Escaping Perfect

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It wasn’t just the looks that made Jace Howard a border-line persona non-grata with jock sect of Westlaw High School. His intelligence was often misinterpreted as being snobbish. Jace was extremely well read, because his mother insisted on it. Not just insisted on it, but demanded that her son rise above and beyond the best. Mrs. Howard or Dr. Howard, when in the presence of her students, was decisively dedicated to the pursuit of philosophical debate and literary interpretation of the world.

She saw the beauty in her son. It was obvious. Before the academia claimed her later in life, she was on the fast track to becoming what is now termed a supermodel. Jace had the potential to be both a wonderful photographer and a model. She just demanded that he not fall into the stereotypes of being stupid, just because he was beautiful.

Curly’s was the hangout spot to all the young people in Westlaw. Jace found a table nestled not too far from the door giving him the perfect opportunity to see Warren. He only estimated that his wait wouldn’t be too long. Over in the corner making raucous noises of laughter and hopping and hollering over the big game at the end of the week were JD. Larsen and crew. If they were present, then Warren couldn’t be too far off from coming either Jace presumed.

He quickly sat and placed his camera on the table. A voice floated over. “Well well, why isn’t photo-boy?!” J.D. and his crew of two strolled over to Jace’s table uninvited.

“Take any good pictures lately?” One of the other football players asked mockingly.

Jace rolled his eyes, but decided to play along. “Yeah. There was this one last weekend, where I think I caught you and Benson over there, tipping cows.”

“Smartass.” Benson sneered.

“But don’t you love me that way.” He blew a kiss at the bulky Benson, who tensed up. “Buh-bye. Have a nice day, boys!”

J.D. laughed at the exchange and slapped Jace on the back of the head. “See ya Ja-cey!” She swooned.

Assholes, Jace thought. He couldn’t wait to get out of that stupid little town. Jace planned on going to Miami, New York, LA, Atlanta-some other place that could give him the freedom that his quaint little hometown couldn’t.

Jace reached inside his pack, removing the pictures from the day before. He flipped through each and critiqued every little thing. He was critical, not letting anything slip by him. He wanted his work to put forth his best. And nothing less.

A sudden tap on the shoulder startled Jace and looked up towards the source of the disruption. “Hey.”

“Hi.” Jace replied.

Warren sat across from him. His normally tanned skin was blotchy and slightly red. “You okay?”

Warren shook his head avidly. “Yeah, I’m super…it’s just that I um kinda rushed over here from doing extra practice drills…”

Jace slid his glass of water over. Warren smiled gratefully and chugged it down. “Thanks.” He gasped.

Jace nodded with a smile. Warren smiled back. Despite the water, the slightly red tint in his skin refused to go away. “So…” Jace said.

Warren could feel his heart banging steadily. Each thump, so loud, he was sure others could hear as well. He took a deep breath while looking away, then he turned back to Jace. “I talked to my parents last night.”

Jace sat up. “Were they mad?”

“Oh, no…They were cool…I mean they were okay with paying for the damages.”

“Great.” Jace beamed.

Warren dug an envelope containing his father’s check out of his pocket. He slid it over to Jace, their fingers rubbed against each other. Warren jerked his hand back like he was burned. His face flushed harder.

Jace shrugged it off thinking that Warren was still too tightly wound. “Thanks.”

Warren sat back. “So…um, what are you doing?”

Jace shifted his prints onto the table, picking up the ones he made of Warren the afternoon before. “Oh yeah, I guess I should have told you. I got the prints back. Yours came out especially nice.”

Warren looked at the pictures spread over the table. His pictures, though he always felt self-conscious when looking at himself, were especially cool as Jace captured the sun at his back framing him like a backdrop light.

“These are great.” Warren flipped through the stack, amazed by the sheer brilliance of Jace’s work.

“You’re really good.”

“Thanks.” Jace dismissed the compliment quickly.

Warren shook his head. “No. I’m serious. You’re amazing.”

Jace smiled. His teeth perfect and white, lips full and charming. “No, more amazing than you, Mr. Footballstar.”

Warren blushed hotter. And Jace laughed a nice low laugh that Warren couldn’t help return.
The two settled into an easy silence which was followed by more chitchat and actual snacking.

Warren never realized how much you could fall behind with someone even if you saw them everyday. Jace surprised him by not being as snotty as everyone said by actually being funny and very smart.

The two sat for hours laughing, sometimes so loud that they received looks from the other patrons. Finally, the two headed towards the door. They headed towards their cars, each musing on how much fun the afternoon had been.

Jace dumped his messenger bag in the backseat of his Mustang. He turned back to Warren to take in another look. The big jock was actually pretty cool in his book once he got over the whole spastic blushing and stuttering bit.

Jace tilled his head to the side. His expression so serene, relaxed and inviting that Warren grew damn near instantaneously hard. Warren pulled his letterman jacket to a near close.

“Maybe, we can hang out again, tiger?” Jace shoved his hands in the back pockets and looks partially hopeful.

Warren swallowed. Inside, he heard the little voice saying no, but some many other things were obviously screaming yes. “Yeah, cool. Alright. I think we should, could do that…yeah.”

“Good.” Jace grinned.

If Jace had been a girl, Warren could have kissed him blatantly and lightly in public. But alas, he still had to hold back even now. At least, he had a new friend.

TBC/?

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