The hug doesn't really startle him this time - in fact he almost welcomes it - and without too much hesitation at all, he returns the gesture. He was already half-hugging the guy already, after all, it doesn't take much to bring his other arm up and sort of absently pat Sora on the back.
It's what Sora says that takes him by surprise, and Jamie can't really describe why. It's not as though Sora's shy about expressing himself or reaching out to people, and as one of his bandmates Jamie is perhaps more privy to those aspects of his character than most; it's not even that his uncanny insight is anything surprising, because Jamie's recognized that about him too in the time they've known each other, even if he couldn't have described it in so many words. Maybe he's just never felt this vulnerable before, this laid bare in front of someone, like everything inside him's been spread out to look at, and while this would be an excruciating feeling around anyone else, with Sora...it's okay. He can let himself believe, finally, that Sora won't judge him or make fun of him or push him away for being a mixed-up, insecure teenager instead of the smooth, capable legal adult he tries so hard to be.
Being that he is an insecure teenager, of course, Jamie is sort of embarrassed by Sora's words, or maybe by the effect they have on him; he can't really think of what to say, at first, and when he finally does his throat feels tight and he doesn't know if he can get the words out without sounding like an idiot. But finally he huffs a little sort-of laugh into Sora's shoulder, swallows hard and says, "...I'm pretty lucky to have met you too."
this tag is steeped in my tears i hope you are happy
It's what Sora says that takes him by surprise, and Jamie can't really describe why. It's not as though Sora's shy about expressing himself or reaching out to people, and as one of his bandmates Jamie is perhaps more privy to those aspects of his character than most; it's not even that his uncanny insight is anything surprising, because Jamie's recognized that about him too in the time they've known each other, even if he couldn't have described it in so many words. Maybe he's just never felt this vulnerable before, this laid bare in front of someone, like everything inside him's been spread out to look at, and while this would be an excruciating feeling around anyone else, with Sora...it's okay. He can let himself believe, finally, that Sora won't judge him or make fun of him or push him away for being a mixed-up, insecure teenager instead of the smooth, capable legal adult he tries so hard to be.
Being that he is an insecure teenager, of course, Jamie is sort of embarrassed by Sora's words, or maybe by the effect they have on him; he can't really think of what to say, at first, and when he finally does his throat feels tight and he doesn't know if he can get the words out without sounding like an idiot. But finally he huffs a little sort-of laugh into Sora's shoulder, swallows hard and says, "...I'm pretty lucky to have met you too."