"Where do you want to go first? Aquarium? Land? Desert?"
"I want to see the turtles."
"Land or water?"
"Water I guess."
"This way!" Jase pointed a finger to the path on the left.
"You know I've never actually seen a turtle."
"Really then why is it your favorite animal?"
"Do you know that kids story about the tortoise and the hare?"
"Uh yah."
"Well the turtle keeps going even after the hare is far ahead of him. He doesn't just give up. I wish I could do that."
"Well first of all, that story is fake."
"I know...urgh....let's just go see the turtles."
"We need to take a right up here."
"Roger that!"
"So what are we exactly?"
"I think we're the gray area."
"I think I'm okay with that."
"Good. Because I did say that I wanted to take it slow."
"I know. I know. But am I allowed to flirt?"
"Uh I guess. I sort of want to see you flirt." Jacob let out a little chuckle. It was the closest to laughter that he has had in at least a week.
"Hey there." Jase winked flirting. And immediately he started laughing.
Jacob too started laughing, this time it was a full on stomachs clenching laugh though.
"I love how you can do this. Making me laugh when my family has cancer. It's amazing." Jacob straightened up.
"Well I'm flattered."
"Umm and there's something I need to tell you."
"I sort of thought there was something you were keeping from me. With the saving costs on phone calls, hanging up a lot, and so on. What is it?"
"I have...ca...can...cancer."
Jase stared straight at Jacob. He was petrified and unable to talk. He was so close to crying.
"The good news is that they caught it early, so they should be able to cure it. They caught it when my mom had us all get tested."
"I'm so sorry."
YOU ARE READING
Coming Out Hotline
Short Story"Call me Story, because I'm your story." "You're definitely going to need a lot of work, and I'm here to be your reporter." "I think I'll enjoy that." "Bye Story." In which two boys 'coming out' call a hotline. Cover made by: @meiflowerr
