Loving Myself

Chapter 4

I was released from the hospital three weeks ago after spending two days there. I was released early Monday afternoon. Must to Drake's disappointment I made him go to school Monday morning promising that he could pick me up when I was released. Drake and Archer stayed the whole weekend with me. Archer had also helped talk D into going to school that morning. I was allowed to attend school two weeks ago per dad.

Drake, Archer and Bianca visited every day and always brought me my homework so I didn't fall behind. They would usually hang for a few hours before going their homes to do their own work. With Kevin and his two idiot friends, all three were brought up on charges and are in sitting in jail awaiting trial.

"Jace, is there anything going on between you and Bianca?" Jacob asks me as he joins me sitting on the couch in the living room after dinner.

Glancing over at my brother in confusion I ask, pausing the movie I'm watching, "What do you mean, Jake?"

He sighs heavily while looking at his fingers that are in his lap. "Are you two more than friends, like do you like her in a sexual manner?"

I can't help but laugh at him. "No, she's my friend and if you remember I'm gay not bisexual," I manage out in gasps. "If you like her ask her out, bro."

Jacob glances up at me with his cheeks tinted pink. "You think she'd go out with me?" he asks quietly.

"Yeah, she might she always seems even more shy when you're around if that's possible." He nods and agrees to ask her out tomorrow at lunch.

The next day at school the morning drags on and on with people staring and whispering about my face. Finally lunch time arrives and Drake meets me at our lockers before we head to the cafe.

"Dude, I cannot wait until the warmer weather so we can surf," Drake says as we grab our food and sit at our table. Grinning over at him I agree, surfing is another sport that Drake, my family and I enjoy together.

Jacob sits down at the table with us, nervously waiting for Bianca to arrive, who usually does with Archer and Julie; smiling at my brother as he picks at his food until she arrives.

Clearing his throat he gains Archer and Julie's attention but Julie ignores him while she yammers on to Drake, who really isn't listening to her. "Um, Bianca, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute in private?" he stumbles over his words causing her to giggle. She nods and standing with Jacob and walking over to the doors that lead outside. They talk for a few moments before returning to the table both grinning brightly as they sit next to each other. Sliding Jacob his tray I can't help but smirk at him when he mumbles thanks to me before continuing to talk to her.

Drake gives me a confused look as he takes in the sight of Bianca and Jacob, so damn close that if Bianca was any closer to him, she would be sitting on his lap. I giggle at Drake's confusion and I whisper that I'll explain it to him later and he nods.

Finally the end of the day rolls around. Heading to my locker instead of finding Drake there to give me a ride home, I find Archer. "Hey man, what's up?" I ask quietly my nerves kicking in.

"Hey man, Drake has a doctor's appointment right after school that he forgot about." I open my mouth to ask why he didn't say anything to me about it in our last class, but Archer cuts me off. "He had to leave in a hurry and couldn't wait to let you know, so he asked me to take you home."

Archer looks nervous now. "I hope you don't mind because I don't mind giving you a ride home."

Smiling softly as I feel my face flush a deep red. "No, I don't mind at all. We're friends after all," knowing damn well that I'm terrified about riding alone in a vehicle with my crush. Archer smiles broadly, his nervous completely gone.