You are not alone

You're not alone

Ashton and I got along great, and we'd been spending a lot of time together. We became really close, but I still liked Jace, and spent most of my time with him. We all became our own little group, and everything for once was great, and felt good, it felt like this is where I was meant to be.

Jace and I decided to go out for a walk and sit and talk. I loved our talks, I wished I could always talk to him one on one, with his full attention.

We walked for a while, exchanging small talk here and there, until we got to the top of a hill that I didn't even realize we were climbing.

"You want to sit at the top?" Jace asked, as we walked to the edge.

"Yeah, we can sit and talk."

"We've been through a lot together." Jace said, as we sat down on the grass. It was nice, it was warm and peaceful.

"We have, we built this lgbt center from nothing, and we got through me having a squish on you... but we've become closer than ever recently, and that makes me happy."

"Yeah, our friendship is doing great, and the lgbt center is working out well, I'm proud of you."

"I'm not the only reason that lgbt center works... I needed help from all of you."

"It was a team effort."

"Yeah, the best team I could ask for. And the center is doing great, I even heard that businesses are thinking of making more of them in other places too."

"That's great. Think of how many people that will help."

"Yeah, and the money will help us keep this one running."

"And make it even better."

"This turned out to be something great."

"It really did."

There was a pause, where we just sat next to each other, and occasionally looked over to each other.

"So how are you feeling? Last time we really had a private conversation, you weren't doing too great."

"Yeah... I don't really feel that way anymore. I don't feel like I don't have anyone anymore. I know I have you to talk to, and Ashton is asexual, so I know I have someone that's at least a little like me."

"That's great, and I'll always be here for you."

"That's good, because you're the one I can talk to about whatever's going on."

"I'm glad, I want you to be able to talk to me." Jace said, with a smile. He paused for a minute, then moved closer to me.
"I know you don't like hugs, but I'm going to give you one. You've been strong for a long time, and I want you to know you don't have to be anymore, because I'm here."

Jace finished speaking, and started to put his arms around me. I flinched when he first made contact with me, but I really didn't mind him hugging me. I didn't really embrace him back that much, but it was actually kind of nice.

"I'm so lucky I found you, and everyone really."

"You're not the only one that's benefited from this friendship." He said, as he removed one of his arms from the hug and left his other across my shoulders.

"Yeah, but I've actually became more comfortable with things, like hugging... Before I met you, I never would have let anyone hug me like that."

"I'm glad I'm an exception."

"You are, you're pretty much the only exception."

"Well, at least there's one person you can hug and be close to."

"Yeah, and that's all I could ever ask for."

"I'll always be here for you."

"Jace?" I asked, looking up into his eyes.

"Yeah, Ari?"

"I don't feel alone anymore."

"Ari, you're not alone anymore."