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Jacob frowned at those tears looking a bit confused as to why the other was crying, and only more confused when the other asked him if he didn't remember whatever it was he should have remembered. He racked his brain for something he'd have forgotten since the night before and shook his head... his memory wasn't that bad.
"I'm not sure what I'm supposed to remember," Jacob confessed looking down at the distressed man. His hand moved up to brush away the tears, the other brought out Ash's cell phone. "But... I think you forgot this at my place." |
Holding back his emotions, Ashley got control of himself again. "I.. hm.. Thank you.." He smiled meekly, taking the phone he'd thrown at him just hours before. He didn't know what to say, how to be mad, it was nice.. seeing Jacob again, even if he wouldn't remember it when he went to sleep and he'd be someone else, someone he felt might hate him.
"Have... you eaten yet? I haven't.. I was .. going to order delivery when you got here. I didn't know what you'd like.."He rubbed at his eyes a little more and shifted to get his broken leg off of the desk so he could unbury his work phone from all the projects he'd gotten that day. "I was going to order some Chinese.. do you like it?" |
"Love it," Jacob replied still looking at Ashley with a confused look but it disappeared as he brushed away the confusion and focused on the other man before looking around the office curious about where the man worked. But his attention fell back to Ash, he rather didn't care where they were just that he got to see him.
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Ash Eyed a chair across his desk a moment and sighed. "If uh.. you move the things in that chair.. to the floor over there, you can sit down too. "He started trying to organize the advertisement designs, sketches, punch lines, memos on his desk and into drawers and out of the way so they could use the space for eating, finally finding the phone and he glanced at a number attatched to his computer monitor, dialing it. "I'll just get some of everything, okay?" He smiled, he was really hungry, it occured to him he hadn't bothered to eat anything that day outside of a very small breakfast.
WHen he was done ordering, he hung up and smiled a little more warmly at Jacob now. "It'll be here in hmm half an hour or so." He stated, reaching for his crutches after taking a few dollars out of the drawer of his desk. "Let's... get some drinks at the vending machine down the hall. I need to walk around a bit anyway." He said as he got up, grunting, he was stiff again. |
Jacob nodded and did as suggested as Ash cleaned his desk then ordered Chinese. Jacob rested a supporting hand on Ash's back gently as he stood and he nodded agreement. "So.. what is it you do here anyway?"
He wasn't certain what else to say, really he'd paid so little attention to most that he forgot their names as soon as they left. Experienced in bed but not very experienced in anything other wooing another to climb into bed with him. Small talk would have to be the best thing, though he wanted to question why the man had been so upset earlier but it didn't seem the best time. |
Smiling at him still he chuckled a bit and carefully made his way over to a large portfolio folder, opening it and digging through the boards in it to pull out something and set it on an easel in the corner. "I help put together ad campaigns. I do a lot of the designing and work with the client to come to a decision on colours, the message they want to try and portray. They come to me if they want to make money." He put the board away after a moment and sighed. "It's stressful though." The board he'd shown Jacob was of a fairly successful business, one that had been struggling before coming to him for a new look on the billboards and commercials.
"C'mon.. the vending machines are this way." He made his way into the hall towards a glowing light down the hall in another room, the lights in the halls and other rooms all off, even his own were dimmed from him sleeping. "I'm.. glad you came, Jacob. I was kinda worried you might not." |
Jacob listened to Ashley's explanation with interest and he looked at the board that he'd brought out to show him with appreciation. "Oh, neat.."
Jacob walked next to Ashley towards the light down the hall. He looked over at Ashley as he spoke though frowning at the words. "Why wouldn't I come? I did mean what I said about wanting to see you again..' "Was that why you were so upset when I turned up?" Jacob paused looking at the other man. He supposed it might have been common to not count on a prostitute to keep their word, but he'd hoped his job choice wouldn't affect how Ash judged him - even if it's how they met. |
"Yeah... I guess it kind of is." He smiled weakly now, looking into the room the vending machines were in before he actually went in. "I uh.. Do you have your wallet with you? It's kinda strange, but can I see it?' He questioned after a moment--he hadn't dreampt that all up right? He wasn't sure, he felt so lost and confused, but he was sure Jacob did too.
"Oh--what do you want for a drink? There's all kinds of things." He said as he started to balance so he could get himself a cola from the machine. |
Jacob looked at Ashley strangely again but shook his head idly. What was going on? He was wanting a nice night with the other, but now it was just strange and confusing. Why wouldn't Ashley tell him what's wrong? He might just be a whore, but after the night before it was strange for the other to be so awkward now.
"I.. uh, don't carry a wallet at all.. just stick my money in my pocket," Jacob told him. He stepped in close as the other began to feed the money in for his own drink. Jacob's arm wrapped around that slim waist to catch him if he lost his balance. "Ah.. I'll just have a root beer." |
"Ah-Sorry. Guess I thought you'd have one. Don't meet too many people without one. "Then again, he didn't have one either. he really only ever needed his credit card and ID for most things.
Shivering, Ashley smiled and closed his eyes a moment before opening them again to get his soda out of the machine, leaning down a bit to do so. He paid for Jacob's as well, getting him a root beer. glancing at them a moment, and Ash sighed, looking at Jacob with a smile. "Could you carry these? I don't... seem to have enough hands." He laughed a bit, though he wasnt' quite himself yet. He started to turn towards Jacob some in the man's hold, pressing his lips into the taller man's after a small pause, crutches under his arms and sodas in his hands, relying mostly on Jacob not to let him topple over in the slightly twisted position, balancing more or less on one foot, his cheeks a little flushed. |
"Planned to," Jacob replied smirking a bit even with concern welling in his eyes. He wished Ashley would tell him what was wrong, but he wasn't going to force it.
His arm tightened around Ashley as he twisted in for a gentle kiss which Jacob gladly returned, his free hand sliding up to rub Ash's arm gently in the process. Whatever it was, knowing it or not... Jacob hoped to make Ash feel better, whatever it took. |
Breathing out slowly, Ashley smiled at him and shifted out of his awkward position, tapping the drinks gently against his new friend's hands. "Here. We should head back over to my office. I'd hate to miss our dinner!" He laughed weakly; he was horrible at hiding his emotions, he knew it, but he was glad Jacob was letting it be for now. He wanted the time to be nice tonight.
"Hey, when my leg's better--we should go out and do something. I've got this new video camera I want to play with." He said with a smile, this one seemed more natural. "There's a carnival coming next month, maybe we could--ermm.. I mean.. if you want." He seemed to get flustered now, embarrassed--he was suggesting something most people did for a date, wasn't he? He hadn't even thought about it, it'd just sounded like fun, if anyone could imagine a work-a-holic like him enjoying anything like that. Why was he showing such a different side of him to Jacob? They'd just had sex, it wasn't like they were an item or anything, he was getting too worked up about it all. They'd have to go at night too.. what if that Alex side of him didn't like him? What if he didn't want anything to do with him? He didn't know if he could handle only seeing someone he cared about at night... he didn't know if he could stand it if Alex fell in love with someone else while he loved Jacob. These thoughts suddenly made him look distraught, though he'd tried so hard not to, would Jacob just think he was crazy if he told him what was going on? He was afraid they'd just fight and he didn't want to. He didn't want things to be bad between them. |
Jacob took the drinks without a second thought and followed the other man slowly to his office as he considered the offer of going somewhere it would be thought of as a 'date.' Jacob gave an easy smile though as his eyes surveyed Ashley with growing concern as the man's emotions were unsuccessfully hidden.
"I'd enjoy going to that carnival with you," he told Ashley frowning though because he cared enough about the other man to want to know what's wrong. Something that had come to him in a surprise but why else would he be doing all this? He set the drinks down on Ashley's desk and turned so his bottom pressed against the smooth material to look at Ashley waiting for him to sit down. How could he pry into the other's life without even knowing him more than a day and yet.. be worried enough not to. "Ashley.. Ash," Jacob corrected himself, he liked the man's full name but he knew the other disliked it and he wasn't wanting to displease him. "You know... if there's something wrong you can tell me... I won't judge... after all you have been treating me as another normal human.. I can't judge you if you don't judge me for what my job description is.." He was nervous, he didn't ever talk too much and now he was yattering on like a love struck school girl trying to help out the one she liked. The analogy made him laugh quietly at himself to himself. |
Sitting down carefully, he grunted, he was still sore, rubbing his back a little. He flushed a bit and looked up towards Jacob curiously as he finally started to confront him abut the heavy, though half-way hidden mood he'd been carrying around. "... I... You'll think I'm crazy." He laughed faintly, rubbing the back of his neck some.
Shifting, he fished money for the food out and set it on the desk for when the order would arrive. "But.. you can call me Ashley.. if you really want. I don't mind it .. when you do." he whispered after a pause, his cheeks a rosy colour now as he fidgeted in his seat. |
Jacob observed him quietly for a moment considering the other man. He thought the other man far from crazy, but Jacob wished to know what was wrong and he doubted it would make him look crazy at all if it was upsetting him so much. He leaned in gently coaxing another gentle kiss from the other man.
"I promise, whatever it is I won't think any less of you," Jacob said in a low voice meeting those dual colored eyes. "If anything I'm more crazy than you.." |
"I... alright.." he swallowed slowly, nervous--he'd talk about it though. "I really.. wasn't going to go to work today, I wanted to stay with you all day." He laughed weakly again, pushing a hand through his hair some as he leaned back into the chair.
"When I woke up, you were gone... So I got up and found you but.. you acted like.. you didn't know me. I was sure at first.. that I was having some twisted nightmare, but I just.. never woke up. I thoguth sure it was becuase I'd hit my head! I called you Jacob.. but you got so mad at me.. you said you weren't Jacob and your name was Alex, I didn't understand, I thought you were messing with me, but you never... said 'just kidding'." He inhaled shakily, tightening his grip on the arms of his chair. "You acted like I was just going to hurt you.. but it wasn't you so.. I don't.. I didn't understand. You just kept yelling at me to get out, you made me so mad, I cried. I never.. cry, until I met you, and I swear now.. that's all I do!" He laughed a little more but his voice choked. "I got so pissed off, I even threw my phone at you and said I hated you and never wanted to see you again. I thought you'd changed your mind! But.. you don't remember any of that do you? I haven't been able to sleep very well today.. I worked... so much because I wanted to forget it. I told.. the you I saw this morning... that if they weren't lying about not remembering last night--nothing, the sex, the hospital.. nothing... then you'd better put the card next to the bed... because I knew you'd find it.. I knew you'd come.. if i asked you to." God you must think I'm so crazy, you probably just think I hit my head too hard!" he was on the verge of laughing and sobbing at the same time, looking up as he heard tapping at the door and someone said "Delivery?" Ashley was shaking so much but he waved for the carrier to bring him the food and he'd hand him the money so he dind't have to get up again. The man was out as soon as he got the money and been told to just keep the change, not wanting to get involved in things. |
Jacob listened in silence as Ashley explained, he was trying to comprehend what was being told to him. He certainly didn't remember any of what Ashley was telling him about, nor would he himself ever do anything of the such. After Ashley finished speaking, even after the delivery man had come and gone he was in a shocked silence.
He wasn't sure what to say, or whether he should believe it.. but the truth he realized was he never woke during the day even when meaning to and yet he wasn't a clean person. The messes he made were already cleaned up by the time he awoke... it couldn't be a coincidence now. Even with the shocked silence though Jacob reached out and hugged Ashley to him, his mouth not yet working until that embrace. "See... I'm more crazy than you." A small laugh escaped him as he held Ashley. "I don't disbelieve you... It's.. just a shock with things that had added up to it.. I'm sorry." |
Ashley gasped as he was held, close to Jacob so suddenly--he wasn't angry? He wasn't calling him crazy, he was calling himself crazy in fact--he believed him? "I.. wish.. this had been so easy this morning." He laughed , trembling in Jacob's hold, but he clutched onto him in a hug, tears streaking his face from the relief.
"Don't.. apologize though.. You couldn't help it." He smiled a bit better than before, feelinb better now that he'd gotten it all off his chest. "So... you really.. want to go with me? To the carnival? I'd ... really like it if you did." |
Jacob pulled back from the embrace to look down at Ashley now a hand moving up to brush away the tears. He couldn't help but apologize and keep on doing so... it wasn't 'him' who said such things, but they still upset Ashley and he didn't like that. He refrained from saying sorry again though and gave a small smile.
"I would love to.. Haven't been to one in ages." Jacob's lips leaned in to brush Ashley's lips with his own letting them linger this time. He was thankful the man did tell him what was wrong.. even if he needed a little prodding. His knees bumped against the man's chair on either side of his legs as he stepped forward, wanting to give Ashley a small reward for opening up to him a bit. |
"I'm glad.."
He smiled as those lips met his own, letting his eyes flutter closed as he tipped his head into the affection. "Hmm" Smiling against Jacob's lips, Ashley slid his hands up the man's shoulders, rubbing over them slowly and then down his chest faintly. His hands rested there and he blushed, looking at the man yet again, blushing. "Jacob.. We should probably eat dinner, before it all gets cold." He chuckled, hungry for two things, and he supposed for the moment his priority had better been the mounds of food he'd ordered for them both. |
His eyes fluttered open as the other pulled away and mentioned food. He smirked a bit but he gave a small nod, food would probably be good to eat hot. Regrettably he pulled away from Ashley with a small chuckle and turned to where the food was left sitting to cool and began unpacking it all for them both.
"It certainly smells good," he said idly when he finished, the small desk looking smaller with all the food. "I regret to say I may not be able to eat quite that much." |
"Ahah, no, I'd imagine you wouldn't but.. I'm sure I'll be eating left overs for a few days after this." Ashley laughed, digging out the chopsticks and plastic utensils given to them. "Which would you like?" He asked, looking up at Jacob curiously.
Shifting, he took one of the paper plates from his desk to hand to Jacob, another for himself so they could begin serving themselves, breaking a pair of chopsticks apart to pick through the different containers. |
Jacob looked between the offered eating utensils and grabbed the plastic fork and knife with a silly half-grin. He wasn't great at eating with chopsticks and he didn't want to make any mess within Ashley's office at all. He also accepted the plate from the other man and looked over the food again as he moved around to his seat... seeming so far away from Ashley.
He helped himself though silently shifting dishes that were farther from Ashley closer by moving away the ones that he'd already picked from. Ever so thoughtful of not having to force Ashley to stand with a broken leg. |
Shifting, Ashley served himself what he could reach, waiting for each one Jacob would pass closer to him after each other one was picked through. He had a pretty full plate by the time he'd started eating, quite hungry as he'd ignored his need for food all day.
After a few minutes of eating some of the things, he looked at Jacob and blushed slightly as he decided to speak up again, "Hey.. can.. I go back with you tonight?" He asked, knowing though that Jacob probably had work to do at some point. |
Jacob's plate was also filled to the brim with a variety of his favorites and some of which he hadn't yet tried but had been curious about. He ate slowly though savoring each bite, it was not often his taste buds were spoiled with Chinese food and it was one of his favorites.
He looked across the desk made table at Ashley after the request and finished his bite of food before he replied. "You can come over whenever you like.." |
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