Romance Is Boring

Heart swells

The day after the party

-You wanted to talk to me?- Zero said. The agent nodded. Unsure about what Lionel had told Jude, Zero warily regarded him.

-I want to apologize. You said some nice things about me and might have gotten carried away. I'm sorry.- Jude offered. Could it be that Lionel had kept her mouth shut? Would Jude be apologizing if he knew?

-I missed you.- Jude confessed. It was one of those heartfelt things that Jude was so good at saying and Zero was so bad at a hearing.

-Who wouldn't?- he mumbled, trying to strike the right balance between arrogance and humor. He had always been able to hit that note with ease, but now it sounded false. To avoid eye contact, Zero glanced over Jude's shoulder.

-Things can get ugly, but we are still a team, right?- Jude asked. Zero glanced at him. Jude was smiling. Before Zero knew what was happening, he was also smiling.

-Yeah, we are.- he agreed- Sure, what the hell. Apologies accept. Let's just go back at being us. Fine by me.

In the silence that fowled Jude make a little "go away" gesture. Zero raised his eyebrows to signal that he doesn't understand what was expected from him.

- You wanna maybe apologize too?- Jude suggest

-Not really.- Zero admitted. Jude didn't like that answer, só Zero was forced to amend his reply.

- Okay, okay. I guess I gave you the wrong idea and I'm sorry about that.

Zero wasn't sorry, though. Being sorry would mean that he regretted it. Being sorry would mean it was a mistake. Was that what it was? No, so he isn't sorry. He was sorry to screwing it up.

Jude, on the other hand, seemed the same as always. Kind, caring Jude. Not a hair out of place. Zero studied him carefully to see if he could detect anything out of the ordinary. Anything that indicated that Jude was taking this hard. Okay, Jude seemed a little more fidgety than usual, that he exited or something, but it was it.

Everything about this bothered Zero. Why was he so torn up about this? Why was Jude not torn up about this? Why was Jude seemingly not affected at all? Lionel had said Jude was in love with him. How do you get over with something like that this fast? 

-I'm in talks with Coca-cola.- Jude announced. It took Zero a while to realize that Jude was not just randomly saying this to him. Jude was telling him this because it was about him.  Jude was talking to the Coca-cola people about him.

-I'm close to getting you a sponsorship deal. Nothing's definitive yet, but it's looking hopeful. - Jude warned, cautious but optimistic.

- Really?- Zero suspiciously asked. It had to be a joke. Mean-spirited joked like that weren't Jude's style, but maybe that was Jude's way of getting back at him. Expect Jude looked completely serious.

- I thought it would be perfect, I mean they've Just Add Zero campaign. Do you know the one?

Zero rolled his eyes. Of course, he knew the one. He'd only seen it about a million times. Like everyone else in the world, because those commercials where everything.

- Who would get to endorse anything?- he protested- Have you forgotten about the prostitutes? What sponsors him their right mind would let me anywhere near the product right now?

-Coca-cola is aware of the prostitutes and they don't think that it will hurt the brand, because there of opinion that, and I quote " we believe that no one blames our judges Zero for his misstep. We're all human."  Actually, according to them, it makes you more "relatable" while at the same time making you "edgy". I swear I'm not making this up, they talk like that. -Jude explained. Zero stared at him with disbelief.

- I treat you like s**t and you gave me Coca-cola ?- he quietly asked. Jude shrugged, but he couldn't keep a straight face. There was no disguising his goofy smile. Smiling, equally idiotically, Zero clasped Jude's shoulders.

-Jude!- he whooped. The desire to kiss the agent was overwhelming. Something of that must show in Zero's face because Jude's smile faded and he stepped back. Self-conscious, Zero dropped his hands to his sides. s**t. How long had that uncomplicated moment lasted? Less than a minute, Zero estimated. Less than a minute in Jude's minute and it was obvious that the agent was more than a friend to him.

- I'm a professional.- Jude objected after a longe and award moment. He meant to sound sincere, yet he wound up sounding ridiculous. Zero grinned.

- Our relationship... - Jude continued, still attempting seriousness. Zero started to laugh. He couldn't help it.

-Jude!- he exclaimed, again laughing. That cracked Jude's thin veneer and he began to laugh, too. The tension between them immediately disappeared. It seems that everything was back to normal.

- This is huge! We should celebrate.- Zero decided.