Chapter 4

It was nighttime and Jonathan was lying down in his bed. Chase came into the room.

"Hey," Chase said.

"Hey," Jonathan said.

"You were gone all day," Chase said. "Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"I forgot to charge it and it died," Jonathan said.

"Why were you gone all day?" Chase asked.

"I just needed some time to myself," Jonathan replied.

"Why did you freak out when I asked you about you and Lydia?" Chase asked.

"I thought you were mad at me," Jonathan said.

"Sit up," Chase said.

Jonathan sat up and Chase sat beside him.

"I'm not mad," Chase said.

"You're not?" Jonathan asked.

"Of course not," Chase replied.

"Okay," Jonathan said.

"You wore protection right?" Chase asked.

"Yes," Jonathan replied. "And before you ask, Lydia and I were ready."

"And you don't have any regrets?" Chase asked.

"No regrets," Jonathan replied.

Chase and Jonathan shared a hug.

"So where were you all day?" Chase asked.

"I went to the library," Jonathan said. "Then I went to the movies."

"I wonder if Nathan knows about you and Lydia," Chase said.

"Haley knows," Jonathan said. "But I want to talk to Nathan myself."

The next day, Jonathan was at the tennis court at the park talking to Lydia on the phone.

"Okay," Jonathan said. "You're dad and I are going to play tennis in the park. I'm waiting for him to arrive. Thought we'd do some bonding and then tell him what we did."

"Tennis?" Lydia asked.

"Yeah," Jonathan said. "What better way to bond than tennis?"

"He hates tennis," Lydia said.

"Who would hate tennis?" Jonathan asked.

"My dad," Lydia replied. "He only likes basketball, running, and swimming. He absolutely hates tennis."

"Oh shit," Jonathan said.

"Jonathan just said a bad word," Keith laughed.

Jonathan turned around to see Keith and Nathan.

"Oh, he's here," Jonathan said nervously. "And he brought your brother."

"Bye," Lydia said before hanging up.

"Hey Jonathan," Nathan said.

"Hey Mr. Scott," Jonathan said.

"What did I tell you?" Nathan asked. "I said to call me Nathan."

"Nathan," Jonathan said. "Listen. I had no idea you hated tennis. Lydia just told me."

"No, it's fine," Nathan said. "And besides, Keith loves tennis. That's why I brought him."

"I'm going to beat you," Keith said.

"You think so?" Jonathan asked.

"I know so," Keith said.

"You've never played against me," Jonathan said. "Be prepared to lose."

"You're going down," Keith said.

"Hey Nathan," Jonathan said. "Can I talk to see privately for a second?"

"Of course," Nathan replied.

Later, Chase was sitting on the living room couch. Jonathan walked in with a cast on his nose.

"Jonathan?" Chase asked concerned. "What happened?"

"Nathan broke my nose," Jonathan said.