The following day was a Friday. God I was happy. I don't think o could take anymore of this bull crap. Thankfully there was only 1 more week till fall break. 1 week till sleeping on and watching vampire diaries till 2 in the morning. I loved fall break.

But what was happing later was better then fall break. Today I am going to Devon's house. Nothing weird, just as a friend thing. Im fucking ecstatic that he's actually showing interest in me. I don't care if he ever likes me back, ok maybe I do care, but just to have him as a friend makes me happy. He's not like the other boys at school. It seems like he's a real person. But until then I'll be stuck at an awkward breakfast with my father.

The room was silent, beyond silent even. The sound of my metal spoon hitting the bowl with every scoop of cereal. My dad was looking at something work related before I spoke up. The noise interrupted my me clearing me throat. "Um...my friend asked me if I wanted to go over to his house later today" he looked up "and I wanted to know if I could?" He strained at me as I waited for his response.

"That's great Jake. See what I told ya 'bout making friends" his voice was raspy. He was always on my ass about not having any friends so that didn't come as a surprise. "So um can I go?". I look down at my half eaten cereal. "Yeah, why not" he says. Thank god. A smile appears on my face.

———

English was the last period before lunch. It was also my period with Devon. I walk to my class with my headphones in my ears to drown out the noise from others. As I'm walking I feel my shoulder being tapped. I turn to be greeted by Devon. "Oh hey" I take my earbuds out. "Your coming over tonight right?" He asks as we walk into the class. "Definitely" I confirm. "Great, just tell my mom it's for school. She doesn't really let me bring friends over that much." We laugh.

We go out separate ways to our seats. The teacher rambles on about something I tune out. All I could think about was being with Devon tonight. She finishes her announcements and sends us into our groups. I gather my belongings and head over to Devon's desk.

"So...what should we write about?" I ask "I mean your always coming up with ideas for your podcast so I thought you would have some good ones"

"You listen to my podcast?" He asks. Oh fuck. I just fucked up. Now he probably thinks I'm a freak or something.

"I mean yeah...not in like a stalker-y way. I'm just interested in crime stuff ya know" I wait for his response. "Oh cool, you know I was looking for someone to be on it with me." My brain starts screaming "do you maybe wanna be on an episode?" Without heating I accept enthusiastically. "Um anyways back to the speech." He puts us back on track.

After what seems like hours off being derailed then put back on track to then be derailed again we finally settle on a topic 'Bullying'. Yeah it's not original in the slightest, but it gets an easy A. "So how should we start it?" I ask him. "For the hook I was thinking we compare it to like a silent crime or something" he says. Something about the sounded familiar for some reason but I just can't put my finger in it. "I swear I've heard that before. Did you read it somewhere?"

He smiles before looking at me. "Don't tell anyone, but I already used it for an episode." He says. I laugh a little. "It's not like it's plagiarism if made it" he says. Just then the bell rings signaling the end of the period. We pack up our stuff and head out. He's still talking to me even when he enter the lunch room so I guess eating together will be a common thing now.

The two of us sit down at an isolated table in the back of the cafeteria. We set our trays of questionable food in front of us as we talk. I like talking to Devon. He actually shows interest in talking to me and not just wanting to get with my cousin. I liked that he is interested in what I have to say.

As we get caught up in our conversations about dumb stuff the bell rings. "See ya later" dev says before leaving for his next period. "I'll send you my address".

——-

My stomach was twisting and turning with ever step I took to the front door. I was scared. It felt as if every bone in my body had been removed and I was walking without support. It took all the courage and strength in my body to rise my arm up and knock on the door. It's to late now. Within seconds the door opens revealing Devon. "Hey" he smiles "Hi" .

We both of us stay there for a few seconds "Oh um...do you wanna come inside" Devon asks backing away from the door. "Oh yeah" our smiles never break. "My mom isn't home so we can just go to my room if you want" he closes the door.

"Yeah sure" I meekly say. I don't know why I was so scared. It was strictly a friend thing.

"It the furthest one down the hall, I'll be right there" he says. I take the direction he gives me and find a dark brown door. I open it to be greeted to a larger room than I expected. I drop my back pack by the door and move into the room. The walls were dark gray and covered in large pictures, crime related probably. In the corner was a makeshift recording studio and in the center was his bed.

Without warning Devon bursts through the door carrying a bag from 7-11. "I didn't know if you wanted anything to drink so I just got you a Dr Pepper" he says handing me the bottle. "That's fine. It's actually my favorite" I say taking it. We sit on the edge off his bed as he takes out the contence of the bag.

"So what do you wanna do?" He asks.

"I'm cool with whatever"

"Cool"

"Cool"

We decided to watch a scary movie sense it was October. We landed on scream cause it was my favorite movie. We were bundled up in blankets on his bed as we ate our junk. I laughed every time he jumped at the scares, he did like wise. One time he flinched and his hand touched mine. He didn't remove it or anything, he just left it there. My body tensed up the whole time. I didn't want to move or do something to draw attention to it in case he would retract his hand. He did eventually take his hand back. But I blushed every time he got close to me.

Once the movie was over we were feeling a little hungry "wanna get something to eat?" He asked me.

"Umm yeah" I say. I don't know why but I was scared off him, even after being in his fucking house. We go into the kitchen and rummage through the pantry.

"So we have macaroni or instant noodles" I say taking them both out.

"Lets go with macaroni" I hand the box to him.

It was fun cooking with him. The whole time we were laughing at how bad we were doing. I almost burned my hand on the pot several times. Plus the food wasn't bad if I do say so. Probably because I didn't do much. We took our bowls of macaroni and cheese, along with some other snacks back to his room. In there we decide to watch something else.

For what ever reason when Devon was scrolling through Netflix he landed on "Vampire Diaries".

"You seen this before?" He asks

"Um yeah...It's actually kinda a guilty pleasure" I say. I wasn't gonna lie to him.

"What's it about?" He asks again

"Umm it about the strong bond between brothers that can withstand anything" I trying to sound smart.

"But it's also about super hot vampire right?"

"Yeah" I laugh "super hot"

He clicked it and we were sucked into binging the first season. We were wrapped in warm blankets on his bed. Our bodies were just inches away from each other under the blanket. It around the fourth or fifth episode was when his mom came through the front door. He paused the episode as she came through the bedroom door.

"Hey mom" Devon said "Um this is Jake".

"Hey" I say sheepishly.

"Hey Jake, I'm Devon's mom but you can call me Kim" she said and waved. "Anyways I wanted to ask if you boys finished your homework?"

"Yeah" he lied.

She nodded and closed the door, but leaving it cracked open.

"I didn't know Devon Evans lies" I say sarcastically while acting shocked.

"Oh shut up and watch the show" he says pushing me arm.

———

Without noticing time flys bye. The sun has set and the stars are out. Devon had previously changed into his pajamas which were black and white flannel pants and a gray shirt. He had also fallen asleep already. His head was propped up on my shoulder. I was on the verge of sleep as well, basically had to force himself up to change. I tried my best to get up slowly to not disturb him. I take my bag into the bathroom and quietly closed the door as to not wake up Devon. Staying as quite i can be, I take out the contents. I take my shirt and pants off and replace them with soft gray shorts and an oversized blue sweater. I then stuff my clothes into my black bag and leave the room.

When I walk back into his room I see him on his phone. "I thought you were asleep" I say closing the door and his room.

"I woke up" he replies. His voice slow hand half asleep.

I leave my bag and walk I've to the bed. "Sorry if I woke you up"

"I missed you" he says. I missed you. What did the even mean. I play it in my head over and over again trying to make scenes of it. Could he like me? Or was he just tried and making up sentences. Whatever the reason it still confused me. It continues to replay as I lay down next to him. I try to keep space between us, but he soon takes it up. He wraps an arm around me, pressing his body on mine. I froze.

"Devon?" I call out. No response. He was asleep. I didn't want to move him and have him wake up and be embarrassed and never talk to me again, so instead I let him hold me as he sleeps. It took everything in me to not press myself closer to him, but I just lay there, mind blanke. My eyes grew heavy and my mind rests, I feel asleep in his arms.