Friends with Benefits • A J2 Story

Chapter 26- Jared's Pov

"That's it. You are no longer going to that school," my father yells.

"Dad!" I whine, clutching my head in my hands. I've been awake for roughly two hours now and my forehead was still pounding. Jensen was beside me, rubbing the tension from my shoulders, and Misha was beside me, holding my hand in a comforting manner- nothing romantic about it.

"I'm serious, Jared," my father responds, his voice edgy, "No buts about it."

"Sir?" Misha pipes up. Normally he wouldn't be as intimidated as he was, but my father was obviously already pissed. He ignores the glare my father gives him before starting again, "We only have two months left before the end of Senior year, so maybe it wouldn't hurt for Jared to stay for the rest of the semester. We'll keep a good eye on him, we swear."

I was taken back for a moment. Only two months left of high school? Not once have I thought of college since this all started. Shouldn't I have known that already, considering about half the class has had to have at least entered an application for a college by now? I notice my mom's worried look as she watches me.

"Honey," she starts as if she knew what I was thinking, "Your father and I have been thinking for weeks now. We think that it'll be best if you took a skip year before college. A lot has been going on lately and college would only cause more stress for you."

"What? No, you've got to be kidding. Jensen and I are going to college, we're gonna graduate together," I protest. It had always been my secret dream of my boyfriend and I graduating college together from the same university.

Jensen shifts awkwardly beside me, looking everywhere but me. It suddenly clicks causing a frown to play against my lips. He wasn't gonna graduate. I knew his grades were low, but they couldn't possibly be low enough so that he couldn't graduate. He finally caught my eye, but the look was sorry, proving my theory. I hold his hand with the one Misha wasn't holding as if to say 'it's okay'.

"I still don't think you need to go to that school, even after all this," my dad continues arguing. I take my eyes off of Jensen to where my father stood, tall and confident.

"It's only two months, dad. I can handle it..." I say, not entirely sure about the last part, and my dad knows it. Why did my parents have to know me so well?

"Like you handled today? Jared, you came home unconscious!" He spits. I almost curl into myself by the tone of his voice, but I stay still, averting my eyes anywhere else, "I'm just trying to help you, Jared."

"I know," I mumble. I can feel the two boys beside me, squeeze my hands in encouragement. I let out a sigh, "Just.... it's two months. And besides, I know now who to stay away from."

"Fine, but I'm calling the school telling them to switch your classes. I want you with Jensen or Mitchell in every class."

"It's Misha," The black haired boy states from beside me. He was smiling though, just as much as I was. Not only am I going back, I get to be with my boyfriend and best friend.

"Whatever. I just hope that if you all are together, then the kids who did this to you, will back off, and I have no doubt Jensen would make them back off too." Jensen cracks a smile at that. My dad turns back to me, "But if this happens again, then that's it."

We watch as he storms away back to the room him and my mom shared. I lean my head against Jensen's shoulder, my head pounding again. He presses a soft kiss to my cheek. From the side of the room, my mother clears her throat, making me remember she was there, "I- uh invited Misha to stay with us for awhile, Jared."

I look quickly at Misha in an apologetic way. I had promised I wouldn't tell anyone, but it sorta slipped one day when I was talking to my mom. She was nice about and promised not to call the cops on Misha's parents for abusing him, even though she thought it wasn't right. Words flow from my mouth in a rush, "I'm sorry Misha. I know I promised to not tell a soul, but it-it slipped. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not mad. Thank you for worrying about me," he says sweetly. He holds my hand tighter to reassure me it was okay. I visibly slouched in relief, so glad he wasn't mad at me for breaking my promise. I turn to Jensen, pleading for him not to be mad at me either.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want to make Misha upset, and-" I start, but he silences me by pressing our lips together. I melt into the simple gesture, his arms being the only thing holding me up. However, it ends quickly.

"I know, and I don't blame you for keeping it from me. You were being a good friend," he whispers. His breath was hot against my skin, tickling it slightly. Forgetting Misha was sitting right next to us, I pull Jen in for another kiss. This time it was a bit rougher, but Jensen is the one to pull off again.

Turning around, I see Misha staring at us with a small smile. I give him one back. He asks softly, "How are you doing?"

"My head still hurts, but it's a little better now. My chest and ribs kinda ache too," I admit, feeling the small bruises that layered my skin. Jensen looks up, making sure my mother was gone- she went after my father- before shedding my shirt off. Just like I expected, bruises and knots covered my tan skin, discolor in it to a purplish color.

I notice Jensen's eyes start to water as he looked at me, so with a gentle hand I cup his cheek. I needed him to know it wasn't his fault this happened, that we would be alright. He leans forward, pressing his face into my neck as he let silent tears out. After a few moments, he sits back up as if nothing had happened.

I lean back into the couch, Jensen and Misha doing the same, with Jensen's arm around me and my arm around Misha. We sat like that for the longest time, all of us just thinking quietly to ourselves.

It's an hour later when I hear the soft snores of Misha beside me. He had his head propped onto my shoulder, his mouth slightly agape, with a hint of a smile. I was happy to see him sleeping.

I remembered back to when he told me he couldn't sleep because of all the worrying. The worry of school, his parents, me. After he told me that, I was upset for being part of what's making him stay up all night. I never said anything about it though, afraid it might add another thing to his problems, so I kept quiet and helped him every way I could. In the mornings, when Jensen was still in his depression over his parents, I would help Misha put makeup on to cover the bags under his eyes. He slept now, at least, making up for all the nights he hadn't.

I look to the other side of me, where Jensen sat. He was deep in thought, his mind in a different world. I wonder what he was thinking about. He catches my eye, smirking at me. I give a small smile back, leaning my head against his shoulder like how Misha was doing to me.

"Why didn't you tell me people were picking on you," he says softly, also aware that Misha was asleep.

"Why didn't you tell me you were failing school?" I say in response. He sighs heavily but hesitates before he answers.

"'Cause that didn't matter," he says. His voice was deeper, filled with something I couldn't make out. Disappointment? Anger? Exhaustion?

"It does to matter," I say loudly. I shut my mouth quickly as Misha stirs beside me. I mentally slap myself as I pray for him not to wake up. How could I be so careless when I knew he desperately needed sleep? We both wait for a few minutes, and when I'm sure he's back to sleep I start again, in a whisper, "Jensen, school is always important. I could help you, and I'm sure that if you study really hard you could get your grades to at least a passing letter. And I be-"

"Jared, stop. There's nothing we can do. I-I'm not smart like you. I can't possibly get a C in all my classes in only two months," he tries to explain.

"Yeah you can, if I help you, we can. I know it."

"I don't need your help," he snaps. I freeze at those words. He closes his eyes, regretting his words, "I didn't mean that, Jared. I- Just forget about it okay? It doesn't matter. It's impossible."

"Nothing's impossible," I grumble to myself. Even though I was a little upset, I lean back into his arms, closing my eyes from tiredness. I couldn't sleep, so as minutes passed I started thinking.

I mean I knew that if Jen tried, he surely could pass his classes, so why was he giving up already? Just the thought was hard. All I wanted now was to get him his diploma for the end of this year, and that's exactly what I was going to do, whether he liked it or not.