From The Other Side

23. revelations

TW: slurs, violence, and homophobia.

TWENTY THREE
revelations

Freshman Year - Sophmore Year

August met Jay during their freshman year, both of them in the same athletics period. People immediately flocked to him, because he was just that guy.

The guy whose smile was unfairly contagious. The guy that was six feet tall and had a presence that attracted all different types of attention: good and bad. So it was no surprise that August fell for him, and fast. So fast, he didn't even realize his feelings until it was too late, and he was in so deep that it would take more than a shovel to dig him out.

August saw him as the most beautiful flower in the garden, one that he couldn't even fathom picking in fear that he'd crush it. But it didn't matter in the end, because Jay saw him too. He dug him out from the root up, ripped him from the safety of the flowerbed, and killed him like the weed he deemed him as.

It wasn't always like that, though.

Jay befriended him on the dawn of the second semester. "You're the only person I haven't had an actual conversation with yet," he'd said.

To which August thought, yeah, because I avoid the team at all costs. It wasn't personal; it was just that August had never been good with people.

                     Despite his inner speech, however, August simply replied, "You're not missing out on much."

                      Jay had just laughed and shook his head, as if August told him a hilarious joke. But the awkward truth was that he was right; he wasn't missing out. He was just some average guy with an average life, and an above average ability to play baseball. August wasn't going to pretend to be humble and brush off compliments as if they were just random words—August was good, and he was damn proud of it.

                      The next time he spoke to Jay was at a house party after a successful game, the whole team and plus ones crowding inside one of the player's houses. It was big, filled with expensive items, and August thought two things. One, anyone could steal any of the shit that was kept in the open. Two, anyone could break all the shit that was kept in the open. (August wasn't going to lie, he stole a cool pen from an office when he was looking for somewhere quiet to relax.)

                     August was watching two of his teammates get shitfaced playing beer pong when Jay approached him. He jumped when he felt an arm lock around his shoulders and shake him, and when he looked up, Jay was beaming brightly, pearly whites on display. He was like the perfect guy. Too perfect.

                    "What's that?" he asked, tapping his finger against the rim of August's plastic cup. He leaned down, invading his personal space, sniffed it jokingly before straightening up again. "Water, how boring."

                      August frowned, glancing down at his drink. "Is it boring to not want to destroy my liver?" he asked, rubbing at his elbow awkwardly. He was insanely close. Almost too close. It sent August's heart rate to the stars.

                       Jay hummed, arm sliding off the blond's shoulders, fingertips brushing the back of his neck as he did so. August shivered, felt a spark run up his spine, but he ignored it. It was most likely an accident. "Guess not," he replied. His hand dropped to August's back, and he smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners, gave his head a curious tilt. "I had some alcohol. I'll need some water soon." He looked down at the cup clutched in August's hands. "Mind if I have some of yours? The kitchen is packed."