Escape || an LGBT+ story (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 23

A vague ringing from afar. Jake searches for his phone with his hand, too tired to open his eyes. 'Yes?'

'Hi, Jake.'

He glances at the screen. An unknown number. The numbers are dizzying him. 'Who are you?'

'Lara.'

'I don't know you.' 

'Of course you don't. It's not like you ever visited your friend in the hospital, so how could you possibly know his nurse.'

'Has something happened to Joshua?' Jake shoots up. Please, no...

'No. He is wondering why you never come to see him though.'

Jake stays quiet.

'Nothing happened to Joshua, but something did happen to his crush.'

'Who's his crush?'

'You should know, or you are really dense.'

'No, I don't. What do I have to do with Joshua's crush though?' Jake sinks back into his pillow. 

'You assaulted him.'

'Him? I'd never assault a b-'  Suddenly, Jake's memory returns to him. How he had been drinking, almost no more tears left to cry, reliving every painful day of the past, feeling like he should just have killed himself back then. And then Jay came, and she looked at him with that care in his eyes, making him want to live, and it felt like home, and he needed her so bad. But she... she rejected him, and she left him, like so many people he once trusted did, like his parents did.

Jay was a "he" indeed. He recalls the phone call he got from Joshua, right when he was breaking down. Jay is trans, and he is Joshua's. 

But Jake couldn't have known, right?

'Oh... I remember.' he mumbles.

'Okay Jake. Get out of bed and dress yourself. I'm coming to pick you up and treat you to some better drinks than alcohol.'

Jake groans. 'Do I have to?'

'I guess you really have no sense of responsibility. Be grateful that Jay didn't charge you. In fifteen minutes, at your apartment. Be there.' Lara hangs up.

***

Jake sips his Ice Tea in silence, glancing at Lara.

Lara looks back at him without blinking.

Cherry red hair in a ponytail, with bangs. Her eyes are blue, with full lashes. Maybe halfway her twenties? Too old for him, he likes younger girls. But even if she were younger, he still really isn't in the mood right now.

Lara puts her glass -Ice Tea as well- on the table. 'So, you remember.'

Jake nods slowly, feeling an ache in his chest. I can recall it very vividly, unfortunately.

'And you have the audacity to look me in the eyes like you didn't do anything?'

'I was making a move. I didn't know she- he belonged to Joshua.'

'Are you playing dumb or are you really that much of an idiot?'

'What? How could I have known?' Jake frowns.

'Even if Jay were single, or if he were a cis girl, that doesn't mean you can just kiss and touch him however you want. Ever heard of consent?'

'Yes, but I didn't do anything more than touching her chest- his chest, usually I don't have to ask for permission to do that.'

'Maybe because you usually do it with girls who actually show interest in you? You didn't meet Jay in a bar, he didn't approach you, nor did he give you any hints that he would be okay with you doing that. He told you to stop. What you did is called sexual assault, and he can charge you for that.'

'Then why didn't he?' Jake asks.

'Not my place to tell you.' Lara shrugs. 'Anyway, you need to let him go now.'

'You know, I really like her- him.' Jake blurts. 'She was different, with her I wanted more than just having sex. She made me feel like there was someone on this d*mned planet who cared for me. But in the end, she didn't.'

'Wrong pronouns four times in a row. It's "he". Get that through your head. And what bullsh*t are you even spitting out? He didn't care about you? Caring for you doesn't mean he will do anything you desire. The question that you should be worried about right now is whether you ever cared about HIS feelings.'

'It... it was the alcohol.' Jake mutters.

'Blame it on the booze. That's the shittiest excuse I have ever heard. Admit it, you have no self-control.'

'Self-control?' Jake plays with his glass. 'No, I don't.'

'You need to learn how to control yourself, Jake. Have you ever been to a psychologist?'

'A lot of 'm.' Jake sighs and sips his Ice Tea again. 'They couldn't help me. There's a close friend of mine who keeps an eye on me though. But he was working.'

'Actually,' Lara says, 'I find you quite pitiful. No self-control, no real love, no friends...'

'Hey, I do have friends!' Jake objects.

'And if they find out about what you did? You lost Joshua already. That is why you should always put bros before hoes, my dude.'

That just stings Jake even more. 'I don't know. I really don't know.'

'Well, just so you know, since you have my number now, you can call me anytime if you need someone to talk to.' Lara offers.

Jake sighs. 'Okay, thank you Lara. I will consider it.'

Maybe.

***

Word count: 830

***

The way Jake tries to twist the entire story to make himself seem like the victim- real offender mindset right here :/