JACOB

Two weeks or so had passed and things were very, very slowly, coming back to normal. 

Sort of. 

We reunited at the school and were just talking at lunch one day.

I took a deep breath. "You know what, I will mention the giant ass elephant in the room. I can't take it anymore. I've gotta be honest you guys, I'm so glad we made it out alive." I said.

Surprisingly, no one was upset or told me to shut up. We all had something to say. 

"Yeah, but not all of us did." Kat said.

"I almost died!" Preston said.

"We all almost did, Preston. We all almost died. So don't go running around saying the complete opposite." Holly said.

We ate our lunch in peace, enjoying the peace, and I noticed Preston being an idiot.

"Bro, what the hell are you doing? Stop. You look creepy as hell. Don't beat around the bush anymore. Just fuckin' ask her out already." I said. 

He almost choked on his ramen and turned so red.

"What's his dumbass shitting himself over now?" Rachel asked.

"Nothing. Nothing important. Don't worry about it." I said. 

I turned back around to go back to talking to Preston. "You do like her, right?"

"I-I mean um, yeah, sure." He said.

"You literally told me you two kissed! Just ask her already damn it!"

"Um-"

Man, he's a funny boy. 

"Ask her the question."

 "What question?" He said muffled, his mouth all of noodles.

"Come on, you know what I'm talking about." I said.

"Oh!" He jumped in his seat. "Hell no! I'm not telling her. I-I think it was just in the moment with her. We're just best friends."

I sighed. "If there was one thing I learned from being on the internet at a bit of young age, it's that when you say that shit, you're lying."

"I'm not ruining our friendship, Jacob. I like what the two of us have right now."

"I'll give you 15 dollars."

 He groaned. "I hate you. Using the fact I'm in debt for everything against me." He stood up. "Kat? Can I talk to you?"

Holly must have heard our entire conversation because I looked around the table and she was quietly squealing in her chair.

"Uh, sure." Kat said. 

"Okay, but can we move? It's really loud here."

They moved and we all looked around and Holly just sat there on her phone, smirking. 

 Preston asked the question that we all had been waiting for.

PRESTON

 "I'm not gonna beat around the bush and just cut right to chase. If life has shown me anything recently, it's that life is short and a risk or two isn't bad. So, um, Kat. I've really liked you for a long time and I was wondering if you'd want to be my girlfriend."

Finally got that over with.

Something my therapist had told me to do was to realize my feelings and accept them in any shape or form they came in. 

I don't know if they meant romantic ones, but it was something. It was also something I'd been needing to accept.

She laughed in surprise and smiled. "Of course, Preston."

They had also said I needed to realize and accept my trauma. 

Baby steps, Preston. Baby steps. 

JACOB

The school day went by and Preston and I were talking at this random bridge over a lake. 

It had just been the two of us, waiting for Holly, Rachel, and Kat. 

"So, I'm assuming she said yes?" I asked. 

"Oh hell yeah she did!"

She's a nice girl. Hope she doesn't break his fuckin' heart. 

"You made a good choice, Preston. It also took you long enough to finally do so, huh?"

Preston laughed. 

"No answer?" I asked.

He stood there for some time, just being silent. I was seeing something go from his chest to his mouth.

Was probably biting on his shirt like the weirdo he was.

"Questions will not be taken at this moment." He said. Then I realized what was going from his chest to his mouth.

Weed.

"What the hell? You're smoking right now?" I asked.

"I can explain-"

"Without me?" I said, joking around.

"It's the medical stuff though, not the fun one. I don't think you're going to want some."

"I don't now." I stared out for a second, not feeling surprised when my thoughts got interrupted. 

"Hey wanna ditch tomorrow?" Preston asked.

"Huh?"

"Y'know, say it was like trauma or something. I really don't want to go to school tomorrow." Preston was saying.

"Is this the weed talking?" I asked.

"Honestly, I don't know."

I wouldn't wanna do that though. Is that wrong? But a break sounds nice. 

"I like high Preston." I said.

"Bro I'm not eve-" He started to say. 

"Shh. Just relax while we're waiting for the girls." I said.

"Damn I kinda forgot they were coming."