come home, he would pull the pillow over his head and groan deeply.
Today Jared was alone. Jensen’s date must have been successful, or at least easy. Jared went about the morning drinking sludge and getting ready for work.
In his shower, his mind wandered to Jensen’s half naked body lying in bed the morning before. Jared didn’t allow himself to do this often. He knew the attraction was there, but it would only complicate things if he fed on it. But sometimes, he just had to give in. Like now, with his hand hovering over his engorged cock, he let himself watch the image of Jensen in his mind. The green eyes glowed with lust as Jared watched the blanket slip down his body revealing a taut body and hard dick. He tugged at his own erection as Jensen teased at the head of his, rubbing precome with his palm seductively. Jared braced himself on the shower wall, hand stroking faster under the cooling stream of water. He heard Jensen yell his name and that pushed him over the edge, painting the shower wall with the proof of his desire.
“Jared! Where the hell?” He heard Jensen’s voice again, only this time he realized it wasn’t in his dream. Jensen pushed the bathroom door open. “Hey man!” Jared could still hear the liquor coating his voice and wondered if he’d driven home. “I took a cab the s’morning. You mind driving me to get my bike later?”
Jared shut off the water, hoping the red of his skin looked like heat from the water. He crawled out, trying to hide the embarrassment he felt, along with his naked body. Jensen tossed him a towel. “You want me to take you to the whore’s house to get your bike?”
“She wasn’t a whore.” Jensen grinned, eyes never leaving Jared’s face. “She was. . . . a very passionate and free spirited young woman who enjoyed the perks of the human body.” He winked. “Plus, my motorcycle is at Chris’s, so you don’t have to stain your very clean reputation as an upstanding gay man about town by going to a whore’s house.”
Jared shook his head, taking a minute to digest the conversation. “You missed your calling as a lawyer.”
Jensen turned to leave the bathroom but not before calling over his shoulder. “And you missed your calling as a Playgirl model.”
Jared felt the rise of heat in his skin as he stared down at his naked form. If he didn’t know better, he would almost think Jensen was flirting. “Wait? You went to Chris’s house after your date?”
Jensen’s voice hesitated from the hallway. “Honestly? No date. I went to Chris’. We really needed to work on some music.”
“Huh.” Jared pulled on his boxer briefs and went about getting ready for work. Jensen sprawled across the mattress, pen scrawling in a notebook. Jared watched him for a moment, smiled at the cross of the green eyes as the older man focused on his writing.
Jensen’s concentration broke, rolling onto his back he laughed at the ceiling. “We actually finished a new song! When I got there Chris was playing that damn riff he’s been gaga over for like a year. Somehow, it just clicked. ‘M hoping to finish the lyrics soon. You coming to hear it when I get it done?”
“I’ll be there.” Jared walked over to his closet and rummaged through his clothes.
“You can bring Mike?”
Jared pursed his lips. “Matt, and you know full well we didn’t make it past the third date cuz you scared the crap out of him.”
“Too skittish. Plus he walked like he had a stick up his ass. Where will your cock go if there’s already a stick up there?”
“I’m not having this conversation.” Jared buttoned his pale blue shirt.
“Oh wait.” Jensen snickered.” You’re a bottom boy.”
“Would you get some sleep? You’re being an asshole.” Jared said as he knotted his tie.
“Would you prefer I be a dick?” Jensen purred.
“I’m leaving.” Jared pulled open the door and walked out into the hallway.
“Love you!!”Jensen yelled as the door shut between them.
Jared turned back to the door, staring for a moment before whispering. “I love you too.”
Part 2