Chapter Text
How did it end up like this?
Jamie knows how it started. Richard kissed Sam on the cheek at the club. Jan brought up the Dutch tradition of three kisses, showcasing it on Bumbercatch. That's when Colin, giggling, lightly pressed his lips to Isaac’s cheek. The lads laughed and some more kisses were exchanged, but soon dancing and drinking became more important than teasing an enraged, blushing Richard.
Jamie knows it was supposed to stay in the darkened club where no one could take a good picture. Where the amount of footballers participating made it obvious that it was a joke. But Colin, daft and drunk Colin, he kissed Jamie on the cheek outside the club, thankful for the cab Jamie called for him and Isaac. It was sweet and Colin’s lips were soft, his breath warm and ticklish against the fuzz on Jamie's cheek. Jamie had smiled and been blinded by the flash of a camera. Then again another quick flash of their startled faces. Jamie had wanted to talk to them, convince them to delete the pictures, but whoever it was disappeared and later it was all over Twitter.
Jamie knows that he blocked his dad on Twitter, Denbo and Bug too. But he didn't post the picture and he can't control the tag and he knows his dad saw it. His phone flooded with his texts and calls. After the first hour-long telling off, Jamie ignored him.
Jamie knows that he shouldn't have, but it was a joke, a playful incident, it was nothing. Richmond released a simple statement saying the same, while defending gay rights and all that stuff. A fine line to not come off as publicly homophobic. Keeley helped Jamie and Colin craft their responses and it was settled.
Jamie should have known better. Just because the world moved on from it. Footballers are like that. Same stuff happens on the pitch. Well, maybe not in England, but other places, France, Italy. Before Colin, Jamie had never been kissed on the cheek by a bloke. Never been seen kissing and being kissed by another bloke before, so Jamie should have known his dad wouldn't leave it.
Jamie knows that he should've told someone about his dad, that he should've warned Colin to be aware. But it had been a busy day yesterday and James was in Manchester, it was the first Man City match of the season at Man City's home stadium that day and James and his mates always attend the opener. Jamie thought he would come after that and that he still had time to prepare, but James didn’t wait.
Jamie knows he has a long night ahead of him pacing his house, of checking his phone, of Keeley and Roy watching him. Jamie knows Isaac is at the hospital with Lasso and Beard. Jamie knows that Colin's parents and sister are on the way from Wales. Jamie knows they arrested his dad and his mates at a pub, cheering. Jamie knows that everyone knows it was his dad.
Jamie doesn't know how it will end, will his dad be in prison and will Colin be back on the pitch? Jamie doesn't know how James found Colin. Jamie doesn't know how much blood was lost, or if bones were broken. Jamie doesn't know how many kicks it took until Colin was unconscious. Jamie doesn't know who picked up the glass. Jamie doesn't know if they already had the bottle. Jamie doesn't know anything.
All that Jamie knows is that he keeps asking himself, How did it end up like this?