Our Safeguard

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

~Jerome~

       "It's just so... so... infuriating," I said as I paced back and forth in Brandon's living room. "I haven't once done anything to make Nolan doubt anything I say but suddenly, I'm making up how much of an asshole Dirk is?"

       "Dude, you're pacing too much," Brandon said. "Just sit back and relax. Need something to help you relax? I've got some weed stashed in my room."

       "The last time we smoked weed in your room, your dad threatened to make you deep clean the entire house," I said. "Including the attic."

       "Yeah, only because we smoked it indoors," Brandon said. "That shit lingers for a while. He told me if I really have to do it, to smoke outside and make sure the windows are closed. So...?"

       I rubbed my forehead. "You know what I'm like when I'm high. I'd probably end up calling Nolan and just start sobbing."

       "Maybe that would be enough for him to start talking to you again," Brandon said.

       I shook my head. "Not today. Maybe next time."

       "Fine, fine," Brandon said. "But you do need something to help you take your mind off of all of this. So how about we put Joel in a body bag?"

       I snorted. "Right, because what exactly is going to stop Joel from going to Nolan and say 'Your boyfriend tried to kill me after I've been nothing but nice to him'?"

       "Simple," Brandon said. "He can't say anything if he's dead."

       "We're not going to kill him," I said.

       "Obviously not," Brandon said. "I don't actually condone killing someone. I'm just as pissed at that Joel guy as you are. Hugging your boyfriend is one thing. But smirking at you while he hugs Nolan? He just sounds like a major asshole."

       I finally had enough of pacing and just flopped down on the couch with a heavy sigh. "I just don't get how Joel has Nolan wrapped around his finger. Nolan just kept saying that he knows Joel and that Joel will never do that."

       "He's just being the kind person he is," Brandon said. "Ignoring what other people say about his friends. The same thing he did to you."

       I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "I know, I know. But... Nolan knows me too. He should know that I wouldn't lie about something like that, and that I especially wouldn't lie because I'm jealous. I don't get jealous."

       "Everyone gets jealous," Brandon said, leaning back into the couch. "I get jealous all the time when people flirt with Alan."

       I snorted. "Says the person who was flirting with other people when you were messing around with Alan."

       Brandon glared at me. "I'm talking about now that I'm dating Alan, you idiot."

       "Okay, but I'm still not jealous about the whole thing," I said. "I'm pissed. I'm pissed that Joel isn't respecting my and Nolan's relationship and he's clearly trying to piss me off."

       "It's working."

       "Of course it's working! I tried warning Nolan, but he just treated it like I was jealous about this whole thing! He didn't believe me when I said that Joel smirked at me! I would be insane not to be pissed about this." I groaned and leaned back. "I just don't know what to do about this."

       "Honestly, I don't think there's anything you can do. You told Nolan. That's all you can do. Well, unless you do want to go down the murderous path and get Joel out of the picture."

       "Not happening."

       "I can get him out of the picture."

       "Yes, and me knowing about it will make me an accomplice."

       "Then again, there's nothing you can do about it until Nolan realizes you're telling the truth."

       I sighed. "I don't see that happening any time soon. But in the meantime, I need to do something to take my mind off of all of this."

       "Someone I know is throwing a party tomorrow night. We can go to that."

       "I'm not really in a party mood. Haven't since high school when I had to come out to Anita because she wouldn't stop hitting on me."

       "Ah, right, I remember that. Well, I still have the weed option on the table. I can even hide your phone somewhere before then so you don't call Nolan."

       It was tempting. It was very tempting. I knew that high wasn't going to last long, but I was sick of thinking about this whole situation. I hated the fact that it felt like Nolan was siding with Joel over me. I hated that we weren't talking to each other because of it. I hated that whenever I was upset, Nolan was the first person I went to but I couldn't even go to him over this.

       In the end, I agreed to it. I really did give Brandon my phone to hide so I didn't grab it to talk to Nolan when I was high because knowing me, I would do that.

       Brandon really didn't want to deep clean the house, so we had to go outside in the back and make sure all the windows were closed. Though knowing him, if he did smoke inside and his father told him to deep clean, Brandon would just try bribing his dad with weed.

       It has worked multiple times before.

       Thankfully, it was enough to take my mind off of it but once Brandon and I were off the high, I knew I couldn't hide out anymore. I mean, I still wasn't going to try to fix things because like Brandon said, I did all I could do. But it was time for me to head home after being at Brandon's almost all day.

       As I was getting ready to leave, Brandon handed me my phone. "If you do change your mind about wanting to get rid of Joel, let me know," he said.

      I sighed. "I'm not going to change my mind."

       "That's what they all say."

       I left Brandon's house and headed home. My stomach growled a tiny bit, but I knew I probably wasn't going to eat anything when I got home. I was now feeling extremely exhausted. I just wanted to lie down in bed after taking a shower.

       That was exactly what I did when I got home. I took a shower before heading to my bedroom. Nolan wasn't there; he was in the kitchen when I walked in, but he didn't say a thing to me. He also didn't look at me.

       I flopped down on the bed, turning on the TV to watch a movie.

       Nolan ended up coming into the bedroom shortly after. He sat down at his desk to work on home homework. Daisy trotted in after him, jumping down on the bed and lying down beside me.

       My stomach growled once again, but I didn't bother getting up to find something to eat. 

       Nolan got up from the desk and left the bedroom. He shortly returned, carrying a plate with a sandwich and some fruit on it. He set it on the nightstand beside me before sitting back at his desk. He put his headphones on, wanting to listen to music as he did his homework.

       I looked at the sandwich before looking at Nolan. At least he still cared about me.

___________________

if the sandwich wasn't on a plate and was wrapped up instead, he would have thrown it at jerome tbh.

also let's stan brandon for being the most supportive best friend ever.