Extremely & Incredibly

Chapter 11: Emotions

The meadows bring back the memories of how Thomas left Jake - but it hurts less now.

Jake sees Thomas approach the meadow. Usually, Jake would admire him, but now things have changed. Mason is his man, not Thomas.

For a brief moment, Jake wonders what could have been, but Thomas chooses to be with Becca. Jake doesn't want to think that Thomas is hiding in the closet. He wants to keep an open mind and believe Thomas is bisexual. In reality, it could just be Jake's excuse or made-up reason why Thomas is not his man.

"So you and Mason?" Thomas asks Jake as he gets closer to him.

"Yes," Jake replies. "We're dating."

Thomas crosses his arms in disappointment. "I don't like it. I don't like it at all."

Jake begins to feel irritation creep up. "So you and Becca?"

"I told you why my father suspects me." He steps a bit closer to Jake. "I thought we were going to rekindle our relationship?"

"Thomas, we both have different lives right now. I'm out and want to go to prom - even if it's with Mason. Then, I have a chance to be myself and not fear or hide. But you must take care of your image, so you don't lose daddy's money." Jake takes a few steps forward, making him now stand in front of Thomas.

"I wanted us, Jake," Thomas confesses. "I wanted to be the one to dance with you. I want to hold your hand and kiss you on the lips in front of everyone."

Jake looks down at the ground. "Thomas, stop, please. I wanted that too, but things changed between us." He looks up at him in the eyes, "I'm not going to be someone's secret when I have a chance to be someone's reason for love."

Thomas did not like what Jake said. "And what happens after he graduates? What will you do then?"

"We will talk about it when the time comes. And as far as I know, Mason got a scholarship to play basketball at a university only thirty minutes away." Jake cuts to the chase. "Thomas, what do you want me to do? Break up with him? Be with you, behind Becca's back?"

Thomas looks like he's about to say something but stops himself.

"Thomas, I did like you a lot." Jake takes his hand and caresses Thomas's face. "You left me here, and that broke me. I didn't express it well, but it did."

"I'm sorry." That's all that Thomas could say.

"I'll eventually forgive you." Jake sees Thomas close his eyes as he lets his face fall deeper into Jake's hand. "I hope we can still be friends. At least since we will see each other more."

Without warning, Thomas leans forward and kisses Jake. He doesn't fight or pull away. Jake embraces it.

Thomas kisses Jake with the sense of never wanting to let go of him. Jake kisses Thomas goodbye.

Jake pushes himself away from him. "I'm sorry, goodbye Thomas."

He turns and jogs away from Thomas, leaving him behind in the meadows.