Chapter 16~ Decorations and Cocoa

~Jack's P.O.V~

For once in my entire life, I wish I could babysit just a little longer. Denver would have told me anything I wanted to know. It was just him and me.  I also used my newfound authoritative voice, I could have gotten him to talk to me about it. But nooo, the other two weirdos had to come in and watch Elf. Denver is to my left, in between Ryan and me. I hear Denver giggle beside me, completely engrossed in the movie.

I know I'm known for my bad boy ways, and this is totally out of character, but my baby brother is the cutest human being. I mean, he giggles for crying out loud. I don't understand why he doesn't have friends, who wouldn't want to be my nerdy brother's friend? He and I will continue our conversation later, but right now, I'm just going to enjoy that my baby brother is snuggling up to me and laughing at some dumb Christmas movie.

~Denver's P.O.V~

"Who wants to put the Christmas tree up?" Andrew exclaims as the ending credits play on the screen.

"Yes! Lets put it up!" I reply, getting excited

"I'll get the stuff from the basement, and you three can make hot cocoa," Andrew says, getting up from the couch.

The three of us go to the kitchen to make the hot cocoa. We have drunk hot cocoa and put up the Christmas tree for as long as I can remember, it's kind of like our Christmas tradition. Soon enough, Drew comes up with our huge Christmas tree, and we all get to work. I let them put the tree together and fluff out the branches because that's my least favorite part, and it's not like I can really help lift the thing. It doesn't take them long to get the tree ready for ornaments. I grab some decorations from the tub and start putting them where I can reach, which isn't very high. Our tree has a theme of red and white

"Alright, Den, that's as far as I can reach. It's all you now," Andrew says to me.

I just smile at him because I didn't know if we would do it this year since it's been so different lately. Instead of using a step ladder like normal people to put ornaments where we can't reach, Drew sets me on his shoulders while the other two hands me ornaments. I then put them on the top of the tree. I walk over to him, and he grabs me under the arms with my back facing him as he sets me on his broad shoulders.

"Baby, you need to eat more. I'm pretty sure you are lighter this year then you were last year." Andrew says once I'm up.

"I eat" I argue back

I haven't really been eating a lot since the boys started dating, I just didn't feel like it. Andrew doesn't have to know about that, though.

"I didn't say you didn't eat. I said that you need to eat more," Andrew answers, stressing the "more."

I don't reply, there's not really a point in responding. After what feels like a billion ornaments later, Jack finally hands me the star. I put it on the top, and Andrew starts to lower me back down.

"Not bad for four males who normally eat frozen food," Jack says when we step back to admire our work.

We all laugh at him.

"Speaking of eating, where do y'all want take out from?" Andrew questions us (mostly me)

"Mexican?" I ask.

" Mexican it is," Andrew says, kind of surprised that he got an answer out of me that quick.

He steps out of the living room to call in our food.

"Ryan, am I going to school tomorrow?" I question

"I'm not sure buddy. What do you want to do?"

"I guess I'll go, I have a test in Math," I say back, leaving out the part where I don't want to give Finn a reason to punch me.

"Okay, we'll talk to Andrew about it later." He says.

After our food arrives, we sit at the table and have dinner as a family for the first time in awhile. Honestly, this is the first real dinner I've had in awhile. I mean, sure there is food in the fridge and stuff, but I have mostly just eaten snacks for dinner. Andrew isn't going to find out, he would literally flip out if he knew.

After dinner, we all pile on the couch to watch another movie. I run upstairs and get my favorite blanket from my room. It's a really soft navy blue throw that Andrew bought me a couple years ago, but it's the best thing ever. They choose Christmas with the Kranks. I try to stay awake to watch the entire movie, but the events from earlier finally take their toll on me. I drift off to sleep with my head on Drew's shoulder.

~Andrew's P.O.V~

Within twenty minutes, Denver is out. He has his favorite blanket wrapped around him, and his head is lying on my shoulder. He is sitting Indian style on the couch, and most of his body is on mine, he is basically laying on top of me.

"I can't believe we did this to him," I say to the awake Taylor brothers.

"I know I'm never letting him out of my sight," Ryan says.

"Yeah, neither am I. Bad luck seems to follow him around," Jack says.

"But we can't blame ourselves. We just have to live and learn; he obviously forgives us," Ryan says, pointing to Denver's sleeping form.

"Yeah, our poor baby has missed us. He shouldn't have to miss us," I say, kissing his hair. Guilt is still eating at me.

"Live and learn Drew," Ryan's says

He's right. We just have to learn from this and make sure he never feels lonely again. I look at my phone screen, and it reads 10:30 P.M. I guess I better put Denver to bed and get ready for work tomorrow, as much as I would love to cuddle him all night.

"Alright, I'm going to put Denver in bed. You two go brush your teeth and get ready for bed to" I say to them as I pick up Den bridal style. I climb the stairs and head to Denver's room. I pull back the covers and set him in the bed, covering him back up. I kiss his forehead and walk back down the steps and walk out the door.

~Denver's P.O.V~

I hate 6:00 A.M. so fucking much. It's the time I wake up for school; therefore, I hate it. Groaning, I unlock my phone and turn off my alarm. I go into my bathroom to get ready for the day. I put on a navy blue button up with colored striped and tuck it into a pair of light-washed jeans with holes. Ryan is going to hate these jeans, but he will get over it.

I grab my backpack and head downstairs. Andrew has fixed an actual breakfast this morning, so he's not trying to shove a granola bar down my throat. He sits down a plate of eggs and sausage down in front of me. I eat most of it, which seems to satisfy Andrew.

"Where did you get those jeans, little one," Ryan asked, once I stand up and he can get a good look at my outfit.

"I don't really know. I like them, though," I say, hoping that will convince him not to make me change. He' always so strict about my clothes, I have no idea why.

"Just wondering," He hums, clearly having a hard time letting me wear them.

Once we get to the school we all pile out and say our "love yous" and "goodbyes." Andrew tells me to have a good day and to call him if I need him before he unlocks his door and disappears inside. Deciding to get this day over as quickly as possible, I head to first period. Finn is in this class, but luckily he sits on the opposite side of the room.

"Okay, class before we start, I would like you to meet our new student, Austin Johnson," Mr.Gibbons says with his hands on a brown-headed boy with brown eyes and round glasses.

The boy just smiles.

" Austin, you can take the empty seat in front of Denver. Denver, raise your hand." I awkwardly raise my hand, and the cute boy smiles at me and sits down in the seat.

Mr. Gibbons' phone starts ringing, so he walks outside the door. Everyone turns to their friends and starts talking since I don't have any. I open up my book. That's when the smiley boy turns around.

"Hey, I'm Austin, which you probably already know," he says, and he flashes that smile.

"I'm Denver," I say back kinda awkward. I'm not used to people talking to me.

"I guess we're both named after cities," Austin says, flashing his sweet smile. It makes the corners of his eyes scrunch up.

"Yeah, I guess we are," I say back and flash a small smile. I can't help but smile at the boy.   We get interrupted by Finn.

"Hey I'm Finn, you can come over here and hang out with us, so you don't have to talk to this fag," Finn says to Austin.

Finn doesn't get one of the boys smiles; instead, he gets a glare.

"No, I'm good here. Denver seems cool. Plus, I don't like your use of that word. Quite frankly, it's offensive, and someone's sexuality isn't a laughing matter," Austin says.

I mean, it's not exactly my sexual orientation, but I'll let it slide since Finn looks like he's about to shit himself. He's not used to being talked to like this.

"Fine, hang out with this loser," Finn says, Still looking taken aback from someone standing up to him. He pushes my shoulder on his way back to his seat.

What the hell. Did his kid just stand up for me..against Finn? It's only because he doesn't know how this school works yet, he will leave me just like Matt did.

"Does he always say stuff like that to you?" Austin questions

"Yeah, I've gotten used to it," I reply softly, looking at my dirty white converse.

"Thanks for saying all that by the way you didn't have to," I say looking up, to thank him,

"Us cities have to stick together." He replies, flashing me one of his smiles.

He Turns around in his seat just in time for Mr.Gibbons to walk in.

Maybe I  found a friend. No, he just hasn't figured out the school yet. I reminded myself, crushing the small amount of hope for a friend I had.

A/N~ Hey lovelies I hope y'all enjoy this chapter! Please comment requests on what you would like to see between Austin and Denver! Until next time💜