— “the boy you knew” —

it’s late - the kind of late where the music is way too loud and everyone’s a bit too drunk. you’re by the edge of the dance floor, watching the flashes of colour sweep across the crowd. that was until someone steps into your line of sight.

it was jakey.

he looks different - a good different, cleaner and confident. but his eyes lock on yours, everything drops for a moment. you’re back to where you started all those years ago.

“didn’t think you’d turn up,” he says with a grin threatening his lips. your eyes scan his face subtly, scanning his features as if they’d change dramatically over the time you haven’t seen him in person. “fancy seeing you here then,” you reply with a radiating aura.

he shifts his weight on his feet. he laughs quietly, his free hand coming up to rub his jaw as he thinks of what to say back to you. “i’m still in rochdale y’know. i’m still me… just got taller,” he tells you almost as a reminder.

you’re still looking at him, as if your absorbing his facial features and the look in his eyes. you don’t exactly realise that you’re stood there looking at him. eventually, you’re eyes scan the venue.

the lights flash between the both of you; a more upbeat song comes on. jakey looks at you for a moment too long before your eyes lock back on each other again. he nods towards the bar, “you want another, or are you gonna keep staring at me?”