"You're part of the reason why I'm also hesitant on going there." Draco softly admitted feeling his cheeks blush as he looked down at his own feet. It would have been easier if he hadn't befriended Jake let alone finding he was starting to have feelings for the other.
Jake froze, then blinked before he blushed as well, looking down. Oh. That meant a lot, a whole lot. So when he spoke, it was soft. "...I don't want you to hesitate because of me, Dragon. This is your whole life ahead of you. You don't stay because of me." He reached over, brushing Draco's hand. "You understand me? You're going to do incredible stuff, I just know it. I'm just some kid in a town in England."
"You're so quick to say I'm going to do great things...but you're just as important to. You've given me many reasons to stay on this path instead of just giving up. I know you'll find your place too," Draco replied in the same soft voice and held Jake's hand.
Jake's small smirk showed he wasn't so sure he believed Draco's words about himself, but there wasn't much he could say. He squeezed that hand tightly. "Then I did something good, hmm?" He looked to Draco, then glanced around. No one around.
Oh, that got Draco to blush more, but he didn't stop Jake. He noted that Jake was getting more bold now not that he minded. But this also meant he was going to have some how discuss this with his family let alone the Lupins. He knew the Lupins would be easier...but his family would be difficult.
"I never told anyone..." he admitted hearing his own heart pounding. "But I don't need this to be a secret too when there's so much I can't say already..."
Jake pulled back and gave an easy shrug, but he was almost proud of getting the other to blush. "You tell who you want, just let me know when we meet them. I can play straight easy. Had to lie to my folks for all those years after all."
He gave a grateful nod in response. "Thank you," he replied in a soft tone. He realized he had so much to think on. When did things get so complex? He did feel better with himself by finally admitting it out loud.
Lucky, business finished, was now happily sniffing at the gate clearly ready to walk properly. Jake made quick work of the clean up, dropped it in an outside garbage can, then came up to the gate. "How about going to the p-a-r-k? Nice place this early, just usually me, Lucky, and joggers."
Jake nodded, opening the gate for them all. "I've got a few hours in me. I usually get out about 7ish, then I'm up until maybe 9, then wake up earlier so I'm kind of up some of he same time as most people." He laughed a little though. "And that's just on late nights. My job doesn't have any issue in scheduling me on a day shift twice a week though."
Which was awful. It was just like a punishment instead of a job.
"Those hours still seem rough," Draco commented with a frown. He really needed to get a job somewhere else. "Can't you request to do one or the other? At least then it might be easier to schedule things."
He diffidently would have put up a fight or just left.
"It was what they could schedule me on, so not really. I still work down at the record shop when I can, too. Rent isn't cheap." He shrugged, no big deal, really. Draco had no idea what it could be like when your choices were limited on money.
"Right...you did explain that part before." He gave a nod, clearly not understanding what it was like having to have to work. He didn't even have to go to be a healer...but he wanted to. He wanted to do something for himself instead of just living with his parents and living off their money.
"You should let me know what your schedule is so I can pop by after your shift is done."
"I usually wind down after a shift, might be boring. Quick meal, walk Lucky... But I'd like having you there." He looked over to Draco with an odd expression, wondering if the other was suggesting what he thought he was suggesting.
Maybe. Not that he'd mind. He would enjoy it, even if he knew where it was all leading.
Around the corner was a small park, looking tucked away among the trees. Lucky clearly knew it and was super excited about it.
He smiled, pleased to see Jake happy with the idea. Draco wasn't sure where this was going. He was simply following what felt right. If their friendship became more then that then he would be pleased. If they were just friends he was content with that too.
"Someone is pretty happy to be at the park," he commented.
"Because this is someone's favorite place to be," he said in return with a laugh, while Lucky tried to sniff everything in reach of his leash. He moved to walk right beside Draco, looking up towards the sky.
"I heard they have proper seasons in America other than just rain and winter," he said jokingly, but also a hint of teasing towards their own country.
"I've heard rumors. Not so sure if they actually do exist," Draco responded. Although it was an interesting point to note-- that there would be quite a climate change. "Did your sister have a hard time adjusting to living there?"
He was going to have to talk to Melinda somw more as well about America.
"She complained about the humidity!" He chuckled at the memory. "It's so different over there, she said, but it wasn't long before she was in love with it because there's so much more sun. Now she has a tan! I'm not even sure it's possile to get a tan proper here." He spread a hand up towards the sky, indicating the bleak morning.
He made a face at the humidity not so keen on that aspect. "A tan?!" Draco replied a little surprised. "So that's the trick then. Although with how naturally pale my family is-- I wonder if that's possible."
It was more teasing then anything, but he did briefly dwell on the possibility.
"I'd be more worried you'd step out into some proper California sun and whoosh!" He gave a little rising flail of his hands. "Go up in flames, like a vampire." He laughed, then sobered up just a bit. "You're going to need some good sunscreen if you go over there."
Draco couldn't help but laugh. The entire conversation was crazy and he never knew what to expect from Jake in his responses. He never joked around like this with his other friends. If only Jake knew that there were actual vampires around...not that he's seen them. Mostly they tended to be rumors.
"I am going to end up having to research this whole idea. There's so much I don't even know what to expect." Draco replied after a pause.
Jake couldn't imagine the idea of not joking around with friends, without teasing and the give and take of it, without just being... himself. He had a vague concept from movies and the telly that the rich had a different sort of air to keep up, but around your friends? They're not friends, otherwise. Just people you know. Not even well, either.
He would have been in awe on the idea of vampires, absolutely in awe. Not that he would want to go find them, but the sheer fact they were real, that any of it was real! It didn't matter though, did it? Anything he ended up involved in, he would have to forget. Wiped.
"Well... given your sort of weird hippie life style, I'm kind of doubting you've ever really used a computer then, have you? That'd be the best way to research living in America." Not that wizards really would put that kind of information on a Muggle device. ..Right?
"Nope...." Draco replied with a confused expression. He had heard Melinda mention before and a few students. But otherwise he had never seen or used one before. "I suppose I should also mention my family doesn't even use electricity..."
He gave a sheepish grin, realizing how awkward that was going to be. It was sch a funny term to pronounce, but he was at least familiar with it since the Lupins use it.
Jake's expression of laughter fell and he blinked, just looking to Draco in utter and complete confusion. ...How- how did anyone live without electricity and also be rich? How was that even possibly a thing? He tried to understand the idea in his head and the whole thing just sort of backfired on him.
"You- You're serious?" Because what did you even say to that?? How did someone live without something so basic? "I mean, how- what-" Where did he even start to understand.
He gave a nod in return. He didn't mean to make the conversation serious again...but he figured that he had to explain this. When he spoke it was in a soft voice mainly so others wouldn't hear.
"Yeah. It's just how it's always been. You would think with the way we have money we would be like everyone else. Their money has been in the family for a long time, the beliefs they follow has been old, and along with the way of life. Granted...that way of life is slowly disappearing. We're probably one of the few still clinging to the old ways."
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So he leaned in and kissed him before grinning.
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"I never told anyone..." he admitted hearing his own heart pounding. "But I don't need this to be a secret too when there's so much I can't say already..."
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Judging by the spelling he figured Lucky recognized the word. It was another excuse to learn the area more and spend some time with Jake.
"Just let me know when you're getting too tired," Draco pointed out as a warning to to exhaust himself.
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Which was awful. It was just like a punishment instead of a job.
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He diffidently would have put up a fight or just left.
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"You should let me know what your schedule is so I can pop by after your shift is done."
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Maybe. Not that he'd mind. He would enjoy it, even if he knew where it was all leading.
Around the corner was a small park, looking tucked away among the trees. Lucky clearly knew it and was super excited about it.
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"Someone is pretty happy to be at the park," he commented.
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"I heard they have proper seasons in America other than just rain and winter," he said jokingly, but also a hint of teasing towards their own country.
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He was going to have to talk to Melinda somw more as well about America.
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It was more teasing then anything, but he did briefly dwell on the possibility.
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"I am going to end up having to research this whole idea. There's so much I don't even know what to expect." Draco replied after a pause.
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He would have been in awe on the idea of vampires, absolutely in awe. Not that he would want to go find them, but the sheer fact they were real, that any of it was real! It didn't matter though, did it? Anything he ended up involved in, he would have to forget. Wiped.
"Well... given your sort of weird hippie life style, I'm kind of doubting you've ever really used a computer then, have you? That'd be the best way to research living in America." Not that wizards really would put that kind of information on a Muggle device. ..Right?
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He gave a sheepish grin, realizing how awkward that was going to be. It was sch a funny term to pronounce, but he was at least familiar with it since the Lupins use it.
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"You- You're serious?" Because what did you even say to that?? How did someone live without something so basic? "I mean, how- what-" Where did he even start to understand.
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"Yeah. It's just how it's always been. You would think with the way we have money we would be like everyone else. Their money has been in the family for a long time, the beliefs they follow has been old, and along with the way of life. Granted...that way of life is slowly disappearing. We're probably one of the few still clinging to the old ways."
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