"How're you feeling?" I asked as Jack slowly sat down in front of me pulling up his try of salad and Sprite.

"Pretty good actually. Not in so much pain anymore. I guess it's cause of the pain medicine. It only really hurts when they have to clean them and I almost pass out from the pain so they always wind up giving me so much pain medicine to where I basically sleep through it." Jack said laughing at the end.

I smiled up at him taking a bite of my sand-which, setting it back down.

"That's good! When do you think they'll let you go ho-... Wherever you'll be staying?" Realizing home wasn't really an option.

Jack shrugged. "Idunno. Probably sometime next week Just to make sure everything heals properly."

I nodded taking in his appearance. I've noticed he hasn't looked me in the eye while holding a conversation and tried to keep his head down. I understand though.

"L-lex?"

I hummed in response to let him know I was listening.

"Will you be my friend?"

I giggled in response nodding my head.

"No... I mean my best friend. You're the only person who really has ever talked to me other than my sister and then I never talk to my brother cause he moved back to Lebanon. for work."

I gave him a sad smile and reached over and grabbed his hand gently and rubbed it with my thumb.

"Of course. I'll be your best friend, Jack. I'll be more than happy to."

"Thanks" He said smiling.

We continued eating in comfortable silence.

~

I walked Jack back up to his room taking the long way for two reasons. One being I just wanted to be with him a little longer, and the second one being I was trying to get the courage to do something.
I really liked this guy I decided. Like really really liked him. I don't even know if he's gay.

"So how's work been?" Jack asked softly.

"Slow, boring, usual. But I love it"

Here's my chance, Only a few halls down from his room. When Jack wasn't looking I slowly reached for his hand and laced my fingers with his and continued walking. His head snapped over to look at me and then down to look at our hands before softly smiling and squeezing.

"Lex, what's this for?"

"What's what for?"

He held up our joined hands and I shrugged.

"Just wanna hold your hand."

"Oh, okay."

We reached his room and he walked in and sat on his bed slowly but surely taking off his shirt revealing the gauze. I have yet to see the bad scars but I figured he'd show me with time if he wanted.

My pager beeped signaling a call and I muttered a 'shit'.

"Jacky I gotta go"

"It's okay. I'll see you some other time." He said giving me a small smile.

Now or never.

I walked up to him and gave him a soft hug and kissed his cheek before jogging but winded up running when the beeping continued to my car.

I was going to make Jack mine sooner or later. I don't care how long it takes, but I was going to call him mine.

Notes

I don't know how I feel about this chapter haha.

How would y'all like if the next chapter focused on Alex and the call and everything?