I Want to Feel Home

4 Date?

Monday morning Jason felt sick with anxiety. His brows furrowed as he tried to wrap his mind around why on earth he'd be so nervous to see Alex again when he'd seen him just yesterday. Well he knew. But he didn't want to admit it. He curled up in the passenger seat to ease the nausea.
"Put your feet down" Rory grumbled, staring ahead at the road. Jason clenched his teeth and firmly planted his feet on the car floor. Rory gave an exasperated sigh.
"Why are you being so moody?" He meant it with love and compassion, but it didn't come across that way. Jason's cheeks burnt red, he couldn't tell if it was with embarrassment or anger. When Rory stopped the car outside the school, the younger brother was quick to grab his backpack and run.

Alex hadn't given anything a second thought. He was staying at his mum's house this week, and had gushed to his brother about how the weekend had gone. And it was all Jason, Jason, Jason. Chris was more clued in to Alex's feelings than he was.
"Was Cece okay with all of this?"
Alex's face burned red as he opened the car door, "in the end."
Their mum met eyes with Chris, giving a knowing smile. Taking them to their separate schools, the car was quiet.

At recess Cece hung from Alex's shoulders, combing through his hair and giggling. They didn't talk about that weekend. Alex pushed it from his mind, he'd decided he wasn't going to talk to anybody, his girlfriend was priority.
After recess was English class, he and Cece had long ago been separated by the teacher, but he didn't sit by Ally. Ally glanced at Cece, chewing her lip. She knew why.

Before lunch period was maths, surely they'd have to face each other now. Jason found himself in the hall, staring at drywall. He wasn't sure he would be able to look at Alex. His heart was thumping hard. He was sweating. Shivering. He blinked back to reality, seeing a ghostly, black haired boy peering back at him through long bangs.
"Mitchel?"
"Mitch" he corrected.
Their school wasn't all that big, it was fairly easy to memorise the people in your grade; but if you weren't to remember anyone, it'd be Mitch. He may have a distinctive look, but he skipped school a lot and generally didn't talk to anyone.
Mitch crossed the hall and leaned on the wall, looking up at Jason with tired, eye shadow smudged orbs, licking over dry pierced lips. Jason's eyes darted to the floor, then his eyes, not yet comprehending what was happening. Blush spread over his face as the hooded boy took hold of his hips. For Jason this was out of left field, but for Mitch, well he'd been thinking about this for a week. The moment he would kiss him. Jason leaning back against the wall, Mitch's lingering touch.
Alex didn't know what to think when he rounded the corner, for a moment his heart was in his throat, he couldn't look away as he padded into Ms Adelaide's class. Face burning. An unfamiliar feeling in his chest. Jason didn't even see. Alex's stomach sank as he sat at his desk, but he didn't understand why. He reasoned with himself, it's just the surprise of it all. I mean, at the sleepover Jason hadn't mentioned having a boyfriend at all.

Mitch gave a dark grin, taking Jason by his boney wrist and leading him away from class, off school grounds. Jason couldn't even speak, just obediently following, shock not wearing off until they were outside the fence.
"Where are we going?" Jason squeaked.
"On a date."
"But we have school" he glanced back over his shoulder. This was met with an eye roll.
Jason's brain kicked into gear and was running a million miles a minute: did I say yes to a date? Did I miss hints? Have we spoken before?
Jason was quiet as they walked, looking up at the trees as they arrived at a nearby park. Mitch sat on a concrete bench and gestured for the confused boy to join him.
"Mitch... how-how did you um..." he paused to collect himself, "how did you know?"
"That you're gay?" He raised an eyebrow, Jason's eyes following the barbell up. His face flushed and he looked away, he'd never said it out loud. He felt exposed.

Today was the most, probably anyone in their grade, had heard Mitchel speak. He talked about hating school, and they bad mouthed Ms Adelaide playfully. Jason found himself enjoying their surprise date, he was completely distracted from all feelings about Alex.
Shyly, his fingers drifted over Mitch's, and with a soft smile, the other boy took hold of his hand.