The Pastor's Son

Failed Crushes and Tears

Joanna and Isaiah head up stairs and into Isaiah's room. He can't help but be glad to have such an amazing little sister. She understood her brother's life, his emotions, and what kind of people he deals with.

They sit on the bed. Silence fills the room for a moment. Isaiah couldn't tell if Joanna didn't know what to say, or if she could tell her older brother needed a moment of silence.

"What happened?" Joanna ask.

"Well, we got to the coffee shop. We were both pretty quiet. I made an effort, I payed, tried to talk to him, but nothing seemed to work. He got a call, I don't know who it was from, but their conversation ended and he seemed more cheerful. Cheerful in the sense, he was smiling, but he kept ignoring me. He got a text. Then said he had to go and left."

"Okay, so, he was just being a jerk the entire time?"

"Yeah," It made Isaiah feel sad.

"Well, it sounds like he ditched you. And you lied for him," Joanna gives her brother a stern look. "Why?"

Isaiah didn't know what to say, "I don't know."

She didn't reply for a couple minutes, "Isaiah," she starts, "I love you, bro. And I know for a fact, that my brother knows why he did something. So, why? I mean, I know you're gay," she thought for a moment. "Do you have feelings for him?"

He just quietly nodded his head, and the tears started coming. Joanna leans over and hugs her brother.

Isaiah was able to mumble, "He's possibly going on a date with Leah."

"Shhh," She hushes her brother.

Once again, a painful silence fills the room. The only thing that can be heard is both of them breathing, and Isaiah sniffling.

Joanna takes a deep breath. She hated see him cry. "It's okay, we'll think of something."

That brought the comfort that Isaiah needed at that moment.

................................................................................................................................................................

Jayden says, "See you tomorrow, Sam. Thanks for lunch. How much was my half? I'll pay you back tomorrow."

Sam checks the receipt, "About 6 bucks," she rounds.

"Okay, well, I've got to head inside."

Jayden jogs into his house, he walks inside through the front door. As soon as he gets inside, his father's voice fills the room.

"Where were you?" Mark sounds mad.

"Ummm," Jayden couldn't think of a good excuse.

Carly sighs, "Isaiah got back from your hang out."

"He ratted me out?" Jayden was fed up with Isaiah.

Mark chuckles, "That's the funny part. He told us you weren't feeling well, and that he dropped you off."

That caught Jayden off guard, "He lied for me?"

Carly nods, "He shouldn't have, but he did."

'This doesn't make sense. He's perfect! Why would he lie for me?' Jayden couldn't make sense of the whole situation.

"Well, he won't be doing any of that anymore. From now on, if you say you're hanging out with him, we'll make sure that's what you're doing. No more ditching him for your other friends. You should treat him the same," Mark rants.

Jayden rolls his blue eyes, and make his annoyance obvious by saying, "Ugh!"

Carly doesn't stand for it, "Oh, by the way, you're grounded for a month. And during this time, you can't hang out with your friends on the weekend unless it's Isaiah."

Jayden mumbles and grumbles the whole time while walking up to his room. He flops down onto the bed and calls his friends over video chat. They both respond.

"You look mad. What's up, grumpy?" Noah teases.

Sam was with him, so, she seems to know, "Get caught for ditching Harden?"

"Yep, and i can't hang out with either of you over the weekend for an entire month. I can only hang out with Harden," Jayden huffs.

"Oh, that's gotta suck," Noah responds, "Sorry, dude."

Sam decides to bring up something happier, "On a much happier note, Lance and I started going out," In her excitement, she fails to notice Noah's pained expression.

Jayden notices, though. For as long as he's known them, it was pretty obvious that Noah has feelings for her. Not to mention, Lance Writings is on his soccer team, and was well aware of Noah's feelings.

"I've got to go," Noah used his dyed red hair to cover up his tan face that was dripping with tears from his grey eyes. He hung up without an explanation.

Sam was clearly oblivious to his feelings, "What was that all about?"

"No idea, I'll try and ask him," Jayden says.

Sam waves goodbye, and Jayden tries to video chat with Noah, but he doesn't pick up. Jayden even texts Noah in a separate group saying that he was worried and that they could talk about it. But he doesn't respond. This is a mess.