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*After s1ep11*
The lights of Rosemeadow High School's hallways seemed to flicker in sync with Jake's racing heart. His argument with Drew still lingered, their harsh words echoing in his mind.
Jake's usual bright smile was nowhere to be found as he navigated the crowded corridors. His blonde hair was messy, a testament to his sleepless night. Drew's words had cut deep.
As he turned a corner, Jake spotted Drew leaning against a locker on his phone, his purple hair standing out amidst the sea of students. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world around them melted away. Drew's gaze narrowed and went back to looking at his phone.
Jake's instincts screamed at him to walk the other way, but his conscience urged him to confront the issue. "Drew, I—"
"Save it, Jake." Drew's voice was laced with venom. "You've made it clear where your priorities lie."
Jake's heart ached. "Drew, that's not fair."
Drew's eyes flashed. "Fair?” he laughed, “ You're the one who's changed, Jake. You're the one who's abandoning our friendship."
Jake took a deep breath. "I'm trying to find myself and explore my interests, Drew. That doesn't mean I don't value our friendship."
Drew gave a condescending chuckle. "Interests? You mean Hailey?"
Jake's face heated up. "That's not fair, Drew. Hailey has nothing to do with this."
Drew's gaze pierced Jake's. "Doesn't she?"
The air was charged with tension. Jake realised that Drew's anger stemmed from something deeper. The bell rang, signalling the end of the break. Students rushed past them, breaking the tension between them.
Drew pushed off the locker. "Whatever, I’m done talking, Jake." He sighed.
As Drew walked away, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that their friendship was never going to be able to get fixed.
Later that day, Jake found solace in the music club. Hailey's warm smile welcomed him.
"Hey, everything okay? You seem troubled," Hailey asked.
Jake forced a smile. "Just…drama with Drew.” His smile slowly faded. “I don’t want to fight with him.”
Hailey's expression softened and put her hand on his shoulder. “…Look, I know the club hates him, me included but.. if he’s that important to you then maybe, you should try to talk to him."
Jake nodded, unsure how to bridge the gap between him and Drew.
Unbeknownst to Jake, Drew lingered outside the music room, watching him through the window. His heart, heavy with secrets. Seeing him together with Hailey, Drew wondered if he'd lost Jake forever.
As the day went on, Jake rehearsed with the band, trying to get his mind off Drew. Jake's gaze drifted toward the window, where Drew had stood watching him earlier. No matter how loud he sang in that club room, their argument still lingered, like an open wound.
In another part of the school, Drew sat with Liam and Henry at the lunch table. While Liam and Henry were talking nonsensical things, Drew was lost in thought. His mind overflowed with things he thought he could’ve done differently to prevent this from ever happening.
His thoughts swirled with memories of their friendship: laughter, pranks, and late-night conversations when Drew felt lonely in his empty, cold home. If you could even call it that. Jake's gradual drift away had left him feeling abandoned.
"Why can't he see?" Drew muttered, frustration etched on his face.
Henry and Liam looked at each other frightened to reach out to Drew, scared at who he would snap at next. If it was Jake, he would ask what was wrong in a heartbeat, he was always there for Drew no matter what. Until now.
As the school day was almost ending, Jake packed up, ready to go home for the day and think about what he could say to make it up to Drew.
"Hey, want to grab coffee?" Hailey asked.
Jake hesitated, unsure if facing Drew's anger again was wise. "..I'll pass," Jake said with a faint smile. "I just need some time to think."
Hailey nodded understandingly. "We're here for you, Jake."
As Jake walked out of the music room, his eyes instinctively started to search the crowd for Drew’s purple locks, hoping he could seek him out .
However, Drew went to his favourite part of the school to clear his mind and to get away from Liam and Henry’s senseless talking for a few moments. It was a quiet area outside with a bench overlooking the school's lake.
"Why…why did he choose her over me?" Drew's voice cracked as he goes through his messages with Jake.
In the silence, Drew saw his reflection as the phone turned to black and realised his emotions went far beyond friendship.
Outside, Jake wandered aimlessly, lost in thought. Drew's words echoed in his mind wondering where he might be.
"You're abandoning me."
A chill ran down Jake's spine as he recognised the depth of Drew's pain.
"Drew," Jake whispered.
Jake went to go to a quiet spot only him and Drew knew about not thinking about who he would be up reuniting with. As Jake approached, he spotted Drew's purple hair, his face buried in his hands.
"Drew?" Jake called softly.
Drew's head jerked up, eyes red-rimmed.
"What do you want, Jake?" Drew's voice trembled.
Jake's heart ached. "To talk… and to understand."
Drew's gaze searched Jake's face, seeking sincerity.
“…Whatever" Drew said finally, moving up on the bench, leaving Jake a space to sit.
Jake joined Drew, the wooden slats creaking beneath them. Jake took a deep breath
"I'm sorry, Drew," Jake began. "I never meant to hurt you."
Drew's eyes narrowed. "You've been hurting me for months, Jake. Ever since you joined the music club."
Jake's fingers intertwined, a nervous habit. "I found my passion Drew. I thought you'd be happy for me."
"Happy?" Drew's laughter was laced with bitterness. "You replaced me with Hailey.”
Jake's eyes widened. "Drew, no. That's not true."
Drew's gaze bore into Jake's. "Then tell me, what's going on? Why are you pushing me away?"
Drew wanted to say more but hesitated. He didn’t want them to split further apart.
Drew started to slowly let go of his pride “Jake look… I admit I have been horrible to that music club. I’m sorry for that and it won’t happen again. I get that it’s important to you.”
He takes a deep breath “I was scared, Jake. I didn’t want to lose you. But these days you always ditched us for them, how could I not get annoyed?”
Jake's pulse quickened. He saw the desperation in Drew's eyes.
"Drew, I..." Jake's voice faltered.
Jake went to cover Drew’s hand, sending shivers down his spine.
"Jake?" Drew questioned.
Jake's heart pounded. He felt the world tilt.
"Ever since we haven’t talked Drew I…" Jake takes his time to find the words he wants to say. "I find myself always thinking of you and what you could be doing."
Drew turned to Jake, unable to believe what he’s hearing. The air charged with tension.
And in that moment, Jake realised his feelings for Drew went far beyond friendship.
Jake’s words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken feelings, as if the very atmosphere crackled with anticipation.
“Drew, I’ve been blind,” Jake confessed, his voice trembling. “I didn’t realise how much you meant to me until we fought.”
Drew’s eyes locked onto Jake’s, a fierce intensity igniting within them. The wind made the strands of his purple hair fall across his forehead, and Jake felt an overwhelming urge to brush them back, to draw Drew closer.
Drew’s expression remained stoic, but his voice quivered, betraying his calm facade. “What are you saying, Jake?”
Jake’s heart raced, each beat echoing in the silence between them. “I think… I think I feel something more for you than friendship.”
The air around them vibrated with tension. Drew’s gaze held steady, searching Jake’s eyes for truth.
“Something…more?” Drew repeated quietly, as if his very words could shatter the moment.
Jake nodded, his throat tight. “I really can’t stop thinking about you, Drew. You’re always on my mind.”
Drew’s eyes flicked down to their intertwined hands, the warmth of Jake’s touch igniting a flicker of hope. His fingers trembled, uncertain yet eager.
Jake leaned in, his voice low and earnest. “I care about you so much, Drew. More than I ever thought possible.”
Silence enveloped them, heavy and suffocating. Drew’s chest was weighed with the effort of containing his emotions, each breath a battle against the tide of vulnerability threatening to overwhelm him.
A single tear escaped down Drew’s cheek, but he quickly wiped it away, determined to hold himself together.
Without a word, Jake opened his arms wide, inviting Drew into his arms of warmth. Drew hesitated and was uncertain, but then he leaned into the embrace, surrendering to the moment.
As they hugged, the tension that had wrapped around Drew began to dissolve, replaced by a comforting warmth that enveloped them both.
Drew buried his face in Jake’s shoulder, his voice muffled but clear. “I’ve felt the same way, Jake.”
Jake’s arms tightened around him, a protective shield against the world. The truth hung in the air, heavy yet freeing.
When they pulled back, Drew’s gaze met Jake’s, raw and vulnerable, as if he were laying his soul bare. Jake’s heart skipped a beat, an urge to bridge the distance.
Without thinking, he leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss that sent a wave of electricity through both of them. In that moment, the world around them melted away.
As they broke apart, Drew let out a sincere smile which was rare for him to ever do. His smile that always made Jake’s heart soar.
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Drew whispered, his voice filled with longing.
The weight of unspoken feelings lifting. “I’m so glad we found our way.” Jake smiled back, hoping the moment could stay like that forever.
The end.