Similar Yearnings

Ch. 18

The group let's out a heavily sigh as Jake goes into his room.

"We have to tell Dirk, besides the week is almost up so Jake is probably less sane than ever. If we don't do something now, we are all practically screwed," Dave says.

Everyone agrees and follow Dave as they take a walk down the block to his house. When they arrive they find Dirk sitting on the porch staring at the sky with no sudden movements. Dave runs over to him as fast as he could and stops before him. His brother slowly turns to him without a word as Dave takes a breath in and shouts.

"Dirk! We have something's to show you! And if we don't act now Jake will literally die!"

"......what?" He says quietly as he regains his senses and stands up.

They drag him inside and reveal the recording to him and the photos of the files that they had discovered under Jake's bed.

Once all was revealed he sat back on the couch as everyone awaited for his response. He takes another look at the photos and relistens to the recording, but stops after the name Jack is introduced.

"Jack....."

"Dirk could he....could he...be?"

"He's the one....he was there when it happened...." Dirk runs his hand through his hair and closes his eyes as a memory flashed before his eyes of his Bro's death. He remembers the scream. The fear. The name being shouted into the atmosphere. He clenches his fist and stands. "I won't let him hurt Jake...."

"Dirk the week is almost over...what do we do? This guy is practically following us everywhere and knows our every move," Dave says.

"Not everywhere," Rose says as she lifts a finger up.

Everyone turns to her in confusion until Roxy jumps up smiling.

"That's right! But first we have to kidnap Jakey,"

"Leave that to me..." Dirk says.

"What? Dirk are you sure?" John asks.

"Yeah..."

"Dirk...can you please be..about gentle when confronting him...?" Jade asks.

"I dont know..." He states bluntly.

"I mean it...Dirk...look I know you took the break up..too hard I can see it in your body language....and face..even though it's always stoic like...but Jake...he's...been quiet, he won't eat or sleep at all within these passed few days...I can hear him crying in his room now....Bec keeps whining and scratching st his door concerned....!" Tears swell up in her eyes. "I'm scared for him! Hes not the jake that used to play on our island before we came here! Hes not the jake we all know and love! And hes definitely not the jake you fell in love with! He's crying for help! And i don't want him to keep suffering on his own anymore...!" Her voice quivering as she cries into her hands.

"Jade...."

"There's something else Dirk..." Dirk turns to his brother who stares at him from behind his shades. "When jake came home...and walked by Jade's room.....I smelled blood....fresh...like from a fresh wound..it wasn't so strong so I know the wound isn't big....he's killing himself inside and out. And his sanity is almost gone. You're the only one to get him back to normal..."

Dirk stares down and clenches a fist. He takes in a deep breath and sighs. "I'll try...I can't promise anything....I'm not in a good state of mind myself....but I'll try," he says.

"Good! Now meet us at my place! Me and rose will be there at the front door! And I'm sure that the guy will be following, but try to lose him okay?"

"Got it," he says with a nod, but deep inside he was unsure as to how he will confront the British boy without putting too much pressure on the both of them. And not only that they were being watched. "I k ow what to do..."

Late that night, Jake laid on his bed huddling on his bed with his arms around himself. His eyes filled with a dull gaze and his skin a bit paler due to his health declining. He lets out a shaky breath as his voice quivers a bit.

"What do I do now...?" He asks himself.

"Nothing stupid," he jumps up at the sudden sound of a familiar voice and turns to his ex-boyfriend. Dirk.

"D...dirk...w..what are y..you doing here?" He gets up quickly.

"Jake.....i know..."

"What...?"

"I know everything....Jake...."

Jake's eyes widen realizing what he meant. He turns around and clutches his head and crouches to the floor.  "No...."

"Is all of thst why you broke up with me?...."

"Dirk...please..." His hands shook violently as he covered his ears.

"Jake please...look at me..listen to me..." He slowly approaches him and kneels before him. "First...I hate the fact that you lied..i hate that you hid this...from not just me...but everyone else too....and i hate how you think you can keep doing what you wish without it affecting anyone! Because that's not hoe it works!"

Jake trembles jumping as his voice raises.

"What....could have i said....?!" He shouts. "Just tell you and the others that either choices i make could kill us all and destroy everything around us?! Tell you that I know who killed your family and allow you to run off to risk your life for revenge?! Cause that's just who you are! You wanted me to repeat those dreadful words that man had said to me?!"

"Yes Jake! Just tell me the truth!" Dirk shouts back. Jake looks up at him and grabs his shirt.

"How?! How could I even bring myself to do so!? I just wanted to keep the others from getting involved! To protect everyone! Is thst so wrong?!"

"No of course not...what's wrong is thst you tried to do this on your own without taking into consideration of anyone's feelings to your actions! And what's also wrong was that you deliberately tried to fucking do it on your own!" He grabs onto his shoulders and stares at him.

Jake stares back and despite his shades blocking their gazes he could feel the intense stare of his ex-boyfriend.

"Jake we are not weak! We are not helpless! And we certainly will not allow you to do everything alone! We care too much to just sit at the side lines and let you handle everything on your own! Just accept our help please! Accept us! Accept me! Is thst hard for you....?" He releases him as Jake releases his own hands from his collar.

"Dirk...I..."

"...Dave was right....I smell it..." He removes his shades and looks down to Jake's arms. "Jake...what did you do...?"

"Nothing...it was just from training...." He says quietly.

"Bullshit...!" Dirk grabs his arm and forces his sleeves up revealing numerous aligned cuts that seemed recent and deep. He stared at them for what appeared to be the longest. His eyes wide without the ability to look away. However, Jake could only look away and keep his gaze to the side as tears began to well up once more in his eyes.

"Why...?"

Jake looks at him.

"Why did you do this....?" Dirk asks his voice trembling.

"I couldn't find...anything else......I'm not okay Dirk....i never was and never will be...."

"Jake....you fucking idiot....!" He holds his arm and pulls him into his arms and forcing a kiss to his lips. Jake stares with wide yes as he looks at Dirk who keeps his eyes opened a bit, as tears slowly fall down his cheek.

'Dirk...I'm....sorry....for everything.....I'm not good enough for you...i never was...and now.....' Jake couldn't resist any longer as he wraps his other arm around him and kisses him back with the flow of a waterfall down his cheeks. And from behind the curtains far out the window a man in black watches the empty slot before his camera as he curses to himself.

"Tch...damn Strider..." He hisses awaiting for the blonde to make a move.