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Jacob was absolutely terrified. The adrenaline had worn off somewhere along the walk home.
Mrs. Gray has offered to drive him, after kissing his cheeks and thanking him for making Sky happy and for all his efforts and- she had offered to drive him, but Jacob had said no. It wasn’t far anyway, he’d said.
He wasn’t sure how much of the concert his father had actually heard, but between wearing a skirt to the vote and performing for the protest-concert, he knew he was grounded for life. He’d lose his phone, definitely every car privilege he’d ever have again, most likely his job-
Whatever. Jacob tried to tell himself. It was whatever, because Skylar was worth it. And Sky was worth everything, but that didn’t take away the fear he had for his father’s reaction once he passed that front door.
He even felt the urge to knock, instead of just going right in.
Taking a deep breath, Jacob opened the door and tried to walk quietly up to his room.
“You have 15 minutes.” He heard from his father, his voice too calm to be safe, reassuring. He was angry, so so angry.
“What?” Jacob asked before he could stop himself.
“To pack. Get your things and get out.”
“Bruce-” Mom started,
“Not a word.” He silenced her quickly. “You have 14 minutes left, I’d hurry.”
Jacob ran upstairs, breath heavy and heaving as he closed his door. Tears threatened to spill, but he didn’t have time for that now. He had to pack, and quickly.
He shoved his computer and pencil case and as many books as possible from his shelf into his backpack, stuffed his gym and dance bag with clothes. He pulled out the bag he packs for holidays from under the bed and started throwing things from all over the room, books, the piles of clothes from his floor,-
“Get out.”
Jacob looked up at his father- at Mr. Walters. “Just give me a mom-”
“I said get out.” He marched in, picked up the open bag from the floor and threw it into the hallway.
Jacob grabbed his backpack and dance bag, and the guitar from the desk, and ran out.
He continued to run, not entirely sure where. By the time the universe caught up with him, he was at a traffic light. Shit, where was he? That’s irrelevant, he knew this town, he knew where he was, but his head was far from clear enough to process where he was and what to do and-
The bag fell to the asphalt, and the other bag, and he stood there with his backpack and guitar, just staring into the open road.
He’d been kicked out.
It was past midnight and it was cold outside and he didn’t remember to pack any pairs of shoes or any jackets, and he was wearing a suit he had rented- fuck he had rented these shoes they better not be- they better not be ruined.
Fuck. He’d been kicked out of home. And his mom didn’t do anything.
He realized he’d been crying for a while, his face was stiff.
What the fuck is he going to do now?
---
Skylar was brushing his teeth, still giddy from everything that night. His pajamas was softer than usual and as he looked in the mirror he admired how his hair was fluffy instead of messy, and he felt so good about himself and Jacob and tonight and nothing could possibly make this better.
“Skylar?” Mum called softly.
He knocked on the doorway twice, something he started when he couldn’t be bothered to find his phone.
“Come down here, sweetie.”
He finished up quickly and skipped down the stairs.
It took him only a few seconds to take in the scene which unfolded while he was upstairs. There was a few bags scattered in the doorway, a guitar, and his mom looked worried. Then he saw his dad hugging someone- Jacob. He’d recognize that hair anywhere.
What? Sky mouthed.
Mrs. Gray opened her mouth, attempting to explain but the words wouldn’t come.
“Dad kicked me out.” Jacob whispered from Mr. Gray’s embrace.
What?! Sky screamed silently, cursing his destroyed vocal cords.
Jacob broke away, “I’m sorry for coming here, I just- I didn’t know where else to go. You were the closest and Ted is probably asleep by now and-”
“Shush,” Mrs. Gray smiled, “You are more than welcome here, Jacob. Skylar, can you find a toothbrush and a towel for him?” she turned back to Jacob, “I’ll put your things in the guest bedroom while you get ready for bed.”
Jacob nodded numbly. He stopped by Sky, he wanted to hug him and kiss him and for Sky to hold him and tell him that everything would be fine. But Sky looked more worried than his mum did, and a bed did sound quite nice now.
He walked up the stairs slowly, hearing Sky following quickly. He stayed numbly in the hallway for a moment, unsure of where the Gray’s would want him to go.
Skylar brushed past him and into the bathroom. He poked his head out a moment later with a toothbrush and so Jacob followed him into the room. He brushed his teeth numbly and washed his face numbly and walked numbly and it was starting to piss him off but he had no energy to fight it.
Sky showed him to the guest room afterwards, where Mrs. Gray had placed his guitar up by the bookshelf, some of his books were even placed on the shelf. There was some pajamas on the bed, but they weren’t his.
“Are you okay?” Siri asks as numbly as Jacob feels.
“No…” Jacob turned slowly, leaned down slowly, and slowly put his head on Sky’s shoulder. He breathed heavily a couple of times. “Could I sleep with you tonight?”
Sky blushed brightly, of course Jacob didn’t mean it like that but Sky’s apparently got a dirty mind. A dirty, and badly timed, mind.
“Would your parents be okay with that?” He asked when Sky didn’t reply in any way.
Sky didn’t want to pull away to type it out, so he hugged him tighter.
“It’s okay.” Mrs. Gray said from the doorway, “Don’t worry, boys. It’s okay. Just keep the door open, yeah?”
Jacob sobbed once, “yeah… thank you, Mrs. Gray.”
“Please, call me Kimberly.”
Jacob just nodded, his forehead still in contact with Sky’s shoulder.
They stayed like that for a while, just hugging in the middle of the floor of the guest bedroom. Jacob would sob softly sometimes, and Sky would squeeze him a bit tighter, and Jacob’s breathing would even out again.
Skylar pulled them a bit towards the door, silently asking if they should head over to his bedroom. Jacob nodded and pulled away. They kept their hands intertwined as they walked down the hallway again.
Last time they were in this room, they had sex. While the memory was fond, the following weren’t, and the contrasting feelings following the memories broke Jacob down once again. Skylar hugged him, stroking his hands over his back and holding him close.
They got to bed, facing each other. Jacob staring at nothing and Skylar staring into his eyes.
“Could you hold me? Please?” He asked.
Skylar nodded rapidly and pulled him into his arms again.
He would be okay. It would be okay. Jacob knew that, he knew it would be.
That didn’t stop him from crying again, nor clenching his grip on Sky’s shirt. And thankfully, it didn’t stop Sky from kissing his forehead and hairline softly on repeat.