Work Text:
After All
It was around eleven-thirty at night. Jake stared at the door in front of him, trying to muster the courage to ring the doorbell. He had no idea how he had managed to gather enough bravery to get there.
Just hours ago, he had been crying like a child in his room, with Drew’s words echoing in his mind.
"You’re over for me..."
That had certainly hurt—a lot. But Jake knew the brunette better than anyone. He didn't really mean it... or at least, Jake hoped he didn’t.
The blond took a deep breath and pressed the button, hearing the chime echo through the house. It didn’t take long before the door opened, revealing a dark-haired boy with puffy eyes. Jake looked at him with a sorrowful expression, but Drew simply rolled his eyes and stepped aside, letting him in without a word.
Both remained silent as they climbed the stairs toward Drew’s room. As usual, the house was empty. His parents were always away at business conferences, sometimes for weeks, even months. Jake had never really gotten the chance to know them—only through pictures and gossip.
The room was dimly lit, but everything was still visible. LED lights lined the walls, casting a soft blue glow over the space.
"Drew..." Jake grabbed his arm as soon as the door closed, but the other quickly pulled away.
"What do you want, Jake?" he asked seriously, avoiding eye contact.
"Baby, please... I don’t care about losing a friend, but I don’t want to lose my boyfriend."
The brunette seemed to soften slightly at the affectionate nickname. The blond stepped closer, gently taking his hands in his own.
Tears started slipping from Drew’s eyes.
"I’m so sorry..." Jake murmured, running his thumb along the boy’s cheek to wipe them away before pulling him into a firm hug.
Drew’s loud sobs echoed through the room, making Sterling’s heart ache even more.
He hated when they fought, and it had become more frequent ever since he joined the music club. A while ago, he never would have imagined being among them—the so-called "freaks."
Jake understood that Drew could be dramatic sometimes, but this was one of his worst moments. The brunette was upset that Hailey had been taking up all of his boyfriend’s time.
It was selfish and petty—but nothing Jake couldn’t handle. He loved Drew.
They were each other’s safe haven.
"Promise me you won’t hide things from me anymore..." Drew said between sobs, pulling away slightly but not breaking the embrace, his eyes locking with Jake’s.
"I promise, Drewybear..." Jake let out a weak chuckle before pulling him into a gentle kiss.