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xp_logsJono takes Paige sight seeing around his hometown, and they ring in the new year while watching his band perform at a pub.
“I am so sorry.” Jono said, looking at Paige apologetically as they left Cadbury World. “I promise you it was a much more magical experience when I was seven.”
Paige took one look at Jono’s very sincere and pitiful look and doubled over laughing. Sure, Cadbury World had been a pretty disappointing experience, but at least it was something to laugh about. “Jono, it’s fine. I wasn’t expecting Disney World or anything.”
“I’m more upset that you didn’t even care for the chocolate so….rather disappointing overall.” He felt guilty, even thought it had been Paige who’d insisted they go. “You lot have a chocolate park thing in America, yeah?”
“Uh, yeah I think so. Hershey has one.” Maybe she’d take him some day. Paige had never been there either, but it was probably a better experience. “Tell you what, you pick where we go for dinner so you know I’ll have a good dining experience today.” Maybe she could figure out how to project her experience of eating the food like she did with her thoughts over dinner so Jono could try some of his favorites again instead of staring at her plate longingly.
“I can do that. But you aren’t obligated to like things just because I do. You’re more than capable of ordering your own food.”
——
“The house was built by John and Margaret Nettlefold who were prominent philanthropists that were instrumental in reforming working-class housing here in Birmingham during the Edwardian Era. The house was donated to the uni in the forties- I think it was- and now it’s something of a cross between a museum and a botanical garden.” Jono said softly as they walked through the gardens.
It was still lovely even in winter, a layer of snow settled over the property. Though, if he was being honest, Paige especially looked pretty here. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and she was smiling as she took in everything around them. It only made the landscape more beautiful.
Paige was having the best time. Jono was explaining the history of everything they passed, so she was learning a lot, and it was snowing here which made everything look prettier. The snow also helped cover up how baren the garden was outside due to it being the middle of winter. “They decided to turn the house into a garden?”
“The last private owner was a gardener and then he donated it to the university. Sorry, should have clarified.” He’d learned most of this from past visits to the gardens, he’d written more than a handful of songs here. “I wish I could show you it in spring….maybe we’ll have to make another trip eventually.”
“Yeah? I’d like that.” It would be nice to see this place in full bloom someday.
———
Despite Paige’s assurances that they didn’t have to go, he’d insisted. His band, his friends were performing at one of his favorite pubs and favorite places to play, and he wanted to go. Wanted Paige to see them perform live.
Even still, he hung around the back, not wanting to get recognized by the folks up front who had been regulars at their shows for years. One arm wrapped around Paige, the scarf she’d knit him hung loose around his neck in the warm pub. “Stop your worrying. I’m fine- I’m just…..proud of them and bittersweet all at once. They deserve this.”
Paige shrugged off the battle jacket Jono had made her and cuddled into his side. “Oh no, I care about you and want to make sure you’re ok,” she teased. “Really, though. You’re allowed to feel whatever you’re feeling about the situation. I’m glad we’re here, but if you need to leave or take some time to process, we can do that, too.”
“It’s- not ideal- but I can’t be mad. And it’ll be important for them for me to be here and I really do want to see them play….” He said softly, leaning his head against hers. “And they still sound good, Rhys is doing a bang up job.”
Paige thought they sounded better when Jono was singing and playing with them, but that was probably something to keep to herself. Still, they weren’t bad and it was nice to hear some of the songs she had been repeatedly looking up on YouTube playing live. “Yeah, they’re not bad.”
Jono still heard it, their heads touching and the thought being about him was a dangerous combination with how close they’d been in the past few weeks. His eyes felt wet as he pulled her closer. “You’re far too nice to me.”
“I’m your friend-“ the word felt…not quite right, especially while they were cuddling in a booth, but that was how they defined their relationship “-I’m supposed to be nice to you. And you deserve it after all the nice things you’ve done for me.” Paige couldn’t begin to count all the excessively kind things Jono had done for her this past year.
“You don’t owe me for those. Someone had to make sure you were alright and you weren’t letting anyone else close enough to take care of you how you deserve…” He replied quickly. How could he explain that she deserved the world after she’d made him feel alive again for the first time in over a year? He felt like a person again. Not quite the old Jono his friends remembered, but not the husk of a man he’d been when he’d first moved continents. “If you want anything to eat or drink put it on my tab.”
He’d already bought a round of drinks for the band, Paige’s stuff should go on there too.
“I don’t owe you, but you deserve nice things as well.” She didn’t know how many more times they could have this conversation. “And I’m not making you pay for food you can’t eat. I told you, I’ve got meals covered.” It felt unfair for Jono to pay for the trip and all her food.
“I already have a tab open, but I can’t stop you if you want to start your own.” He rolled his eyes. “Remember we’re taking the train to London tomorrow, don’t drink too much.”
Which for Paige really meant at all, but he was going to let her chart her own course with pub culture.
“I haven’t even had anything yet,” she said, poking him in the side gently. She hadn’t been planning on drinking, but if Jono was going to be that way, maybe she would get a pint on his tab. “Oh, this is a fun song!” She started bobbing to the beat of the band’s number.
“It is, Georgie and Mingze wrote this one.” He said. “They all adore you by the way, as well they should.”
“Good,” Paige smiled. “I like them a lot, too. Rhys even gave me his phone number so we can keep in touch.” He had also done it so Paige could update him on Jono, but she did plan on trying to keep up with them all.
“You know- without them emailing the institute for me, I never would have met you…..I have a lot to thank them for.” Fuck, why did he say that? That was entirely too close to admitting the truth.
Fuck, England was turning them both sappy. Jono must be happy to be home. Maybe Paige could convince one of the teleported at the mansion to bring them over here more often. For Jono’s sake. To make him happy. No other reason.
“I have a lot to thank them for, too.” If he could say something like that, so could she. Paige cuddled back into Jono’s side and tried to refocus on the band.
“I am so sorry.” Jono said, looking at Paige apologetically as they left Cadbury World. “I promise you it was a much more magical experience when I was seven.”
Paige took one look at Jono’s very sincere and pitiful look and doubled over laughing. Sure, Cadbury World had been a pretty disappointing experience, but at least it was something to laugh about. “Jono, it’s fine. I wasn’t expecting Disney World or anything.”
“I’m more upset that you didn’t even care for the chocolate so….rather disappointing overall.” He felt guilty, even thought it had been Paige who’d insisted they go. “You lot have a chocolate park thing in America, yeah?”
“Uh, yeah I think so. Hershey has one.” Maybe she’d take him some day. Paige had never been there either, but it was probably a better experience. “Tell you what, you pick where we go for dinner so you know I’ll have a good dining experience today.” Maybe she could figure out how to project her experience of eating the food like she did with her thoughts over dinner so Jono could try some of his favorites again instead of staring at her plate longingly.
“I can do that. But you aren’t obligated to like things just because I do. You’re more than capable of ordering your own food.”
——
“The house was built by John and Margaret Nettlefold who were prominent philanthropists that were instrumental in reforming working-class housing here in Birmingham during the Edwardian Era. The house was donated to the uni in the forties- I think it was- and now it’s something of a cross between a museum and a botanical garden.” Jono said softly as they walked through the gardens.
It was still lovely even in winter, a layer of snow settled over the property. Though, if he was being honest, Paige especially looked pretty here. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and she was smiling as she took in everything around them. It only made the landscape more beautiful.
Paige was having the best time. Jono was explaining the history of everything they passed, so she was learning a lot, and it was snowing here which made everything look prettier. The snow also helped cover up how baren the garden was outside due to it being the middle of winter. “They decided to turn the house into a garden?”
“The last private owner was a gardener and then he donated it to the university. Sorry, should have clarified.” He’d learned most of this from past visits to the gardens, he’d written more than a handful of songs here. “I wish I could show you it in spring….maybe we’ll have to make another trip eventually.”
“Yeah? I’d like that.” It would be nice to see this place in full bloom someday.
———
Despite Paige’s assurances that they didn’t have to go, he’d insisted. His band, his friends were performing at one of his favorite pubs and favorite places to play, and he wanted to go. Wanted Paige to see them perform live.
Even still, he hung around the back, not wanting to get recognized by the folks up front who had been regulars at their shows for years. One arm wrapped around Paige, the scarf she’d knit him hung loose around his neck in the warm pub. “Stop your worrying. I’m fine- I’m just…..proud of them and bittersweet all at once. They deserve this.”
Paige shrugged off the battle jacket Jono had made her and cuddled into his side. “Oh no, I care about you and want to make sure you’re ok,” she teased. “Really, though. You’re allowed to feel whatever you’re feeling about the situation. I’m glad we’re here, but if you need to leave or take some time to process, we can do that, too.”
“It’s- not ideal- but I can’t be mad. And it’ll be important for them for me to be here and I really do want to see them play….” He said softly, leaning his head against hers. “And they still sound good, Rhys is doing a bang up job.”
Paige thought they sounded better when Jono was singing and playing with them, but that was probably something to keep to herself. Still, they weren’t bad and it was nice to hear some of the songs she had been repeatedly looking up on YouTube playing live. “Yeah, they’re not bad.”
Jono still heard it, their heads touching and the thought being about him was a dangerous combination with how close they’d been in the past few weeks. His eyes felt wet as he pulled her closer. “You’re far too nice to me.”
“I’m your friend-“ the word felt…not quite right, especially while they were cuddling in a booth, but that was how they defined their relationship “-I’m supposed to be nice to you. And you deserve it after all the nice things you’ve done for me.” Paige couldn’t begin to count all the excessively kind things Jono had done for her this past year.
“You don’t owe me for those. Someone had to make sure you were alright and you weren’t letting anyone else close enough to take care of you how you deserve…” He replied quickly. How could he explain that she deserved the world after she’d made him feel alive again for the first time in over a year? He felt like a person again. Not quite the old Jono his friends remembered, but not the husk of a man he’d been when he’d first moved continents. “If you want anything to eat or drink put it on my tab.”
He’d already bought a round of drinks for the band, Paige’s stuff should go on there too.
“I don’t owe you, but you deserve nice things as well.” She didn’t know how many more times they could have this conversation. “And I’m not making you pay for food you can’t eat. I told you, I’ve got meals covered.” It felt unfair for Jono to pay for the trip and all her food.
“I already have a tab open, but I can’t stop you if you want to start your own.” He rolled his eyes. “Remember we’re taking the train to London tomorrow, don’t drink too much.”
Which for Paige really meant at all, but he was going to let her chart her own course with pub culture.
“I haven’t even had anything yet,” she said, poking him in the side gently. She hadn’t been planning on drinking, but if Jono was going to be that way, maybe she would get a pint on his tab. “Oh, this is a fun song!” She started bobbing to the beat of the band’s number.
“It is, Georgie and Mingze wrote this one.” He said. “They all adore you by the way, as well they should.”
“Good,” Paige smiled. “I like them a lot, too. Rhys even gave me his phone number so we can keep in touch.” He had also done it so Paige could update him on Jono, but she did plan on trying to keep up with them all.
“You know- without them emailing the institute for me, I never would have met you…..I have a lot to thank them for.” Fuck, why did he say that? That was entirely too close to admitting the truth.
Fuck, England was turning them both sappy. Jono must be happy to be home. Maybe Paige could convince one of the teleported at the mansion to bring them over here more often. For Jono’s sake. To make him happy. No other reason.
“I have a lot to thank them for, too.” If he could say something like that, so could she. Paige cuddled back into Jono’s side and tried to refocus on the band.
