Worth a Shot

Jade was still grinning as she sat back down. She turned her gaze to Dave. "Soooo....what do you think of Jake? Pretty handsome isn't he?"

Dave shyly nodded. "Yeah. And he seems pretty cool too."

"Dave's got a crush already" John grinned teasingly.

Dave was frowning now. Rose was frowning as well. "Oh." She turned to look at John. "Do you know who it is?"

Jade was silently staring at John. Both she and Rose knew about Dave's feelings for John. Actually just about everyone but John knew. Dave scooted over before climbing over her. "Need to piss."

John looked to Rose. "Isn't it obvious?" he asked in confusion.

Rose shrugged at him. "Why don't you tell us. Just so we're all clear."

"Jake" John replied "Dave's already got a crush on him. Did you think I meant someone else?"

Jake was humming as he stood at the urinal.

The girls shook their heads. "Not at all John."

Dave shuffled into the bathroom. He kept his head down as he went to a stall.

Jake frowned at Dave's behavior. "Dave?" he asked, finishing up and putting himself away. "Is everything quite alright?"

"Jake?" He had completely forgotten about the older boy and where he had gone off to. He just needed to get away from John. "I don't know."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jake asked, moving to the sink to wash his hands.

"I don't want to bother you. It's just stupid and silly anyway."

"Not if its made you upset" Jake stated.

Dave let out a quiet sniffle. "It's stupid. Don't let me take up your time."

"I don't think its stupid if its upsetting you. And I don't feel you're taking up any of my time" Jake replied

"John knows I like somone. He doesn't know that it's him."

"Oh, is that all?" Jake asked. "Why don't you tell him?"

Dave made a crying noise. "He's straight. 100 percent hetero."

Jake moved over to the stall and knocked on the door. "Its alright, I'm sure you'll find someone for you. Come out here with me, it isn't right to cry by yourself when you're sad"

Dave hesitantly pushed the stall door open. He had started crying already. "What if I don't find someone else? I don't want to die alone. It's not fair."

"A handsome young man like you? Nevah" Jake replied, putting an arm around Dave's shoulders and guiding him from the stall. "There are plenty of fish in the sea, sometimes you just have to let your baited hook drift with the tide a little longer than usual to catch that keepah."

Dave sniffled and coughed. "I don't understand fishing metaphors. Besides, I've already given up on love. It's hopeless."

"Nonsense" Jake hushed him gently. "You'll find someone, trust me" he smiled and used his thumb to wipe Dave's cheek. "Why don't we get you a sunday after dinner to cheer you back up?"

Dave hiccuped, leaning into Jake's touch just slightly. "You really think so."

"I really do"

"Thank you Jake." Dave leaned up, getting on his tiptoes. Gently, he pressed a kiss to Jake's cheek.