Jay's P. O. V.
Just as I consider leaning in to let our lips meet, a phone rings.
Ben pulls both of our phones out of his pockets where he's been holding onto mine. "It's yours, your sister is calling. We probably should have called her back a bit earlier."
I grimace and chew at my lip. "Do you want me to answer?" He asks, searching my eyes. "You can." I say.
He watches me a moment before answering. "Hey Alexa. Ben again." I zone out of the conversation and try to keep my eyes open as they start to droop. Honestly I'm so exhausted I feel like I could drop off with the snap of a finger.
"Yeah. Is it alright if I talk to him and call you back?" I catch Ben say. "Okay. Bye." He hangs up and turns his attention to me.
"Let's get to the bedroom first." He suggests. I stand on shaky legs and manage to make it down the rest of the hall with only a few trips.
Eventually I collapse on the edge of the bed and try to regain energy to my weary body. He climbs up next to me. "We do have to call her back you know."
I nod slightly. "I just would rather not." I say with a sigh. I grimace and bring a hand to my throat. My voice has become rough and crackly since I've woken up on the couch after the movie and now it's hurting too.
Ben grimaces too at the sound. I shorten my sentences and try again. "Put her on speaker and help me out?"
He nods. "No offense, but your voice sounds absolutely dreadful. I'll grab a paper and pen so you can write what you want to say and I'll read it."
He dials her number and sets the phone on the bed in front of us, handing me the writing supplies.
"Hello?" Lex answers. "Hey." I crackle out and earn a glare from Ben. "It's both Jay and I, his voice sounds like crap as you can hear so he's going to write if he wants to say something." Ben says, shooting me a pointed look.
I chuckle but it turns into a coughing fit and I have to lean over from the force of it. I feel a hand rubbing my back as I catch my breath and I look over to find that Ben's expression has softened.
"Yeah, you really don't sound great; you need rest so I'll try not to keep you too long. I just need to tell you that I'm on your side here. I know that both dad and mom are acting terribly and are not even moderately to terms with your sexuality."
I grimace. I'd known for sure as heck that dad wasn't, it just hurt a little more to know that mom was taking his side for sure. Ben notices my expression and catches my eye, mouthing "Are you okay?" I nod and wave him off. He doesn't look overly convinced, and really has every right to be considering I just lied.
Lex continues after a deep breath. "Just because I grew up in the house with them doesn't mean I share their views. I'm on your side here, and I'm going to do everything I can to help you out. I'm at a cafe right now so you don't have to worry about them hearing any of this. I'm going to try to bring most of your stuff over this week, which shouldn't be too hard since they're working all the time." I can practically see her rolling her eyes.
"I'm crashing with a friend for a few weeks while I apartment search, then we'll both be free of their homophobic asses." I smile softly, looking down at my lap.
Ben speaks up. "Jay, I also want you to move in with me permanently, at least for a while. There's no sense in you worrying about a job or finding a place while your health is bad anyway."
I glance at the phone but Lex makes no comments so I can only hope that she assumes he just means this cold or bug or whatever this is.
I switch my gaze back to Ben and let the rest of his words process. I give him a grateful smile, pulling him into a tight hug.
And honestly? His warm arms are one of the best feelings in the world. Maybe things are looking up after all.
Ben's P. O. V.
Jay hugs me and ends up falling asleep on me.
I smile fondly and finish the call with his sister, just to have my own phone ring. Jay shifts and whimpers in his sleep from the noise, but thankfully doesn't wake.
"Hello?" I say in a low tone. "Hey Ben." I recognize Emerson's voice. Before I can respond words are flying from her mouth in a jumbled, hurried mess.
"I feel really bad asking this but is there any way you can come to the bookstore? I'm at the end of my rope here; I've got four customers lined up at the register, a shipment that needs to be signed for and shelved, and another two people asking questions about where things are or events. Raina called in sick today so it's just me. If you really can't I understand, I mean Jay's sick and-" I cut her off.
"I'll figure something out, it's fine. I'll try to be there in a bit."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, don't worry about it. I'll be there soon. Bye." I hang up and bite my lip as I look down at Jay's sleeping form cuddled up to me.
"Jay." I say gently, tracing patterns on his arm to wake him. He mumbles incoherently and hides his face in my hoodie.
"Hey, I need you to wake up." He pulls his face up and blinks groggily at me. "Whatdoyawant?" He slurs sleepily.
"I have to go help Emerson at the bookstore for a bit, do you want to come along or stay here?" I ask unsurely. I really don't want to leave him alone, but he would probably get no rest at the store anyway.
"Jus' wanna sleep. Leave me 'ere." He mumbles, promptly shoving his face into a nearby pillow.
I bite my lip. "I really don't want to leave you alone..." I trail off.
"I'm going to leave your phone right by you. Will you promise to call me when you wake up?"
"Pinkie promise." He slurs, and I stifle a laugh.
He flops his arm into the air with his pinky raised, but it quickly hits the sheets again as he dozes off.
I smile and brush the hair out of his face before putting some medicine out for him.
I tuck him under the covers and scrawl a quick note. 'Call me when you see this, you pinky promised. ;)'
I set it by the medicine and smile again before crutching out. I make sure to grab my phone and head outside into a cloudy, windy day.
The streets have just begun to pick up in business now that it's afternoon. Couples and families hurry about from store to store, pausing between to explore stands that have been set up on the sidewalk.
There's a slight chill in the air that indicates that fall will soon be nipping at summer's heels, and I can't help but wonder what events it's going to bring along for the ride.
Although I'm supposed to be in a rush, something about the crisp air makes me slow down for just a moment and observe the things around me. I greet a few people at stands as I crutch along, and get warm smiles in return.
Old Darren is at his produce stand as usual, and he greets me with a crinkly smile. "Hello Ben. I haven't seen you around in a while." "Hey Darren. How's business going?"
"Oh same old. Before you know it I'll have Gertrude out here again with me selling the fall pies." He says with a grin.
He leans in as if telling me a secret. "She's been getting a little restless back home, but she insists that a broken hip isn't going to slow her down and is as busy as ever." He shakes his head with a fond smile. "I can't bring her back out to the stand quite yet, but she's baking up a storm in the kitchen anyway. She's a stubborn one. At least she's nearly healed. I don't know what I'd do if she tried this right after she broke her hip." He says with a chuckle.
"Oh, that reminds me," he continues, "I've got a few things for you from her."
Darren turns to a wooden crate behind him and pulls out a bag positively stuffed with cookies.
I let loose a small chuckle and he gives me a lopsided grin. "She's got to have someone else to spoil besides me." He says, handing me the bag.
"Well thank her for me." I say with a smile.
"Will do. Say hello to everyone at the shop for me." I give a nod and stumble away on my crutches, trying to hurry as I remember the predicament Emerson has found herself in.
I throw open the door of the shop, the bell overhead resounding as I scan over the surroundings.
I quickly move my way past a few customers to Emerson, who is simultaneously ringing up a sale and answering another customer's question.
She spots me and her face melts into an expression of relief. I slide behind the counter next to her.
"I've got these customers, you go sign for the shipment and start stocking the shelves." I say, sitting on a nearby stool and finally giving myself a break from so much movement.
My arms are getting a bit sore but I shake them out and ring up customers as Emerson rushes around putting things away.
Eventually the amount of customers waiting slows to a manageable trickle and she finishes with the shelves.
She slumps over the counter next to me with a sigh.
"At least that's done now. I'm sorry for making you come down here, but I do really appreciate it."
I give her a smile and glance at my phone again, the same thing I've been repeatedly doing over the last half hour. I know he's probably just sleeping, but I can't help but worry a bit.
Emerson draws me out of my thoughts when she curses under her breath and groans. I follow her gaze out the window to find an ex of hers just across the street.
I grimace at the sight and turn to her. "He probably won't come in." I try to convince her.
She shoots me a look. "Oh he'll come in. Only because he knows I can't beat his ass in here with all the customers around. This isn't the first time I've seen him hanging around."
I purse my lips when, just as predicted, he saunters up to the door smugly and comes in. He immediately comes straight to the counter.
Emerson speaks through clenched teeth. "Hi Trenton. Can I help you find something?" He looks casually around and I wonder how he's so comfortable when Emerson's steel gaze is piercing into his soul.
It's quite a surprise that he'd even attempt to come in when I know she would punch him with no hesitation given the slightest opportunity. She's never lacked the strength for it either.
Her gaze doesn't waver as he leans against the counter.
He eyes her up and down. "Oh, I'm just reviewing the merchandise."
She sets her mouth in a line before saying, "We don't sell the hoes you're looking for. Try the strip club a few streets over." She saunters away from the counter.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave." I say, and he turns his gaze to me with a glare before finally stomping out.
I let out a sigh and call across the shop. "He's gone."
She slides back behind the counter and I voice what's been on my mind. "You should just get a restraining order."
"Oh, I'm working on it." She mutters with a huff.