Jesse paced back and forth, waiting for the bus to arrive. He had waited for this day to come for so dreadfully long that he grew bored with staring at the clock on his phone every five minutes, even though there was a perfectly good clock hanging on the pillar next to him.
He didn't know how much more excited he could possibly be. His old best friend, Evan, was finally coming home after three long, boring years.
Evan was much more of a rebel than Jesse was. He liked to party and cause trouble, and never bothered to study for any upcoming tests or exams. He had a wild sense of humor. His smile could light up a room.
Jesse was a complete opposite of Evan. He didn't like to party or be around huge groups of people. He hated school, but never skipped it or flunked a test. He was always perfectly put together, and always did things perfectly.
That's how they had met. In fourth grade, Jesse was asked by his teacher to tutor Evan so he could get his grades up for the state test. If he didn't, he would be held back.
At first, Jesse didn't fancy Evan. He stayed away from rebellious people, but Evan was different, and Jesse could sense it right from the start.
He had a sense of humor Jesse didn't know he could have. Then suddenly, they hung out even after Evan passed the grade.
They were inseparable. Well, at least until Evan was sent away.
In sixth grade, Evan's dad died. His mom got married to a former Navy Seal, who was head of security at their school. Evan called him his 'step-douche', but only in front of friends.
Evan got expelled in eighth grade for sneaking weed into school and handing it out to other kids, and his step dad snapped. Sent him to a military school 3,000 miles away.
Their last goodbye was too painful for Jesse. He promised he would stay with Evan until the bus came.
But he knew he wasn't going to keep that promise.
Jesse ran away once he realized he was on the brink of tears.
If there was anything Jesse and Evan might have had in common, it would have been their pride. They never wanted anybody to see them cry, because they thought it showed signs of weakness.
So, Jesse ran away, leaving Evan, suitcase in hand, standing there by the bus stop bench where Jesse stood now, three years later, still closely followed by his mistake.
His hands ran over the cool metal, and a pang of guilt hit him square in the chest. I shouldn't have run away, he thought. I should have stayed.
Will he ever even forgive me? Jesse wondered, staring at the bluebirds perched on the branch of the pine tree near the coffee shop next to the bus stop, where Jesse and Evan used to go all the time.
He didn't get to answer his own question, because an ear piercing screech jolted him out of his thoughts. He looked towards the source of the sound, and saw the bus pulling up.
Jesse's heart started pounding, the sound filling his ears. He inspected the people sitting near the windows of the bus. None of them seemed to be Evan.
The door opened, and people filed out hastily, each going their own direction. Jesse scanned the crowd of people for Evan.
Suddenly, he saw him. Evan. He stepped off, not realizing Jesse was there. He had the same black hair, and the same sense of style. Black leather and dark red hoodies. His green eyes glinted in the sunlight, so big and vibrant, much like his personality.
He had earphones in, and he nodded his head to the beat of the music.
Jesse chuckled silently. Evan was always ready to rock out in public. Jesse took a deep breath, his heart escalating in speed every second he let pass by.
He walked slowly and gradually towards Evan, who noticed him and smiled hugely, a smile that Jesse missed dearly.
"Jesse? Is that you?" he exclaimed, laughing disbelievingly and taking out his earplugs and shoving them in the tiny pocket of his black leather jacket.
"The one and only, Evan," Jesse joked, giving him a big hug. He smelled like cinnamon and sugar, and something else Jesse couldn't quite put his finger on.
The two pulled apart, and Evan surveyed Jesse, looking him up and down. "You haven't changed at all, man."
"I could say the same about you," Jesse replied, tugging at his leather jacket teasingly.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling up at the corners. Jesse smiled back, then the smile faded as he remembered what he had come to say.
"Evan, I messed up. Three years ago, I left you. I must have hurt your feelings pretty bad, running away like that."
Evan nodded, a sure sign that he wanted Jesse to continue.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't bear to see you leave. It was really hard. So, I hope you'll forgive me," Jesse finished, lowering his head in shame, then raising it back up again to see Evan's reaction.
Evan sniffed, looking away and at the coffee shop. He turned to look back at Jesse. "Jesse, I know it was hard for you, and I understand why you ran away. So, I forgive you. Let's head to Bean's now, okay?" he said, hugging Jesse.
Jesse exhaled and nodded as they started to walk towards the coffee shop down the street. A burden seemed to be lifted off his shoulders, causing him to relax. Evan understood. Good. Now things can go back to normal.
They entered the coffee shop, the bell attached to the door ringing, letting everyone know they had entered. A waft of vanilla cinnamon coffee filled the air, satisfying Jesse's nose, and Evan licked his lips.
"I'm definitely ready for coffee! The kind at Bradford is too bitter. They don't have anything close to the sweet, special coffee they have here that warms up your whole body and makes you wish you had more. You see, that kind of magic effect is Bean's specialty only," Evan joked, wagging a finger and talking excitedly, like a little girl about to get a unicorn plushie.
Jesse laughed. It was incredibly easy for Evan to make a person crack up, if only for a second.
They ordered, then went to find a table. They chose one in the far corner of the restaurant, the one Jesse and Evan would always come sit in to think about everything that might have been going on in their lives.
"So, what's going on with your mom?" Evan asked, fingering the tablecloth.
Evan tensed up and looked out the window. He got lost in his own mind so easily, but Jesse wasn't about to let him escape that quickly.
"Evan?" Jesse said, waving his hand in front of Evan's eyes to catch his attention.
Evan turned towards him and started zipping his leather jacket up and down. "I wouldn't know. I haven't talked to her in four months. Bet she's off partying with that step-douche," he snarled coldly, before getting lost in his own thoughts again.
That answer troubled Jesse. If he hadn't spoken to her in four months, where was he supposed to stay? Did his mom even know he was back in California yet?
"You don't have a place to stay, do you?" Jesse whispered in a low voice to Evan, not wanting anyone to eavesdrop in their personal affairs.
That caught Evan's attention. He started to say something but got interrupted by the waitress coming in between them and placing their drinks on the table. After she left, he leaned in.
"Look, it's not a big deal, okay? I'll rent a hotel room or something."
Jesse grew angry. How could he just brush this off? How was he supposed to afford a hotel room with an emergency only credit card his mom gave him years ago that he used on getting here?
"It is a big deal. I want you to come stay with me. My parents are out of town for two months on some business trip. I'll talk to them when they get back, but I'm sure they'd let you stay," Jesse offered, determined to make him say yes.
Evan looked at him coldly. "You don't get it." He snatched his drink and stormed out, and Jesse followed him frantically, grabbing his iced coffee and dashing after him, confused out of his mind.
"Evan! You can't just run away!" Jesse yelled, trying to catch his breath whilst trying to catch up with Evan, who was storming away a little too fast for his likings.
Evan whirled around, keeping his eyes locked on Jesse's fiercely. "But it's my turn, isn't it?! It's my turn to leave you, just like you left me at that bus stop three years ago."
"That's not fair," Jesse shot back, his voice breaking.
"Well, being sent to military school isn't fair, but look where I ended up!" he shouted, running into the group of trees that seemed like a forest to little kids.
Jesse threw his iced coffee on the ground, his fists clenched and shaking in rage and grief. "Stop!"
Evan did, and he knelt down, panting.
"What is wrong with you, Evan? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Is this because of me running away three years ago?"
Evan looked at Jesse, his rage crumbling by the second. He shook his head. "No. It's because I want to go home and solve things with my mom, but I guess I'm just afraid."
"The great Evan Parker? Afraid?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
He scowled at me. "Ha, ha. The point is, she doesn't know I'm here. So what if I go, and she kicks me out? Then, I'll have nobody. And that's what's been bothering me," he explained, sitting down and leaning against a tree.
Jesse inched closer and sat down beside him. "Even if you lose your mom, you'll always have me. I'll never leave you or run away from you again," he said softly, patting Evan's shoulder.
Evan and Jesse stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, although it only could have been a second or two. Jesse had a strong urge to kiss Evan. Just a small peck, if not more.
"I really wanna kiss you right now," swooned Evan, staring dreamily at Jesse.
Taken a bit aback, Jesse smirked. "I dare you."
Jesse knew Evan would kiss him right then and there. Evan never, never, backed out of a dare.
Evan laughed. "You promise you'll never leave me?"
Jesse didn't get to reply because Evan kissed him. It was a long, passionate kiss that Jesse enjoyed, and he knew Evan did, too. Jesse's heart did flips and somersaults inside of his chest, and a joy rushed inside him, overcoming all of his other emotions.
They pulled apart, and their eyes met.
"Promise," whispered Jesse.
And that was a promise Jesse knew he would absolutely never break.
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