“Are you, uh, coming to the party?” Jim asked Spock, as the were finishing up their lunch at the Academy cafeteria.
Of course given the blank stare Spock gave him, Jim figured he likely had the answer.
“Party?”
Jim tried not to let it bother him that he’d mentioned the Halloween party probably four times since mid-September and a few more since October began. Of course he knew it wasn’t important to Spock, but he thought, maybe, since it was important to Jim, he might remember.
Fat chance.
“Halloween party at the Sulus house.”
Spock nodded. “Right. I recall now. If it is all the same to you, I would rather skip it.”
Jim tried not to be disappointed. But the truth was, this was more than just the Halloween party. Spock had been showing a decided lack of enthusiasm about anything to do with Jim lately.
They’d started out hot and heavy but now…clearly Spock had gotten everything he’d wanted out of Jim and now knew they didn’t have much in common.
Other than Jim was crazy about Spock. Didn’t seem to be mutual, though.
Jim forced a hopefully convincing smile. “No, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“You may, of course, attend yourself.”
“Oh, I will.” He almost added he didn’t need Spock’s permission. But that would set things off on a bad note, he guessed, so he refrained. “Anyway, got it. So I’ll see you.”
He didn’t want to make any promises of tomorrow or the next day or whatever, because honestly he didn’t know when he was going to see Spock again, it certainly wasn’t going to be by any plans made by him. If Spock wanted to see him, Spock could plan something.
But Spock barely looked up from his PADD as he called his goodbye.
With the help of his best friend, Bones, Jim chose a bat Halloween costume and went off with a group of friends, Bones included, to the party. He had a great time.
“So what’s with you and Spock?” Bones asked Jim a few days after the party as they had breakfast at a café on a Saturday morning.
Jim shrugged. “Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?”
“Just what it sounds like. I think it’s over.”
“Yeah?”
“Pretty much. I haven’t heard from him in days and even before that he was pulling away from me.”
“I’m sorry, Jim. I know you were really into him.”
He sighed. “I still am. I’m in love with him, Bones. But he doesn’t feel the same, so I have to move on. I feel pretty stupid about the whole thing.”
Bones frowned. “Why?”
“Me? Get caught by all that love nonsense? Never in a million years. Except I did. So the joke’s on me.”
“Well, again, I’m sorry. I did wonder when you went without him to the party.”
“Yep. That was pretty much the end of it. I mean, I don’t care that he didn’t want to go to one stupid party, I get that he’s not a party guy, it was just…the accumulation I guess of not really being present in anything we did and acting like I was an afterthought. It hurts. It does. But I will definitely get over it.”
“Yeah you will.” Bones looked past him. “Morning, Uhura.”
“Hi guys. I’d ask to join you but looks like you’re done with breakfast.”
“We are,” Bones said. “Sorry about that. Rain check?”
She smiled, squeezed Jim’s shoulder, and said, “Sure. Next time. See you guys.”
When she moved away, Jim made a face. “Well that was weird.”
“What?”
“She squeezed my shoulder with like…affection.” Jim laughed. “Normally she acts like I have cooties.”
“You do have cooties,” Bones said. “But maybe you’re just growing on her.”
“Like a wart.”
Bones chuckled. “Seriously.”
“More likely she’s just cheerful because she won.”
“Won what?”
“Spock. You know she wanted him before I met him. She’s probably already made her move.”
“I don’t know.”
“I do. And I have to pick up candy for tonight.”
“I thought you already got candy for trick or treaters.”
“I did.” Jim grinned. “I ate it. You coming over to watch scary movies?”
“Sure sure. I’ll be there.”
His doorbell rang and Jim rose from the couch, picked up the bowl of candy and opened the door of his apartment.
Only it wasn’t the kids from the apartment building.
“Oh.” Jim blinked. “Spock?”
“May we speak?”
“Uh.”
Spock looked past Jim. “I was unaware the doctor would be here.”
“Yeah, uh.”
Bones came over and took the bowl of candy from Jim. “I’ll take care of the door. Why don’t you and Spock go speak in the bedroom?”
Jim moistened his lips. “Right. This way.” Even though Spock certainly knew the way to Jim’s bedroom.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” Spock said at once when Jim closed the door.
“No. Just dumb Halloween stuff.” Jim exhaled. “Are you here to make it official?”
“What official?”
“That it’s over between us. You didn’t need to. I figured it out for myself.”
Spock closed his eyes briefly. “That is not why I am here. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I am here to apologize.”
Jim frowned, confused. “For what?”
“Being…a crappy boyfriend.”
That startled a laugh out of Jim. “What?”
“Not the words I would have chosen,” Spock admitted. “True nonetheless.”
“Who—”
“Nyota. She overheard your conversation with Leonard.”
“Oh.”
“It is…sometimes I get in my own way and I did not mean to likewise get in yours.”
“What does that mean?” Jim asked.
“I have no excuse, but my father has been unwell lately and I allowed my concern to take over everything. Until Nyota told me that you said our relationship had ended, I was unaware I had made so many mistakes. I analyzed all our recent interactions and—”
“Spock, stop.” Jim pressed his fingers to Spock’s lips. “I didn’t really care about the party, though I was a little disappointed, it was all the other stuff. You could have told me about your dad. I would have understood. Is he okay?”
“Yes. He is doing much better.”
“I thought you didn’t like me.”
“I love you, Jim.”
Warmth infused him.
“Yeah?”
“Yes. And I do not want our relationship to be over. If you will give me another chance I promise not to be a crappy boyfriend.”
Jim laughed and kissed him. “You’re on.”
Twenty minutes later, they returned to the living room. Jim had a hold of Spock’s hand.
“Guess what? Spock is staying to watch the movies with us.”
“Swell,” Bones said, but Jim didn’t miss his smile. ”You were in there a long time.”
“Well. We did have to do a little making up.”
Bones made a gagging noise so Jim tossed a Snickers at his head. It landed.
“Nailed it.”
“Sit down you two and watch the movie.”
“What are we watching?” Spock asked, drawing Jim close to him.
“Halloween, of course.”
Leave a Reply