Isolation- Valentine’s Drabble
Word Count- 569
Pairing- Jared x Reader
"It just makes more sense. Neither of us should isolate alone. That's how people go nuts...and they're telling everyone to check in with your loved ones, right? We should have someone stay with us that can do that in real time. I've got an extra room. Come stay with me."
It was hard to argue with Jared's logic. The CDC was calling for people staying home and NAMI was calling for people to keep their mental health in mind, which is how you ended up in Jared’s guest room. It was a fairly easy transition, actually. It was comfortable. Jared had been your best friend for years and you were happy to have him around at all times. He helped ease the stress of ‘work from home’ and he helped ease the pain of what was happening in the world around you.
“What do you say to ordering a few bottles of wine and a bottle of tequila and letting loose tonight?” he suggested after a few weeks.
Tequila was a mistake.
Or maybe not. Tequila led to dancing around the living room to 90s Broadway musicals and laughing and trying to remember monologues from high school. Which led to dramatic overacting of scenes from romance movies and a sloppy romance-movie kiss.
You woke up the next morning, your head pounding and stomach sour. And you were wrapped in the loving embrace of a personal sun. "So sweaty," you groaned, pushing him away.
He pulled you back. "Didn't mind last night."
"Was drunk last night," you argued, squirming against his grip. "Not drunk now. Just uncomfortable now!"
"I dunno. Feel pretty comfortable to me."
"Jared, I'm burning up!" You squealed as he held you down, his fingers finding your ribs. "Don't! Please don't tickle me!"
"You're calling me 'sweaty' and you think I'm not gonna pay you back for-"
"You are sweaty! I can feel it through both of our shirts!"
"Stop squirming!" he laughed. "I haven't even started tickling you yet!"
"Don't!" you begged, laughing and squealing as he started to tickle you. "I'm gonna hurl!" you shrieked.
"Don't you dare throw up on my bed!" he warned, letting up on your sides.
You took in a deep breath and turned to look at him. "Why are we in your bed?"
Jared's eyebrows came together as he looked down at you. "I don't remember...but I slept real good with you in here.”
“You were blackout drunk!” you responded, laughing.
“But I liked…” Jared looked away and cleared his throat. “I liked waking up next to you.”
Your cheeks heated up at his words. “I...I liked it, too.”
Hazel eyes turned to you and he laughed. “The first thing you did was complain!”
“About the sweat, not the cuddles!” you argued.
“So...what does this mean for us?” he asked, a bit shyly.
“Well, let’s take it a day at a time, okay?”
“That sounds good to me.”
There was a beat before he shifted away from you and started to get up from the bed. “Hey, Jare?”
“Yeah?”
“Do I remember us getting up on the table and reenacting the kiss from Sixteen Candles last night?”
Jared’s body hit the floor as he tripped, his feet caught in the sheets. You leaned over the side of the mattress to look at him. “Uh, yes?”
“I love that movie,” you said, smiling.
Jared laughed and untangled his feet. “I love you,” he said, walking out of the bedroom to use the restroom. You smiled at his easy declaration.
“Love you, too,” you whispered.