Of Boys, Bridges and Birds.
Cooper couldn't help it. He really couldn't. This was all so very inconvenient. It was not what he'd been expecting at all. He'd come up here, without Billy, just Cam for company. And then Cam, the absolute idiot had gone and hurt his stupid, insured for a million dollars, shoulder and then Cooper had been left to his own devices. When Cooper is left to his own devices, things never go as planned. Why did he even volunteer for that stupid hike up the harbour bridge? Why? He was scared of heights for god's sake! But he'd been trying to keep to his new year’s resolutions and try things he might not have in the past.
So.
There he was with JT, who was insane and incredible and Cooper had realised with a slight jolt while he was halfway up the bridge, also ridiculously beautiful. Of course he'd noticed before, in a distant, abstract sort of way. Who wouldn't? But this was like a light bulb going off in his head, when he glanced down to see JT looking up at him, those brilliant eyes fixed on him and Cooper suddenly found himself lost for words.
It's funny how you can distract yourself with meaningless things so you don't have to feel something. This felt like that. It felt like Cooper had been willingly looking away from everything Johnathan might have made him feel. But now, thrown in together and JT trying so hard to make him laugh because he'd realised Cooper was afraid of heights, Cooper had nothing to distract himself with. And that stupid smile and those stupid green eyes and absolute earnestness in all his words, Cooper knew he couldn't defend against them.
It was a complicated thing, falling in love with a friend. Especially a friend who lives a 1000 miles away. Cooper had already assessed the situation. And had realised if everything went through the path of least resistance and Johnathan didn’t kick him in the face when Cooper would inevitably try to kiss him sometime in the near future, then distance was going to be their main adversary. How could they maintain a relationship when they'd only see each other a few times a year? Of course, Cooper's not going to settle for anything less than a relationship, even one that would be barely established by the time he'd have to go back to Melbourne. They would have to fly up or down to meet each other. It'd be better for Johnathan to fly down because Melbourne was not as rugby crazy as Queensland and they'd have less trouble being recognised on the streets. Not that Johnathan would have much time to wander the streets if Cooper got his way. But Johnathan was captain of the Cowboys. He probably wouldn't get that much time off. And the Storm's training schedules were so intense during the season that Cooper doubted he'd be free either. So that just left them the times when they'd be playing each other or at least being in the same states or during Origin. If he got picked. But he knew with Johnathan moving positions, he was the best halfback in the country. If he said so himself.
But all of this forward thinking meant nothing if Cooper didn’t do anything to initiate things now. After all, who knew who else might be in love with JT? From the rumours he'd been hearing, at least the whole Cowboys team. But Cooper had never put much stock in to rumours. Still, better he thought up a plan quickly. Early bird gets the worm and all that. Not that he was calling JT a worm or himself a bird. He was not a fan of birds really. Except maybe one.
Cooper couldn't help it. He really couldn't. This was all so very inconvenient. It was not what he'd been expecting at all. He'd come up here, without Billy, just Cam for company. And then Cam, the absolute idiot had gone and hurt his stupid, insured for a million dollars, shoulder and then Cooper had been left to his own devices. When Cooper is left to his own devices, things never go as planned. Why did he even volunteer for that stupid hike up the harbour bridge? Why? He was scared of heights for god's sake! But he'd been trying to keep to his new year’s resolutions and try things he might not have in the past.
So.
There he was with JT, who was insane and incredible and Cooper had realised with a slight jolt while he was halfway up the bridge, also ridiculously beautiful. Of course he'd noticed before, in a distant, abstract sort of way. Who wouldn't? But this was like a light bulb going off in his head, when he glanced down to see JT looking up at him, those brilliant eyes fixed on him and Cooper suddenly found himself lost for words.
It's funny how you can distract yourself with meaningless things so you don't have to feel something. This felt like that. It felt like Cooper had been willingly looking away from everything Johnathan might have made him feel. But now, thrown in together and JT trying so hard to make him laugh because he'd realised Cooper was afraid of heights, Cooper had nothing to distract himself with. And that stupid smile and those stupid green eyes and absolute earnestness in all his words, Cooper knew he couldn't defend against them.
It was a complicated thing, falling in love with a friend. Especially a friend who lives a 1000 miles away. Cooper had already assessed the situation. And had realised if everything went through the path of least resistance and Johnathan didn’t kick him in the face when Cooper would inevitably try to kiss him sometime in the near future, then distance was going to be their main adversary. How could they maintain a relationship when they'd only see each other a few times a year? Of course, Cooper's not going to settle for anything less than a relationship, even one that would be barely established by the time he'd have to go back to Melbourne. They would have to fly up or down to meet each other. It'd be better for Johnathan to fly down because Melbourne was not as rugby crazy as Queensland and they'd have less trouble being recognised on the streets. Not that Johnathan would have much time to wander the streets if Cooper got his way. But Johnathan was captain of the Cowboys. He probably wouldn't get that much time off. And the Storm's training schedules were so intense during the season that Cooper doubted he'd be free either. So that just left them the times when they'd be playing each other or at least being in the same states or during Origin. If he got picked. But he knew with Johnathan moving positions, he was the best halfback in the country. If he said so himself.
But all of this forward thinking meant nothing if Cooper didn’t do anything to initiate things now. After all, who knew who else might be in love with JT? From the rumours he'd been hearing, at least the whole Cowboys team. But Cooper had never put much stock in to rumours. Still, better he thought up a plan quickly. Early bird gets the worm and all that. Not that he was calling JT a worm or himself a bird. He was not a fan of birds really. Except maybe one.
The end.
I actually really love Cooper & JT together and the way you write makes it even more beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you lovely Anon :)
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