From The Other Side

TWENTY NINE
closure

Thursday, April 17th

August didn't know he'd see Jay again so soon. He thought he'd never speak to his old team ever again. But there they were; the boys who ruined his life standing before him, not one thing different about them other than subtle appearance changes. Like the piercing in Jay's left ear, Jackson's buzzcut, and Kai's bright red hair.

              It felt like he was dreaming. No, he was having some sort of nightmare. Because dreams were made of Isaiah, and nightmares like this belonged to people like Jackson. People like Jay.

               Jackson hunched over, leaned in, gave August a mocking grin. "Did the fall make you lose your ability to speak, too?"

                Isaiah let go of August's hand and slid out of the booth before August could stop him, the taller boy standing at his full height, only a few inches taller than Jackson. "What's your problem?" Isaiah snapped, shoving Jackson backward, causing him to stumble into a few of his teammates. "You must be really fucked in the head."

                 Jackson straightened up, scowling. "Nah," he muttered. "That's all you and your boyfriend."

                  Isaiah raised his arm, curled his fingers into a fist, but an arm wrapping around his waist kept him from swinging. "Alright, big guy," Steve grumbled from behind him. "You can't afford to get into a fight. Not now."

                   August went to reach for Isaiah, but a hand curled around his wrist, making him flinch. He looked up to see Jay staring down at him, face relaxed and eyes gleaming. He'd come to despise that look. "Can I talk to you outside?" he asked, and August faltered, brows sewn together in confusion.

                     "You've got to be shitting me," Isaiah sneered, gripping Jay's shoulder and pushing him back, forcing him to let go of August. "You're the last person that should be near August. Especially alone."

                   Jay raised his hands in surrender, but he was as calm as always, one thing that hadn't changed about him. "I have no ill intentions," he told him, raising an eyebrow. "I just want to talk."

                     "Yeah," Isaiah scoffed. "Not happening."

                      "Isaiah." August touched his elbow, making him transfer his attention to him instead. "I can take care of myself. Trust me."

                       Isaiah's face softened. "I trust you," he said honestly. He side-eyed Jay, watched him as if he would jump out at any second. "I don't trust him."

August glanced at Jay, who was still staring at him, and he shifted in his seat. "I'm gonna hear what he has to say," he whispered, and Isaiah looked like he was about to protest, but August quickly added, "We'll be in sight, okay? So if anything happens, you'll be able to see."

Isaiah was reluctant. "Okay..." August gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his arm, letting his touch linger before he got up. Jackson rammed his shoulder against his as he passed, and he heard Steve mumbling something to Isaiah. August dug his nails into his palms; people were probably suspecting Isaiah of being gay now, and it was all his fault. He knew he was anxious about coming out, yet he'd brought the trouble to him.