I Want to Feel Home

2 Weekend Plans

Friday afternoon, Jason was sandwiched in on the school bus home. He was tired, and the bus was loud, filled with rambunctious teens, throwing things and yelling. Jason pressed the stop button and the bell sounded, this was the closest to his house the bus came. He tried to squeeze past the other students, a few boys blocking him purposefully to mock him—when he forced his way through to the open doors, some boys shoved him out. Thud. He hit the wet grass. Mud smeared up his face, his arms, legs, his shoes. He glared up at the leaving bus, his peers jeered and taunted through the glass.
He trudged home from the bus stop. His brother's truck was in the driveway but not his mother's car—never his mother's car. He never saw her anymore, she just worked.
Getting to the door he kicked off his sneakers and hiked up his pants so he wouldn't track mud, but it was too late, large boot prints trailed the entranceway! Rory! Of course! With an eye roll, and a grumble, he stomped off to the shower. Washed the mud out of his hair; which was getting long, bits stuck out from below his ears and his side swept fringe in his eyes. He liked his hair longer, but his family always made him cut it. Jason hoped that one day they'd understand...
When he got back to his room there were several messages in the group chat from Ally and Izaac:
    'When can we come over tomorrow?' Izaac asked.
    'Give him a chance to get home and ask damnnn' Ally replied.
Playful banter and memes ensued for a few messages before Jason got the chance to reply.
    'Sorry I didn't see this, don't have data' his first message read.
    'Haven't gotten to ask yet, got pushed in mud at my stop'
    'Cleaning up' Jason put his phone down to go and toss his clothes in the washing machine.
'Who?! Was it that Mitch guy? He's been hanging out a lot!' Ally jumped to conclusions.
'Why would it be him? Bailey has been picking on Jace all year :/"
    'Mitch creeps me out'
Jason came back after a few minutes.
    'Yeah Bailey and his buds'
The response was mostly vomit emojis and playful threats of violence against them, their responses made Jason smile, feeling better and able to make light of it. He texted his family group chat and asked for his friends to come over.

Jason spent Saturday morning cleaning up, out of nervousness, he wanted to make a good impression on Alex. Similarly, Alex wanted to make a good impression on Jason—he spent some time picking out his clothes, on a video call with his twin brother, who lived full time at their mum's house. His brother, Chris, laughed at him as he fretted, but helped him pick nice yet casual clothes. Alex's living situation was complicated to be frank, while Chris only lived with their mum, Alex spent a week with mum and a week with dad—he didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but honestly he just wanted to live with Chris. But with his clothes packed, he went and told his dad to drive him.
When Alex arrived it was just Jason home and that felt... awkward. Rory was at work, so was his mum; the two sat on opposite ends of the couch in silence.
"Um... so, do you watch sports Jason?" Alex dotted his finger along the seam of the nearby cushion
"Uh no... I uh..." Jason grimaced. There was a knock at the door and the boy had never gotten to his feet so fast. He came and greeted Ally in the entranceway, quickly dragging her inside to rescue him.

It wasn't long before Izaak also arrived and Jason insisted they started their homework. When most 15 year olds tell you they're having their friends over to study, it's not the honest truth, but when Jason did? You bet they did homework, no matter how much his friends kicked up a fuss. But with a very parental "the sooner we do it the sooner we can go in the pool" they got started.
Alex genuinely appreciated the help, he needed to get a good grade on the next test in order to pass the class. Jason slowly came out of his shell as he guided Alex through the math, but Ally and Izaak exchanged knowing glances.
"Ugh I need a break" Izaac whined, flashing aqua braces through bared teeth and a wrinkled nose.
"Seriously?" Jason sighed.
"A break wouldn't be half bad..." Alex tacked on. That's what changed Jason's mind. The teens went off and changed into their swimsuits, meeting outside. Starting to splash and kick around in the kiddy pool, picking up long ago discarded water pistols—sun bleached on one side and dirt encrusted on the other. They chased each other, screamed; Jason would try to hide, only to get the worst of it in what was deemed as "justification."
When running from Izaac, who was the most maniacal of all, Jason bumped into Alex. Their faces too close, Alex's startled breath on Jason's nose. Jason's face went flushed pink, and he stumbled nine steps back, Alex surprised to find himself blushing in response.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
Alex's body felt... nice.
Jason's face grew redder in panic. Think about something else, quick!

       Think

                            of

                                           naked

                                                                  grandma

Naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma naked grandma.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!