Chapter Text
“Daniel, wake up already!”, a delicate voice exclaimed.
The sun was already at its peak, a soft light slipping through the blinds, falling onto Daniel’s cheeks and eyelids. “What time is it?”, he mumbled.
“It’s already past noon! I know you need rest, but we promised to go to the lake today…” said Sarah-Lee.
“Huh? Already?!” he replied, getting up in a flash. “I could swear I told Sean to wake me up earlier!”
“I’m pretty sure he left with my brother a while ago. Decided to go on a walk together? I’m not too sure why though.” she responded somewhat wistfully.
__________
It had now been about a week since Sean, Jacob, and Karen managed to get Daniel and Sarah-Lee out of that creepy cult in Haven Point, Nevada. The brothers were now getting ready to part ways, leaving Jacob and Sarah-Lee to build a new life, and continuing their road towards Mexico.
Reuniting with their mother was a surreal experience, especially for Daniel. After being stuck with the snake-like, venom-spitting cult leader that was Lisbeth, finally meeting his mother and feeling like nothing more than a child again felt so liberating. Being revered as a religious figure at the ripe age of 10 is definitely not something to be recommended. Every night, he still has nightmares of the church in flames, hearing Lisbeth’s screams…
Still, for the first time since Christmas, he felt somewhat safe. Daniel had his brother back by his side, his new friend Sarah-Lee, who can understand what he went through, and could finally spend time with Karen ; yet something still bothered him. Whenever he would try to spend time with Sean, he would find some sort of excuse to either bring Jacob with them, or straight up ditch him for Jacob. Normally this wouldn’t be too much of an issue (Daniel is a big boy now!), but after all they went through during Spring and Summer, he missed his brother.
Today was the last day before the Diaz brothers and Hackerman siblings may never see each other again, so they wanted to spend it together, by the lake, which would remind them both of the old times in Oregon. It was supposed to be a sacred moment spent together, as a last goodbye - and Sean seemingly forgot to wake Daniel up, just to spend time with Jacob again? That was it. That was the final straw.
Daniel got out of the bathroom, toothbrush still in his mouth:
“You know what, Sarah-Lee? Since our brothers decided not to wait for us, why don’t we just spy on them?”
“Huh? How can you think of doing such a thing?! Lying is a sin, you know?” Sarah-Lee panicked.
“Don’t think of it as lying! It’s not like we’re telling them anything about it anyways! Plus, don’t you think they deserve it for never spending time with us?” responded Daniel after washing his mouth.
“I guess… But still, just because they aren’t doing good shouldn’t mean we have to follow in their steps!”
“Come on, it’ll be like a game! We might never see each other after this… Just this once, okay?” he pleaded, softening his face. All those years of experience convincing Sean to give him Chock’o Crisps finally found a use.
“...Fine. But if at any point I feel like what we’re doing is too much, I’m out.” she said, wavering in front of Daniel’s well-trained puppy eyes.
__________
Sean might have been the one to bring Jacob to the lake, and maybe it was just because he had already come here before, but he couldn’t help but stare at Jacob’s perfect face. His slightly downturned eyes, giving him his typical droopy stare – perfectly contrasted by his squarer jaw and his sharp nose. His soft, thin lips, slightly scarred by all the times Jacob couldn’t help but chew on them as a result of his constant anxiety… He couldn’t help but simply want to be by his side, stand there with him in all kinds of hardships. But he couldn’t, he had to leave for Mexico. He had to… Unless…
“I can see you staring, Sean”, Jacob said, calmly.
“Huh?” replied Sean, snapping back to reality. “I wasn’t staring! I swear!”
“Come on, it’s fine. It is the last time we’re seeing each other, so you might as well get a good memory of me while you still can.”
“Wait, what do you mean a good memory?” responded Sean, taken aback. “How could I have any bad memories of you?”
“The only times we got to know each other, you went through some real hard stuff. First the illegal jobs at the farm, then I took your brother here… I still feel horrible about taking him to Lisbeth, I didn’t expect things to go so poorly, and then I had to ask for your help with Sarah-Lee, and I couldn’t even-”
“Stop it Jake! I couldn’t ever hate you for what you did!” He exclaimed, holding him by the shoulders. “You just did your best, what you had to, just like all of us did! The heist was me and Finn’s idea, not yours, and then you took care of my brother as best as you could!”
This was the first time Sean had gotten so moved by anything anyone ever said. Jacob expected Sean to hate him? For what? Because he did his best to take care of him? That’s bullshit. If anything, he should be proud of how much he did for Sean.
“Still, I don’t think I can ever forgive myself”, whispered Jacob. “I guess I wanted to spend this last day with you because, in a way, I’m also selfish.”
“Selfish? What do you mean by that?”
“Do you remember what I told you back in Lisbeth’s house? About how, I always showed more interest in boys, and all that stuff.” He started mumbling. “To be frank, I really enjoy spending time with you. A lot.”
The words finally came out of his mouth, leaving him redder than the incandescent flames that burned down Haven Point. Those words that were burning his lips since they met back in California. Those words.
__________
“Come on Sarah Lee, they’re here!” Daniel whispered loud enough for Sarah to hear.
“I’m coming! I’m telling you, if at any point I change my mind about this-”
“Yeah, I know, you’re going home. Look, they’re here!” He said softly.
“What’s going on?” said Sarah-Lee worriedly. “Are they fighting?”
“I can’t concentrate on what they’re saying if you keep talking!” answered Daniel, slightly irritated by the anxiousness in her tone. “Just try to listen!”
__________
Was what Sean heard come out of Jake’s mouth real? Did he actually say that? Thinking about it, Sean also never really had a thing for girls. He always forced himself into pretending to be attracted to them for parties, but really, the one and only girl he ever genuinely felt things for was Lyla, his best friend. Since then, he might’ve gotten the feels for Finn once or twice, and no one ever made his heart race as much as Jacob. Especially in this moment, this instant that feels never-ending, as if time had stopped. No, surely there had to be a mistake.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly… I mean, I also enjoy spending time with you a lot! But I don’t think that makes you selfish…” Sean let out an awkward chuckle.
Jake’s face looked darker than usual, as if he felt genuinely disappointed in himself. He got up: “I’m sorry if what I said hurt you. I think I should be going.”
“No, don’t go!” shouted Sean, grabbing him by the wrist. “I’m sorry for reacting the way I did, I just… Really didn’t expect it. When I said I also enjoy spending time with you, I meant it in the sense that I can’t stop thinking about you, day and night. I can’t wait to hang out with you, meet you again, each day, every day.” What was he even saying at this point? Going on and on about how he felt, he might as well just go for it.
“I love you, Jake.”
Jacon froze up in the moment, astonished by what he just heard.
“Can you please… say something?”
Jacob looked at Sean, with tears in his eyes, as though all the weight he’d been bearing had finally come off, leaving his shoulders loose, for the first time in years. He held Sean’s face. “Do you really mean what you just said?”
“I do. I can’t imagine going to Puerto Lobos without you. I know it’s impossible, but what if, just what if I stayed here a tiny bit longer? With you, Sarah-Lee, Karen - we could be happy for a little while, couldn’t we?” He was trying to hold back his tears, hyperventilating, snot blocking his airways.
Jake was truly in disbelief, but at the same time, felt so relieved. Still, this lingering, aching in his heart could never truly leave. After all, Sean had to leave. With the police looking for him everywhere, and after the fire in Haven Point, it wouldn’t be long until he’d be found out.
“Listen to me, Sean. You can’t stay, and you know it. So how about, we tell each other what we always wanted to say, right here, right now?” Jacob said tenderly.
Sean however, didn’t have anything left to tell. Like they say, an action speaks a thousand words.
So, he went in for a kiss.
The bushes near the lake rustled heavily.
“...Jacob?”