Just Platonic

04

Jackie and Morgan were eating their ice-cream as Collynn was ordering his, along with cheesy fries for them all to share. They sat at the picnic table that was directly under a streetlight.

"I have a question," Jackie stated, trying to gouge how Morgan would react. "Whenever someone says male pronouns you tense. Are you trans?"

Morgan was shocked. Could she see through them?

"Gosh that sounded bitchy. Let me start over." Jackie took a deep breath before she tried again. "If so I want to support you. I want to use the right pronouns. I would like to be friends."

Morgan smiled, a little bit of their anxiety easing away.

"I am non-binary. I go by they/them pronouns."

Jackie nodded her head. "Thank you for telling me. I mean I basically cornered you, but thanks for letting me know."

Collynn smiled. "Yeah, I'm worried about how everyone at West Bay is going to react. I've been trying to get a sense of everyone. I mean, rumors are going to start if I do good tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?" Collynn asked sitting next to Morgan.

"I-I, I am trying out to join the cheer-leading team." Morgan's face was heating up, although no one could see since his dark chocolate skin wouldn't allow a blush to be visible, especially in this lighting.

"That's why you wanted to talk to Mel?"

"Yeah," Morgan shyly said.

A smile spread across Jackie's face. "Really? Oh, I hope you make the team. Are you any good?"

"Here we go," Collynn said. " Man, you aren't going to hear her shut up now that you mentioned cheer-leading."

Jackie glared at Collynn. Morgan just sat there staring at his ice-cream.

"First of all, I don't gush over cheer-leading. Second, Morgan is non-binary so use they/them pronouns please."

Jackie's gaze softened as she turned towards Morgan, her cheeks turning a bright red "I am so sorry Morgan. I promise I wont tell anyone else. I just, me and Collynn, we don't keep secrets," well not many secrets both her and Collynn thought. "And I will make it up to you, I promise."

"I am sorry Morgan, I didn't know bro. s**t," Collynn shaked his head.

"It's okay," Morgan laughed. "As long as you aren't referring to me as a male or female it's fine. I know dude and bro are generic for genders sometimes. Like how that's just how you refer to people as on a daily, no matter what."

"Still ma-" Collynn cleared his throat. "Still, it's offensive. And it's not correct."

"It's fine."

"Okay you two, want to hit up the party real quick?" Jackie asked, tired of the bickering. Collynn would keep apologizing and it seemed like Morgan would still say it's okay.

They both looked at each other before they looked at Jackie. Collynn noticed that her eyes were filled with joy. He nodded his head. Morgan shook their head.

"Sorry, I should get going home. Big day tomorrow. Wanna be well rested."

Before Morgan left Jackie gave them a hug, with a huge smile on her face. Morgan smiled back before then turned and called an Uber.

*~*

They were only at the party for five minutes before Collynn was left alone. Parties weren't his thing, and being here just reminded him that he would rather be at home with his mom and sister. Lately Erik has been having to do a lot more meetings out of town, but Collynn thought he was lying. And it wasn't like he could tell his mom, he had no evidence and he didn't want Erik to have a reason to beat on him.

Jackie had only come to this thing because she had a reputation to keep up, and she was also trying to get intel on if someone was going to have an after-party after the Homecoming Dance. Jackie also didn't want to go home. Braden, Jackie's brother, was home for the weekend. It was hard to face him because of the secret she was keeping from him, not to mention that sometimes he would come over too. While he has his degree him and Braden are almost like brothers. It wasn't her fault her whole family loved him, but she didn't want to face her demons. She didn't want to ruin a good relationship so many people in her life were happy with. She didn't want others to suffer because she was the one who had given him the signals that she wanted it, even though she didn't. Once upon a time he was like another older brother to her, but now? Now he was the devil, and she wanted nothing more than to stay away from him.

As it was nearing eleven Jackie dropped off Collynn at his house she headed home. She took the long way, putting it off as much as possible. Once she pulled into the driveway she noticed that his car wasn't in the driveway, or in the road. Sighing Jackie went into the house.

She pulled out her phone to use as a flashlight since none of the lights in the house were on. The only light that could be seen was that of the little nightlight illuminating from the living room.

Heading up the stairs her heart started to hammer in her chest. She held her breath, listening for any sign that he might be here. The he was awake. Waiting for her. Waiting to pounce.

Once she reached her bedroom door she quickly turned on the light and looked in the closet and under the bed before she turned towards her door and locked it.

*~*

Collynn waited five minutes after Jackie left. He saw that Erik's car wasn't in the driveway he relaxed a little. While he had only ever done something to Collynn so far, Collynn was still scared for his mom and sister.

Noticing only the kitchen light on he made his was to meet up with Jared. 

"I thought you weren't going to come," Jared grumbled as Collynn neared.

"Naw man. You know when I say I want something that I don't play with you."

"I know, but you never know when something else comes up. Heard you guys won the game." Jared put his hand through his brown hair. He was a lanky man who had lost everything. He used to be on a Basketball scholarship to UCLA before he met Vik. Vik was one bad habit that led him to others. Now he was dealing basically anything and everything.

"Look kid," Jared started. 

"I'm giving you business aren't I? And if you wont sell them to me than I can find someone else who will. Hell, I could even go to stores and buy them. I mean it'll take more for it to kick in but it's my life."

Jared sighed. "I know. I just," he shook his head. "You're right. This is only business and nothing else. I didn't know you two years ago. You didn't know me. Strictly business."

Jared hated that he was a reason that the kid who had so much potential in-front of him was going down the same terrible path he did. He doesn't know how or why Collynn takes them, he just knows that he is going to ruin his life before it even starts.

Jared gave him the drugs and took the money as he walked off. Collynn sat on the beach. He knew that he was making a huge mistake. That he was f*****g up royally, but he didn't care. He needed to feel numb. He needed to forget. He needed to feel free.