Page 39 of Spoonful

Jaylin had to fight his wince. It was theit’s Brentchime. Hiro recognized by now that it wasn't a sound that meant good things for their hangouts.

Jaylin bit his lip. He could ignore the summons for a little bit, right? For all Brent knew, Jaylin was in the shower or something. Jaylin didn't have to scramble to answer this verysecond. “It’s okay,” he said weakly. “It’s probably not important. Plans for what?”

Hiro smiled at him again, but it had gone brittle, cracking further around the edges when Jaylin’s phone started to ring and didn't stop.

Jaylin swallowed, feeling himself start to sweat. A text he could get away with putting off. A phone call though?

“Hey,” Hiro said quietly, reaching forward to almost touch Jaylin’s hand from where it was clenched on his knee. “It’s okay. Do you need to get that?”

“Yeah,” Jaylin forced out. “I’m sorry, I’ll just–” he pointed to the kitchen as he stood up. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Hiro said again. It sounded almost like he was trying to convince himself, too. “Really, Jaylin. It’s okay.”

“I’ll be right back,” Jaylin said in a rush before he ducked fully into the kitchen.

Good mood soured, Jaylin only barely managed not to snap as he answered his phone. “Hi?”

“Hello pet,” Brent said, and Jaylin had the brief, furious urge to just hang up on him. He hated, hated,hatedthat stupid false-endearment. It rankled worse than usual right now.

“Hi,” Jaylin said again. “Did you, uh, did you want something?”

“Funny you should ask.” Brent’s voice was smooth, edging into darkly amused and all too foreboding. “I had a simply marvelous idea. If I recall, today was your last midterm.”

“Yeah,” Jaylin said, even though it wasn’t a question. Of course Brent knew.

“Mm-hm. So according to your schedule, you’re officially on spring break and free until the Monday after next.”

Jaylin didn't say anything, heart pounding, absolutely certain he wouldn't like whatever next came out of Brent’s mouth.

“I’ve decided you’ll spend the week with me,” Brent continued, and Jaylin went numb. “I’m due for some time off work as it is, and I think a bit of involved stress relief is warranted.”

“The… the whole week?” Jaylin heard himself say.

“Why not?” Brent purred. “It gives us such a chance to get creative.”

Brent went on to tell Jaylin that he would be spending Friday wrapping things up at work, and that Jaylin should be ready to be picked up Saturday morning. While part of Jaylin’s brain filed that information away, the rest of him tuned Brent’s voice out into a dull buzz.

A week.

Aweek?

Brent ended the call with a silky,“I’ll see you soon, pet,”and Jaylin almost choked as he pulled the phone away from his ear, staring blindly down at the screen. The thought of spending a full week in Brent’s presence with no respite made him feel sick with dread. His stomach turned as his imagination conjured up everything Brent might put him through, make him do. The thought of being at his total mercy for aweek,a week of Brentgetting creative–

And so much of his life would be upset by this too, fuck—work.He’d taken all those shifts for next week without stopping to think that Brent might want him exclusively. Stupid,stupid.He might even get fired for this, might lose a job that had beengoodso far, and Jaylin had been watching his savings steadily climb with a shaky sort of pride, but if he lostEl Guanaco, there went Jaylin’s fantasy of actually being able to leave Brent behind for good, at least for the rest of theyear—

The room started spinning as Jaylin clutched his phone and tried to breathe and not lose it in Hiro’s kitchen. It was onlywhen he heard a dim, “Jaylin? Jaylin, can you hear me?” that he registered he was no longer alone anymore.

He took in a big, unsteady gulp of air and did his best to focus. Hiro was at the open entrance to the kitchen and looking at him with naked concern. Jaylin’s insides withered that bit more.

“Jaylin?” Hiro asked again, softly, as if worried he’d spook Jaylin. “Do you want to sit down on the couch?”

Jaylin nodded jerkily, and Hiro gave him a wide berth as they left the kitchen, sitting down on the very opposite end of the couch. Jaylin hated it, hated the distance. Just a few minutes ago things were comfortable and easy.

But Jaylin should have known. Things were never allowed to be easy for him.

The silence stretched.

“Is there anything I can do?” Hiro asked quietly. “Some way I could help?”

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