truth or dare (jachary)

Chapter 12

jacks pov 🍜

i have to leave zach's house early this morning. in the morning we made pancakes for his sister then sat on the couch to watch cartoons. i told him i had to go meet someone for coffee. which isn't a complete lie. 

every year, the volleyball team does this really extra thing where on the big valentine's day game, they have every player get someone's name stitched on the back of their special pink valentine's day jersey. at the end of the game, they go around and "interview" the players. its pretty dumb if you ask me, but i always pick a random girl so i don't get benched. then the date will get a matching jersey with the player's name stitched on it. all of them i threw away. they meant nothing to me. 

but not this year.

i'm asking zach. the only problem is that no one on the team - or school for that matter knows about my sexuality except for corbyn, zach, and daniel. and every time i think about outing myself to the entire school like that, i have a breakdown. i mean everybody will be there. my parents, zach's parents, the majority of the student body, the entire team, the staff. i need somebody to help calm me, come up with a plan and help me go through with it. 

that's why i'm going to meet jonah for coffee. he's perfect. he knows zach better than anyone else, and he's basically everyone's supportive big brother. before i'm mentally prepared i'm parked right at the front of the local coffee shop. i see jonah so i get out of the car. 

as i approach him he gives me a confused look. he sees how nervous i am and i haven't even told him why we're here yet.

we order and sit down. i clear my throat nervously. i already know he's going to be supportive of my sexuality and he'll know whether zach likes me or not. right? 

"so, uh i need your help with something. something important."

"okay. yeah, anything." jonah half smiles and takes a sip of his coffee. 

"but first i have to tell you something. something that almost no one else knows." 

"okay. i'll help you with anything, just say it. you're scaring me." he put his cup down and is staring me in the eye at this point.

i inhale deeply, and before i know it the words are pouring out of my mouth. "um, well I'mBisexualAndLikeZachAlotAndHeProbablyDoesn'tLikeMeBackButIWantHimToBeMyDateForTheValentine'sDayGameButDon'tKnowHowToAskHim" i stared down at my coffee cup and jonah was completely silent. 

i looked up to him. his eyes were wide as if something had just clicked in his head. "woah" 

"w-what" i said, my voice small.

"you like zach?" he said, smirking now.

"oh. yeah. i know he probably doesn't like me back, but i just thought maybe-"

jonah laughed. "are you kidding? he's had like the biggest crush on you since basically forever."

my entire body grew warm and fuzzy at the thought of that. "really?"

jonah was grinning.

"oh. so will you help me?"

jonah ended up driving me to the school so he could make sure i didn't chicken out.

my hand was shaky as i wrote the letters for the jersey: h e r r o n

~~ time skip ~~

the game is this weekend. as in, two days from now. i've been so stressed lately about everything. what will the team do when they find out? how will zach feel when i out him? my parents? what if he says no? and my grades are slipping. and, on top of all out that, i'm worried about zach. he's coming out to his parents tonight.

i walk through the door, not in the mood to interact with anyone. but alas, my way too peppy mom caught me before i could go upstairs. "oh honey guess what came in the mail?" i turn around with wide eyes as i see her holding my jersey. "sorry for being nosy. i couldn't help myself. i had to see who the lucky lady was." my mood was going down and down. "hmm. herron. i don't think i know a girl at your school with that name."

"yeah. there isn't one." i replied full of sass. i'm not in the mood to keep this conversation going. so i reach out to grab it from her hands. she pulls it away.

"oh. what school? you should invite your girlfriend over before the game for dinner."

my dad walked up behind her. "yeah why haven't you told us about her?"

my anger boiled over. "MAYBE BECAUSE ITS NOT A HER! EVER THOUGHT OF THAT?"

both my parents gave me a concerned look "sweetie, i'm not quite sure we understand."

"I'M GAY" i shouted. "THAT JERSEY? ITS GOING TO A GUY BECAUSE I'M GAY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW?" tears were filling my eyes.

my dad squinted at me. "son? is this some type of sick joke? because its NOT funny."

my mother hit him lightly. she spoke, her voice soft. "honey, look. we understand the stress you're under with the game and your grades, but this isn't the answer. jack, we know you. this isn't you."

"REALLY? THIS IS THE MOST ME I'VE BEEN IN A WHILE. AND MAYBE THE REASON I'M SO STRESSED IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN BENDING OVER BACKWARDS SO YOU WOULDN'T FIND OUT. BUT GUESS WHAT, I DON'T CARE ANYMORE. IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT ME, SCREW YOU." i reached into my bag, pulled out the tickets and threw them at my parents. "come. or don't. i'm staying at zach's."

my mom's voice broke. "zach . . . herron." it was more of a statement than a question. i took a deep breath and snatched my jersey and backpack and ran out the door. it was pouring rain. just my luck. tears streamed down my face as i dialed zach. no answer. i dialed jonah. 

my voice broke when he picked up. "jonah?"

"woah. whats wrong?"

"m-my parents found out."

"and they kicked you out?" jonah sounded angry and protective.

"not really, but-" i looked over my shoulder and saw my mom and dad through the window. my mom looked sad, but my dad looked angry. i broke down and sobbed through the phone. 

"i'm coming over."

before i knew it jonah's car pulled up and he jumped out of the car and hugged me. i looked over his shoulder towards the window and saw her mouth 'that's not zach' before my eyes filled more tears and i got in jonah's car. 

we talked all through the night and he stayed home from school with me the next day. i knew coach would kill me, but i didn't care. 

thank god for jonah.

A/N

SHIT WENT DOWN.

YOU GUYS SAID YOU WANTED LONGER CHAPTERS, SO HERE YA GO!

ALSO MY PHONE IS A LOSER AND BROKE SO IMMA BE UPDATING ON THE COMPUTER FOR A WHILE!

ALSO I LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING SO PROLLY NEW UPDATE TOM