A Recollection of Ideas: A Series of One Shots

“Ryan, time for school!” My dad called to me. I groaned and rolled out of bed. The delicious smell of pancakes wafted from downstairs. I inhaled and got out of bed. A small stream of light slid beneath the blinds, bringing dim luminance to the room.

“Coming!” I yelled back downstairs. I stumbled to my closet and picked out some clothes. Sliding the fabric over my head, I looked into the mirror. It was time for a fresh start.

After my mom had been caught cheating and divorced my dad, the two of us had been left on our own. Dad and I moved out to a small town just outside of Baltimore, but really it was just a large suburb outside of the city.

I thought it would be nice to get a fresh start for my last year of high school. I mean, as long as I kept my head down, stayed quiet, and didn’t come out to anyone, I would be fine. Only my dad knew that I was gay. He wasn’t homophobic or anything. He supported me and had actually helped me pick out my tie when I went on a date with a guy back in San Diego.

“Ready for a new start?” My father asked me as I came into the kitchen. My backpack hung over the edge of the bar stool. I nodded and hopped up, wolfing down a pancake. The food was warm and gave me a good feeling. I wasn’t as nervous. My father’s bright blue eyes gleamed down at me. His eyes were the one good thing that I inherited from him.

The other part was my shyness. It didn’t exactly help that I was a new kid and going to be super shy. It’s not that I hated people, it’s just that wasn’t comfortable in social situations. I had a few close friends that I was sad to leave behind in Cali, but I was anxious to move on.

“So you’re walking, Ryan?” My dad asked. I nodded and washed the pancakes down with some milk.

“Yeah, it’s not far.” I responded and zipped up my backpack, throwing the straps over my shoulder. I set my plate in the sink before heading down the wooden stairs to the door.

“Good luck, kiddo! You’ll do great! Don’t forget to smile. Make someone else’s day!” My dad yelled as I closed the door. I managed to throw him a thumbs up before heading down the driveway towards the direction of the school.

My dad had always been Mr. Positive. He tried to make me more “social” and friendly. I was all for being positive and being nice, but I just didn’t want to apply that in a…social situation.

The walk to the school was short. I plugged in my headphones and turned on some Fall Out Boy. I sighed and smiled as I went through their new album that had been released just last week.

The playlist switched to a new song as a truck passed by me. A car full of four rowdy teens were all laughing behind the tinted glass. Their expressions seemed like one full of mischievous grins and smirks. Their music managed to pierce my veil of FOB. It sounded like Blink-182. Hey, they had good taste in music!

I couldn’t help but stare as they stopped as the stop light. I waited on the corner for my chance to cross. The school was right across the street, the parking lot rapidly filling up with cars. I pushed aside one stray strand of brown hair, looking up from the cement. I felt eyes gazing at me.

My sights flickered to the car, where a quiet man was in the back reading some textbook next to a guy with cropped hair. Some guy with hair as light brown as mine was driving and laughing at the man with cropped hair. The guy with curly brown locks was rolling his eyes and scolding someone else. But they weren’t in my vision.

A boy with hair like a skunk. He had a faux hawk with blonde streaks through one side. His warm chocolate eyes were looking down on me, but his expression wasn’t friendly. He seemed to be quite agitated. For all my quietness, I was very observant and could read body language like an open book. If people were novels, I could analyze ever last one of them.

I quickly went back to staring at the dirty cement, eyes trained on a blue piece of chewed gum. I turned up my music to block out the Blink stuff that was trying to invade my own tunes.

When I finally got to school, I hurried to my locker. In my hands was a piece of paper with my classes, locker number, and combo written on it. My arms were shaking, but I knew no one was looking at me. It was the first day of school. The cliques would form by third period. I just had to find my little niche of people and maybe, just maybe, befriend them.

But for now, I felt like an alien.

I quickly found my locker and managed to shove my books in it before sighing. The inside seemed so bare and boring. I took a little mirror out of my locker and pinned it up next to my mini whiteboard. I wrote down a little list of things I needed to get before I closed my locker.

I closed the locker, trying to swim through the sea of people. It was like fighting a tempest. They seemed to be surrounding me from all sides! I tried to tell myself that everything would be okay, but I was already falling under.

I turned down a side hall and quickly looked at my map, finding my way to the library. I already had ten minutes before class started, and I needed a new book to read anyways! I loved to read novels. It relaxed me and no one would bother you when you were nose deep in a good classic!

I walked into the library and saw the same curly haired kid that I remembered from the car at the light. He was studying some text book as I passed. I shook my head of any thoughts and refocused my attention on getting a book.

I chose King Dork and walked to the librarian. It was a book about a boy starting a band. Apparently, John Green gave it good marks. Anyone who reads knows that if John Green gives a recommendation, then you just have to read it!

I laughed at the thought quietly as I stepped up to the desk. The lady looked like my grandmother, sweet and quiet. She smiled as she asked for my student ID number. I typed it into the keypad and she scanned the book.

“You look new. Where are you from?” She asked kindly. I smiled softly. My dad told me to smile today, so maybe this was a step in the right direction!

“I’m Ryan and I just moved here from San Diego.” I answered softly. Her grin widened and she handed me back the book. I looked up as the bell rang.

“I have a daughter from there! It was nice meeting you, Ryan.” I waved as I walked away. Her name tag read Ms. Byrd. Perhaps I should pay Ms. Byrd a visit during lunch.

I had already memorized the map of the school and now I just had to put it into practice. If I followed this hall down to the end, turned left and then looked to the right, I would get to my AP Language and Composition class. I loved English. It had to be my favorite subject.

I started to open my book, keeping my head down and eyes scanning the lines of ink. My brain was a sponge, just absorbing every word the author had kindly allowed me to read. I felt like I was carrying a treasure in my hand. I paused only a moment to straighten out my Green Day shirt before going back to trudging along.

That’s when I ran headlong into that group of kinds from the car.

I looked up in shock and muttered a sorry to them before looking back down. We weren’t hurt or didn’t fall down, just slightly shocked. My eyes went wide as I shrank back in my skin. They didn’t really pay me any attention, just kept on walking. But no, the third kid stopped in front of me and purposely knocked my book out of my hand.

“Watch out, idiot.” The man snarled, looming over me. I was only a couple inches shorter than him, but his temper made the man into a mountain.

“Jack, come on!”

“Barakat, gotta catch up!” His other friends called haphazardly over their shoulders. Jack Barakat, so that’s his name. The senior brushed me aside, sending me into a wall. I hit the cement, biting back a whimper of pain.

I couldn’t help but watch him walk away. The way he walked, the way his hair fell almost perfectly…if he wasn’t such a jerk, I might actually like him.

But it was my first day and I was already making enemies.

I moved on through the day, keeping my head low. I managed to choose a good seat in my AP Lang, Calculus, and AP Physics class, but when it came to music, I knew I was screwed. I’ve always loved music. I could play a marimba like nothing else. It was my passion, my life. I loved percussion. I could pick up mallets and just start pecking out whatever the hell I wanted to.

But considering half of the school didn’t know what a marimba was, I was still less than potato.

That wasn’t my concern, though. It was the guys sitting in the second row as I walked into the music room. The four boys, the curly haired studier, the rambunctious cropped haired senior, and the two in the back that seemed to be chained together.

My eyes immediately went to the floor, choosing a seat on the far edge of the first row next to a girl who held a flute in her hand. I just opened up my book, reading while waiting for the other students to finish their conversations. The bell rang, letting the teacher know class was starting. The man directing the class didn’t appear until three minutes after the tardy bell rang.

I felt a pair of eyes on the back of my neck. I tried to ignore it but the feeling wouldn’t go away. All I had to do was keep my head down low and not provoke him. There was a possibility I would survive until the end of the semester.

“Okay, everyone up!” The instructor came into the room, excitedly clapping his hands together. He was bald headed and had a grin on his face. The entire class got up as he asked everyone to go around and say their name and what instrument they played.

“Hi, I’m Ally and I play flute.”

“Ey, I’m Rae and I’m a trumpet player.”

“My name is Quinn and I’m a piano player.” The people stood up one by one and as they said their name, they were sorted into their own corner of the room. The clarinets and oboes all got together in their own little corner. Flutes chatted happily. Trumpets were all bragging. I kept on listening, looking up occasionally, to see if there were any other percussionists, anyone else who said marimba. I just wanted one other person to be there.

“The name is Zack, and I play bass.” The kid looked up from his textbook as our band director, Mr. P, pointed at him.

“Back of the room, by the bass drum. I’ll help you guitar kids in a second.” Mr. P announced. I watched Zack from the corner of my eye before turning back to the director in front of me.

“I’m Rian, spelled R-I-A-N and I play the drums.” Rian quickly followed Zack. I half smiled. Rian. Just like me, but a different spelling. He seemed like a fun guy, but hung out with Jack. I might have to avoid him as well.

“My name is Alex. I play electric guitar.” Alex followed to the corner where Zack stood. They bumped fists and chatted loudly. I turned back in my seat, still feeling Jack staring at me.

I turned around to see Mr. P’s finger right in front of me. Oh, he was waiting for an answer. I took a deep breath and set my book down on my lap, keeping my index finger as a bookmark.

“I-I’m Ryan and I play marimba.” I stuttered out. The director’s eye’s widened.

“Oh great! We don’t have a lot of mallet players here. Come on, go over by the guitarists. You guys seem to be the only percussionists so far. Jack, go with him. I already know you play electric guitar since you took my class last year.” Mr. P nodded over to Jack with a smile. My heart dropped and I picked up my stuff, going to the back of the room. I slid my book into my grey backpack, hanging at the edge of the crowd.

“Alright, everyone! Most of you are new here, so welcome to MEC, Music Exploration and Creativity class. We’ll be focusing on developing your tonal ear and making your skills sharper.” The director announced. We all fell silent.

“Hey, you’re Ryan, right?” Zack came up, nudging my side. I nodded. He held out his hand. I slowly shook it.

“I’m Zack. I heard you play marimba. That’s cool. I’m a bassist.” He nodded. Mr. P went around, talking to all the groups one by one. I smiled shyly at him. Zack seemed like a friendly guy, kind of quiet like me. Jack eyed me from the corner. I ignored his stare.

The rest of our MEC class went fairly well. As soon as Mr. P went around helping the other boys find their basses and guitars, he let me go over to the marimba. The room was filled with noise and I blended in easily. Rian sat at a drum set, banging out some loud beats. Some trumpets went up to him and started to blast their own tunes with his beat. They were all giggling and laughing. Flutes ogled over him in the corner, swooning and whispering like little finches.

I just stood there, the last twenty minutes of class approaching at a snail’s pace. I picked up four mallets, holding two in each hand. With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and started some slow rolls, going up and down each hand. After that, I gently let my body pulse to the beat, rocking back and forth. I let my mind wander as I went through the pieces I had memorized at my old school. I caught a few clarinets looking over and their eyes went wide.

As I finished up, twisting my inside mallets down for a powerful stroke, I noticed that the trio of guitarists were in the corner. Mr. P was helping tune Alex while Jack and Zack talked. I caught Zack’s eye and he smiled. We were on opposite corners of the room, but I still couldn’t help but match his grin. He might actually be a good friend!

Jack started to stare at me and I looked down, feeling myself blush. I dropped to two mallets, one in each hand, and started to play a run from a piece called Minor Infractions. I kept my head down, not looking up at a single guitarist that was burning holes into my head.

But at the end of the piece, I couldn’t help but look up.

His eyes were of approval, even maybe….longing?

No, that can’t be true.

When the bell rang, I was out of there and making my way to a quiet place for me to spend my free period.

The rest of the day passed by smoothly. I didn’t see Jack anywhere else. No one bothered me. Some people even complimented me on my shirt. Overall, I guess today could’ve been better, but it wasn’t absolutely terrible.

It was three in the afternoon and I had to walk home. I was walking out of the parking lot when I saw a group of football jocks all in their gear drive by. I was reading my book, trying to avoid eye contact and make it across the street alive. The road wasn’t busy except for the occasional hum of a car passing me by.

“Hey, King Dork! Go back to San Diego!” Some jock in the car threw something at my head. I just looked up sadly. I was in time to get hit in the face with a jagged edge of the Monster Energy Drink. The car was full of cackling idiots that just drove off. I felt a stinging pain on my forehead and felt dizzy. My vision was blurry with red. Oh no…I was bleeding. Stupid head cuts, they always bleed for a literal eternity!

I moved off onto a bench by the park I was walking through to get to my house. In my dizziness, I slid off the bench and fell into the base of the tree. Another bruise.

My day was going from bad to worse.

I held my hand up to my head, trying to stop the thin trickle of blood that was falling down my cheek. I closed my eyes, fumbling through my backpack for my phone. If I could see straight and call my dad, that would help. Otherwise, I would have to walk the extra mile and a half to get back home. I felt a tear slide out of my eye, mixing with the blood. I shifted my position, hiding myself from an approaching car. I tucked my knees into my chest, holding my head steady. A pounding headache felt like Rian drumming in my head. The Monster can lay at my feet, a single drop of blood hanging from the edge.

The car stopped, but I barely heard it. I kept my eyes closed, trying to ward off more blood and headaches.

“Ryan?” A voice called softly. I didn’t look up. Today was just a terrible day. Someone ran over to my side. I felt a hand on my shoulder and winced.

“Hey, are you okay?” The voice asked. All I could do was shake my head. I opened my eyes, turning to whoever it was. Blood ran between my fingers, hot and salty. When I saw who it was, I scrambled up to my feet, backing away.

Jack Barakat was staring down at me, eyes full of concern. I just grabbed my backpack and started walking away. I didn’t want to get into a fight with this guy.

“Ryan!” He called after me. I quickened my pace, almost running into another bench as I cut across the park.

“I’m fine!” I muttered and kept on moving. I barely made it across the park, hand still attached to my bleeding wound, before I sat down again.

I was on the opposite side of the road, head pounding. A car pulled up again and I heard more footsteps.

“Come on, hop in the car.” A voice said. It came from directly in front of me. I looked up to see Jack, his hands on his hips. I just bit my lip to keep from yelling out in fear. Jack didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he just helped me to my feet and pushed me into the passenger’s seat of his truck. I sat there, fumbling with the belt, trying to shove it into the lock, but missing each time. I was in pain and very scared for what was going to happen.

I was going to be murdered, wasn’t I?

“Here, let me help.” Jack whispered softly as he climbed into the driver’s side. His hands tenderly took the belt from my hands, sliding it into the lock for me. Where had his rough side gone? Where was the boy that had been tormenting me today? The Jack that had shoved my books out of my hands surely wasn’t sitting next to me.

The radio was on some metal station, playing Five Finger Death Punch. Jack turned it down when he saw I was wincing. We drove on in silence and eventually parked in a driveway after ten minutes.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Jack murmured and made sure I didn’t fall as I climbed out. He held the door open for me as I walked into his house, immediately feeling scared. I wasn’t prepared to walk into a stranger’s house today!

“MOM! Please get first aid kit!” Jack yelled. I winced, dropping my backpack next to his. I held the side of my face tenderly, flames of agony shooting up through me.

A woman came rushing to the front hall, eyes wide. Jack stood next to me, just pointing at my face.

“What happened!?” She cried.

“I dunno. Wasn’t me!” Jack held his hands up. I smiled faintly at his voice. Wait, no, was I smiling!? I can’t do that! He had been a jerk to me! Why was I feeling this way?

“Oh dear, let’s get you cleaned up. You look like you came out of World War Z.” Mrs. Barakat clicked her tongue, like I was a small child.

“Yes ma’am.” I mumbled, stumbling after her. Jack came to my side, wrapping an arm around my waist, trying to keep my standing. I felt dizzy, but not because of my injuries.

“What happened?” Jack leaned down, breath tickling my ear. I tried to keep my sights straight, but couldn’t really see through the dizzy blurs. Jack’s cool breath and low voice didn’t exactly help. It sent butterflies dancing in my chest. His arm tightened on me as I nearly stumbled into his backroom where Mrs. Barakat pulled out a blue little medic kit.

“Monster can, jocks.” I mumbled. He laughed darkly.

“Classic Ashton. I hate that kid.” Jack grumbled and pushed me down onto the counter.

“Jack, can you clean him up please? I have to go make dinner, or maybe we should just get pizza.” She chattered. Jack soothed his mom, pushing her out of the room.

“It’s okay, I’ve got it! Pizza please.” Jack yelled as he closed the door. The woman disappeared back to the kitchen as Jack rummaged through the contents of the box.

“Here, hold this.” He said as he ran a cloth under cold water, squeezed it out, and then handed it to me. I held it in my open hand as the boy pulled out other assorted medic things.

“Okay, so it’s stopped bleeding but your face looks like strawberries were smashed on it.” He shrugged and gently removed my hand. I stayed silent as he pressed the cloth against my face, wiping away the blood. All I did was just sit there, holding my bloody hand in my lap as he cleaned it.

“So are you okay? You never really answered.” Jack murmured, trying to fill the dead air. I nodded, staying quiet. Jack reached up, gently turning my chin to face him.

“I’m sorry about earlier today. It’s kind of a long story.” He breathed out, mouth inches from mine. I shrugged.

“I’m used to it.” I admitted. His eyes saddened, but he was quiet. There was a hesitation in his eyes before they dropped to my hand. Jack pushed me off the counter, pulling me to the sink for me to wash my hands. I rubbed warm water over the tainted skin, watching pink go down the drain. When I was done, I dried my hands and turned to the man. He was putting the stuff away and tossed me a little tube of clear gel.

“Put a little over your cut. It’ll help it not sting as much.” Jack directed. I nodded and turned to the mirror, doing as he said. For all the blood that had poured out of my face, not a lot had landed on my Green Day shirt. There was, however, a few drops and I frowned as I spread the gel.

“Thanks.” I mumbled and tossed the gel back to him. He handed me pills to take. I trusted him enough that they weren’t drugs, despite what we had gone through. I swallowed them and started to walk out with Jack.

“Hey, your shirt has blood on it. Do you want me to wash it?” Jack offered sweetly. I shook my head slowly, avoiding jostling my brain too much.

“I k-kind of n-need to go home.” I stuttered. I didn’t want to be around him any longer. He was acting sweet and all but….he’s driving me crazy. He’s acting like a jerk earlier today and a sweetheart now. I had to stay away! He’s bad for me! Just the way he talks, the way he cares about me, the way he tenderly touched my face as he washed my face when I was perfectly capable of helping myself…NO! He didn’t feel the same.

I was gay. He wasn’t. I can’t get my hopes up.

“Please, stay for dinner.” He begged, holding onto my shoulder. I slowly turned around, nodding.

“Okay. Let me text my dad.” I explained and he nodded, grinning like a maniac. His mom came out around the corner from the kitchen as I finished telling my dad that I was hanging at a friend’s place tonight.

“I’m glad you can stay, Ryan! Does pizza sound good to you?” She asked. I nodded, smiling weakly. Jack motioned for me to sit down on the couch with him. I hesitantly did and he bumped my shoulder playfully.

“Sounds fine, Mom!” Jack called.

“Jack, come here for a moment.” His mom motioned. I watched as he got up and skidded across the floor on slick black socks. I went over to my backpack, grabbing my backpack. Maybe I could finish up the next few pages by the time he got back. I flopped back down on the couch, trying to read.

But I could hear their voices float from the kitchen. All I could make out was little snip-its of their conversation. The mom was worried, the boy was determined. Both eventually stopped talking and I heard Jack skid back across his floor to me in the living room. By now, I was intently staring at the page. King Dork was a great book.

“Whatcha reading?” Jack asked as he crawled up next to me. He put his head on my shoulder, reading over the side. I couldn’t help but catch my breath with him so near me.

“J-just a book.” I responded. Jack stretched out on the couch, turning on the TV. He went to a shelf where all the discs were. I caught him staring at me as I walked away, setting my book down by my backpack. Was he really staring at my ass!?

I’ll never know.

Hours later, the pizza had arrived and we were both deep into a movie. Jack really wanted to watch Iron Man and I didn’t argue. I honestly loved the movie. We were both curled up on the couch with a blanket over us.

The credits started to roll. It was dark outside. My dad said it was okay if Jack let me sleepover, but I didn’t want to ask him. Would that be weird? Probably.

“Hey, let’s go upstairs.” He suggested and I nodded, slowly following his wake. He scaled steps two at a time and I slowly followed behind him. My head still really hurt, but I made it look like I was tough.

“So this is my room.” He introduced and opened up a door. I followed him in as he closed it partly. I sat down at a chair as Jack walked to the closet. He rummaged around for a moment before tossing me a shirt. I caught it, staring at it. It was an oversized blue shirt that matched my eyes.

“Go ahead and change. I’ll throw your shirt in the wash tomorrow.” He said. I nodded and switched shirts, blushing as I caught Jack staring at my abs.

“Thanks.” I murmured. It was like the blue fabric just swallowed me up. It stretched down to my thighs. Jack fell onto his bed and patted the side for me to join.

“Aw you’re adorable.” He chuckled. I blushed even harder, if that was even possible. Navigating the messy room, I managed to make my way onto Jack’s bed and sat down. He yanked me down to lay next to him, tossing me a pillow to lean on. He pulled up his phone and started playing some video of a guitarist.

“That. I want to be like that. I don’t want to go to college. I want to play in a band.” He nodded, staring at me. I looked over, our faces so close. I smiled and nodded. “What do you want to do?” He asked me. I shrugged.

“I don’t know yet. Probably do something with being a sound technician for a band.” I shrugged, not exactly sure of my answer. There was more silence except for the video that ended too soon. That’s when I turned to Jack, taking my turn to ask a question.

“Jack?”

“Mmhmm?”

“What happened earlier today?” I asked slowly, testing my boundaries. Jack sighed and put his phone away on the table next to his bed. We were both laying side by side, just staring at the ceiling. His hands rested on his stomach, folded perfectly together. He looked sad. I just wanted to touch his cheek, saying everything would be okay.

“Well, I got dumped…” He started. I frowned.

“I’m sorry about that.” I murmured.

“No, no, you’re fine. You just reminded me a lot of him and I was super pissed off that he cheated on me and it was just painful and raw and I’m really sorry.” Jack scowled, closing his eyes. I froze.

Him.

He.

Jack just called the dumper “him”.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean…oh gosh I’m not weird….are you a homophobe?” Jack asked quickly. I shook my head, grinning like an idiot. Jack looked at me oddly. “What?”

“Oh nothing! I don’t care! I’m gay too!” I laughed. Jack let out a massive sigh of relief, the color returning to his face.

“Really?”

“Yeah!” It felt like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders. Maybe Jack and I would work out.

“Oh that’s…..good.” Jack blushed and looked away. I turned to the opposite way, pretending to be interested in a poster hanging on his wall. I felt someone breathe on my neck and I turned around to see Jack just staring at me. I shifted nervously.

“What?” I asked quietly.

“Nothing, you’re just adorable in that shirt. It matches your eyes.” He murmured, brushing a stray piece of brown hair out of my eyes. I grinned, closing my eyes.

“Aw, stop blushing. That’s even cuter.” He giggled. I hid my face behind my hands, feeling so shy right now. He reached over, tossing a blanket over both of us, not even bothering to crawl underneath the covers. He reached up turning the lights out.

“AHHHHHH THE DARK!” Jack screamed. I jumped up, tumbling onto Jack’s chest from the sudden noise. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close so I couldn’t get out.

“Jaaaack! Why’d you do that?” I whined. Jack chuckled, lips brushing my ear as he turned towards me.

“So you’d get scared and I’d have an excuse to hold you.” He pouted. My smile grew under the cover of the darkness. Jack rubbed my shoulder, tracing little patterns on my skin.

“Stahp being so weird.” I stuck my tongue out as I pouted and buried my head into his neck, unable to contain my happiness from being with him.

“That’s impossible.” Jack hummed happily. We sat there in silence, hoping one or the other would fall asleep but I was too awake to pass out.

The silence passed on, neither of us moving or speaking. We just let each other adjust to being around one another. I felt Jack flex his arms as he held me. I finally broke the silence as I moved onto his chest again. I was a smaller frame than Jack, but he held me there anyways.

“I can’t sleep.” I whimpered. He reached up, pulling my head down into his shoulder, running his fingers through my hair. He kissed my neck, humming softly.

“Sleep is good.”

“I know, I just can’t sleep.” I whined again. Jack nuzzled his nose against my collarbone.

“Oh. Is this helping?” He asked as he kissing my cheek. I wrapped my arms around his shoulder, hiding further in his neck.

“No.” I muttered, feeling the happiness fly through me again. Jack blew a cool breath of cool air against my shoulder, making me squirm. He chuckled seductively.

“You’re beautiful when you squirm.”

“You can’t even see me.” I muttered.

“I don’t have to see things to believe in them.” He purred. I shivered and he held my hips gently with one hand, bringing my face to look at him in the dark with his other hand. I found his gleaming eyes in the darkness. I reached up and touched his cheek gently. He still looked sad.

“I’m sorry about the cheating thing.” I whispered.

“It’s fine. I got something better instead.” He pulled me down, pressing his lips up against mine. I felt a little awkward at first, but after I loosened up, his lips started to move against mine. I let him take over, gently dominating my lips. His tongue brushed against my lower lip, timidly asking for entrance, which I allowed. Jack’s tongue explored my mouth, dancing with mine until we relaxed and he put more force into controlling his movements against mine. Jack gently flipped us over so that he was leaning over me. All my senses tingle from the idea of being dominated, the rough pleasure sending waves through my system. His teeth tugged at my lip lightly and I let out a little moan from the pleasure and pain. Jack chuckled and kissed the corner of my lip, trailing his lips to under my ear, where he pressed them against the hollow there.

“You’re such a beautiful mess.” He purred and I whimpered for me. He fell onto the bed next to me, holding me close, but never letting me reach up and reattached our lips.

“Jack.” I whimpered, pleading for more. His hands moved to the small of my back, one hand gently running up and down my thigh.

“Mmm…you have to sleep, Ry.” He cooed, running his short nails over my sensitive skin. I squirmed again at the sensation and he laughed. He kissed my nose before pulling the blankets over us.

“Goodnight, Jack.” I whispered into his collarbone. He sighed happily.

“Goodnight, Ryan.”

Notes

Okay, I'm sorry this was super duper long and really, really late, but this is for my babe AlyxxBarakat. I'm really sorry that this was so late, but honestly, i've kind of forgotten a little bit about the one shots. I'm glad I could still get it up for you thought! Thanks for requesting and I hope you loved it :)

Don't forget to keep on requesting!!! I'm anxious to keep on writing and I haven't gotten any requests in a while!