(Flashback)
10year old Johnnie: hey guys, I got us these matching bracelets! Promise to wear them forever?
10year old Jake and Tara: okay!
(Present)
Jake and Johnnie were walking down the stairs as Jake was yapping about something before he stopped. "Jake, JAKE," Johnnie said as he snapped his fingers at Jake. "Sorry," he jumped. Johnnie smirked as he asked who Jake was thinking of. Jake whispered "Diana", a girl from their class. Johnnie turned to face Jake to see him smiling, looking at her as she laughed with her friends from afar. Johnnie looked down before excusing himself to the bathroom.
Johnnie's pov
I ran to the bathroom, holding back tears. I was going to run into a stall but someone pushed me back. Fuck, it was Brandon. "Where do you think you're going?" "Toilet..?" "Don't pretend you didn't catch me smoking, and I'm gonna make sure you don't tell anyone," "I swear I won't-" I was cut off when he punched me straight in the eye . He grabbed me by my collar before giving me a death stare, "you better not tell anyone," he whispered before pushing me against the wall and leaving. I ran into a stall and locked the door before falling to my knees, covering my face with my hands as I sobbed quietly. My eyes were already hurting enough from the punch, but it started to sting as I cried but I didn't care. Why me? And why am I so bothered that Jake has a crush? It's not like he's mine. Plus, he's straight and would never like me back.. why am I so stupid? I sat on the floor and curled up into a ball and cried my eyes out.
I don't know how long I cried for, but I was startled when someone knocked on my stall door. "It's taken," I mumbled, my voice cracking. I heard a sigh before they said, "Johnnie, it's me, Jake. Open the door," Fuck. Why was he here? Did he come to find me? I quickly wiped my tears and stood up before unlocking the door, letting him in. He pulled me into a hug before looking at me with worried eyes. I hugged him weakly before looking down. "Look at me, what happen? It's been like 30 minutes you've been here. Your eyes are all puffy and.. did someone punch you..?" he asked as lifted my chin to look at him as he cupped my face with his other hand. I sniffled and looked away without saying anything. I couldn't tell him. I just couldn't.
Jake's pov
I stared at Johnnie patiently, waiting for him to say something, but he didn't. I understood it meant he didn't want to talk about it. "Don't cry anymore okay?" I said as I wiped a tear that ran down his face. "Now, who did this to you? Who punched you? Give me a name. Now," I demanded. He shook his head and went to go wash his face with cold water. "Give me a name right now, I'm serious Johnnie please," I repeated. He just looked at me and back at his reflection in the mirror. I didn't want to be mad at him, but I was filled with rage. Who did this to him? Normally he would've told me. Whys he so afraid? We've been friends since kindergarten and he's never hidden anything from me. Who's he so scared of? I will make them pay. Badly.
I grabbed Johnnie's wrist before bringing him to the general office. After they applied medicine and so on, they let him rest for awhile. I sat beside him and sighed as I held his hand. " are you feeling better?" I muttered. He glanced at me before nodding slightly. Still won't talk huh? We sat in silence before the receptionist asked me to go and get Johnnie's bag and mine and to go back to our dorms. "Stay here okay?" I said before I went to go get our bags while leaving Johnnie with a box of medicine the receptionist passed to me.
~when they got to their dorm~
Johnnie's pov
"You can go back to class you know?" I muttered. "Finally decided to talk? Great, tell me who did this to you. And I don't want to, the receptionist said I could stay to take care of you, which I will. And either way, the bell is gonna ring in a few minutes anyways," he said. I hesitated before signalling him to sit next to me. He sat down next to me as I laid down on my bed. "If I tell you, promise me you won't do anything to him and that u won't tell anyone I told you, especially him okay?" I requested. "Promise," he said as he cracked his knuckles. I gulped. "Brandon," I mumbled. There was silence in the room. "Stay here and just rest okay?" He asked as me stood up. I sat up and grabbed his arm,"where are you going? Please don't tell anyone or beat him up.. stay with me please," I begged. He took a second before sitting back down,"fine"
I laid down as I closed my eyes and fell asleep. When I woke up, I sat up to see Jake coming out of the shower. Fuck, he looked so hot. Wait what? Snap out of it Johnnie. "You're awake,good morning," he said as me smiled at me. "I gotta go in a few minutes to film a music video, but don't worry I'll order deliver for you later, is that okay?" He asked as he put on his jacket. "Sure, but atleast dry your hair first, come here I'll do it for you," I offered. Fuck, why'd you say that? That's so weird. He chuckled before sitting down. I ran my fingers through his hair as I blow dried it while pretending I was playing with his hair. Soon after, he rushed out, leaving me alone.
Word count: 998
