He Made Me Stay

Kit’s doctor returns after some tests and gives us a warm, reassuring smile. I’m exhausted and stressed, but his smile relaxes me.

“So Kit tells me he’s been eating properly and getting a little more exercise than usual, but nothing too extreme.” He winks at me, making me turn bright red. “Yet he’s still having issues with hypoglycemia happening more and more frequently.”

Leesa nods. “He’s so careful.”

“It appears he’s having pump failure. The rate of his dosage of insulin is too high,” he explains.

“Did it get jostled?” I croak out. “Did I accidentally knock it loose? Oh God. Is it pouring insulin in there?”

His doctor chuckles. “No, son. It doesn’t come loose easily and it’s not flooding him with insulin. There’s just something wrong with the device itself. It’s reading that he’s being given a certain dosage, but it’s actually putting more into his body. We’ll need to get him set up with a new insulin pump and monitor it carefully.”

When the doctor finishes talking to Kit and Leesa, he leaves. Kit, still exhausted from the events, nods off to sleep. Leesa squats down in front of me, taking my hands.

“Jasper Darrow,” she says, squeezing my hands. “Thank you for saving my son’s life.”

“I didn’t do…” I trail off. “You told me what to do.”

“But you noticed something was wrong. You were an advocate for his body when he was unable to. I can’t thank you enough. You’re good for my boy. You saved him.”

“He saved me first. I guess we’re even.”

She kisses my forehead. “I’m glad you’re here.”

As she excuses herself to get coffee, I rise to my feet and approach Kit’s bed. His eyes flutter open, sensing me. I press a kiss to his pink, pink strawberry lips.

“You scared me,” I murmur.

His thumb strokes over my hand. “I’m sorry, quark. Everything’s going to be okay. As long as you stay with me.”

I give him a fierce nod. “I’ll be here as long as you need me.”

“I’ll need you forever.”

“Then forever you’ll have me.”Kit

October 4“…and this year’s Homecoming prince is Kit Strong!” Miss Beasely announces on the speakers.

I quirk a brow at Eric. “They have princes at these things?”

“They have a whole court,” Eric starts to explain but is cut off by Miss Beasely again.

“Our Homecoming king is Eric Davidson!”

We both walk toward the center stage, arm in arm. Eric is nervous, but he doesn’t let it show. His mom is proud of him. Everyone at school knows he’s gay now, so it’s not like he has anything to fear. I’d finally convinced him today to let me come to his house before the crowning ceremony so we could take pictures and break the news to his mother in a more controlled environment. Jasper, Henry, Harloe, and Serena were there to also lend their support. Rather than yelling at him like he worried, she was thrilled he had the bravery to tell her.

Miss Beasley places a small crown on my head and then a larger one on Eric. Eric also gets bestowed with a sash that matches Harloe’s since she’s our queen. I scan the crowd, looking for my man. In the front row, Jasper sits beside Serena looking hot as ever.

We have to stand there in front of all our peers and parents for the Homecoming banquet, grinning, as Miss Beasley makes a speech about our football team, cheerleaders, and school. I can’t take my eyes off Jasper, though.

My hero.

I just had to save him first.

It’s hard to believe just over a month ago, he wanted to die. The moment I locked eyes with him, I felt something was severely wrong with him. It was clouding the air around him, toxic and suffocating. I knew everyone felt it but avoided it.

I couldn’t.

Not after reading up on social media about what happened to his brother and then seeing firsthand the utter despair he was experiencing. I knew I had to do something. I had to find a way to pull him to me and keep him together.

The Strong Force as my parents call it.

At first, I wanted to be a friend. But the moment I heard his voice and felt all of his emotions so clearly as though they were my own, I was captivated by him.

Back then, he was empty and sad. The most beautiful guy I’d ever seen wrapped in a blanket of sorrow and pain. I craved to tug that blanket away and wrap my warmth around him, comforting him in a different sort of way.

We fell.

So fast and so hard into each other.

Each day, we fall a little more.

Mom wasn’t sure of Jasper to begin with. He wore dark clothes and his smiles were rare. But Jasper is one of those people you can’t help but gravitate toward. He’s like a beacon, pulsating and urging you forward. It’s like he wears his emotions on the outside. Places his tender heart right on his shoulder where everyone can see. All it does is make you want to crowd around him to protect it.