gooseberryhigh | (no subject)

Who: Jaime & Ennis
When: Friday, February 2nd
Where: By the lake near Ribbonfin
What: Ennis confesses his feelings for Jaime. Again.
Warnings: R for Rejection. Otherwise extremely tame.

Despite the fact that Jaime had been the one to ask Ennis to meet him to talk by the lake, just outside of Ribbonfin, he’s feeling uncomfortable and tired and not really wanting to talk at all. Parent-Teacher Conferences had been a wonderful distraction from everything, but now, with everyone gone, the difficult situation he’s in with his friend is back in his mind. They haven’t really spoken except a few awkward acknowledgements in classes since Ennis had admitted… that thing to him, and while the awkwardness of even being around the other boy is definitely there, it’s still hard to abruptly lose a friend. So he’s going to do his best to be normal about it. He’s already doing a really poor job of it.

Kicking a few rocks around he sighs, eyes focused downward, not sure he really wants to have to acknowledge the other boy until he’s actually next to him.

Ennis, for his part, hasn't been outright avoiding Jaime but he hasn't made any attempts to clear the air either. Anxiety over the Strangers overriding his anxiety over Jaime is the only reason why he hasn't taken a running leap off the end of the dock and slam-dunked himself into the frozen lake.

He'd fantasized a lot about how his long anticipated confession to Jaime would go. Maybe a shy admission in the greenhouse surrounded by roses on Valentine's Day. Or… maybe Azurcrest wins the Quidditch cup and they tearfully embrace and then Ennis delivers a monologue about how he always believed in Jaime and their embrace lingers for a bit too long and they lock eyes and there's definite tension and maybe they kiss.

Never, never, never did his fantasy involve awkwardly fessing up to his failed attempts at seduction only to be answered with 'Ok'.

In spite of this blunder he appears unusually calm, if tired, as he approaches Jaime. There's a journal in his hand, which he opens to address a warded scribble to the other boy in order to prove his identity. He nods in gesture for Jaime to do the same. "They've tricked me twice now, that I know of. Please be careful."

As he hears the other boy approach, Jaime looks up at about the last moment he can without seeming incredibly rude. His brows are drawn in and his lips are turned down in a slight frown as he tries not to overthink their coming interaction, but this expression quickly shifts into one of surprise and then embarrassment. It hadn’t even occurred to him to use the journals to confirm that this is actually Ennis, even though he’d been warned to do so. He fumbles for a moment, pulling out his journal as requested.

His response to the other boy’s ward doesn’t take long, but it takes far longer than it should given that he literally just writes ‘Hi.’

“Good, so it is… us…” he says slowly, gingerly shutting his journal. “Thanks for… coming to meet me.”

Once Ennis confirms Jaime's response, he closes his hand to snap his journal shut before quickly tucking it away inside of his inner coat pocket. This situation is awkward enough and he doesn't feel the need to drag it out for longer than necessary. The faster Jaime can get to his rejection speech, the sooner it'll all be over with. Ennis is no stranger to awkwardness, though, and he feels he is showing Jaime at least one small mercy by easing into the dreaded conversation with a lighthearted quip.

"No worries, mate. Thanks for not making me walk all the way up that hill. I'd be embarrassed to show up out of breath." He smiles wryly and gives the Azurcrest a sidelong glance before turning his gaze toward the lake. It's easier for both of them if they have something else to look at than each other. "Sorry I keep putting you in awkward spots."

Though Jaime considers putting his journal away as well, he finds having something to do with his hands helps, so instead he simply toys with the corners of it. He’s trying to think of what to say when Ennis saves him from having to do so; there’s a hint of almost relief in the smile that quirks onto his lips at the joke. It fades quickly, though.

“I mean… it is not your fault,” he says finally, hesitantly, as he looks down at his journal. “It. Um. I mean… I am... not... ” A slow breath as he attempts to gather his thoughts. “I am not really sure what to say, honestly. I just… I do not want to not be friends anymore.” Despite sounding awkward and unsure in general, Jaime is, at least, firm in this statement.

Ennis is patient with Jaime's fumbling for words and waits a beat to make sure he's finished before responding. "We're not not friends now." he tries to reassure him, his own hands also searching something to do. He fiddles with the end of his thick scarf, anxiously picking at the stitching. "I wasn't trying to avoid you, I just--" Noticed Jaime was avoiding him instead? He doesn't say it, but there's a pause as he struggles for words. "-- Didn't want to make you feel even more overwhelmed?"

Jaime generally feels like he’s the one on more solid ground when it comes to him and Ennis, given that he has more confidence generally, so the fact that his companion seems more collected than him just feels even more awkward. One hand moves from his journal to rub the back of his neck as he tries not to think about this too much, and instead about what he’s supposed to do now. There are a lot of things the Azurcrest wants to say, but most of them feel pointless or weird. Like asking if Ennis thinks he’s gay (that doesn’t make sense, and could come off as rude or like he’s covering), or asking if things are going to be strange between them now forever (it doesn’t matter, and bringing it up might just make it come true). He chews on his lip.

“Yeah. We are still friends,” he eventually responds, looking to the other boy once more. “I am… sorry that I do not know what to do or say about this. I…” There’s a pause as Jaime shakes his head. “What were you hoping for? When you told me. Because…” It maybe seems like he’s going to say more, but the silence just hangs instead.

"Rejection." The blunt response leaves Ennis's mouth before he has time to think it through; even he's startled by it. He doesn't look at Jaime. His eyes are trained straight ahead as his hands wring his scarf. Beating around the bush won't get him out of this situation any faster so he just has to power through it. "I know you can only think of me as a friend. I knew that. I just--" He hesitates and takes a deep breath to steel himself.

"You're a nice boy, Jaime. A real teen heartthrob." There's a playful note to that, at least, and he looks down at his scarf as he smiles wryly. The expression is brief, though. "I wanted to tell you so I could finally move on. I just didn't want to tell you like that so-- Redo?"

Ennis’s abrupt reply causes Jaime to start a bit, and it also makes him feel surprisingly guilty. Maybe it’s because, technically, there was less of a chance of rejection than Ennis assumed because of Jaime’s actual orientation, or maybe it’s simply because he feels bad knowing that his friend came to him expecting heartbreak. Regardless, the young man is definitely chewing on his lip with more force now as he frowns. He can’t even really smile at the attempt to momentarily lighten the mood. Jaime also can’t really think of what to say to most of the other boy’s statements; at least his question serves as a distraction.

“A redo?” There’s a curious uncertainty in his voice, not quite understanding what the Ribbonfin has in mind.

"A redo," Ennis confirms, sounding far more confident now that he's said it a second time. Be brave! That's what Rosy told him. "I want to give you a better confession so I can get better closure. So I'm redoing it. So get ready." He neatens his scarf and smooths down his coat before turning toward Jaime. There's an odd glow of excitement to him, contrasting the tired melancholy he's shown all week. Finally, one less stress to worry about.

Ennis splays a hand over the center of his own chest and he looks like he's winding up to give a big speech, but all he says is, "I fancy you."

Though Jaime understands, after the explanation, what’s going to happen next, it still doesn’t quite prepare him. And he’s certainly not expecting Ennis to seem so confident and excited about the whole thing. He watches as his companion puts his hand on his chest and makes his pronouncement, and though the words he says have technically already been said before, this is distinctly different. It brings up a bit of shy awkwardness in the Azurcrest that he’s not quite accustomed to, and he quickly averts his eyes.

He’s quiet for what, to him, feels like forever, before he abruptly laughs, the sound brought on by his growing embarrassment. “Wait… what am I supposed to say now?” There’s some hesitation before he adds, with attempted humor, “Not ‘ok,’ right?”

The silence definitely feels like an eternity for Ennis as well. It's hard not to let his mind wander to the worst possible scenario, though Jaime seems more embarrassed than angry so that's probably a good sign. It's actually a relief when Jaime finally breaks the silence with laughter and Ennis takes the chance to relieve his own awkward tension by laughing along with him.

"No, not 'ok'!" he fires back between laughter, folding his arms and stomping his foot in a show of mock frustration. He keeps the tone light and playful as he continues. "Something kind but straightforward. Err--" Ennis makes a vague gesture with his hand. "Despite all of your excellent qualities, I can only think of you as a good friend."

There’s an instant where Jaime worries that maybe laughing and making a joke isn’t the best way to respond to someone’s (second) confession of interest, but any concern he has leaves him once Ennis laughs himself and responds. He hazards a glance at his friend for a moment before looking across the lake.

“Uhhh, ok. I mean, not ‘ok,’ but…” Shaking his head, Jaime lets out another awkward laugh. “Ennis, you are one of my best friends, and you are very good at… that. So, thank you.” There’s a pause before he recalls that oh, right, there’s supposed to be a rejection part to this as well. “You should like someone else who is better for you. Because I am… not right for you.”

"Ok," Ennis responds flatly, waiting a beat before cracking a grin. This feels strangely… nice. Like a huge weight has been lifted from him. For a while, he can forget about the Mimics and bask in the glory of finally receiving Jaime's rejection.

There's a pleasant color to his cheeks and he looks over the moon as he reaches to take one of Jaime's hands between both of his. "Thank you," he says, sincere, as he gives that hand a squeeze. If he's going to move on, he's going to treat Jaime like any other close friend. To him, this is a normal gesture; he'd been avoiding giving the same treatment to Jaime as he would to Lachlan or Cole. "Thank you. We can-- go inside now, if you want? I know you're not used to the cold."

Jaime is a little tense as he waits for a response, concerned that his ‘rejection’ wasn’t good enough; it’s only when Ennis says ‘ok’ that he actually looks back to the other boy. And then he laughs, a bright, unconcerned sound not tied up in his earlier awkwardness.

He’s still a little surprised when Ennis takes his hand, though, and a little embarrassed, but he doesn’t pull back even though that’s his gut reaction. Ennis doesn’t deserve that right now.

“It… do not thank me. I probably should have done better the first time. And the cold is not so bad but yeah, maybe we should just go in, so we do not look like weird mimics just hanging out by the lake.”

“...movie?”

"... Movie." Ennis pulls him by the hand to lead him a few steps toward the cabins before finally letting go. "It's time to introduce you to the Addams Family."