First Punch ➟ Kellic

N I N E T E E N

I check my phone as I leave the hospital, seeing that it's shortly after 5am. I got lucky. That's early enough that I should be able to explain my way out of this. I brew a plan the whole way home, coming up with the perfect excuse.

I yawn as I walk into the house, hoping no one's up yet. It's not even 6am. I trudge up the stairs, not even bothering to be quiet because I have no energy left. I regret it though as I walk down the hall and Carter's door creaks open.

"You're just getting back?" he asks, his hair all over the place and eyes barely open.

"Yeah, drunk tank," I say, yawning again. He chuckles a little, nodding.

"Was it a good night?"

I smile just at the thought of it. I love spending time with Jake, no matter the circumstances. I get butterflies thinking about the feeling of his hand in mine. I vaguely remember him kissing my forehead, but I'm not sure if I imagined that or if it was real. I can't believe I kissed him. I shouldn't've, but I couldn't help it. It's crazy how much he affects me.

"Hello? Earth to Cooper," Carter says, waving a hand in front of my face and snapping me out of my daydream.

"Yeah," I say, answering him. "It was great. But I'm exhausted, so I'm going to bed."

"Yeah, me too," he says, yawning.

We split ways and I head into my room, ecstatic to get out of my skinny jeans and lay in a bed. It takes me forever to fall asleep though, my mind just won't shut up. The memories of Jake swarm my thoughts, yesterday replaying in a torturous loop. I can't stop smiling. It's gross. I'm gross. Finally though, my brain's endless jabbering succumbs to my exhaustion and I drift into a dreamless slumber.

For what feels like the first time in forever, I sleep in until mid afternoon. I head downstairs and eat, hanging around with the gang to try and distract myself. It doesn't really work though. I even have a few tokes, hoping it'll brighten my mood. It doesn't. It relaxes me a little bit I guess, but my mind still circles around Jake's face. I hope he's okay. I hope they're all okay.

At about 6:30, I put a pot of water on to boil. I'm hungry and like I've mentioned, one of the only things I'm capable of making is pasta. As I wait for the bubbling to start, my curiosity gets the best of me and I shoot Jake a text. How is everyone? I ask, nerves eating at my stomach as I anxiously wait for a reply. I hope none of his friends see his phone or they might start to get suspicious. Although, I'm not sure they even know my name.

I'm sitting in the living room on the couch, scarfing down my food when my phone buzzes. I pick it up, smiling as I read Satan across the screen. I should probably change his contact name, but for some reason I don't want to. I flip it open, my mood dropping a little as I read his reply. Pretty much as you'd expect, he says. I chew on my lip, not knowing how to how to respond. I wonder if they're still at the hospital. I wonder if Andres woke up, and if he did, what he remembers. I don't want to risk Jake reliving anything by asking though, so instead I decide to try and brighten his mood with a joke. I'll be sure to send a beautiful flower arrangement, I send. About two minutes later, he replies and makes me choke a noodle from the laughter. I'm sure that'll heal all of his wounds after he throws it out a window.

I don't really know how to answer that, and I wind up thinking about it all night. By the time I head to bed, I finally come up with a response. Maybe an edible arrangement? I smile to myself, enjoying the repartee. I'm somewhat embarrassed it took me so long to think of such a simple reply, but I'm proud of it nonetheless.

I lie there, listening to music when my phone buzzes. I know it's Jake and flip the thing open without bothering to read the contact name. If you do that I'm stealing it for myself, he replies. I smile, unable to stop from immediately replying, I'm glad we're both pretending I can actually afford either of those things. Thankfully I don't have to be too embarrassed by my eagerness because he replies only seconds after too, saying, Paying for flowers is stupid anyway. It's a plant, they should be free. I smile and we go back and forth a few more times before I fall asleep. I've never found falling asleep to be so easy, but whenever he's involved it weirdly is.