By All Means, Fear [AJR]

Chapter 8

I couldn't remember anything. My mind was blank. Then it hit me like a truck. It was my birthday. At least, according to people stuck on April nineteenth.

I jolted awake after what felt like forever. I looked around, a bit dazed and confused. Posters of the Beach Boys....? I glanced at the bed. Pure white. I rolled my eyes. Ryan's room.

What was i doing in Ryan's room?

I got up and walked out, my body numb. I opened my mouth, but no words could come out. I saw Adam sitting at a barstool at the kitchen island, and Ryan was leaning against it. Steve, Tom, and Chelsea were sitting on the couch, and they were all talking.

"Steve, i didn't know you liked Jack," Ryan said softly. Steve shrugged. "I just didn't want to....talk about it," he mumbled. "It was weird to bring it up. I told everyone i was bi, but no one asked how i figured it out, so i never said anything."

Chelsea set a hand on Steve's shoulder. "It's cool," she told him. "I mean, it's also normal. Tom's gay, Shawn's pan, i'm lesbian, you're bi, Xavier is bigender. Look around. We're here for you."

Steve give Chelsea a small smile. "Thanks," he said. "It felt good to finally get that all off my chest." He leaned back and closed his eyes.

"You look pretty relaxed," Adam commented. "I feel a bit relaxed about it," Steve replied. "Not about them passing out, but, y'know." Adam nods.

"I wouldn't have guessed, either," Tom breaks in. "Jack may like you back. We don't know. We only known he's ever liked Alba back in high school. And we all know how that went."

The boys share a knowing look. Alba had played him as a fool.

"So, what do we do about them three?" Ryan asks, jerking his thumb at the bedrooms. We all shrug in reply. "Maybe leave them be?" Chelsea suggests. "Anyone want to watch something?" Adam asks. "Let's watch a movie," Tom adds. "SONIC."

I opened my mouth, and this time, something came out. I screamed. Loud.

Tom stood up.

"Is something wrong?" Chelsea asked. "I heard a scream," he said briskly. "It sounded like Shawn." Steve glanced at the TV, which was muted. "Okay, we should go check on Shawn."

I was first in Ryan's room. Well, i was in it, lying on his bed. But i was also watching myself in Ryan's bed. How?

"He's....still in bed," Adam said. "Weird," Ryan muttered. He poked my face, and i disappeared from the bed. Steve looked at me—the real me—with his jaw dropped.

Tom saw me, too, and he ran over and kissed me.

"SHAWN!" he cried when we broke away. "I WAS SO WORRIED!" He hugged me tightly, tears streaming down our faces. I hugged him back, glad we were both okay.

"What happened..?" Ryan managed. "But— You just—" He shook his head, unable to find the words.