The Walls We Build

While heading up to his new apartment, Jay spotted a girl stepping out of the apartment next door. It didn't take him long to recognize her it was the same girl he met on the bus the other day.

Panic kicked in faster than his logic, and before she could even glance his way, Jay hurried inside and closed the door shut, leaning his back against it. He didn't know why he was acting like this it wasn't like him at all.

What completely slipped of his mind was the fact that he no longer lived alone. Reality hit when he turned his head and found Aidan standing there, arms crossed, staring at him with a smirk and that suspicious look painted all over his face.

"What?" Jay asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Well, that's a question for you, sir. Why are you leaning on the door like a teenage girl who just saw her crush, huh?" Aidan teased, making it ten times worse.

Jay rolled his eyes and walked past him, but not before landing a light punch on Aidan's shoulder. "Eat and mind your damn business. Otherwise, the next punch lands on your face."

"Oooh, scary," Aidan mocked, grinning as he followed Jay into the kitchen, repeating his words in a mocking tone.

After bickering for a bit, the boys finally settled down, ate, and went straight to bed exhausted from a long, tiring day.

The Next Morning

Jay had to get up early it was his shift, and after skipping once already, he couldn't afford to miss another. But being the amazing friend he was, there was no way he'd just leave Aidan sleeping peacefully in the cold morning while he suffered. So, of course, he woke him up first just to annoy him then left.

When Jay arrived at the café, Jacob was already there. He greeted him quickly and went to change. They weren't really close, but they understood each other in a way it was comfortable, no need for words.

When Jay came back out, Jacob was nowhere to be found. Knowing him, he was probably in the back handling something. Jay sighed and moved to clean the counter, mentally preparing himself for another long day.

The doorbell rang, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up casually and froze.

"Good morning, son," the old man said, voice calm, almost gentle.

Jay didn't answer. He didn't even blink.

"C'mon, Jay. Do we have to go through this every time? I'm trying to fix things with you," his father sighed.

Fix things? Jay scoffed silently. There was nothing to fix. Not anymore. Still, he stayed silent.

"Your mom raised you better than this, Jay," the man added, and that was it. That one line snapped something inside him.

Jay's head snapped up, his green eyes finally meeting his father's. "Don't you ever mention her again." 

"She's my wife, you know."

Before Jay could say anything else, Jacob appeared, sensing the tension immediately. "Sir, if you're not ordering anything, please leave." His tone was polite but firm.

The old man sighed again, clearly annoyed but holding himself back. "Well, I guess I'll leave now. But if you ever find yourself without a place, you know my door is always open, son."

And with that, he left.

Jay stood there, frozen, connecting the dots in his head. How did he know? It all made sense now. It was him… I knew it was him.

He was drowning in his thoughts, heart pounding, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" Jacob's voice was soft almost too soft for a guy like him.

Jay looked up, surprised. No one had ever seen him this vulnerable not Jacob, not anyone. To them, Jay was always cold, calm, collected. The guy who kept everyone at arm's length. Jacob always wondered why, and for a second, he thought maybe, just maybe, he was about to understand.

"I'm fine. Don't worry. Thanks… I appreciate it," Jay finally spoke, voice quiet but steady, then turned his attention back to cleaning like nothing happened.

Jacob blinked. Did he just thank me?

The rest of the shift passed quietly. When their work was done, Jacob took a deep breath, gathering every bit of courage left in him. With the other coworkers watching in shock, he approached Jay like walking toward a ticking bomb.

"Hey… wanna grab lunch together?" Jacob asked.

Jay stared for a second before shrugging, "Hmm… yeah, sure."

Everyone went silent. Jay noticed the shock on their faces, and for the first time, he realized just how hard he'd been pushing people away. But they didn't know. None of them did. No one understood that he wasn't cold he was just scared. Scared of being left alone… again.

After lunch, Jay felt a little lighter. Jacob wasn't bad company at all. In fact, he reminded him of Aidan loud but caring in his own way. Meanwhile, Aidan was still probably sleeping like a baby.

Later that evening, Jay sat through a boring lecture not that he listened. His mind was stuck on everything that happened that morning. Once it was over, he chose to walk home. The apartment was close anyway, and he needed the fresh air.

On his way, he saw an old lady struggling with heavy grocery bags. Normally, he wouldn't care. Not his business. But this time, he imagined his mother struggling like that. Wouldn't he want someone to help her?

Before he could second-guess it, Jay walked over and helped the old lady with everything.

They walked together, and to his surprise, she lived in his building. Of course she does, he thought.

What made his heart skip was realizing she lived next door. And when she rang the bell, it wasn't just anyone who opened it, it was her.

Sissel had been lounging on the couch, bored, when the doorbell rang. She opened it lazily, only to freeze eyes widening the second she recognized him.

There was her mom… and him.

The tall boy from the bus. The same boy she misjudged so quickly. He walked past her, helping her mom with the bags, not even glancing her way. Sissel stood by the door, watching guilt creeping in.

She thought he was heartless, cold. Yet here he was helping a stranger. How wrong was I? she thought.

Jay finished putting the bags down and turned to leave. "It's alright, ma'am. I'm happy to help." His voice was calm, softer than she imagined.

Just as he was about to walk out, his eyes met Sissel's green crashing into brown. For a moment, neither could look away.

Jay's heart raced as he left quickly, while Sissel stood frozen, realizing…

He's my neighbor. I'm going to see him… a lot.