A well kept secret

Senior Year...again

Yesterday was Navroz. Soooo Navroz Mubarak. I hope you all had a wonderful day! Here's an update. Please leave a vote if you liked the chapter! Thank you, and enjoy 😘😘😘


October 1935

"Where the hell have you been?" Lem stood in the doorway of his dorm room, staring at who should be his best friend. But best friends don't fall off the face of the earth without warning.

Jack let out a sigh, and turned to face his friend.

"I was in London...with my parents, and Kick."

"So you, your sister, and your parents were in a version of London that has absolutely no post offices." Lem crossed his arms.

"Lem hear––"

"That's the thing Jack. I'm a great  fucking listener. All the time, but you chose to just drop off the face of the earth."

"I was in another country!" Jack shouted.

"Yeah, and I was here, at this school, after corresponding with my friend all summer hoping to see him. But he didn't show up. Nor did he explain his disappearance, for a month and three weeks."

"...you counted the weeks."

"You fucking prick."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah well I don't give a shit for your apology if it doesn't have you begging." Lem walked into the room to grab his chemistry text book. As he started to leave, Jack gripped his arm.

He turned his head slightly to look at Jack's face. I've missed those eyes.

"I am really sorry."

"....I don't really forgive you."

Once Lem left, Jack cursed under his breath.

He knew he should have sent something to Lem. He just kept overthinking at the time. He looked out the window thinking of his reason.

flashback to London.

"Jack, what are you doing?" Kick asked climbing onto the chair beside the desk Jack sat at.

"Nothing."

"Yes, you are! You're just hiding it!" Kick pointed to how Jack's arms covered over a letter.

"Who are you writing to?"

"Nobody." Jack grumbled as Kick kept shoving his arms in an attempt to sneak a peak. "Ow!"

Kick picked up the paper, as Jack clutched nose.

"You're such a wuss."

You elbowed me in the nose, it's going to hurt. "Just give it back?"

"...You're writing to Lem?"

"Yeah, and what of it?" Jack glanced at his sister's scrunched face.

"Isn't it weird you're writing to him from another country?"

"Of course not! He's my best friend!" Jack snatched the paper back. His sister shrugged and left.

Jack shook his head, and lifted his pen, but paused before bringing it to the paper.
What if it is weird? Isn't this what lovers do? Not best friends? No, you dip* best friends write each other letters when they're in different countries. What would I even say to him. 'I'm in London, and I miss you'. ABSOLUTELY NOT! That is definitely something too personal....but I do miss him, and his stupidly pitched voice. And those stormy eyes, that always manage to be happy. *dip = idiot*

End of flashback

Jack looked back to his suitcase on his bed. I never ended up writing anything, because everything was too...sentimental. He ran his hand through his hair, having the tips of his nails scrape his skull. He'd have to find a way to make it up to Lem.

Jack sat down for dinner, and he watched as Lem headed to the table he sat at...and passed it. Jack's neck snapped to the table his best friend sat at.

"Hey where've you been Jack? Lem almost went insane worrying about you?" Joseph said sitting in front of him.

"God, why does he even care that much?" Jack stabbed his potato with his fork.

"It could possibly be because he is literally repeating a year of high school just to be with you."

"How'd–"

"None of us Choate boys are idiots. Aside from you of course. Although some of the boys definitely think he's a Nelly* so be careful." Joseph leaned in to whisper the last part. *derogatory term for gay man* 

Jack watched as the curly haired boy took a bite of his bread. Clenching his jaw, he looked back at his meal.

After a dinner of pushing the food around his plate, and looking at Lem eat his dinner so easily was driving him insane. When Jack made it back to their dorm room, he found Lem reading a book in bed.

"Did you enjoy dinner with your new friends?"

"I wouldn't need new friends, if mine didn't stop talking to me for a month."

Jack watched as Lem continued to read his book.

"God dammit Lem! I couldn't write to you, cause everything I wanted to say sounded like to much! I missed you! How the hell do I tell you I miss you?!" Jack whisper-yelled.

Lem set down his book, and turned to look at Jack. "You just tell me that you miss me. It's not that hard?"

Jack's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

"What were you so worried about?" Lem tilted his head, and watched closely as Jack sat down on the edge of his bed.

"I missed you." Jack dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. Lem watched silently at the defeated position his best friend held.

"I missed you too." Lem whispered finally. When Jack turned to look at his Lem inhaled sharply.

Jack wiped the stubborn tear that fell from the wall of salt water in his eyes. He sniffled. "I'm sorry."

Lem pulled Jack into a hug. "It's okay. I forgive you."

Jack placed his head on Lem's chest, and stretched his legs out on the bed. "You've always put me first."

"I have, and I will continue to do so."

"— I can't put you first the way you have for me. I'll always choose me first...but you'll be my second priority....I'—"

"I never expected to be a priority. I just wanted you to at least tell me where you were." Lem cut him off.

"I know. I know you aren't asking to be a priority. But I'm making you mine. So, just be my second priority?"

"Okay." Lem whispered.

"Okay" Jack nuzzled his head further into Lem's chest.

God dammit Jack. I was going to at least remain upset for one more day. But this, this is better. 

Jack clung onto Lem tightly.

You're an idiot Jack, friends don't hold each other like this. Or maybe they do?

Lem felt Jack's breathing even out. So he lowered his head to the pillow without disturbing Jack too much, and let slumber overcome him.