AJ
My heart is racing, racing faster than when Ren and I had our first kiss, faster than when Darren first told me he loved me, faster than when I saw Amora get off the plane earlier today.
"Jason." I say again, tears in my voice mixing with fear mixing with anticipation of hearing him for the first time in four years. Out of all the combinations of letters and words in the English language that Jason could have chosen to say he says,
"I have a boyfriend." I laugh, I can't help it. I'm nervous and content and confused all at once. More tears escape down my face. "A boyfriend huh?" I say with a smile, I look at Amora who has a similar smile on her face.
"What's his name? is he good enough for you?"
"Noah…" I can hear the smile in his voice. "And you know, Amora asked me the same questions when she found out, except she found out with Millie screaming it at her because she messed up the microwave and wanted someone else to get in trouble."
I can't believe how mature he sounds now; how mature and how safe, I knew I could trust Amora to take good care of my kids. "That still didn't tell me if he's good for you or not. Is he with you?"
"No.." He responds quickly "What makes you think he'd be here?"
I smile and roll my eyes, "He is there isn't he?" Jason stays quiet for a few seconds
"How did you know?'
"Jay, you're my brother. And if it were me, he'd definitely be over. Let me talk to him. In fact, I'll put the both of you on speaker so Amora can help me decide."
I hear Jason laugh, my god it's been so long since I've heard his laugh, tears bloom in my eyes again. I put him on speaker, an unfamiliar voice is now on the other end of the phone.
"Ello?" A young boy with a British accent answers. Amora looks puzzled, I smile at her.
"You, must be Noah." Her eyes grow wide "Jason Alexander Collins!" Noah laughs, "Don't worry, we're only watching The Umbrella Academy. All clothes are on."
"It better stay that way." Amora says with a growl. I laugh,
"Okay, other than that Noah, What's your GPA?"
"4.0 sir. I'm assuming you're AJ? I've heard a lot about you." "Have you?" "Yessir." "That's really nice to hear…" I glance at Amora, she made sure they didn't forget about me. "Noah, you don't have to call me sir. AJ is fine."
"Okay...AJ"
"What's your hobby?"
"I quite enjoy playing the guitar and painting. Jay and I have actually been working on a song. He has quite the ear for that sort of thing, don't you think? It's probably because he always has those headphones on." His pronunciation is gentle, his accent makes it seem as if he's dragging his words together. When he talks about Jason, you can hear the warmth in his tone, almost daydreamily.
"Probably." I say, happy to hear that Jason never lost his love for music. "Are you guys done interrogating him yet?" I hear Jason say.
"It's all right, love. They just want to make sure I'm treating you the way you deserve. Trust me, I try to." I smile at Noah's words. he calls Jason love.
"And excuse me." Amora says "But I have not had the opportunity to interrogate him." the boys laugh and Ren walks into Amora's room.
"I am attempting to sleep." He says groggily and unemotionally. "Is that Ren?" Jason says with excitement. Ren's eyes land on mine immediately.
"AJ. Why is Jason on the phone?"
"Ren—"
"This is against protocol, I am supposed to turn you in." I look at Ren pleadingly. I stand up and walk over to him. My heartbeat kicking up again as I see him watching me coolly. I take Ren's cold hands and look him directly in the eyes. "Please." I whisper, he knows how much I need this. He wouldn't turn me in…right? Ren stares back at me, lacing our fingers together. He stares at me. I don't know exactly what it is but he seems much colder than I've grown used to. I try to pull away but he holds on to me tighter. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my neck. I have to force myself not to think about how I had kissed Darren only an hour or so before. He sighs. Releasing me but keeping a hold of my hand, he walks us back over to the bed.
"Hello Jason. It has been quite some time." Suddenly, Jason goes quiet. The conversation was buzzing a moment ago. "Jason?" Amora calls. Quietly, Jason says. "You're never coming back, are you Amora?"
"Jason—" "None of you are. I'm never going to see any of you ever again am I?"
"Jay…" I hear Noah say with concern. I can imagine him reaching out to lay a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Don't touch me." I hear Jason say darkly. "Jason." Noah says with a little more force. "I said don't touch me." I can hear Jason's voice shake. The more emotional Jason gets, the more I hear Noah try to intercede. I hear muffled frustrated cries coming from Jason. Muffled from Noah wrapping him up in his arms and laying Jason's head against his chest. I can see it all so vividly it's hard not to feel like I'm in the room with them.
"Jay…" I begin. "We're going to see you again. I promise. My boss is already trying to pull some strings. We'll see each other soon. Okay?"
"You can't promise that AJ. I'm not an idiot, I may not know exactly what you've been doing for the past four years but I'm sure it's dangerous. Your boss can pull all the strings he wants, he'll never be able to make sure you stay alive. You have to stay alive. All of you, please. Promise me you'll try" He sounds so sad, so frustrated but Noah seems to have calmed him down.
"I promise I will. Not that I'll try. I will. Okay?"
"You can't possibly know if you can keep that promise."
"I know I can, I already died once. I'll see you and Millie again, really soon."
Jason stays quiet for a moment. "I missed you so much AJ."
"I missed you too buddy."