Jill Valentine
I was home, on the couch in Chris' arms. Claire was on a chair relatively next to the couch. It'd been a month since Piers was released, so it's November. Since then, not much has changed, but Chris and Piers have become inseparable. It was a little weird. Chris wouldn't let Piers out of his sight, and Piers didn't really want to leave his side. It wasn't a romance thing, Chris and I were still together, but it was more of a protective action. Chris wanted to make sure Piers didn't hurt himself again, which he hadn't attempted to do since homecoming. I didn't talk to Piers about it, I tried to ignore it. Seeing him hanging there like that, it was so terrifying, I just wanted to forget it. I'm sure Piers did too. "Hey, can Piers come over," Chris asks. "Yeah, sure," I smile. I didn't want to bring up their closeness, not now, I'd talk to him about that later. Chris sends him a text and the doorbell rings soon enough. Chris goes to answer and returns with the smaller boy. "How ya' been Piers," I ask. He smiles weakly, "Good... Good." I nod and Chris takes the seat next to me once again, Piers sitting in the chair across from us. "Hi Claire," he says. "Hi," she waves back. It was a little awkward at first, but what do you say to someone who'd tried to kill himself? Eventually, we get over it, talking about normal stuff. Drama at Claire's school, about music and other stuff. We were still teenagers, and so what if Piers tried to kill himself, he was my best friend and I'm still here for him.
Chris Redfield
Sure, I was worried about Piers. Sure, I wanted to watch over him and make sure he didn't do anything like he attempted to in October, but it wasn't weird. It was nothing like that. We were friends, and I just wanted to make sure he was safe. And so what if we hung out a lot, we were on the football team and had the same friends so we were hanging out often anyway. So maybe he'd come to Jill's a little more often, and maybe we'd hang out more than we probably would have, but we were friends that's it. And I was worried about him. Jill understood, at least I hope she does. Piers is just really important to me, and I didn't want to lose him. Jill felt the same way, and she seemed fine with having him around. He probably would've been there anyway. Claire, Piers, Jill and I all sat on the couch and watched a movie together. Claire and Piers making snide comments to each other about the bad acting and plot holes while Jill and I cuddled together on the couch. They always got along, Claire and Piers.
When the movie ended, Claire went home and Piers left soon after. Leaving me and Jill alone again. "Chris, can I ask you something," she asks while we're watching t.v. "Yeah, of course. What's up," I smile. "Why are you spending so much time with Piers," she asks. I knew this question was coming, I thought she understood, but I always subconsciously knew it was coming. "Don't worry Jill," I smile, "I just want to make sure he's not hurting himself. If he's with us, or me at least, he doesn't have the chance to hurt himself. I know he's okay if he's with me." She smiles back, "You care about him." "Of course," I reply, "He's my best friend!" "What about Forest and Richard," she asks with her eyebrow raised and a smirk on her lips. Her beautiful red lips. "I don't know... They haven't been around a lot, you notice that right," I ask. "Yeah," she shrugs, "Forest is doing a lot of clubs this year, he's kind of late since he's already applying to colleges." I nod, "And Richard has his girlfriend to worry about." "Girlfriend," Jill asks. Had Richard not told her? "Yeah. He's actually dating the girl... What's her name? Rebecca! Your friend," I tell her. "What," she exclaims. "Uh huh," I nod. "Why would neither of them tell me," she yells. "Maybe because you'd judge them," I shrug. "I don't judge people," she defends herself. I shoot her a 'really' look. "Okay fine! I don't judge my friends," she corrects her statement. That's true I guess. "I need to talk to them!"
She runs upstairs, I guess to get her phone. And I'm left on the couch, waiting for something to happen. I take out my phone and text Piers, "You okay?" "Fine, thanks for checking in," he replies. I smile.
Piers Nivans
"Dad, I'm gay," I said proudly when I returned from Jill's house. I don't know what gave me the sudden urge to do so, but I did it. Dad's expression faded. I think he was shocked more than anything. "What," he asked. "I'm gay," I repeat. "Great," he raises an eyebrow. "Huh," I raise one of my own. "I don't really care Piers," he laughs. "Really," I ask. "Piers, I don't care," he repeats with a small laugh again, "Losing your mom made me realize I need to keep family closer. I don't care if you like dick!" "Oh my god," I cover my face and literally walk out of the room. Did he just say that? Oh my god! I walk back, and he's smiling over at me. "I can't believe you," I shake my head. He lets out a small laugh once again, this was all a joke to him, wasn't it? "What? It's true isn't it?" I lower my head, before mumbling, "Yes." He laughs once again, it was really bothering me now. I looked over to him and couldn't help but laugh myself.
"So who else knows," he asks once we both stopped. "Everyone," I say. "You told your friends before me," he asks. "I told Tom before I told you," I say matter of factly. "Wow, I'm glad I'm high on your list of priorities!" I shake my head, "I didn't think you'd be this accepting about it!" "Piers, you're not slick," he says. Did he just say slick? What is wrong with him? This is weird. Did he try and take 'hip' classes? He needs to stop. "Don't say that," I warn him. "Sorry, I can't talk like the kids do," he asked. "No! No, you cannot," I say. He laughs, I'm dead serious though. "Well Piers, you aren't good at hiding the fact," he says. "Funny," I smirk, "My friends said the same." He shrugs, "Don't worry. I still love you... Your mom would've too." I smile, thinking of her always put a smile on my face.
Monday morning, back to school. Even though it's November, Jill was transferred into A.P. English. I was already in this class, had been since the beginning of the year. Chris, Finn and Richard were in class with us. Forest was not, Forest read at the pace of a sixth grader, so A.P. was a little challenging for him. Jill picked a great day to transfer into class, note the sarcasm. We're beginning a project, one with partners... I was partnered with Finn Macaulay, what are the odds? Sarcasm. "What's up Piers," he says as I move next to him. "Not much," I sigh as I sit. "You okay," he asked. "Fine," I rest my head on my hand. I just wasn't up for school today, let alone a project. Jill and Chris were partnered... Are you fucking kidding? I'm fine with it really, but why does she get her boyfriend and I get someone I don't really talk to? I mean Finn was cool enough, but why couldn't I get Richard? I know for a fact he works hard! Whatever, I'll deal with it. I felt better about everything after coming out to my dad, I think that's what I needed. I'd told Jill about it pretty much right after it happened. And I'm sure she's told Chris by now. I'm sure he's noticed my shift in attitude too.
I tuned out Ms. Endres, and watch Jill and Chris. They're a few seats away, giggling and smiling away. They're happy, why couldn't I have something like they do? They've made it a year, that's pretty impressive, well less if you count that month Chris and I were kind of together and that month they were 'just friends'. But you get the point! They're happy and together and I'm single.
"Piers," Finn calls. "What," I look over to him. "Were you even paying attention," he asked. "No, what's the project," I ask. I'm not going to lie. I'm not listening at all. "We have to pick a song that describes our partner, and highlight the lyrics that we think shows our partner," he explains. That's kind of a gay project, if I do say so myself. I can say that right? "We have to interview each other based on these questions," he hands me the worksheet. "Now," I ask. "Yeah, dumbass," he smiles. "Okay, so what was your longest lasting relationship," I ask him. "Let's skip that," Finn says nervously. "Why," I raise an eyebrow. "Um, because I don't want to answer that," he says. "Why though," I persist. "Because I've never been in a relationship," he says. "Finn? Really," I ask surprised. He shrugs, "What about you?" "Three months," I say. "Cool," he says writing down the answer. We answer several questions about ourselves, I'm not focusing, giving half ass answers. Probably really fucking up Finn's options of songs.
Chris Redfield
I don't need this worksheet, so I'm not filling it out. I know Jill well enough, and I've already got a song picked out. I'll keep it as a surprise. I didn't want to tell her; what would she pick for me though? Oh well, that was her problem. I'm sure she'd figure it out, she's creative like that. I looked over to Piers, he looked bored. I can't help but laugh when I see Finn trying to get him to smile and then Piers looks at him like 'Are you crazy?'. What song would they pick for each other? That'd be hard, but once again, not my problem. The project was due on Friday, so we had time anyway.
The bell rang, and now it's lunch time. Jill and I both practically ran out of the room, we were always hungry. Piers and Finn caught up to us pretty quick, only because the freshman and sophomores clogged up the halls. "Hey, you guys mind if I sit with Finn for lunch," Piers asks. "Sure," I shrug. "Have fun," Jill smiles. We finally make it to the cafeteria, and we notice Piers and Finn take a seat at a table almost completely on the other side of the room. Whatever though. Jill and I sit in our usual spot, Richard, Rebecca and Forest all eventually find their way to us.