Page 13 of Make the Play
“Used my impressive powers of deduction after you disappeared to figure you out.”
“Oh.” Emerson wonders what he figured out, spinning his ring rapidly.
“Nah, I’m just shitting you, I don't have any powers of deduction.” Jason laughs, as if he’s said something very funny. “Between you and me, my observational skills are not always the best, but people like to talk. And when I had lunch with Mabel, she mentioned showing the new English teacher to his class, so it wasn’t very hard to put two and two together. Not too many lost guys wandering campus before the semester starts.”
“The campus is really big,” Emerson retorts.
“It is,” Jason agrees, taking Emerson’s brusk tone in stride. “I mean, I went there so I already knew it like the back of my hand before I started teaching, but I can see how it might not be as easy to navigate if you didn’t, especially based on what you said about your own high school. We’re lucky to have such a beautiful campus, but some of the buildings are not close together. And it’s really not laid out in a logical manner, which can be a nightmare for some of the students and staff. Thankfully a few years back, right before I started teaching, they repaved all the pathways and fixed the ramps for the older buildings, but it was definitely designed by people who didn’t think about the implications for accessibility. And don’t get me started on why freshman English is near the library but the senior English building is across the quad near the gym. Or why half the science classes are on the East side of campus, but for some reason the labs are down near the new auditorium. None of it makes any sense. Seriously, you wouldn’t believe how many freshmen I’ve found near tears during the first week of school because they get lost and are too embarrassed or overwhelmed to tell anyone.”
Emerson blinks, entirely surprised to hear such thoughtful observations.
“Here’s your place,” Jason continues, like he didn’t just drop a mouthful of conscientious observations Emerson’s way. “Did you want me to drop you off at the front gates on Saratoga or pull around the back? I’m not sure exactly where your apartment is or which would be easier for you.”
Honestly Emerson has no idea which way is better. The first day he got here he’d navigated his way to his apartment from the back because that’s where the Uber took him straight from the airport. Which means it's now the only way he’s ever entered and exited the apartment building now that his brain has cemented it as the way in. Logically he knows he should explore the complex and check out the other entrance but Emerson is not really a fan of having multiple options for things. He likes to find one that works and stick with it.
“Back entrance,” he answers, the feeling of being put on the spot making him sound sharper than Jason deserves.
“You got it,” Jason says, flipping on his turn signal and merging into the left lane to enter the parking lot for Emerson’s complex. Jason easily navigates his way to the gated entrance in the back, at which point Emerson has perfectly rehearsed what to say, but all of it goes out the window when Jason turns to him and smiles in a way that reveals dimples—one in each cheek—and a warm smile. “It was really nice meeting you, Emerson. I’ll see you at school.”
All his perfectly practiced dialogue is nowhere to be found, his brain nothing more than a highlight reel of Jason’s dimpled smile and friendly face. Emerson might be very gay, but he’s not sure he’s ever been as attracted to anyone as he is to Jason. Has anyone else ever had such pretty brown eyes or a nicer smile? Emerson can’t imagine they have. Or maybe it’s just that Jason being nice to him is causing his brain to malfunction. Most of the people he’s found attractive in the past lost their aesthetic appeal when he realized he didn’t like them as a person. This entire situation would be so much easier if Jason was a jerk.
“Emerson?” Jason prompts, because of course he does. Emerson isn’t saying anything, is just staring at Jason without getting out of the car or thanking him for the ride home. Both things he should do. Somehow what comes out of his mouth is not a thanks though.
“You’ll see me Monday,” Emerson blurts.
“I will,” Jason agrees, his easy smile still firmly in place like he doesn’t mind the idea. “No running away from me this time.”
“I can’t make any promises,” Emerson replies honestly, surprised when Jason laughs.
“I like you, Emerson.”
That weird feeling in his chest intensifies, and Emerson has no idea if it’s unease, or hunger, or if the weird rushing in his ears is because he didn’t drink enough water today. Emerson hasn’t been sleeping well, not yet used to his new place, even if he did pay a small fortune to have his old pillow and mattress delivered across the country just so it would feel the same. Being tired always fucks with Emerson’s ability to regulate his emotions. As does being hungry. Or being around people too long.
“I’m going to leave now,” Emerson says.
Jason’s smile doesn’t falter. “Alright.”
With an embarrassing grunt, Emerson flings the truck door open, half-falling out of it as he stumbles down the step. Jason’s earnest ‘are you okay?’ echoes in his ears as he all but runs from him for the second time, not even turning around to wave. Emerson just needs to get to his apartment, put on his pajamas, tuck himself into his weighted blanket, and eat an Eggo waffle. Then maybe everything will make more sense.
4JASON
A blaringalarm startles Jason from a deep sleep, making him regret choosing his loudest sound when he set the alarm last night. Then again, considering it’s early enough not even his own internal alarm clock or his dogs have had a chance to wake him, it was probably the right choice.
Though he knew the alarm would come extra early today, he can’t stop the groan that leaves his lips as he rolls over and buries his face in his pillow. It’s still pitch dark outside, far too early for any normal human to be awake. It’s definitely going to take him a few weeks to get used to getting up before the sun again. He is never going to be a morning person naturally, but he is willing to do anything for his fur babies, including waking up at the ass crack of dawn to ensure they get a nice long walk before he has to leave them for the day. He feels guilty enough about how many hours they have to spend alone during the football season, the absolute least he can do is ensure they get their exercise in.
No matter how valid his reasoning is, his body still desperately wants a little more sleep, and he ends up hitting the snooze button on his alarm, pitching him back into beautiful silence. Jason’s body takes the quiet as permission to go back to sleep, but that only lasts a few seconds before Freddie is whining and making the entire bed shake with the force of his butt wiggles, clearly desperate for Jason’s attention. Despite the shaking of the bed, he keeps his eyes shut, eager for one more minute of rest. Jason abandons this desire when Stella jumps on top of him, giving him a face full of fur as she rolls over his head.
“You are not allowed on my face, Stella,” he reminds her.
Stella barks while Freddie licks his ear. Jason takes that as his cue to let the morning begin. Stella and Freddie clearly aren’t going to let him sleep any longer, which he shouldn’t do anyway. Rolling out of bed, he scrubs a hand over his face while his eyes adjust to the dark and begins mentally psyching himself up for the day.
The morning passes in a blur of making coffee, taking the dogs on a quick three mile run then hurrying home to shower and have more coffee. While he chugs that down, waiting for his breakfast sandwich to reheat in the microwave, he packs his lunch, suddenly realizing he’s going to need to stock up on more snacks he can throw in his bag if he doesn’t want to starve to death. He ends up adding a protein shake and a green apple Gatorade to his cooler, unsure of what drinks he has in his office, along with his sandwich and fruit. Somehow he manages to get his ass out of the house shortly after seven, only five minutes past his original goal. All things considered, Jason is pretty damn proud of himself, especially since he knows the traffic around the school will be an absolute cluster fuck on the first day back.
Sure enough by the time he gets to campus the drop off line is backed up into the second lane with freshman parents trying to come in off the wrong street—almost as if they didn’t read the two e-emails and the mailer the school sent out explaining which roads to use. The side lot for students is also three-quarters full, meaning anyone who tries to get to school with five minutes to spare will be screwed.
Between the chaos off the main road and normal morning traffic, it’s a miracle Jason can even pull into the front lot and find his parking spot by seven-thirty. Shutting off the ignition, he grins while surveying the sight before him, teachers unloading their cars with extra supplies and students everywhere greeting friends after the summer break and waiting for a new year to begin.
There’s little Jason loves more than the first day of school, ripe with reunions and new opportunities. Maybe it’s because Jason absolutely loved high school, or maybe it’s because he loves his job, or maybe it’s just because he loves being around people, but the energy on the first day invigorates him more than his two cups of coffee.
