Same page, new Book (RichJake)

Chapter One

It's extremely disorientating to go from being a spec in the whirlpool that is high school to being close enough friends with the popular kids that you can give them nicknames. Alternatively, even more disorientating than that is going from popular to loser again.

Unluckily for Rich Goranski, he had experienced both of those things during his time at high school.

With some speech therapy, ace bandages and some fake confidence, it would be as if Rich had never set Jake's house on fire in an attempt to kill himself and the supercomputer in his brain. Hopefully. After the absence of his SQUIP, his lisp had returned along with his crippling self doubt and insecurities. He had also noticed it was so much easier to let his mind wander. Whenever he began to daydream about guys, shocks were sent down his spine as punishment. 'To maintain popularity, you mustn't think of your male friends as anything more than platonic.'

Now that he wasn't being shocked, he noticed his mind wandering so much more. People he hadn't ever considered he could possibly like were now all he could think about. It was new, and despite the homophobic nonsense the SQUIP had filled his head with, Rich actually wasn't surprised he was having these thoughts. Being bi made so much sense. His first of many epiphanies was all due to Jake Dillinger, but Rich boiled that down to God-like beauty more than his gayness. If anyone was presented with the opportunity to fuck Jake and they said no, they were inhumane, sexuality aside.

However, as time went on, it wasn't just Jake's abs and gorgeous biceps that sent his mind spinning. The thought of being able to run his fingers down the bridge of his red nose and admire every bump would be a dream come true, and to kiss him was something Rich was too scared to imagine considering how excited the former alone got him. His stomach churned at the thought of having to return to school after Halloween, and he mentally prepared for all the side eyes, snares and middle fingers.

Nothing could have prepared Rich for his first day back. It was so much worse than what he was preparing for, and he was already walking to the Nurse to fake being sick by second period. However, during his walk of shame there, his worst fears came true. There, in all of his glory, was Jake Dillinger, talking to Brooke. He wasn't surprised they were skipping class, but what really shocked him was the fact Jake was in a wheelchair. Not just crutches like he had been told. Jake was wheelchair bound. He gasped softly and covered his mouth, suddenly overcome with guilt. Jake glanced over at him, and the second the two made eye contact, Brooke cleared her throat, nodded, and walked to the bathroom to leave the two boys alone.

"Jake," Rich began, uncovering his mouth in a desperate attempt to begin his apology. And, Rich would know, he had a lot of things to apologise for.

"Hey." Jake said, his cocky smile suddenly reappearing on his lips. "Long time no see."

Rich nodded. He wasn't surprised Jake was pretending it never happened, but he was surprised Jake wasn't pissed. Wasn't he technically homeless now?

Oh shit.

Where had Jake been staying over the past few weeks?

He swallowed hard, and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Jake." Rich repeated, this time unsure of where he was going. It just felt nice to say his name.

"Rich." Jake cocked an eyebrow.

"Jake." Rich covered his mouth and his eyes filled with tears. Here was his best friend in the entire world, the one person who made him truly happy, in a wheelchair and completely homeless because of Rich.

He was such a shitty person.

The tears spilled faster than he could wipe them away, and Jake was clearly taken aback.

"Woah." He tensed, knowing they would have to face this eventually. He just wasn't expecting the conversation to happen so soon.

"I know you're mad, and you have every right to be, but you have to listen to me." Rich begged, taking a step forward.

"I'm not mad." Jake assured him, his gaze softening as Rich got closer. "Do you want?-...." With a quick glance down at his broken legs, he realised hugs were off the table unless Rich was to cling to him like a sloth and cuddle up to him on his lap. The thought made him smile. He wouldn't mind holding small Rich in his arms for a bit. Or for a while. He would hold him forever if he could.

"I lied to you for years about who I was because I wanted you to think I was cool. I set your house on fire and nearly burned us both alive. Because of me, you're now completely homeless and you've never done anything but be eternally good to me. I know I fucked you over so bad,"

"You didn't fuck me over, Rich..."

"I KNOW I fucked you over, but I really miss you. I know you never owed me hospital visits, but seeing Heere have Micheal and Christine visit him every day with cards and flowers stung so much worse than the fire did. Because I wanted nothing more than to see your face." He was sobbing now, ugly heaving, and his shoulders bobbed up and down with every breath he reluctantly drew in.

"I didn't visit you because I was in hospital too. Not because I didn't want to. Of course I wanted to see you, and to ask if you were alright, and to shake you by your shoulder for ever thinking you needed some shitty robot in your head to be cool to me. But I was recovering from a broken Tibia. I swear I would have come running to you were I able, with flowers and chocolates galore. I'd have put Canigalu's gifts to shame, dude!"

Rich mentally facepalmed. Of course, Jake was hospitalised too. The whole time he was stuck in that cramped white room with Jeremy, he thought Jake was too hurt to visit. And he was too hurt- but in a completely different context.

"Right." Rich nodded, biting his lip as he wiped some tears from his cheeks.

"Did you really think I was just ignoring you?" Jake asked, his deep, booming voice suddenly soft, almost at a whisper. Rich was enveloped by it, and he wanted to take another step closer to admire how beautiful Jake sounded when he was quiet.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, I never realised you jumped."

"I had no choice, the stairs were blocked." Jake explained.

"I know that now. I'm so sorry, Jake. I can never say it enough."

"I'm not mad about the fire, Rich. Or the wheelchair, or the shitty apartment I have to stay at that is DEFINITELY infested with rats some way or another... I'm not mad about any of those things. I'm just mad you essentially lied to me every day to be my friend. I don't know who you are anymore, dude."

Rich stared at Jake, their eyes locked together for longer than either of them were comfortable for. "I know, Jake. I don't know either."