Together

Jake looked up from the table where he sat alone. He caught the eye of his best
friend, Gabriel, and gave a little smirk. When Jake turned his head, the smirk had
vanished.

"Mom, come on. I cleaned my room. Really well. I did it better then ever."

"I asked you to have it finished four hours ago." Jake's mom replied.

"I'm sorry, it just took a really long time. Can I please go?"

"I don't know. We had the agreement at the beginning of the week that you
would have it finished by Thursday. Here it is Friday, and you just finished it."

Jake looked up at his mom, and tried to do his best puppy eyes.

Gabriel piped up, "I don't know about you Jake, but I'd be fine just staying
here for the night."

Jakes eyes brightened, "Yeah. Mom, would that be fine."

Jake's mom looked deep into her son's eyes, then her face brightened a
little and after a moment's though, she said, "That would be ok."

Gabriel and Jake high-fived, and whooped.

"Thank you mom." Jake said quickly. Gabriel followed his example with,
"Thanks a lot Mrs.Wilson thanks a lot."

"You need to call your parents Gabriel, to make sure everything is fine."

Jake's mom said softly, but Gabriel had already pulled out his cell phone, and
was waiting for his parents to pick up.

"Mom? Mom, yeah it's me. Yeah, I'm going to stay at Jake's house tonight,
alright?" Gabriel said quickly, trying to make sure his mom couldn't cut him off.

"Ok, here she is."

Gabriel handed the phone over to Jake's mom.

"Hello? Oh hi. Yeah, if it's fine with you, I would be glad to have Gabriel
over for the night...sure. Sunday afternoon. Ok, that will be great. I'll be glad
to...no, don't worry about it."

Jake's mom handed the cell phone back to Gabriel, who held it up to his
ear, then closed it and put it back in his pocket.

"Thanks so much mom." Jake said.

Gabriel nudged him in the side, "That's overkill man." He whispered in his
ear. Jake smiled, and so did his mom. When Gabriel realized that Jake's mom
heard him, his eyes bulged, and his face got red.

"Sorry Mrs. Wilson. I didn't mean it like that. I didn't mean it like that at all."
Jake's mom laughed. "Don't worry about it."

Gabriel didn't look like he was taking her advice.

Jake smiled, and grabbed Gabriel by the arm, "See you later mom."

"Dinner at 7." Jake's mom called after them.

"Sure." Jake said absentmindedly.

Once they were out of earshot of his mother, Gabriel stopped, and looked Jake in the eyes, "That was awkward. "

Jake laughed lightly, "I would agree."

Gabriel turned, and without a word, he continued down the hall towards
Jake's room. Jake smiled at his mom before they turned into his room.
They both burst out laughing then closed the door behind them.

"You really know how to make it uncomfortable, don't you?" Jake said
through his laughing.

Gabriel shrugged, "I didn't mean to. She wasn't supposed to hear. Sorry."

Jake laughed, and shrugged his shoulders animatedly, trying to imitate
Gabriel.

Gabriel laughed, and punched Jake. "Hey."

After a while, they both calmed down a little bit, and ended up sitting on the
bed. Soon after they sat down, they both fell silent, and Gabriel looked at Jake,
and Jake looked at Gabriel. They sat silent for what seemed like forever, then
tears started down Jake's eyes. Gabriel noticed the tears, and grabbed Jake.

"Don't worry. Don't worry man." Gabriel said soothingly.

Jake looked up into Gabriel's eyes, "I want you to be my friend forever.
Don't leave me. Please don't leave."

Tears had started welling up in Gabriel's eyes also, "Don't worry. I get to
spend the night. We have all night. We still have one more day as friends. We can
do everything friends do, all night."

Jake didn't look too convinced, but he rubbed his eyes, and sat up. Gabriel
tried his best to look happy.

"What should we do?" Gabriel asked.

Jake shrugged his shoulders, "You want to watch a movie?"

Gabriel smiled, "Sure." Gabriel stood up, and offered his hand to Jake.
Jake grabbed it, and got to his feet.

Together, they walked to the living room where the TV was. Jake slumped
onto the floor, and started to pick through the DVDs strewn about the floor. Jake
got a little smile on his face when he found one he liked. He looked at Gabriel,
and without seeing which movie it was, he nodded his head, "Sure."

Jake smiled, and turned the DVD player on, and slid the movie in. After
waiting to make sure it started, he scooted back, and up on the couch right next to
Gabriel.

They were both quiet for a few minutes, then Gabriel broke the silence.
"Jake..."

Jake looked at Gabriel, "Yeah?"
"Jake, I'm scared too."

Jakes eyes dropped, and he put his arms around Gabriel, "We're together
now, and that's what matters."

Gabriel's tears now started to fall as he hugged Jake back, "Yeah. You're
right. You're right."

They sat like that for what seemed like hours, with the movie playing, but
neither of them watching, for they were more interested in making the most of the
time they had left, then any movie. When the movie was almost over, they decided
to turn it off.

They sat quietly for a few moments after the movie was off, Jake on the
floor, unmoved after turning it off, and Gabriel on the couch. Jake finally broke the
silence, "Should we go to bed?"

Gabriel nodded and stood up, "Yeah, see you tomor...."