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Post by mikeym on Dec 29, 2008 21:48:15 GMT 1
Even though Jake could be called a book worm, he didn't read the paper that Hogwarts students put out. It was full of stupidity half the time and false stories the rest of the time. The last thing he'd heard about coming from that rag was that a Gryffindor had raped a house-mate. Jake doubted that was true because if it was, that student would be long gone and expelled by Mogonagall. She was strict like that with almost always a zero tolerance policy for physical offenses.
He arched a brow when Ash started talking about this friend of his. He knew the name Ryan, who was a Slytherin. He had a few classes with him over the years and even was partnered up with him a few times, but he had never known his last name was Robins. He'd always thought it was 'ribbons' or something, guess he should get his hearing checked...
"Huh.." he finally said, his brain processing this new information and a few ideas started sparking. Could he possibly have a half brother? Or more relatives with the Diggory family? He glanced at Ash when he noticed the smile and gave a little smile back "I sure wasn't expecting to find out that I might have a sibling here, tonight" he said joking a bit distractedly, still a bit lost in thought about it.
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Post by ashley on Dec 29, 2008 21:55:11 GMT 1
A sibling. That idea was somehow not a good one. Ashley was sure that if Ryan had known about his fathers infidelity, he would have heard about it. Despite the way his parents treated him, the Slytherin practically worshipped them. His father wasn’t really around much of the time, but when he was he pretty much told him that nothing he ever did was good enough. He needed the highest grades, the best girlfriend and he needed to stop this fucking around. It was about time that he grew up.
No, Mr. Robins was definitely not the kind of guy Ash would have liked for his friends father. But there wasn’t much he could do about it. The Hufflepuff knew full well that he was lucky in getting two of the worlds greatest parents. And he did important work...that had to be said. It was just a pity that he didn’t have time for the most important job...taking care of his own son. ”I don’t know. He might not be related to your real father...but if you want I could go and check things out?” He trusted Jake, he just wasn’t sure how Ryan would react to hearing that he might have a half brother. He had trouble enough trying to be the perfect son without having any competition.
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Post by mikeym on Dec 29, 2008 22:13:37 GMT 1
Thinking about it for a little longer, Jake had to stop himself before he spun up an imaginary family that were quite different than his muggle family. If he did that then he'd get himself excited over finding a family and it would turn out that there was none to be found. "The last names could just be coicidence.." he said quietly, looking at the water, making little ripples in it with his hands.
Sitting still for a moment, he finally nodded to Ash's question "Sure.. you can check it out. I don't really know Ryan that well, but I know I've had some classes with him. I thought his last name was Ribbons" he laughed softly "Dumb, huh?" All that he knew about the boy was that he was quiet, somewhat moody and loved animals from also having CoMC with the Slytherins.
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Post by ashley on Dec 29, 2008 22:42:01 GMT 1
Ashley hated to see that sad look on his face, hear that quiet voice. He reached out, gently squeezing Jake’s shoulder. There was nothing that he wanted more than to be able to give this boy the family he deserved...a dad who wasn’t strict about everything, who didn’t want to force him into the army the moment he turned eighteen. It would be great if he could have introduced him to his parents, could have talked to them about coming out...and he was getting ahead of his thoughts again. He didn’t even know whether or not Jake was gay. Sure, he got that vibe from him sometimes, but that wasn’t like a foolproof measure.
”Dumb? It’s adorable...” It was out before he realized and Ash actually blushed this time, staring at the ripples that Jake had caused in the water. The silence that fell upon them was rather heavy and he bit his lip, glancing up at the brunette. ”Jake, can I ask you something?” Screw the consequences, he had to know. If the guy said that he was straight he’d know, he wouldn’t bother with his obvious attraction to the other. Besides, he had done the whole turning-him-gay thing once with Noah, and look where that had landed them. His ex didn’t even bother contacting him after the accident.
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Post by mikeym on Dec 30, 2008 3:17:41 GMT 1
He smiled slightly over at Ash, glancing at him before looking back at the water but he leaned into him just slightly when the other put his hand on his shoulder. There was that odd tingling again..left on his skin when Ash's hand left his shoulder. Jake wasn't sure what to think about that.
He chuckled softly when Ash said his mistake was adorable, looking over at him with a slight grin "Thanks.. I guess" he said a little hesitantly, the blush on Ash's cheeks making the blond look even sweeter. He twisted his bracelet around his wrist underwater for a moment before he looked at Ash again when he spoke up again. "Yeah.. sure." he said not sure what he was going to ask but the last thing he suspected was something about his sexuality.
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Post by ashley on Dec 30, 2008 20:57:13 GMT 1
Ashley purposely looked away from Jake, not wanting the other to feel like he was under constant scrutiny. Giving him a way out, a chance to lie if he wanted to. Though he was really hoping that the Ravenclaw would be honest. Not because he was into him but because he wanted to be there for him, for everything. He wanted to be his friend more than anything. Help him through the tough times. Hell, if Jake said he was gay, he could still not see him as a possible love interest. Ash would just have to deal with that.
”Are you gay?” Wow. That had definitely not been the subtle approach he was hoping for. Ashley couldn’t help biting his lip for a moment, forcing back a nervous laugh. ”I mean...You’re all...you mentioned that your dad is a real homophobe...but you don’t seem to really...mind how close I am to you.” The Hufflepuff reached out, squeezing Jake’s shoulder gently, glancing at him with coffee coloured eyes. They were so close. He was just hoping this wouldn’t turn out to be a mistake. Ash knew that he had to stop himself now though, before he said too much.
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Post by mikeym on Dec 30, 2008 21:22:10 GMT 1
Jake was a little concerned whenever Ashley looked away. Uh oh.. he thought, figuring it was going to be a question that was really serious and Jake worried he wouldn't know how to answer it. He still didn't think the most possible question would be the one coming out of Ash's mouth.. but it was and Jake didn't do anything but gulp for a moment.
"Uhm.." he said softly then he smiled slightly, adverting his eyes nervously and he shrugged the opposite shoulder "No..course I'm not! That's just absurd.." he said as if he was joking about it "I just don't care to be a jerk like my dad is about things" he kept babbling on for a minute, suddenly realizing how unconvincing he was sounding so he fell quiet. He took a deep breath and did something that surprised even him. Opening his mouth, then closing it again.. looking like a fish he finally just let it all out in one rush of air so the words strung together a bit.
"To tell you the truth, I really have no bloody idea" his voice was quiet, slightly more than a whisper. He wasn't sure Ashley would even be able to understand his confession, but somehow hoped he could because he wasn't wanting to say it again. He didn't notice that he was trembling just slightly because he'd barely been able to admit that inside his own head, yet here he was, pouring his heart out and he wasn't sure how that floodgate had opened. He kept his head down but blue eyes glanced sideways at Ash's face before looking back at the water, sighing softly sounding a little miserable.
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Post by ashley on Dec 30, 2008 22:01:30 GMT 1
Ashley listened to his whole speech on liberal thinking, removing his hand from the others shoulder as he took in the words. Oh. Well, that wasn’t the answer he’d been hoping for. It was the answer he hadn’t been totally expecting either. He really thought that he could read people well, that it wasn’t too hard to pick out the gay guys from the straight ones. Guess I was wrong. Huh.
Then Jake said something that made his eyes widen slightly. "To tell you the truth, I really have no bloody idea". Well...As informative as that wasn’t, it did tell him one thing. Whatever Jake was, he wasn’t completely straight. If he were, he would have been freaked out by just the thought of snogging a bloke. As it were though, the thought didn’t seem to completely disgust him. Ash chose his words carefully, not daring to reach out and touch him again. ”I’ve been there. It’s not easy.”
What else could he say? Somehow he doubted that ‘hey, we could try and snog, see if that helps you figure out your sexuality’ would be a good ice breaker. ”I have to say...I was kinda hoping you’d say something like that though.” Ashley figured that Jake must feel embarrassed and uncomfortable by his confession, so the least he could do was give him a small confession of his own.
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Post by mikeym on Dec 30, 2008 22:15:38 GMT 1
As soon as those 'straight-male' thoughts left his brain, Jake felt slightly bad about it. His brain automatically kicked out the answers that it had the last few years, denial about everything. A little voice in his head kept telling him that his father didn't deserve a gay kid, and then that jake was that gay kid and his dad was going to be very, VERY disappointed if he ever knew. This voice would get pushed away so often because it was telling the truth and Jake didn't want to hear it. Momentarily at this weird string of thoughts, Jake thought that he just might be a little loony. No surprise there really, but no one else knew the turmoil he had to deal with daily. Well.. Ash knew part of it now from his confession.
Jake realized he'd been holding his breath ever since Ash pulled his hand away, feeling like he'd offended the younger male and he would be asked to help him out of the tub to return to his dorm right this second. He was fully expecting a 'what does that mean?' and Jake would have no response. Explaining his feelings had never been easy for the Ravenclaw, guys guarded their emotions, not wearing them on their sleeves. 'Fairies' as his father referred to gay men did, but not real men. Then Ash spoke up, and Jake let out a little sigh of relief, glad Ash didn't sound mad at him. "No it's not.." he mumbled.
The next thing Ashley said confused Jake just a bit. He turned to look at Ash, just looking for a moment at the soft brown eyes, the embarrassment level being knocked down a little notch. The trembles had subsided as well the longer he sat there without Ash saying something harsh like he was expecting. "You were?" he murmured, "Why's that?"
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Post by ashley on Dec 30, 2008 22:33:50 GMT 1
Why would he be mad? Jake was being honest with him, and that right there was difficult enough. Especially with a father that pretty much told him gay people were the root of all evil. He could only imagine how hard it was and knew that it was probably ten times, if not a hundred times, worse than what his own brain could come up with. So instead of yelling at him or being harsh, Ash just leaned in and gave him a gentle, loose hug.
He pulled away slightly though, not wanting to be all stuck to Jake when he made things even more awkward. That really wouldn’t be the brightest idea. ”Well...You’re pretty cute. If you were all...out and proud, I’d definitely hit on you.” His words were chosen carefully, not wanting Jake to think that just because he confessed something, he’d immediately be forced to be gay and commit sexual acts. Not every gay guy was promiscuous and though Ash had definitely had his share of men, he had rarely ever made out with anyone he wasn’t in a relationship with.
”I mean, you know, if you’d be interested in me, that is.” Ashley flushed a little at that, fidgeting with the necklace his mother had given him. He never took it off, even when he went to take a bath or fell asleep. It was a comforting presence.
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