The American Elite (COTE X OC)

The Love They Share 🍋

JACK POV:

I was standing outside of Suzune's dorm room. I took a deep breath. I was going to tell her everything about my past. She would tell me about hers as well, but I'm worried about how she'll react when she hears about all the horrible things I've done. I knocked on her door.

Soon enough she opened the door and signaled for me to enter. I did so and slipped my shoes off, she closed the door behind us and locked it. We both walked into her room before sitting on her bed next to each other. We both just sat in an awkward silence, neither of us even moved to hold hands, which we always did.

Suzune: You don't have to do this if you do not wish to.

I shook my head.

Jack: No I do... It's just... Difficult.

I took a deep breath.

Jack: Well... Ask away I guess.

She nodded and immediately asked her first question.

Suzune: Whose the boy in the picture on your nightstand?

I smirked at her.

Jack: Someone's prepared.

She crossed her arms.

Suzune: You should know that I'm always prepared.

Jack: Of course you are.

I said with a small smile

Suzune: Well? 

She quickly adopted a slightly softer tone.

Suzune: You don't have to do this...

Jack: It's okay. I want to.

I took a deep breath.

Jack: His name is Henry. He was my best friend when I was little. He's actually the one who introduced me to soccer. I was really close with his family as well. Remember when I said my grandfather taught me Japanese?

Suzune: Yes. You said that on the first day to Ayanokoji-kun and I.

Jack: Well... That was kind of a lie.

She raised an eyebrow.

Suzune: It was?

Jack: Henry's grandfather was the one to teach me. I considered him to be my grandfather too. I don't know any of my biological grandparents.

Suzune: I see... But, you're speaking in the past tense. As though you two are no longer friends. Did you have a falling out?

Jack: No uh... He uh...

I felt a tightness in my chest. I've never told anyone about Henry or talked about him like this. I never really vocalized what happened, or how I felt about it. I just internalized it and it deteriorated my mental health.

I brought my knees to my chest and then wrapped my arms around them. Which is something I often did as a child.

Jack: He's dead.

I rested my head in between the gap between my legs like I was hiding from the world. My eyes were still peaking over my legs though, so I could see Suzune's reaction.

Her eyes widened.

Suzune: What?

Jack: Yeah. He got shot.

Suzune: What on Earth happened?! How did he get shot?!

I'm not that surprised by this reaction. To those outside of the U.S., shootings are nothing but dystopian horror. Unfortunately, in America that threat is all too real.