Two Player Game

~Chapter Fifty~

They get back to the hotel. Jared sitting in Evan's arms as they talk quietly about the situation.

"I.....I did try to.. Y'know." He hates saying it.

"... Do you want to talk about it?" Evan just strokes his hair.

"I need to get it out. To someone who wasn't.. my dad.."

"... I'm here, Jared, what happened?"

"I... it happened. My dad found me and, drunkenly, drove me to the hospital.  Only to abandon me there.. the only time he came was to bring me back home." A few tears fall.

"H-he left me there. I had to pay the hospital the money. We didn't have insurance. So I stole from him to repay. He beat me for it.. I was just a freshman."

"Jared, baby... I'm so sorry..." he doesn't know what to do but hold him and listen.

"I....I had tried again.. junior year. This time, he didn't even bother to take me to the hospital... It was Zoe who did." He clutches him a little tighter. He started going out with Conner that year. The only thing Jared will absolutely not tell unless he asks, is that Conner was the trigger to the second time.

"... Jared, promise you won't do it again. Not while I've got you. You live for me and I'll live for you."

"I-I promise. I love you too much to do that." He kiss the top of his head.

"Thank you, Jared. I love you too much to lose you." Jared pauses.

"You have your flight. You don't want to miss it." Evan kisses his temple. If he could he'd just say screw the flight and stay, but... He can't. Jared is going to miss him so much. Miss being in is arms, kissing him... He gathers his things and then he pauses.

"Jared, I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Ev." He drops his bags and holds his arms out.

" I don't want to leave." he sounds like a little kid. He doesn't care. Jared takes his arms in his.

"I don't want you to either but you have to."

"I know. I know. Why did I have to go all the way to Wyoming?" He's really upset. "I'll call you when I get home."

"Please do." He kisses Jared's forehead.

"Guess... Guess I'll go."

"Ev, uh, I'm sort of your ride to the airport."

"Yeah, I know." He's shaking only slightly. "saying that more for myself frankly, I gotta... Yeah. Gotta be ready." He nods and they both go to get in his car. Evan is quiet all the way to the airport. Today was a disaster and he just wants to go back to Jared's dorm and have him hold him, but he can't. Jared reaches over and takes his hand, smiling a little to try and comfort him. Evan just looks at him with tears in his eyes and says

"I love you. So much."

"I love you too.." He leans over and kisses him slow before parting and mumbling

"I'll miss it if I don't hurry." Jared hugs him quickly before Evan goes to board his plane. Michael eventually texts Jared.

M: [Did he leave yet? how ya holding up, buddy?]

Ja: [Yeah he did... I need to leave before I start crying in public.]

M: [come on back to the dorm, you can cry to us. Come let us love you, we'll try and help]

Ja: [Alright. I'm on my way back.]

M: [dont cry till you get here, it's hard to drive through tears]

Ja: [Im trying not to. I also shouldn't be texting and driving.]

M: [Fuck, you're right. just drive]

Jared drives back to the dorm to Jeremy and Michael. Rich isn't there. Michael holds his arms out.

"C'mon buddy, snuggletown. Population: you." He takes the offer, laying down in Michael's arms.

"It'll be okay Jared."

"We had a really deep talk before he left... I don't think that was the right way to end it..."

"Aw, dude. I'm sure it'll be okay, he's crazy about you. If this is a rough patch, it'll get better."

"I hope."

"Trust me, it will." Jared lays his head on Michael's shoulder. He's very comfortable.

"Don't worry about it too much. Doing that'll make it worse. Jeremy, you find out where Rich is yet?"

"Nope. He hasn't texted me back."

"Mm. Alright. Well... Yknow what I do when I feel bad, Jared?"

"Eat?"

"Okay, yes, but that's not what I was going to say you prick." He smiles a little.

"I was gonna say I watch disney movies on Netflix until I feel better, but yes, I also eat my problems away."

"Why can't we do both?"

"That's the plan, but I wasn't gonna say it out loud..." that's what they do. They sit in a giant blanket, the three of them, and watch Disney movies while eating pizza they ordered.

"See? This is comfort. Definitely comfort." Then in comes Rich to ruin things probably. Not intentionally, but he does walk right in and hold a hand up, and declare

"I'm gonna get to see Jake all the goddamn time, we've got classes together."

"Good for you. We're trying to watch Disney movies" He stops. He assesses the situation and slowly says

"Am I missing something? What happened?"

"Evan left for Wyoming."

"... Oh." now he feels bad for bringing up the fact that he gets to see Jake all the time when Jared can't see Evan all the time. "Uh... Sorry."

"It's fine. Congrats."

"did- you guys are okay though, yeah? It's all good." He's trying to be comforting. He is not aware of what happened earlier.

"He's not like LEAVING. You're the only one that puts your hands on him and stuff." He's just digging a hole now. Michael can feel his embarrassment.

"Rich, dude -"

"It's fine. We're still together."

"Right. Cool. Nice."

".....Do you want to come watch Disney movies with us?"

"Uh no, I uh... I just came to get some stuff, I'm... I'm going to stay at Jake's."

"Are you guys a thing now?"

"No, not really, but uh... He invited me, so I figured might as well."

"Huh, well. I hope you get some tonight Rich."

"Me too, buddy." Rich grabs his stuff and he's off the Jake's dorm. He's got a two-person dorm but the other guy isn't ever there. He opens the door and grins.

"Richie."