A Hint of Color (boyxboy)

Chapter 13

Taylor calls me a little after Jude leaves, then texts me.

Is Jude still there? Everything okay?

Jude left. He's fine.

What about you? What happened with Jacob?

I don't want to get into it right now.

We're all worried. Come over here or we're heading to your place.

Sighing heavily, I know there's no winning with him. Taylor acts like he's my parent sometimes. He does a better job of it than my own mother and it's annoying.

Fine. I'll be there in 10.

I pull my jacket on now that it's later at night and getting chilly. I've sobered up a lot, but not entirely, so I walk to Taylor's house.

It's in the same part of town as mine, so it doesn't take long to get there. He answers the door and leads me to the basement where everyone is hanging out.

Nadine and Evynne look up from where they're lounging on the sofa and give me suspicious looks.

"Damn, he really got you..." mutters Evynne.

I roll my eyes and sit on a chair, crossing my legs. "It's literally just a scratch."

"Can you please explain what happened?" asks Taylor. "You said you weren't coming to the party, and then you show up for Jacob?"

"You said you weren't talking to him," said Nadine, frowning.

Shifting uncomfortably, I say, "It's complicated."

"How so?"

I cross my arms. Looks like I can't avoid telling them. "He's been... asking to start things up again, you know what I mean? He's incredibly persistent."

"What, like pressuring you?" asks Taylor.

"What did he say?" asks Evynne.

"You don't need to know the details." I'm definitely not explaining everything to them when they'd just freak out. "It's fine."

Taylor is still standing, narrowing his eyes at me. "Did you forget what happened with him last year?"

"Of course not," I say, annoyed. "Can you stop interrogating me?"

Nadine reaches over and puts a hand on my arm. "We're not, we're just worried."

"I'm in control of this, okay? It's not like he's going to hurt me again. Whatever happens or doesn't happen is my choice, not yours."

They all stare at me for a long moment, and I look down.

"He already hurt you... tonight," says Taylor, breaking the silence.

"It was my fault, though."

"Ross, there is no way--"

"I provoked him. I was mad at him so I provoked him, okay? It's not like he attacked me." I sigh, frustrated. I know Jake wouldn't actually hurt me. He's not like his friends.

Taylor shakes his head. "It doesn't matter, Ross. You don't deserve to be hurt by him. He needs to leave you alone."

"It's not up to you!" I snap, standing up.

"Calm down," says Nadine. "We're just worried."

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself. I don't need you to tell me how to deal with Jake. You don't even know him."

Taylor rolls his eyes. "We do know him, so stop defending him."

"I'll defend him if I want to. I can do whatever I want with Jake, and it's none of your business."