𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐲 ✔️

8. The aftermath

Two weeks had gone by, each of the boys silently suffering. Jack cried himself to sleep every night, scared of who he was, having an identity crisis. Zach had stopped regularly eating, staying in his room almost all the time.

He was in critical condition, his weight plummeting down. He was on the verge of anorexia, his clothes becoming baggy on his weak fragile body. He has grown pale, and almost unrecognizable. The boys would try to talk to him, but he would barely say a word to any of them.

Corbyn

I couldn't believe what was going on. I was so confused, as for once, I had no idea what was going on. Well, I had a rough idea. It was quite obviously something to do with their feelings for each other. I can't let them go on like this, watching this train wreck commence right before my eyes. I have to do something. I have to.

Cornyn began crying, becoming frantic now. "I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!" he shouted through sobs. Jonah heard Corbyn and came rushing down. As soon as he saw Corbyn, he immediately scooped him in to his arms, running his fingers through his fake blonde hair to calm him down.

"Shh, it's ok" Jonah whispered, before brushing Corbyn's hair from his face, leaning down and kissing Corbyn's forehead. "I should've done something sooner. It's all my fault Jonah. I knew, and I did nothing. Stupid me, letting stupid nature take its st-stupid c-course" he said, before breaking down again.

Jonah held Corbyn for a few moments, until he registered what Corbyn had just said. Jonah looked at him, confused as to what he was on about. "WAIT, what do you mean?? Do you.. Do you know what's going on with Jack and Zach?!?" Corbyn looked up at Jonah, fear and regret in his eyes.

Would Jonah be mad? Would he think Corbyn was an awful person too? "Y-yes. I'm sorry" Corbyn said, pulling away from Jonah's embrace. He didn't feel like he deserved Jonah's comfort. "I just- I didn't know what to do, or to say, I'm sorry. I didn't even know if it's what I think it is, I'm just so so sorry Jonah, please just forgi-"

Jonah cut the devastated Corbyn off by pulling him back in to his arms. "It's ok Corbyn, it's not your fault. You were his confused, don't blame yourself. Whatever went on between them didn't have anything to do with you, you're not the one to blame. Please, just forgive yourself". Corbyn nodded, still crying in to Jonah's shoulder.

It pained Corbyn to see two of his best friends in such a bad state, but it hurt Jonah even more seeing Corbyn the way he was. Corbyn may have thought he knew everything, but he didn't know one thing. Jonah had feelings for him. Jonah was the only one of the guys who could hide themselves from Corbyn's perceptive gaze.

Daniel had been sitting at the top of the stairs, watching the whole thing go down. He scoffed, seeing Corbyn in Jonah's arms. That should be him holding Corbs. It should be him comforting him, holding him, kissing his forehead.

He mentally facepalmed for not going down moments sooner, before Jonah did. Well, there wasn't much he could do about it now. He huffed and stood up, not wanting to watch the sickening sight anymore. He walked off to his room.

"Corbs.." Jonah said, after a few minutes of silence after Corbyn's crying had calmed down. "I think you need to tell me what's going on between Jack and Zach". Corbyn looked up at him, and nodded. He sighed and sat upright.

"They're both gay. Each don't know the other is gay,and they're both in denial." He decided to leave out the fact they were in love with each other, each unknowledgable about the other's feelings. "Oh" Jonah said. His face lit up. Although what he was hearing was sad, he couldn't help but feel relief wash over him hearing the news that he wasn't the only one in the band who liked boys.

A weight lifted off his shoulders. His pansexuality suddenly didn't feel like such a burden. "I'm going to go check on Zach, try and get him to eat something." He seized his opportunity and kissed Corbyn's cheek before going to the kitchen and getting some watermelon. He knew it was baby steps, and also that watermelon was more or less 80% water. He was severely worried about Zach being dehydrated, and came to the conclusion Zach's limited knowledge of water content would be in Jonah's favour when secretly trying to get Zach's health a bit better.

Jonah twisted Zach's door knob, fully expecting it to be locked as usual, but, to Jonah's suprise, it swung open. When his door opened Jonah stood there in shock for a moment, before realising he should step in before Zach finds a way to push him out.

He quickly swooped in to his room and closed the door behind him. He looked around, trying to see Zach, before he noticed a tiny lump under the messy sheets of Zach's bed. He walked over and peeled the sheets off his small body.

Zach looked pale and ill, his bones starting to show. He wore one of Jack's hoodies; what he had secretly been wearing for the past two weeks. He smelled slightly bad. Jonah decided he desperately needed a shower. Seeing Zach in such a bad state broke his heart in two.

He reached his arms under Zach and pulled him up bridal style, before sitting him upright on his bed. Zach looked into Jonah's eyes, a small glimpse of desperation in his own, silently calling out for Jonah's help and comfort. Jonah ran in to Zach's bathroom and started to run a warm bath.

He came back and presented Zach with the watermelon he had brought for him. Zach said nothing, but he shook his head in displeasure. He didn't want to eat anything. He would throw it up.

"I'm not taking no for an answer", Jonah said, lifting up the light boy and placing him on his lap. Zach was very weak, so he couldn't protest. Zach reluctantly began to eat watermelon, being fed by Jonah. Jonah couldn't help but feel a small pang of hope hit his chest.

Would the boy be ok? Would he get better? He remembered the bath he was running and quickly ran to turn the tap off. He came back and helped Zach take the hoodie off. Zach looked sad to part with it.

He looked down at the grey sweats Zach was wearing. He'd take those off in the bathroom, as he didn't want him naked yet. He was so weak he needed to be carried to the bathroom. Jonah lifted him on his back, giving Zach a piggie back.

Jonah was carrying him to the bathroom when he heard a knock on the door. Zach's eyes filled with fear. Jonah walked over to the door and opened it to see Jack standing there, his face red and puffy.

Ooh what's Jack there for?!?! Finally introduced our Lord and saviour jojo to the story! I think this is the longest chapter yet, feel blessed. Opinions on the story, and Jonah?? Love to read your comments! (Seriously puts a spark into my sad life)