CHAPTER EIGHT
The first thing that Jack became aware of when he regained conscious was the soft hand that was running through his hair. He found himself moving into the hand and heard a soft chuckle. His eyes blinked open sleepily at that and he was met with the most beautiful deep forest green set on a sculptured tan face. His red eyed widened and tried to sit up but felt a pounding headache sneak up on him as he tried to move.
"You shouldn't try to do that yet. You nearly knocked your head against the cement outside." Raimundo's voice was full of soft laughter, concern, and great happiness, the mix making his voice sound like music to Jack's ears. Jack fought the blush that was creeping up on his face once more. He couldn't believe that he had passed out in front of Raimundo. Like he was some pathetic schoolgirl.
"How long was I out?" His voice was shaky and his had coughed several times to clear his throat. His face was starting to heat up again and he knew that he had to calm down or else he would pass out again. Twice in one day was NOT a good thing. He had done it once while he was younger and spent a week in the hospital before the doctors had said that his body was back to normal. He didn't understand it all, but knew that too much blushing sent two much blood to his brain and made him black out.
"About three hours. You were really starting to worry your mom." Jack had to blink multiple times when he heard how long he was out. Normally it was only an hour and then he'd be back on his feet. He glanced at Raimundo when he felt the other boy move closer to him. He had to really fight with the blush that threatened to come up on his face that time. The Brazilian was moving his face closer and closer to Jack's and Jack found himself moving closer to the other. Only inches away Jack nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a throat clearing on his other side. Turning his head towards the noise he was shocked to see Chase Young leaning against the wall while Omi sat in a chair close by him. His little sister was curled up at the foot of the small bed, Dojo wrapped around his shoulders. Clay was standing close by with Shinra, the two having a soft conversation about something Jack couldn't hear. His mother was holding his hands to her chest as she smiled softly at him and his father looked very pleased to see him awake.
"We're glad you two have found this to be a prefect time to show your affection for each other, but it really isn't." Gippal's voice was full of laughter as he spoke to his son. Jack smiled at his father and watched as Raimundo blushed, though the blush barely showed on his darker skin. Raimundo moved closer to sit next to Jack and intertwined their fingers. Jack looked over to the boy and smiled before leaning over and kissing him softly on the cheek. Raimundo's smile nearly broke his face as he wrapped an arm around Jack.
"Awe that is the cutest thing in the world. Little Jackie got himself a boyfriend for his birthday!" Jack recognized his Aunt Rikku's voice coming from the curtain and could hear his Aunt Yuna and Lulu yelling at his Uncles to stop laughing. Gippal was laughing as well and was hit several times by Baralai before the two walked out of the room. Clay tipped his hat to both Raimundo and Jack and then led Shinra out of the room. Jack noticed that his sister had jumped from the bed and had latched onto Wuya's neck, so the Heylin witch, his little sister, and Dojo all left with simple waves. Omi and Chase watched the two boys on the bed before Chase broke the silence.
"We should probably join them for dinner. I heard your mother yelling at the cooks to keep everything warm until you awoke. She wouldn't have anyone eating without you." Jack looked up into Chase's eyes and seen the relief in them. It confused him greatly to see it, but what confused him even more was the way Omi clung to Chase's hand as the over lord headed to the door. Chase turned back to him and smiled softly, "I am glad you are alright Spicer." With that said Chase and Omi disappeared through the curtain door leaving Raimundo and Jack alone.
"Chase Young was worried about me?" Jack's voice squeaked slightly as he spoke and he glanced at Raimundo who nodded his head. Jack couldn't get that thought out of his head for a while. After all the time he spent trying to get Chase to look at him, it took one simple fainting spell to get Chase to truly look at him. It was depressing yet very interesting. Jack would have spent the rest of the night pondering it had Raimundo not pulled the boy into a kiss. It was a soft kiss, their first, Jack's first. No tongue was involved, just the simple pressing of their lips together. But it was that simple action that made all of Jack's insides melt. When he opened his eyes once more and stared into Raimundo's he knew that he was in love. It wasn't just a crush; he was completely and hopelessly in love with Raimundo.
"Let's go and eat, I'm starving." Jack laughed softly as he aloud Raimundo to pull him off the bed and led him out towards the tables out side the Temple. If his party ended right then, Jack was sure he would have called it his favorite birthday ever!
