So, I got this chapter done a little sooner this time. I'm really in the flow at the moment. :D Anyway, without trying to spoil, this chapter might indicate that Jyder is not going to happen, but don't be fooled. Things will look very different in only a couple of chapters. Enjoy ;D
An argument had once more broken out at the Lynn family's dinner table.
"This specialist you're seeing seems to be of no use." PhD Richard Lynn said coldly, while looking at his son Ryder's latest report card.
"But dad. I used to pull a "C-" GPA before." Ryder reminded him. "So it's clearly good for something."
"Look Ryder, when I agreed to spend ten thousands of dollars for you to go and see that person, I expected you to be doing much better afterwards. But it's been almost half a year, now, and your average has still not risen notes worthy. Excuse me for questioning if what I'm spending my money for is worth it."
"It's worth it, dad." Ryder assured. "I've been going to see her every week since November, and I really feel she's helping me. I just need more time."
Ryder's father shook his head. "You know, I think you could also simply do better if you tried studying harder."
This made Ryder clench his fist underneath the table. His father always made him so angry when he tried to downplay his problems. It upset him that his father seemed not even willing to try and understand how hard studying was with his dyslexia.
"Okay, why don't you compose yourself a little, men?" Ryder's mother stepped in. She, along with his younger brother Robert had impassively been watching this feud. "Our Sunday midday meals are not meant to throw accusations at each other, they're supposed to be quality family time."
Ryder was really grateful for her stepping in. His mother had secretly always been more understanding of his problems, even if she had never stood up for him in front of her husband, either. Ryder had been suspecting for a while now that she felt similarly intimidated by her husband as Ryder did.
They continued eating their meal. Ryder's mum made an effort to talk with both, his father and him, but Ryder tried to avoid saying anything to him. All he'd ever get was upset. As soon as he had eaten up, he thanked his mother for cooking, and quickly withdrew himself to his room.
There Ryder let himself fall on his bed, feeling really close to tearing up. Why did his father never seem to understand what he was going through? The main reason he was seeing the dyslexia was because of him. He hated seeing his dad disappointed because of his academic results over and over again. Yet his dad kept insisting that Ryder was just being lazy.
Ryder felt like wanting to share his troubles with someone. He had already grabbed his phone, when he realized that he had no idea who he might entrust himself to. Sam and Artie weren't an option, since they had belittled his problems before. He didn't really know Tina or Blaine well enough as that he'd feel like telling her these thing, and Unique didn't seem like the kind of person who'd listen to what you say to. He was also still mad at Marley for hiding the true identity of his cat fisher from him, and Kitty still seemed resentful for when he had rejected her in favour of said cat fisher. Until two weeks ago, Jake and "Katie" would definitely have been the people he'd share his problems with. But he had lost them literally both at once.
Marley's words about Jake from two weeks ago were still echoing inside Ryder's head. "He's feeling really awful for what he did, you could at least have the decency of looking at him.[...]And he loves you like very few people ever will." He had been coldly ignoring Jake at school for the past days, but he had to admit, that no matter how resentful he still was, he did miss him.
"Maybe I could make a step towards him." Ryder wondered. He got up, and sneaked downstairs, and eventually outside, without trying to attract attention. He wasn't in the mood for his dad questioning him as to whether he still had homework to do, or not. Ryder had decided that he wanted to talk to Jake. He didn't think he'd be able to go back to being best friends with him just yet, but being on non speaking terms was really killing him. Outside he grabbed a bike, and began cycling towards Jake's house.
Right now he wasn't sure what he wanted to talk to Jake about, but he knew that he wanted him back in his life again. He had been having huge trouble opening himself to people ever since being molested with eleven, but Jake, both as himself, and as Katie, had really been able to get him to open up. And if he could believe Marley, Jake also truly cared about him. He'd be prepared to make some amends to not give up on the first person he had ever truly trusted.
Ryder finally reached the road where Jake lived with his mother. He could make out their house from afar, but as he got closer, he realized that two people were standing outside. Ryder stopped cycling in order to take a closer look. He could make out one guy with slightly black skin. That was definitely Jake. The other boy looked familiar to Ryder, but no matter how long he thought about it, it wouldn't come to him who he might be. As he kept watching them, he realized that they seemed to be touching each other low-key. Ryder's assumption, that the guy was Jake's new love-interest, was proven right when he saw them kissing.
At one go, Ryder's resentment returned. "I thought he was into me?" But it seemed as if Jake had already moved on with his life. The tall brown-haired boy wasn't sure what he had expected, but he'd imagined meaning so much to Jake, that he'd still be hung up on him. How wrong he seemed to have been.
Ryder got back on his bike, and returned home. His motivation to talk to his ex-best friend had vanished into thin air.
...
The guy Ryder had seen Jake with was actually the guy Puck had arranged him a date with. He had introduced himself as Sebastian. "S. Smythe" consequently stood for Sebastian Smythe, and Jake had been surprised to realize they had met before. He was a member of a glee-club the New Directions had competed with at Sectionals in autumn.
Sebastian had been pretty straightforward on their date, and had made sexual allusions the whole time. It was clear as day to Jake that all he wanted was sex, but it was alright for Jake, since he thought the way Sebastian acted made him pretty obnoxious, anyway, and he thus could never have imagined a relationship with him. He had to admit, though, that Sebastian was attractive, and sexy. Jake thus had given in rather quickly to his advances, and they had landed in bed only a few hours after first meeting.
That's the story of how Jake had his first time with a guy. Although the guy meant nothing to him, he had enjoyed it a lot more than he had ever enjoyed sex with a girl. If there had ever been doubts as to whether he was gay, they were gone then.
After their first day together, Jake had asked Sebastian to meet him again the two following days, to which Sebastian had agreed. They had hooked up again both days. Jake was sure his butt would hurt for at least another couple of weeks.
Ryder had witnessed the two of them while saying goodbye on the third day. Jake pulled back from kissing Sebastian, and asked him: "So, I have school until late on Mondays, but you think there's a chance we could meet up some other day this week."
Sebastian was sporting a smirk when he answered. "I'm sorry buddy. But I don't think so."
Jake, who hadn't expected a negative response from Sebastian, then asked: "No? But why not?"
"Look, I kind of wanted to screw you because you have a nice ass. But after doing you for a few night, I realized that you're really not all that in bed..."
"Surprise. I'd never done it with a guy before." Jake remarked, while rolling his eyes.
"... and I really think I could use my time better by banging guys who are." Sebastian said all that with a happy smile, and Jake really questioned who someone could smile like that while saying such mean stuff at the same time.
"Whatever." What the Warbler had said did aggravate him a little, but Jake thought it was best to act cool. "Well, I think you'd better leave soon-ish then. I think my mum might be back any minute."
"Take it easy, Baby-faced mocha-teen boy. I'm gone." He turned around, and walked off. "See you never again." He was still smiling happily.
Jake was also smiling, but his smile was visibly stiffened. "Yeah, you too." As he turned around, the fake smile vanished from his face. "What a douche bag." He thought to himself. He walked back inside the house, and felt peeved for about five minutes. But he then realized that it wasn't worth being upset about it. Sebastian really didn't mean anything to him, and had merely served him as consolation against Ryder.
That had been the first time today that Jake had thought of Ryder. It had been like Puck told him. He had been miserable while continuously thinking of Ryder, but focusing less on what had happened, and considering the option of other partners, even if he hadn't turned out that great, had resolved his misery a little. He saw his situation with Ryder with a lot more distance now. He certainly still had romantic feelings for his former best friend, but Jake felt as if he was on his way to getting over him.
"And who knows, maybe once I've forgotten about him, and he has forgiven me, maybe some day we'll be able to just be normal friends again." He thought. Although he was certain that a lot of time would have to pass still.
Just then did his mother came home. She immediately registered that Jake looked happier than he had the past weeks, but soon questioned him as to whether he had finished his homework already. Since he had neglected his homework for the entire weekend, his mother made him spend the rest of the day in his room in order to finish his work for the following day.
At the end of the day, Jake stripped his clothes off, and let himself fall into bed. He felt very exhausted, but for the first time in what seemed forever did he feel happy again. It didn't take him long until he lightheartedly drifted into sleep.
What Jake did not know: On the other side of the village, Ryder was lying in bed wide awake. He was hurting by thoughts of pressure from his dad, anger at Jake, and of loneliness in general.
I hope you enjoyed. I wanna thank anyone who favourited and followed my story, it means a lot to me. :3 I'd also to have reviews if possible. I'll accept both, compliments as well as criticism. Jake and Ryder are going to interact again in the next chapter.