Him and His Hoodie

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

       "You seem a lot happier than normal," Ryder said as I walked into the kitchen to get something to eat for dinner. Mom and Dad had gone out for dinner, which meant that I had full access to the bacon. Most of the time, Dad wouldn't let us touch the bacon. Now was the perfect time too.

       "Because I am going to cook bacon and eat it without Dad stopping me," I said. "Why else would I be so happy?"

       "You tell me," Ryder said. "Because right now isn't the only time you've been so happy. You've been like this the last couple days."

       "Because... bacon?"

       Ryder chuckled. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I just wanted to know if you've actually been happier."

       I wanted to hide it but I couldn't actually when I thought of the reason that was making me all happy. "I may be kind of happy," I said, heading to the fridge's freezer to get a pack of bacon out. "For... certain reasons."

       "Okay, I know I said you don't have to tell me but I know that smile you have," Ryder said. "It's not something that's making you smile. It's someone, isn't it?"

       I knew there was no point denying it to Ryder for various reasons. One, I was a horrible liar. And two, Ryder was, as he called himself, an expert with love. He could tell when two people liked each other and basically anything that had to do with relationships.

       "That's a high possibility," I said, taking a pack of bacon out and placing it on the counter as I turned to face my older brother. "I may or may not have a boyfriend..."

       "What? Nolan, that's great," Ryder said. "It took you and Jerome long enough."

       "What makes you think it's Jerome?"

       "Dude, you already know I know you have a massive crush on him," Ryder said. "Like huge crush. Like you probably wouldn't ever fall for anyone else because you've got it bad."

       "Okay, I get it, I'm crazy for him," I said before I realized something Ryder said. "You said it took me and Jerome long enough. Does that mean...?"

       "Yes, I knew he had a crush on you," Ryder said. "A huge crush. Like he wouldn't shut up about you. At all. He tried not talking about you with me around since he didn't want to out you to me, but I'm a very good eavesdropper. And he didn't really know how to shut up about you."

       I couldn't help but smile. "Really?" I asked. This whole time, I thought I had such a low chance with Jerome but apparently, he talked about me all the time and now, he was my boyfriend. My secret boyfriend because only Ryder knew I was gay, but my boyfriend nonetheless.

       "Yeah, really," Ryder said. "It got annoying and sickening. You're my brother and to hear all the 'Oh, he's so amazing and attractive and his eyes are so blue' was gross."

       I just shrugged as I started cooking the bacon I got out because bacon. I just hoped Dad wouldn't get mad at me for having a whole pack to myself.

       At least, I thought I was going to have a whole pack to myself. As soon as it was made, Alan, Orchid, and Tulip came into the kitchen after smelling the delicious food and took some without even asking me.

       I got left with only two pieces, so now I was in my bedroom sulking. I made that bacon just for me and cooking one pack was pushing it. If I cooked another, that would definitely get Dad mad.

       To make me feel a tiny bit better, I went to the drawer of my desk where I stashed all the food I bought with my allowance, but I felt like sobbing once I saw there was nothing left except for butterscotch candy, and that wouldn't be enough to fill me up.

       I already spent enough time making bacon. I didn't want to make anything else but I was starving.

       I flopped on my bed, feeling very moody but not too long later, it sounded like there was a knock at my window. I ignored it until I heard it again so I got up and walked over to the window. I pushed the curtains to the side and opened the blinds, seeing Jerome crouching on the roof underneath the window.

       I opened the window all of the way before asking, "What are you doing?"

       "Coming to spend time with you," he said, holding up a cloth bag. "And I brought food."

       "Okay, two things," I said. "Thank you for the food because my siblings ate all the bacon I made so you literally couldn't have come at a more perfect time. And why on earth are you coming inside this way? You're allowed through the front door. You literally walk through the front door at times without asking."

       "I know but I felt like this was more romantic," he said.

       "More cliche, more like."

       "Awe, come on, you find it sweet."

       "Only because you brought food."

       "Well, anything to put a smile on that cute face of yours," Jerome said, which of course made me smile. "Now are you going to let me come in our not?"

       I took the bag from him so it was easier for me to help him inside. Once I placed the bag on the ground, I held his hand and helped him get into my room through the window. He really should have gone through the front door but I didn't bother questioning Jerome. At times, he could be very weird.

       Once Jerome was standing in front of me, he gave me a smile. "Hi," he said.

       "Hi," I said, smiling back even wider. I was even feeling a bit breathless just standing by him. I was just really glad I didn't even have to try hiding my feelings for him anymore.

       "So... Food?" Jerome said, about to grab the bag but I stopped him.

       "I think that can wait for a few moments," I said before pressing my lips on his, and he kissed me back.

       I thought I wouldn't have wanted to come out for a long time but... Being with Jerome now actually made me want to. I wanted to tell my family how happy I was. How happy Jerome made me.

       And surely they wouldn't be mad about it if I was genuinely happy.

       Right?

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how dare they eat the bacon nolan made >:(

but awe jerlan <3

(ps go to my instagram laetithewriter and vote on my story for the ultimate boyfriend/girlfriend poll)(there's only one final round)(and not so surprisingly only princes made it to those rounds lol)