The Curse of Fantasy

Low key?

They were back at the house like they didn't just risk their lives. They were showered and hanging out in sweats. Simon wasn't wearing a shirt. Jett was trying not to notice. They had snacks on the coffee table. They were set for the afternoon. Simon loved to climb but the rest of the weekend was low key.
"You want to play video games?" Simon smiled.

Jett smiled. "Sure. Separate teams?"

"Oh! It's on!" Simon laughed. He put in a war game and they were fighting each other. Simon was using snipers and Jett was a head on type. They both killed each other a lot.

"Where's Vin?" Simon asked.

Simon looked around and then at Jett, who was focused. Vin was here when they got home and Jett showed Vin pictures that Simon took and Simon went to shower. Vin was gone when he walked back down. Also Simon had no idea how to talk to Jett alone...or be in the same room alone with Jett.

"Oh. Karly showed up with her friends and they are at the movies. I hope that's okay?" Jett smiled as he shot Simon and he died.

"Damn!" Simon glared. He was back in the game. "I didn't see you there!"

"I'm sneaky." Jett was sweating. "I have to be honest about something. I'm not sure I should be..."

"What?" Simon stared, the game forgotten. "I don't know what that means?"

"Carl...um..gave me an earpiece to hear you...earlier." Jett turned red but not as red as Simon when he realized what that meant.

Simon played the conversation back in his head. I'm in love with Jett! He heard himself say he was in love with Jett. It echoed. Holy shit!

Jett hit pause. "We should talk."

Simon sputtered. "Please! Just ignore that! I didn't mean to say it...well, I didn't mean for you to hear it, Jett!" He was in tears. "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! Are you leaving?" He began to cry. He couldn't stop it as the feelings burst open. He was a mess.

Jett inhaled. "Simon. Calm down. Can we just talk?" He was a little quiet in an effort to calm Simon. He touched the couch. Simon sat on the edge. "I learned a lot about myself the past few years. I was trying to find a way to apologize to you. I know that I hurt you. It's obvious. I know what I did still hurts. I'm sorry! Okay?"

Simon inhaled and tried to get his body to stop shaking and freaking out. "About?" He was lost as to why Jett was apologizing.

"The kiss. I treated you like shit after that and there is no excuse. You were my best friend and I let you down. I thought I could never be cool with you as my friend. It wasn't even about the fucking kiss. I was so afraid people would think I was gay too!" Jett inhaled.

"But?" Simon stared and wiped his face. "I thought it was the kiss?"

"Partly but that was no excuse. I was mean to you. You gave me part of yourself and I set fire to it and stomped on the ashes. I'm so sorry! There were other ways to deal with that and I picked the very worst one!" Jett inhaled. He was twirling a twizzler in his fingers. He was nervous. "Sarah and I were fighting when she left. She was leaving me when she crashed." Jett lost the tears that pooled in his eyes.

Simon stared. He saw tears and wasn't sure what to do. He wanted to lean in and hug Jett but he didn't. How did their day turn into them both crying?

"We were getting divorced. No one knows!" Jett inhaled. He felt the hot tears. "She was having a cyber affair on me with some guy and I found out I'm gay, well, bi." He stopped talking.

Simon froze. "What?" He was shocked. Did Jett just say he was gay?

"You heard me. I went to a club...a gay bar. I made out with a guy, just to see..." Jett inhaled. "I'm into men. It took me years to figure it out. Sarah told me she was cheating on me and I told her I was gay. We hadn't made love in a year. We were both unhappy but we put on a show for everyone. Vin knows. He's such a great kid, Simon."