Crossroads, A Jian Story || Book Two • HIATUS •

2.

One Day Later: Third Person

Kian sat down at a bench outside of Starbucks, glancing around and hoping that no fans approached him. That's one of the things him and Jc needed to discuss: KianAndJc.

The stubborn boy had insisted on meeting as soon as possible, so Kian showed up at the small establishment, still dealing with the aftermath of drinking nonstop for two weeks: a killer hangover.

After a few minutes of waiting, Kian decided to go inside to avoid being seen so easily. As he walked in, he bumped into a familiar curly haired YouTuber.

"Oh, sorry- Kian!" Jc instantly brightened when he saw Kian, and tackled him in a huge hug. Most of the people around them either ignored it, or were smiling; they probably thought that Kian and Jc were a couple. But their smiles faltered when Kian didn't return the hug, or even near a smile. Jc frowned at him, but took a seat with him nevertheless.

"What do you want?" Kian's tired tone sounded almost exactly like it did over the phone last night. Jc played with his fingers for a moment before looking up at Kian, a fierceness in his eyes that shocked Kian. But Kian's expression stayed neutral.

"Move back in with me." He said intensely, staring at Kian. Kian almost couldn't look away from Jc's glinting eyes, and once he did he instantly regretted it.

I'm falling in love all over again.

"No." He said stubbornly, glancing at his phone, almost hoping it would ring so he would have an excuse to look away from Jc's hopeful eyes. How could Jc be so optimistic and bright, so excited about the future, when Kian was so determined to make sure they never had a future- not together, at least.

Jc's eyes clouded at Kian's answer, then they cleared and Kian saw that determination back again.

"Where are you staying now?"

Kian wanted to lie so badly, to say that he bought another house, or that he was staying with a friend. But truth be told, he broke off most friendships in the past month, and he was hotel jumping.

But he knew he couldn't lie, because Jc could see right through him, like he was a ghost. So, he mumbled the response quietly, still avoiding eye contact. Jc opened his mouth to reply, probably to insist on Kian's return, when a waitress came to deliver the drinks they ordered earlier. Kian breathed out gratefully, happy for the intrusion and something to do instead of play with his fingers.

Kian sipped at his cold drink, occasionally stealing glances at Jc, who didn't even bother to try to hide the fact that he was staring at Kian, observing every last inch of his face. Kian blushed slightly, then got on his phone to avoid any further questions. Obviously, it didn't work.

"Do you still love me?" Jc asked quietly. One look at his brown eyes, and Kian knew the answer.

"I don't know." He lied, biting his cheek, then returning to his phone.

"That's a lie." Jc sounded slightly amused, slightly hurt. Kian gazed at him with knowing eyes.

"And how would you know?" He asked. Jc tilted his head sideways, then indicates to his cheek; his soft fingers only inches from Kian's face. Kian closed his eyes, wishing Jc would grip his face with his strong hands, like he did before, before everything went to shit.

"You bite your cheek when you lie." He said simply, as if it were the easiest thing to notice about a person. Kian stared at him, as if expecting him to continue.

"And I know that because I know you, Kian." He leaned forward, so Kian could smell his minty breath and get lost in his lovely eyes. "Come back to me." He begged, his voice a husky whisper. Just as Kian felt himself leaning forwards, he abruptly pulled back and turned away, desperately thinking of something to change the subject with.

"What are we going to do about KianAndJc?" Kian's voice was tired, lazy almost, as he switched subjects. Jc sat back, running his hand through his messy hair. The curls only bounced back into place after his hands ran through them, though.

"It's October," Jc started, and Kian observed how he chewed the inside of his cheek and licked his lips in thought. It's the little things you notice about a person that makes you fall in love with them more and more. "And we're posting again in 2016," Kian already saw where he was going with this. "So we have two months to figure out what we're doing here." He gestured between him and Kian. Kian looked down.

"Don't be sad, babe." Jc put his finger under Kian's chin, like Kian always loved, but this time he only turned his head indignantly. Jc sighed, but continued. "We have time. And I promise you this will work."

Kian glared at the beautiful boy, the boy that left him for fame, that let him drown in hate instead of being there for him. And he was still doing just that.

No, there was no way Jc could make it up to him.

"I don't regret a single thing I said that night." He snarled, suddenly angry. Jc is the reason he got so much hate, the reason people spit at him when he walked down the street, the reason he lost over a million fans. It was Jc's fault.

Jc knew he was talking about the night he found Kian in that dirty bathroom. The night Kian told him that he hated him, and that he always will.

"You don't mean it.." Jc's eyes watered, but Kian was still angry. He cried himself to sleep night after night, waiting for Jc to post his coming out video that didn't even exist anymore.

"This is all your fault." Kian spat, angrier than he's been in a long time. He stood up, a grimace on his face, and threw away his almost full frozen latte.

"You broke us." He stared into Jc's eyes, his own blazing with anger. Then, he left the small coffee shop, leaving a disheveled Jc and a speechless crowd. Jc put his head in his hands.

"I broke us." He whispered quietly, feeling the hot tears stream down his wrists and onto the clean table.

"I broke us."

•••

I'm loving this book so far. I think it's so much better than Dead End.

And it's a personal goal to make each chapter at least 1000 words.

1094

-ColorMeJian