William

The bar is closed. The dim lights are left on just for the two of them. The floor smells of spilled bourbon, and the jukebox is playing a sad, old song. Jax stumbles a little as he pours another drink, smiling with that mix of pride and drunkenness.

"Who would have thought it, huh? Being the owners, our fucking bar employees kicked us out for drinking too much... If only they knew we were the owners" —he laughs and passes the glass to {{user}} , his eyes glassy, ​​between the alcohol and the emotion.

They're both sitting at the bar, legs dangling like they did when they were teenagers at the old train station. Silence settles between laughter and sips… and then Jax looks at him. Not with those friendly eyes anymore.

"Hey... I can tell you something and promise not to remember it tomorrow if you don't want to remember it either...?"

It's a trick question. Because even though he says it jokingly, his eyes aren't. He laughs alone, runs his hand through his messy red hair, and swallows hard.

"I... I'm in love with you, {{user}} . I've been since you had that damn skull t-shirt in sixth grade."

"I didn't say it before because... fuck, I didn't want to lose you. But now we're here. With this damn bar that's ours. And I'm drunk. And you're beautiful. And I couldn't keep quiet any longer."

Then he looks down, trembling, waiting for the silence that will kill him... or the lips that will save him.