People like each other. Things happen.

So everyone’s seen the photos. Seen Cooper and JT flirting absolutely shamelessly in public :D

This is where all that lead. In a world where Jay is not with Billy (or Cam), there’s always a place for Cooper.

People like each other. Things happen.

Cooper hesitated as he heard Johnathan laugh. He smiled to himself. That famous laugh. He could imagine his face, head thrown back and eyes crinkling at the corners. It was in everything Johnathan did. That desire to throw himself in to everything, never giving less than everything he had. It was one of the things Cooper admired about him. It was what drew him to Johnathan, almost against his will. It cost him to let his guards down. But he was helpless in the face of all that charm, the bright smiles and brilliant eyes.

He made his way in to the lockers. Johnathan saw him the moment he entered and beckoned him over, shifting over to make space for him on the bench. Matty Bowen and Justin Hodges grinned at him as he sat down.

"Spying, Cronk?" Justin asked, wrapping tape around his ankle.

"Don't need to, Hodges" Cooper answered as Johnathan laughed and threw an easy arm around his shoulders.

Cooper ignored the way his heart skipped a beat.

"Hear that boys, my boy here thinks they've got it in the bag", Johnathan said, ruffling Coopers hair, "we might as well just go home"

Cooper tried to get away from Johnathan's octopus fingers without much success. He had to admit, he wasn't really trying very hard. It only made Johnathan laugh harder and wrap his other arm around him and tackle him down to the bench.

Cooper looked up at Johnathan's face hovering above his own as he tried to get his heart beat back to normal.

"You've got us, Coop?" Johnathan asked, voice soft. His hair was hanging around his face and Cooper almost reached up a hand to brush them away from his face.

"JT…"

Johnathan sat up fast but not before Cooper had seen his eyes darken. Cooper slowly got up on an elbow, watching as Johnathan ran a hand through his hair and stood up.

"Come on boys, before the coach gets the chance to blast us for being late"

Justin got up immediately and followed Johnathan out. Matty was slower to stand up, giving Cooper a curious look before clapping him on the shoulder and heading after the others.

Cooper buried his face in his hands. He had a situation. But at least it looked like maybe he wasn't alone. And really, it was more than he could hope for. But he did. With all his heart, he did.

---

It was strange. But he liked it nonetheless. They've never really had this time before. Cam was always there or Billy. And Cooper always kept his distance and Johnathan had been distracted by the others. But now that they were here, just the two of them, figuratively speaking, Johnathan was starting to realise that he liked making Cooper smile. Because he had a beautiful smile and he should do it more often. And he'd found that Cooper was funny, a sense of humour that bordered on self-deprecating but it was light-hearted and never mean spirited.

The point was that Johnathan liked Cooper. Maybe more than he should.

---

Cooper opened his door to find Johnathan standing there. The suit he'd worn to the after game function a little worse for wear and he'd obviously been tugging at his tie because it was askew.

"JT...what are you doing here?" Cooper asked, absurdly glad that he didn't have a roommate. He'd shared with Cam before Cam pulled out.

"I can't stop" Johnathan said and there was a slight desperate quality to his voice like he knew he wanted something but couldn't remember what.

Cooper took a step closer to him, not caring he was only in his boxers. Johnathan looked lost and Cooper wanted to do whatever he could to have him smile again.

"I don't know what to do, Coop" Johnathan said leaning closer but not touching him. Cooper took the decision out of hands and moved closer, lifting a hand to touch Johnathan's face. Johnathan stilled, eyes fixing on Cooper's face. His skin was warm under Cooper's hand.

"Tell me."

Johnathan's green eyes were wide and dark.

"I know I shouldn't. I know that. But…" Cooper froze when Johnathan's lips touched his'. He hadn't been expecting it. And then Johnathan was pulling away, almost stumbling back.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry" Johnathan was almost crying, "I know you don't want this. I know that but I can't stop thinking about you. I just…" Johnathan looks up, his hair was in his eyes and his hands were shaking.

Cooper stepped forward, this time lifting up a hand to brush the hair back from Johnathan's eyes.

"Are you always this bad at reading people?" Cooper asked softly, brushing his fingers through Johnathan's hair.

Johnathan looked stunned and Cooper wanted to laugh. Instead he settled for kissing Johnathan, tightening his fingers in the dark hair and drawing closer.

Cooper smiled against Johnathan's lips when he felt his hands on his skin, felt Johnathan's hands slide down to rest on his hips.

He felt the doubting voice in his heart disappear as Johnathan drew him closer. He'd dared to hope before. There was no guarantee this time anything would be different. But hope was all he had. And with Johnathan close in his arms, hope was all he needed.

The end.