First Punch ➟ Kellic

T W E N T Y S E V E N

I'm startled suddenly into consciousness, confused at first since Jake's bed faces his window and my window's usually above my head. But as my eyes adjust to the darkness, I see Jake sitting up and remember where I am. I shiver a little, Jake having pulled the blanket off my still naked body.

Once the drowsiness wares off and I can see Jake's outline properly, I get worried. Did he have a nightmare? Is Lucas home? Why is he awake? Then, I see his shoulders shaking and hear a slight sniffle, snapping me into action. He's crying. Jake's crying.

I quickly push myself up, not knowing what to say or do. I've never comforted someone before, and only Jake has really ever comforted me... So I do what he does and cautiously place my hand on his back. Jake instantly tenses up, but as I start to soothingly run it up and down, he slowly relaxes.

We sit like that, completely silently, for what feels like an hour. His crying slows and I lean my head on his shoulder once it stops shaking. I don't know what to say to make him feel better... or if there's anything I even can say to help. Instead, I just keep my mouth shut. He knows I'm here for him, and if he wants to talk to me then he will.

As the sky begins to brighten, Jake's sniffling quiets and he finally speaks. "I'm sorry," he whispers.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," I reply, confused.

"I didn't mean to wake you up," he adds, his hand falling to my knee.

"I don't mind," I assure him, trying not to make a big deal out of this. Truth is though, I'm fucking terrified. Jake crying? That's...like...really out of character for him.

I lift my head from his shoulder, keeping an arm around him as my free hand softly runs up and down his arm, landing over his hand.

"Jake..." I start, looking at him as I grow anxious. I don't want to pry, but I also need to know what's going on with him. So I ask, "What are your dreams about?"

Jake sighs a little, his body tensing. Fuck, maybe I shouldn't've pushed him. Maybe there's a reason he hasn't told me.

"Sorry," I add, losing my confidence and backing down as I look away. "You don't have to talk about it."

"No, it's okay," he says, but his voice is shaking. I don't dare speak, not wanting to ruin my chances of finally finding this out. It's been eating me alive.

"I've been waiting for you to ask," his raspy voice says, managing to chuckle even in this low of a mood.

"Really?" I ask, looking at him again in complete surprise. He wanted me to ask?

"Yeah...it's kind of an awkward thing to bring up." I nod, falling silent again and waiting for him to go on.

"My dad...when I was growing up, um..." Jake seems to struggle to find the right words, but I just sit there patiently as I try to hide how cute I find his lack of confidence. This is not the time for that.

"He used to drink a lot...and...um...he was never really violent, but he'd get mad. One night I woke up to a screaming match. I knew how he could get, and I wanted to protect my mom so I went down to try and distract him or something and...I...when I got to the bottom of the stairs, he...he..." Jake stops, sniffling a little as he wipes his eyes. Fuck. I didn't realize how much this affects him. I never knew it was so serious. What the Hell did his father do?

"I was too late," he starts again, his voice really cracking now. "He'd somehow gotten a gun and he..."

My eyes go wide and I gasp, my grip on his hand tightening. "He didn't," I whisper, honestly thinking I'd said that in my head. Jake nods though, silent tears sliding down his cheeks.