A Little Therapy

Jack wasn’t entirely sure why the two boys treated him like a breakable child. Maybe it was his reservation, the way he drew in on himself when attention was put on him; maybe it was because he preferred to listen instead of speak, and blushed every time either of the ‘Dynamic Duo’ even locked eyes with him. He was a little lost at why they assumed he was innocent just because he was quiet. He could be quiet without being innocent.

Though he probably wouldn’t mention the fact that he was very, extremely innocent with his blushing cheeks and clumsy steps, there was no way he would actually prove him right. And by him, he meant Kellin, who for all his boyish charms and suggestive nature, was starting to bug him a little by constantly referring to him as “Fire truck,” Alex had made no comment on the subject, which left Jack under the assumption that he had as little control as himself. He made no protest, because it was the same charcoal haired boy that he seemed to have fallen in lust with and just one look sent his cheeks into “Fire truck” state, and made his body feel hot all over. It’s not even because he looks, it’s the way he does it, he’ll look up through these beautifully long lashes with those misty orbs and smile a cheeky little smile (Vic later informed Jack that he usually looks at people like that before he beds them.).

The ebony haired boy tried not to think about it, he still spent most of his time with the young Mexican boy because like him, he spoke mostly through actions and glances instead of a long flow of words. The company of Vic alone seemed to calm him down and direct his thoughts from the two trouble causers of the school. When they were together, they were often stared at, probably because Jack was quiet and Vic was even quieter and it seemed strange to not have one speak up for the other. In the grand scheme of things, it was better. As the week progressed they became close friends because they spoke in whispers in crowded places, no one else seemed to be able to understand their friendship.

Alex and Kellin would pick Jack up after school, he would explain to his mother that he would be staying at a friend’s house after school because he found revision easier to do in pairs; she would simply smile distastefully and let him go. His father seemed to think his social life would be better if he spent time with others, so he simply never mentioned who he was hanging round with because that would not go down well.

They would sort of revise, Kellin would study his wide knowledge of illegal herbs, Alex would flick lazily through his science textbook but not actually look at it. And Jack would actually read, whilst the others listened to him incredulously. The plus was they would listen, the onyx haired boy found anything fascinated when he was crawling levels of the Empire State Building, and the other just seemed to be content learning through voice. Or rather, the brunet’s voice, but he’d never admit that.

Once, about two weeks into them knowing each other, Alex threw a science Biology textbook at the wall and complained loudly how it was ridiculous and insulting that no-one ever explained how men can protect themselves in Gay relationships. And although the wide eyed boy had already sort of known that the two were “Batting for the other team,” hearing it so openly from the other boy’s mouth somehow shocked him into silence.

“I-It wouldn’t be in a science textbook,” Jack sighed eventually, after staring for a long time, and the honeycomb haired other looked like he was about to rant “It w-would be in the PSHE books, a-after all B-Biology is based on H-Human Life C-Cycles, not p-protection as such, t-the matter of homosexual c-couples would come u-under PSHE, th-that’s where th-they deal with protection and stuff,” Even Kellin seemed to look down from cloud nine for a second to give a small smile, that once again sent shivers down Jack’s spine.

“I…yeah…I guess it would, but the point is it isn’t, there are some gay people who don’t even know that there are still dangers even as a man to not using a condom, all because schools don’t fucking educate them,” For the first time, the brunet looked up at Alex with something other than lust, he looked up with an emotion that he couldn’t really label. All he knew was that his heart nearly erupted, fluttering in his chest, his stomach clenched and for a moment he felt a little sick, this thrilling feeling shot up his veins and made the corners of his lips tug into a smile. He didn’t know what it was, why there was fireflies in his veins, but he was certainly enjoying it.
“Maybe you should bring it to the attention of the school,” He said quietly, but was met with a sarcastic chuckle that made him look down at the carpets again. “I mean…wouldn’t they listen?” He brought his knees to his chest and he felt Alex sit down next to him.

“Jack, I know you, I know your parents and your life, but in the real world, people like me and like Kellin, we don’t get listened to, we don’t get what we want, we fight and fight until eventually we come out somewhere, we don’t just get put there like you do,” His voice was so gentle, his eyes soft with sadness, for a second Jack felt like he was really seeing his new friend. Seeing his raw passion and not brutal front that he put on for those little followers that seemed to be everywhere. “In real life we don’t get a massive inheritance from a rich father who owns one of the biggest companies in the world, we don’t get to have businesses passed onto us, that’s just people like you,”

There was silence, silence that rung throughout the entire house, to the other side of the room where Kellin had put out the blunt and was watching them with some short form of solemnity. He didn’t speak, and Jack could tell he was in silent agreement. “I…” but he had no words, what did he say to something like that? Was there a response to something like that? “I’m sorry,”

“It’s not your fault, you’ve done nothing wrong, just when you get that big inheritance, help people, don’t just do what your father does,” the younger boy nodded slowly and reached out and threw his arms around Alex, because he really did have no words to speak with at this point, he heard his bright eyed other friend scoff slightly, and bury his drug-addled mind in his phone. “hey, clam down, don’t get all soppy on me, let’s finish this Physics and chill out yeah?”

So that’s what they did.

Notes