Chapter 6

Next day Daniel slowly wakes up to the feel of fingers gently running through his hair, oh right— he thinks. Waking up against Jasper's chest Daniel doesn't move for a minute, has he ever woken up like this? Someone being so gentle and loving, Jasper touched him like he wanted to. Daniel isn't sure what possessed him to lay on the boy last night, maybe this was his way of keeping Jasper here, maybe he really needed this, one night where he's not completely alone staring at darkness unable to sleep. Whatever it is, Daniel's sure this was much better.

With Daniel's head turned away Jasper can't tell he's awake, but he's laying very still to not wake him up. He plays with the boy's hair and strokes his back, in the midst of his sleep Daniel wrapped an arm around Jasper's waist getting more comfortable as he cuddled the boy.

When he's ready to "wake up" Daniel tighten his hold around Jasper, the boy immediately stops touching his hair

"Hey," Daniel hears Jasper greet softly

Lifting his head he turns to Jasper and replies, "hey." Then he asks, "have you been up long?" "Not really," Jasper lies it's almost afternoon and he's an early riser

"What time is it?"

"I think it's noon now," he answers shocking Daniel

"Shit sorry didn't mean to sleep that long," he starts to get off Jasper

"No it's ok," Jasper pulls him back, "you said you were tired so I didn't mind letting you sleep." Laying his head back on Jasper's chest, Daniel looks over at his window as the morning sun tries so

hard to peek through his dark curtains.

Daniel keeps the room dark hoping it'll help him sleep but it never does, nothing helps him sleep."This is the longest I've slept," he admits

knowing it's because Jasper's here, maybe his life was a shit show he couldn't share with the boy but Jasper was still there for him, how could he not appreciate that?

"Are you hungry? I could go get us something to eat," Daniel turns to look at Jasper "Sure," he nods

Getting off the bed Daniel puts his shoes on, turning to Jasper who's still laying in his bed he asks, "you'll still be here when I get back, right?"

Smiling Jasper replies, "I'm not going anywhere."

—

After 10 weeks in the brace, Jasper finally gets to take it off for good, his leg's all better so he doesn't need it anymore.

Monday during school Jasper is sitting in the courtyard having lunch with his friends, as they're eating and not paying attention to him

Jasper takes it as the perfect opportunity to say, "Daniel and I have been sleeping together." They both look up at him simultaneously, all Pete can muster out is, "what?"

"Are you joking?" Jasper shakes his head, "you're having sex with Daniel Atkinson?!" She practically

screams the question

"What no!" Jasper quickly denies, "I said sleeping as in we're just sleeping... but it's in the same bed" "That's somehow even weirder than you actually sleeping with him,"

"How long has this been going on?" Savannah asks

And Jasper answers, "since you guys took me to his house the day he went to see his dad," "Two weeks Jasper?!" Savannah barks, "and you're telling us now?"

"I wasn't trying to hide it I just didn't know if he wanted me telling anybody,"

"We're not anybody dude," Savannah adds and Pete nods agreeing. "Anything else you want to tell us?" Jasper nods looking down at his lunch trying to avoid eye contact, "well out with it!" His friends impatiently wait.

"I think I have feelings for him..." Jasper admits "The sky is blue," Savannah replies, "grass is green," "Macaroni is yellow!" Pete adds

"What are you guys doing?" Jasper stares at them confused

"Oh I thought we were stating the obvious," Jasper sighs rolling his eyes at Savannah, "we already knew that, Jasper."

"Dude the guy hit you with his car and that wasn't enough to stop talking to him, claiming you just wanted to be his friend— pft" Pete snorts, "you might as well be made of glass."

His friends were right, anyone with eyes could see Jasper saw something in Daniel from the moment he met him, and he hasn't been able to stay away since. Wanting a friendship with Daniel Atkinson wasn't a complete lie, but Jasper wanted to know him, more than what was on the surface, and more than what anyone had to say.

Jasper isn't going to let this eat away at him though, you can be friends with someone you like and maybe when the moment is right he'll tell Daniel. But for right now it's better if he doesn't.

It's now Friday and Daniel hasn't been at school all week, Jasper knows why but he still can't help feeling a bit distant without Daniel. In the last couple of weeks, this is the longest they've spent apart, but he doesn't want to seem clingy so he lets the boy have his space. Daniel always came over on the nights he can't sleep, but Jasper didn't realize how reliant he became on Daniel having to sleep without him the past 5 days.

"Are we playing Forza tonight?" Pete asks walking the halls with Jasper

Before he can answer Savannah walks up to them answering for Jasper, "no you guys are not. We're going to a party"

"Say no more I'm in," Pete quickly changes his mind "Wait who's throwing a party?"

"Cherish," Savannah rolls her eyes then continues, "she's making the newbies slave her party like

some stupid rite of passage for us.

Anyway, she says I can bring whoever I want so that means you two" "What about Carlos?" Jasper asks

"He's going out of town with his family right after school..."

"So you're stuck with us?" Pete grins wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they're walking "Unfortunately."

That evening as he's getting ready for Cherish's party Jasper gets an idea, maybe it'll work or maybe it won't but he has to try. Telling his friends he'll just meet them at the party Jasper takes a Lyft to Daniel's hoping to convince him to come out with him.

After ringing the bell Jasper is greeted by Daniel's mom, "hi Mrs. Atkinson" the boy smiles "Jasper honey, how are you?" She reciprocates as she lets him in