All The Ways We Touch [MxM]

seventeen - search results

As he and Jack crossed the campus for the science hall, Elliot had to do everything in his power not to break out into a run. His gut told him that Jamison wouldn't be there anyway, but he didn't want to lose all hope. Though if Jamison was willing to skip class over his feelings, he'd really have to start to wonder if there was any hope left.

While they waited for the class to start, he looked across at every student who appeared, his eyes burning from the lack of sleep and near-constant crying. When Jamison didn't show up before the door opened, he waited just inside the hall, thinking that maybe he'd intended to sneak in after he'd entered. But this was not the case and he gave up getting a seat in the process.

Jack had tried to talk to him but the only thing he could hear was the ringing in his ears from clenching his teeth so tightly that his jaw throbbed. It didn't matter anyway, he didn't want to hear anything he could say. While he'd been a remarkably calm presence, he didn't have the answer he was looking for.

They split off as usual and Elliot went down to the clearing, begging the universe that Jamison would be there, treegazing and waiting for him with a smirk. When he wasn't, he sat down on the fallen tree and broke back down, resting his forehead against his knees as he sobbed. After he ran out of tears, he gathered himself and went to class, if for no other reason than distraction.

After school, he stopped by his apartment and after begging the door to open, left for The House. Wren would've reached out, unless she was being loyal to Jamison, which would've been understandable given she was Jamison's friend first.

Entering, he frowned at the sight of her alone. "Any sign of him?"

Shaking her head, she came out from around the counter and enveloped him in a hug, not only for his benefit but hers. This ordeal had really shaken her up, not to mention hurt her knowing that Jamison didn't come to her for help.

"He should be here, right?"

"Yeah," she whispered. "He didn't call out or anything either."

When he pulled away, he looked down at her, and let out a heavy sigh. "He was also a no-show at the gas station yesterday, but wouldn't just choose to jeopardize his livelihood. He's made a huge point of telling me he can't pay rent without both jobs. Something has to be wrong."

"Elliot, I'm sure he's okay," Wren said, her brows pinching together in worry, betraying her attempt to calm him.

"But I can't find him," he whispered, his voice hoarse from how dry his throat had become. It'd been difficult for him to keep up with eating and drinking while he was consumed with such severe anxiety. "Where else could he be?"

"Tell me the rest of the story." Going back around the counter, she quickly poured him a cup of coffee.

"I got shirtless," he said, taking it from her. "He wanted to go swimming but he just kinda panicked once he saw me. Like, he just kinda froze and looked me over and then started puking before running away. That's it, that's the whole story." She didn't need to know what Jamison had said to him.

"Jesus," Wren said, wrapping her arms around herself in a tight hug. "Gay panic, huh?"

"That's the only explanation that makes sense," he said, taking a long drink of the coffee, the hot steam making him start to sniffle again. "How much do I owe you?"

"It's on the house. Just..." she shook her head. Telling him to keep calm was futile and unhelpful. "He's probably fine, Elliot. He's super mysterious, remember? Maybe he has family or other friends we don't know about. Or a secret treehouse in the woods or something."

He nodded, though he knew that wasn't the case. His heart ached like something bad had happened to him. While he tried to chalk it up to his fear of the situation, it just felt too real, almost as if Jamison was calling out to him for help on some other plane of existence.