"I'm going to die," says Jared.

"You are not going to die," says Sandy, entirely too rationally.

"But he--"

"Jared. I know what he did! He was a jerk and a tool and he broke your heart. But you're not that kid anymore, and neither is he."

"I feel like that kid again. God, Sand, I haven't even seen him yet and I already feel like I'm going to throw up. I think I'm breaking out."

"Jared. You are hot, you are successful, and you are good at your job. You're going to get the most awesome revenge ever. All you need to do is be the most awesome, professional publicist ever, and Jensen Ackles will know that he totally missed out on you."

*

"Jared Padalecki?" asks Jensen. Jensen is, of course, just as fucking hot as ever, all green eyes and freckles, and Jared reminds himself of what Sandy said. Awesome, professional. "We went to junior high together."

Jared gives him a cool smile. "Did we? I don't really remember. That's not really important anyway, Mr. Ackles. We need a clear plan for how to get the Richardson Grill into the public's eye."

"Jared, listen, I--I feel like I should apolog--"

"Mr. Ackles," says Jared firmly. "It's all in the past. Water under the bridge. What I'm concerned with now is your business."

"I just," Jensen laughs a little weakly. "Man, Jared, I've been thinking about apologizing to you for years. I never--I was such an asshole, and you didn't deserve that, and I've always regretted it."

Jared doesn't let his face give anything away. "Apology accepted," he says evenly. "Shall we get to work, Mr. Ackles?"

Jensen sighs, but he nods and focuses his attention on Jared's ads, and not Jared himself. "Yeah, let's do this."

*

When Jared was thirteen, Jensen Ackles pretended to like him, and turned him down in front of the whole class. He broke Jared's heart, and Jared has spent years thinking he's the jerkiest jerk ever.

Working with him, though--it's kind of fun.

"Jared," says Sandy pityingly. "Please, please tell me you don't like Jensen Ackles. Again!"

"I don't," Jared protests. "He's just--he's nice."

"No, he isn't! You know he isn't. He's a jerk who broke your heart."

"It was eleven years ago," says Jared. "He's changed."

"Or maybe he's still a jerk who's lulling you into a false sense of security before he reveals his jerkishness. Again!"

Jared sighs. "I know, I know. He's just--funny. And sweet. And a lot of fun, and a great cook, and hot, and--I'm falling for him again."

"You're falling for him again," Sandy confirms.

"Fuck," says Jared. "Fuck."

*

"Hey, Jared!" says Jensen, lighting up as Jared comes into Richardson Grill. "Man, we're doing awesome. I can't thank you enough for this."

Jared smiles unsteadily. "Hey, it's my pleasure. And my job, so you paid me."

"Yeah, but--I really appreciate it. A lot. And I was thinking, um. Could I maybe take you out to dinner? You know, as a thank you."

Jared freezes. Jensen asked him out before, and it went--it went so wrong.

"Jared?" asks Jensen, and he looks nervous, sad, like he knows Jared is going to say no, and he's upset.

"If I say yes," says Jared, as evenly as he can, "are you gonna tell the whole city it was just a joke? Because I don't think I could--"

And then Jensen Ackles is kissing him.

"I won't," says Jensen. "I didn't--I really, really want to date you, Jared. I wanted--I really meant it when I asked you out the first time, too. But, um. This time I don't have dumbass friends I'm gonna let talk me out of it. And I know that's not an excuse. I'm just--I am so fucking sorry, and if you'd still give me a chance, that'd be--"

This time, Jared kisses him, because, well. He's older. He's wiser. And despite it all, he still wants Jensen. And he's willing to have a little faith.

*agrees with this comment*