Firefly (boyxboy) (step-brothers)

3

As the months passed, a routine settled within this second-hand family. Nathan and Jayden grew accustomed to the house and the company of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, who were slowly being transitioned into Harold and Florence on Nathan's behalf. Jayden just called them grandpa and nana. The two boys also decided to call themselves stepbrothers. With reasons not yet understandable to themselves, the word 'step' became very important, like the difference between lightning and a lighting bulb.

With only mild protest, and very good convincing-abilities on Nate's behalf, Jayden started school again come spring. Since he was still at such a young age, the teachers had no doubt he would be able to catch up on what he'd missed. Unfortunately, the same deal could not be made for Nathan. Being thirteen and having been on his first year of middle school, he had missed too much to be able to catch up with it. He would have to wait until next year to start over.

Nathan was okay with this. It meant he didn't have to worry about school for another six more months, and he got to come with Harold to watch him work at the firm which had also belonged to his father. But Nathan always made sure to leave the office and meet up with Jayden at the younger boy's school when his day was over. How ever Nathan had filled his days, the two boys always walked home, from Jayden's school, hand in hand.

After a summer, where laughter finally became an every-other-day occurrence, Nathan was able to go back to school. It didn't bother him that he had to redo seventh grade, he was suddenly the oldest guy in class, and every classmate looked up to him. He had no trouble getting friends. In fact, almost every single person at his school wanted to be his friend. Nate was cool. Nate was kind. Nate was very, very good looking. Nathan was humbly ecstatic over this turnout. Don't get him wrong, he loved Jayden to death and would do anything for that brown eyed little boy. It was just... ever since the accident, he'd felt a responsibility toward Jayden, and it'd been the only thought on his mind for months. To keep the young boy safe and protected. Coming back to school changed that. He could finally be a teenager and do teenage stuff. At least for eight hours a day. The rest belonged to Jayden. The rest, except one particular evening...

Nate had been invited to a sleepover with some friends at Nick Thompson's house, where they would just hang out, play videogames and have a bunch of fun. He was then fourteen years old.

Nate had been hesitant to leave Jayden for a whole night, but Florence's convincing arguments had tipped the scale in the sleepover's favor. It was part of the childhood to have sleepovers, besides, Nate had been on many sleepovers before the accident, why should he stop now? And so, sleepover it was.

A few days before the event took place, Nathan had noticed a change in Jayden's behavior. The young boy had grown much quieter and wasn't as happy-go-lucky as he'd finally been these last couple of months. Even though this unnerved Nathan, he didn't talk about it with Jayden. He really wanted this sleepover.

When the day finally arrived, Jayden had been silent from the moment he woke up, throughout school, and continued to be so into the evening. It didn't matter that Florence had ordered Jayden's favorite food, pizza. Nor did it help that they put on Jayden's favorite movie in the evening, The Little Mermaid, and watched it together in the living room. Nothing seemed to lighten the boy's mood. Who could blame him, his thoughts were consumed with one person only.

Nathan.

Like, why had Nathan suddenly decided to go to a sleep over? Was he tired of Jayden's company? Did this mean he would go to many sleepovers from now on? These thoughts continued to occupy Jayden's mind, creating this painful pressure on his chest. Even after Jayden had gone to bed, he couldn't think of anything else. It felt like the thoughts had set camp in his brain and refused to leave. They consumed his whole being, taunted him with their scary indications. Nate doesn't want you anymore. You're not good enough for him.