My Boy

Chapter 9: Shifting Sands

Jamie's phone buzzed with a group text from Trevor:

"Hey everyone! Hosting a get-together at my place this Saturday. Hope you can all make it! Jamie, Alex, Mia, Tristan, Raph, Riley, Ethan, Sophie - you're all invited!"

Jamie stared at the message, his thumb hovering over the reply button. He typed and deleted several responses before settling on a simple "Sounds great, I'll be there."

As Saturday approached, Jamie's anticipation mixed with a growing sense of unease. When he arrived at Trevor's house, the party was already in full swing. Trevor greeted him with a quick hug.

"Hey, Jay! Glad you made it. Drinks are in the kitchen, make yourself at home," Trevor said before being pulled away by Ethan to settle a debate about some video game.

Throughout the evening, Jamie found himself watching Trevor more than participating in conversations. Trevor moved easily among their friends, laughing and joking, but his interactions with Jamie felt perfunctory, like he was checking a box on a to-do list.

At one point, Jamie saw Trevor and Riley in deep conversation, their heads close together as they spoke in low voices. The sight sent a sharp pain through his chest.

"You okay?" Alex asked, appearing at Jamie's side with a concerned look.

Jamie plastered on a smile. "Yeah, just a bit tired. Long week, you know?"

Alex nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced.

As the party wore on, Jamie's discomfort grew. He saw Trevor casually drape his arm over Riley's shoulders as they chatted with Sophie, saw the easy familiarity between them that he and Trevor used to share.

When Jamie finally caught a moment alone with Trevor, it felt forced and awkward.

"Having a good time?" Trevor asked, his eyes darting around the room as if looking for an escape.

"Yeah, it's great," Jamie lied. "You?"

"Yeah, really great to have everyone together again," Trevor replied, his gaze landing on Riley across the room. "Listen, I should probably go make sure everyone has drinks. Catch up with you later?"

Before Jamie could respond, Trevor was gone, leaving him feeling more alone than ever in the crowded room.

The next few days at school were a blur of stolen glances and missed connections. Jamie watched as Trevor and Riley fell back into an easy rapport, laughing at inside jokes and walking each other to class. Each time he saw them together, the knot in Jamie's stomach tightened.

In classes they shared, Jamie tried to catch Trevor's eye, to recapture some of the intimacy they'd shared, but Trevor seemed distracted, his responses polite but distant.

During lunch, their friend group sat together, but the dynamics had shifted. Jamie found himself on the outskirts of conversations, watching as Trevor engaged animatedly with others, particularly Riley.

The jealousy ate at Jamie, a constant gnawing in his gut. He wanted to confide in someone, to voice the fears that were consuming him, but the words stuck in his throat. How could he explain the depth of his pain without revealing the true nature of his relationship with Trevor?

Instead, he retreated into himself, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a quiet pensiveness that didn't go unnoticed by his friends.

"Jamie, are you sure you're okay?" Tristan asked one day after class. "You seem... off lately."

Jamie forced a smile. "I'm fine, just stressed about exams. Thanks for asking, though."

He walked away quickly, unable to bear the concern in Tristan's eyes.

As the week progressed, Jamie's attempts to reconnect with Trevor grew more desperate. He suggested they study together, offered to help Trevor with football practice, anything to recapture the closeness they'd shared. But each attempt was met with a polite excuse or a rain check that never materialized.

Finally, unable to bear the uncertainty any longer, Jamie invited Trevor over for a movie night, just like old times. To his surprise and relief, Trevor agreed.

That Friday evening, Jamie meticulously prepared for Trevor's arrival. He ordered Trevor's favorite pizza, stocked up on his preferred snacks, and chose a movie he knew Trevor had been wanting to see.

When Trevor arrived, things felt almost normal for a moment. They settled on the couch, a comfortable distance between them, and started the movie. But as the night wore on, Jamie couldn't ignore the tension in the air.

Halfway through the film, Jamie paused it, turning to face Trevor. "Trev, can we talk?"

Trevor sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I guess we should."

"What's going on with us?" Jamie asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ever since that night at Alex's, things have been... different."

Trevor was quiet for a long moment before responding. "Jay, I... I'm confused. About a lot of things. Riley and I, we've been talking more, getting closer again."

The words hit Jamie like a physical blow. "What? But I thought... What about us?"

"You're my best friend, Jay. You always will be," Trevor said, not meeting Jamie's eyes. "But I have things I need to figure out. About myself, about what I want."

Jamie felt like he was drowning. "So what, the night we spent together, everything we shared... that meant nothing?"

"Of course it meant something," Trevor replied, frustration edging into his voice. "But it's complicated. I care about you, Jay, but I care about Riley too. I'm just... I'm not sure about anything right now."

The rest of the evening passed in a haze of awkward silence and stilted conversation. When Trevor left, Jamie felt hollowed out, like something vital had been ripped from his chest.

The following week at school was torture. Jamie watched as Trevor and Riley grew closer, their easy intimacy a constant reminder of what he'd lost. He withdrew further, throwing himself into his studies and avoiding group gatherings when he could.

It all came to a head at the spring carnival. The friend group had agreed to meet up, and Jamie couldn't find a plausible excuse to skip it. As they wandered the fairgrounds, Jamie trailed behind, watching as Trevor won a stuffed animal at a game booth and immediately handed it to a beaming Riley.

As the night wore on, Jamie found himself alone by the Ferris wheel, staring up at the stars and wondering how everything had gone so wrong.

"Jay?" Trevor's voice startled him out of his reverie. "Can we talk for a sec?"

Jamie's heart raced as he nodded, hope and dread warring in his chest.

But before Trevor could say anything more, Riley appeared, slipping her arm around Trevor's waist. "There you are! Oh, hey Jamie."

Trevor looked between them, conflict clear on his face. "Listen, Jay, there's something I need to tell you—"

Jamie never got to hear what Trevor wanted to say. At that moment, the carnival lights flickered, plunging them into momentary darkness. When they came back on, Jamie was alone, Trevor and Riley having disappeared into the crowd.

As he stood there, the sounds of the carnival fading into white noise, Jamie felt something inside him break. Whatever he and Trevor had shared, whatever future he'd imagined for them, it was clear now that it had been nothing more than a beautiful, fleeting dream.