When it Stops Hurting (Royce)

5

Chresanto's P.O.V.

I watched curiously as Jacob's friend, Elijah, waved at me. They were in the lunch line, I sent a small wave back. There was something about him, Elijah, he was really perky and upbeat. Everytime I see him, he's always smiling, I've grown to wonder if he's ever anything but happy. My thoughts were cut short when the two sat across from me. It's been a few days since I've first discovered we all attended the same school, I was surprised when Elijah sat down in front of me, pulling Jacob along with him. I played it cool after coming to this realization, when in all actuality I was downright nervous. I found Jacob really attractive and I didn't want to say anything that might throw him off.

"Hey" Elijah said cheerfully, he cocked his to the side, "you okay?"

I nodded, trying not to stare at Jacob for too long. I know I had just met him a week and some days ago, but I constantly found myself thinking about him. He looked fragile, but yet again, he looked like he could hold his own. "I'm okay" I answered, I opened my bag of strawberries.

"Do you have any siblings?" Elijah asked.

"Yeah, an older brother, he goes here actually" my eyes began to scan the cafeteria, I frowned when I couldn't locate him in the bustle of teenagers. "I'm not sure where he is exactly, but yeah". I ate a strawberry, watching Elijah perk up.

"Does he look like you?"

Jacob chuckled, "what a decent way of asking him if he's hot". He looked at me, "can I get one of those?"

I nodded, holding the bag open for him to take a strawberry. "Not really, we don't look that much a like at all" I stated, I watched Jacob bite into his strawberry and I wondered what it'd be like kissing him. Woah. Okay. Slow down. I mentally face palmed myself.

"What'cha thinkin' about?" Jacob asked curiously.

It was my turn to blush, my cheeks flushing from embarrassment. "Nothing" I answered. "You're still going to tryouts right?"

Jacob nodded, "yeah, if I don't I'm gonna have to hear it from him".

Elijah scoffed, "oh, please". He absentmindedly began to play with Jacob's hair, running his fingers through his bundle of curls. "Don't act like that, boo" he said.

"Boo?" I said in slight confusion, furrowing my eyebrows in the process.

"He calls everyone boo".

"Mhm" Elijah hummed, smiling at me.

"Oh".

~~*~~

"Oh, shut up!" Elijah exclaimed, "no one wants to see your junk, man. I may be gay, but I do know how to control myself. Damn". I glanced over at him, he was talking to a guy who I didn't know. "Believe it or not, you're not that good looking, stop flattering yourself". I chuckled, shaking my head at his statement, I opened my locker and began to change into the clothes I brought for basketball tryouts. I sat on one of the locker room benches to tie my shoes.

"At least he's not trying out for track" I heard Jacob say, I looked over to find him nudging Elijah, he took his shirt off and put on a white T-shirt instead. His gaze met mine and I wondered what he was thinking as he walked over to me. "Nervous? You know, for tryouts?" He asked curiously.

"Just a little bit".

"I'm sure you'll do fine, but good luck".

"Thanks, same to you".

My hand was suddenly grabbed and I was pulled up by Elijah, "I take it you're excited?" I asked curiously. He nodded, pulling Jacob and I from the locker rooms and to the bleachers. It seemed that we were the last to sit before one of the coaches began to explain to us how tryouts were going to be held for the next few days. Everyone who was trying out for track was instructed to filter outside to the track, Jacob and Elijah stood up and sent me one more good luck. I grabbed Jacob's hand before he could leave, "before you go, I just wanted to tell you not to trip over any hurdles" I informed.