Chapter Text
Eric power walks past the kids milling around the dance, making a beeline for the double doors that lead outside. He's got to get some air.
Keeping you around was always the best choice I ever made, wasn't it?
Jack's words continuously echoing around his head, he wipes his now damp with sweat hands on his suit jacket. He had allowed himself to daydream about this but the reality that Jack was really here was starting to sink in and his words had thrown Eric for a loop.
He sank onto a bench once he reached the cool air outside to hopefully think a little more clearly.
Here I am a whole senator and I'm getting worked up by an old roommate, Eric's mind scolded him and scoffed, as if Jack was ever just a roommate. There was a time he couldn't have imagined his life without Jack, he never wanted to. But here they are, Eric hadn't seen Jack in 15 years and he's still exactly the same.
Spiky brown hair framing expressive brown eyes, whip smart, biting wit, a smile that could melt the coldest heart. Time was good to Jack, but he knew it would be. Jack had always been almost inhumanely attractive.
"Eric? You alright buddy, you got out of there so fast I thought some kid puked on your shoes." Eric grinned into his lap recalling what he was thinking before Jack decided to make his presence known.
"I'm OK. Just a little crowded in there, lots of hormones and pop music." Eric glances up after he speaks to catch the amused twinkle in Jack's eyes that he knew would come. Even all these years later this banter with Jack was so natural, he knew exactly how Jack would react. It was comforting to know Jack was still Jack, even after all this time.
Jack claims the other side of the bench, and lets out a heavy sigh. Oh no Eric thinks, that's the sigh before bad news. It's going to come to an end again. He'll leave, again, and break Eric into tiny pieces all over again. Who knows if he'll ever come back?
Jack looks down into his clasped hands as he speaks. "I meant it you know. Leaving, not even keeping in touch, was the worst thing I've ever done. You were my best friend. You didn't deserve that."
"I agree. I didn't. You know it wasn't for lack of trying. I called. You didn't call back." Eric's voice was calm, cool, didn't reflect an ounce of his inner turmoil. Being a politician had its drawbacks but the learned ability to bluff hard and present confidence in the midst of uncertainty very much had its upsides.
Jack stared guiltily off into the distance, unable to meet Eric's eyes.
"What happened, Jack?"
Jack seemed genuinely confused by this question and utters a similarly confused "What?"
"I'd like to think I knew you pretty well, maybe better than anyone else. You didn't even keep in touch with Shawn. Something had to have happened, something big, to make you want to push us all out. I'm just sorry that whatever it was, you felt you had to go through it alone."
Eric searches Jack's face, hoping his bluntness doesn't strike Jack wrong. One wrong word and Jack will close off, clam up. Eric was well practiced in the art of getting Jack to talk to him but it's been far too long since he's even gotten to try. Hopefully he's still got it.
Jack's face looks very serious for a moment and then lifts into a thoughtful smile. "You really can just read me like a book can't you? I'll never understand how you do that."
Eric, relieved he hasn't yet pushed the clam up button, smiles in return but stays quiet. Something did happen, and Eric is screaming inside his head, what could have possibly pushed Jack away from me? From everyone?
Jack sighs again and relents. "Yeah, you're right. Some things did happen, some bigger than others. But it's a bit of a longer story than I can really cover on a bench outside a middle school dance, with a Senator." Jack taps him lightly with his elbow as he says Senator, an incredibly familiar gesture and Eric can't help the smile that follows it.
"Since my company sent me here to try to sway your vote let's spend some of their money, I'm supposed to at least attempt to do my job. Let's get lunch tomorrow. It'll make me look like a miracle worker for even getting a meeting with you. I'm in NY for a whole week so I've got nothing but time, but there's a roomful of kids in there you gotta go influence first." Jack stands after he finishes his sentence and pauses, waiting to see if Eric will follow.
Realizing that's as much as he's going to get out of Jack for now Eric rises and walks back to the dance with Jack.
1 week. I get to have Jack back for 1 week. If that's all I'm going to get, I'll just have to make it the best week ever.