Drowning - Jachary Havery

Chapter Nine

Four months had passed since Zach's funeral and Jack would be lying if he said he felt any better than the day he'd learned Zach's fate. Almost everything reminded him of the energetic mess that was his boyfriend, Jack still couldn't believe he'd had a boyfriend in the first place, so how was he expected to wrap his head around the fact that he was now gone. A year had been too short a time for anything to have felt like an eternity and, if Jack was honest, he felt like he'd been robbed.

"You right there Jack?" Dee's voice broke through his trance and brought his attention back to the room. He'd been staying at Jonah's a lot lately, at least when he wasn't visiting his sisters in Seattle or staying at the Seavey's house. His mum had decided to clean up her act a little when Sydnie had moved out, taking Isla and Ava with her. She'd become an empty nester and realised just how far she'd driven her children away. Now she called frequently from the rehab center she'd agreed to go to and it was enough to make Jack feel as though his entire world wasn't crumbling beneath him.

"Yeah, sorry, I just got lost in my head again. What's up?"

"It's your turn to answer, truth or dare Avery?" Jason quizzed.

"Uhm, truth?" Jack replied with hesitance.

"Do you think I'm hot?"

Jack was a little taken back by Jason's forwardness but took his time to answer the question. Jason had only recently been introduced into the group, he was one of Jonah's friends from back home. He had a certain quirkiness that made him gel welcomely with the group. They'd all met when Jason came running into Jonah's house one afternoon to tell him he'd gotten a lead role in a netflix show, an audition he had hesitated to even go to but was convinced otherwise by Jonah. Hence, the yelling and screaming as he paraded around Jonah's house, a constant stream of thank you's escaping his lips. Jason had actually been the first person to make Jack even kind of smile since losing Zach. He'd gotten into a heated discussion with Dee, which nobody ever did, and was actually an even match. Jack even considered naming him the sassiest of the group but knew Dee would never give up that title. That said though, Jason was much more than just some diva wannabe actor. He was kind and compassionate, always respecting the group's space when it came to conversations about Zach. he never pried too much but showed enough interest to still be respectful. He was probably the most emotionally intelligent people Jack had ever met and he admired that. Jack would admit he liked Jason, but not in that way...Zach meant too much to let go of just yet.

"I dunno, cute, I guess but I don't know if hot is the right word. You see, Jonah's hot because he's tall and brooding, chiseled by the gods and so, so edgy. You, however, are small, sweet and kinda sassy," Jack said, attempting to joke. Dee threw him a smile as she caught a glimpse of the Jack she'd come to befriend over the past couple of years.

"How dare you Avery, I am by far the hottest one here and don't even think about challenging that fact," Jason huffed in response causing everyone to let out a slight giggle.

"Ok, my turn..." Jack started.

"Jason, truth or dare?"

"Truth Avery, let's see what you've got!" he challenged.

"Do you think I'm hot?" Jack was only baiting, he wasn't actually interested in the answer...but then Jason's cheeks flushed bright red and Zach's face flashed across his vision. Their smiles were so similar and despite the pain, Jack felt in his chest, he still felt kind of ok.