Jake sat at the edge of his bed, knees drawn to his chest, listening to the distant, muffled arguments of his parents downstairs. The ache of his recent breakup gnawed at him, and the anxieties of the past months swirled in his mind. He stared at his phone, replaying the words, “I’m picking you up for a good time,” from Duncan, his lifelong friend and the only one who knew his truth. "Maybe tonight will be different," he whispered to himself, brushing away thoughts of his parents’ disappointment and the shame that had begun to haunt his nights.

Duncan leaned out the window, grinning, his dark curls wild in the breeze. Jake hurried out, his backpack slung over one shoulder, the tension in his shoulders easing with each step away from the house. "You look like you need this, nerd," "You have no idea," "Well, my cousin Dylan’s at my place tonight. He’s been wanting to meet you—says you might be his type." "Wait, Dylan? I didn’t know..." "Yeah, he just came out. You two might hit it off. And by the way, you’re not just a nerd, you know."

Dylan looked up, his eyes bright with curiosity as Jake entered, awkward but hopeful. Duncan dropped onto the armchair, kicking his feet up, and the three began to talk, laughter rising and falling like a familiar song. "So, you’re the infamous Jake. My cousin says you’re a nerd, but you seem alright," Dylan teased, giving Jake an encouraging grin. "Trust me, I’m as nerdy as they come," Jake replied, feeling a warmth he hadn’t known in months.

Dylan paused, smirking, and leaned in the doorway. "Wow, my cousin never mentioned you were such a big nerd," Dylan laughed, eyes twinkling with mischief. "If you think that’s bad, wait until you hear what Duncan did," Jake shot back, the embarrassment easing as they both dissolved into laughter.

Jake confided about his recent struggles, the stress, the break-up, and the shame he’d felt about wetting the bed. Dylan offered a gentle smile and shared that Duncan had the same problem until he was thirteen, and that accidents were nothing to be ashamed of. "You know, I’ve wanted to ask you out since I heard about you," Dylan admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "I’d like that," Jake replied, a smile blooming across his face for the first time in weeks.

Jake woke to the sound of Duncan and Dylan joking in the kitchen, the weight on his chest finally lifting. He realized he was surrounded by people who knew him—really knew him—and who cared. As he walked out to join them, he felt hope flicker in his chest, bright and persistent, for the first time in a long while.