Jonah Clarke Is Useful

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Isaac flops down on the chair with a sigh he usually reserves for when someone has said something particularly stupid. And when he makes no move to elaborate on it, Daniel takes matters into his own hands.

"What's up?"

"Mum and Dad have just notified me that I'm babysitting the horrors tonight, apparently there's been a problem with delivery at the shop or something."

"Want some help?"

"You don't want to inflict that kind of torture on yourself," Isaac says, "trust me on that one."

"The twins aren't that bad."

"You don't live with them."

"Do you want my help or not?"

"I feel bad, like I shouldn't make anybody else suffer through that hell."

"Do you want my damn help or not?" Daniel repeats.

"Yes please," Isaac admits eventually, "maybe if you're round then some of my sanity might remain intact."

"Stop being so overdramatic."

"You love me for it."

Daniel shakes his head and shuffles from side to side in his seat.

"So..." Isaac says.

"So?"

"I see Jonah's back sitting with us, and I'm yet to get a chance to ask you why that is. Now seems a good a time as any."

"We made up."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I dunno, you guys just seem to be acting weirdly."

Daniel is convinced that Isaac knows. He's not sure how the other boy does it but he always seems to be able to tell when something is up between Jonah and he, as if their years of friendship has built a psychic connection between them. Daniel knows that it hasn't but that doesn't stop him from looking at Isaac with a suspicious expression.

"We're fine."

"Well I guess it's a good job I didn't break something of his like I was going to."

"What were you going to break?" Daniela asks confused, "I mean I guess you could go for his watch or something, he seems to really like that."

"I was meaning more like his leg," Isaac says, "he seems to really like that too."

"Isaac," Daniel says warningly.

"Daniel," Isaac mimics.

"You can't just go around breaking people's legs."

"And Jonah Clarke can't go around being an asshole."

"Well it's all fine now."

"It better be."

"It is."

As if on cue Jonah arrives, cutting through people until he's stood right next to their table, towering above Daniel who is sat.

"Hey," Jonah says softly.

"Hey."

Jonah's words are still running round in Daniel's mind, like little children let loose after consuming too many smarties. He wants to know more, is desperate to ask questions but if last night is any indication then Daniel knows they'll go unanswered.

After his mini revelation, Jonah clammed up, refusing to talk to Daniel about the girl at all.

Daniel hates the fact that Jonah is keeping so many secrets from him, as if he doesn't trust Daniel at all. It hurts Daniel more than it probably should, possibly because Daniel would potentially trust Jonah with anything, and it seems the other boy can't return the favour.

"Do you want to help out with babysitting tonight?" Isaac asks, not even waiting for Jonah to sit down.

Jonah looks confused for a few moments but recovers quickly.

"Sure," he says, "why not?"

Daniel has a very bad feeling about this and he's not entirely sure why. It almost seems as if Isaac is up to something that he's refusing to tell Daniel about. Daniel tries to push those thoughts out of his mind, it is not like Isaac to be secretive after all, but it becomes increasingly difficult as Isaac's gaze flickers continuously between Jonah and Daniel all the way through form time.

"You okay?" Daniel asks when Jonah seems distracted.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I feel like you're up to nothing."

"We've been best friends for two years, are you saying you don't trust me?"

"We've been best friends for two years," Daniel echoes, "I'm saying that I know you're up to something."

"I maintain that there's something off between you and Clarke, and if you're not going to tell me then I'm going to figure it out for myself."

Daniel is almost tempted to tell Isaac to mind his own business but he knows the other boy is only looking out for him and so he keeps his mouth shut. Daniel hates keeping secrets, especially from those who mean a lot to him, but right now Daniel and Jonah's relationship feels fragile. As if as soon as anyone else finds out it's going to shatter into pieces, nothing more than memories for Daniel to reminisce over in ten years time.

"Fine," Daniel sighs.

"So are you going to tell me?"

"There's nothing to tell."

"We've been best friends for two years," Isaac repeats, "that means I know when you're lying to me."

Their conversation comes to an end after that when Jonah's attention returns to them.

Daniel can't help but think how much everything has changed. Daniel knows that he wouldn't change back to who he used to be for the world, he wouldn't return to invisibility, to that shyness even if everything was so much simpler then, even though he found himself lying less often.

"Earth to Daniel."

A hand is swatted in front of Daniel's face in an attempt to regain his attention, a few blinks of Daniel's eyes show that the attempt has been successful.

"You okay?" Jonah asks."You zoned out."

"I got distracted, I guess you guys were just boring me."

"How the hell is an in-depth discussion about university applications anything close to boring?"

Sarcasm laces Isaac's tone and Daniel simply raises a single eyebrow in reply.

"I'm sorry," Jonah says in mock apology, "we peasants just aren't used to creating conversation fit for a king."

"Well you better get your act together," Daniel replies teasingly.

"Or you could just stop having such high expectations," Jonah tells Daniel, "that could work to."

And maybe that's the answer to everything. Maybe Daniel needs to stop expecting so much from Jonah. At least that way he'll never have to worry about being disappointed.


xxx

Jonah stands on the front step of Isaac's porch behind Isaac and Daniel, desperate to get out of the rain and into the warm house. The only problem is, Isaac seems to have lost his key.

"You idiot," Jonah contents himself with saying, "you bloody idiot."

"I know I have it somewhere," Isaac says throwing his bag down on the floor and beginning to root through it, "I was playing with it in Maths."

"And you probably threw it across the room then by accident or something," Daniel mutters under his breath.

Isaac acts as if he hasn't heard Daniel and continues to search through all his stuff until he eventually pulls back with a triumphant smile on his face and a key held tightly in his hand, he raises it upwards as if it's some trophy he's won rather than just a house key.

"Found it."

"Really," Daniel replies sarcastically, "I hadn't realised."

Isaac rolls his eyes in reply but even he can't argue with Daniel's annoyance.

All three boys are soaked, the distance between Isaac's house and the school isn't far but it's a long enough walk that Jonah can feel the rain has soaked through his coat and now even his t-shirt is sticking to him. His hair is plastered to his forehead and his shoes make a squelching noise with every step that he takes.

"I need a towel," Jonah says as he steps into the house, glad to find that it's just as warm as he had hoped.

"Bathroom's the door opposite the top of the stairs."

Once he feels suitably dry, Jonah makes his way back downstairs, his jeans are still sticking to his legs but they'll have to do.

"So the horrors," Jonah says, "are they really as bad as the nickname suggests?"

"You have a sister right Jonah?" Isaac replies.

Jonah nods.

"She's not that bad."

"Right well imagine she's six years old."

Jonah pulls a face.

"Now imagine there's two of her, and that they're both constantly ganging up on you."

"They don't gang up on you," Daniel interjects.

"They totally do," Isaac says, "I mean they have the benefit of second child syndrome, and technically Holly's third born so that's not even fair."

"Second child syndrome?"

"You know what I mean, the younger sibling that always gets what they want, that the parents never accuse when something goes wrong. Is basically the favourite child."

Isaac sighs when Jonah's expression remains confused.

"Neither of you two understand," Isaac tells Daniel and Jonah, "you're both the second child, you don't know what we older siblings go through."

Daniel simply shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

"Ignore him," Daniel says, "Isaac would complain about having younger siblings all day if he could."

"It's not fair."

"I know Isaac," Daniel sighs before his tone becomes teasing, "but if you could stop complaining about it all the time then that would be nice."

"Some friend you are."

Daniel's reply is cut off by the sound of the front door opening and suddenly chatter is filling up the house. Jonah hadn't even realised how quiet it had been before until it was replaced by the sound of children.

"Zach!"

The call of Isaac's name is quickly followed by the sound of running footsteps and then Isaac is nearly being knocked over as his sisters run to hug him.

"He claims he hates them," Daniel whispers in Jonah's ear, "but he loves them more than anything. The only reason he even carried on doing Karate was because when he found out he was going to have a younger sibling he wanted to be able to protect them."

Jonah smiles at that.

"So really Isaac is a big softie?"

"Pretty much," Daniel says, offering Jonah a secretive smile.

"I'm guessing I should avoid saying that to his face."

"Well unless you want to find out just how much of a bad-ass he really is...."

"I think I'll pass."

"Isaac'll be so disappointed," Daniel says.

"What do you mean?" Jonah asks.

"He's been looking for a reason to kick your ass ever since the party."

The mention of that brings everything flooding back, it's the first real mention of it ever since the two of them made up and Jonah finds that he has to put effort in to stop himself from drifting back to that night. Has to stop himself from lingering on every touch once again, from relieving every single word that he said.

"Is he still pissed at me?"

"Well he thinks you were a dick."

"I was," Jonah admits.

"And he thinks I'm an idiot for forgiving you."

"Does he know what happened?"

"He has a faint idea," Daniel tells Jonah, "but he doesn't know the reason we fell out."

Jonah can't explain the rush of relief that he feels, all he can do is attribute it to the fact that right now nothing scares him more than everybody finding out about what is happening between Daniel and he. It's not that he's embarrassed; it's more that Jonah is aware that as soon as everyone finds out it becomes more and more difficult for him to change his mind. Makes this whole thing a whole lot more real, stops it from being something Jonah can move on and forget about. Jonah doesn't think he's going to do that, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't like having the option there none the less.

"Do you want a snack?" Isaac is addressing his sisters but he glances up at Jonah and Daniel none the less.

"What kind of snack?" Is the unanimous reply.

"Well there are some yoghurts and fruit and stuff."

Isaac must spot the collective expression of disgust he receives as he quickly adds more items onto the list of possibilities.

"Or there are some biscuits in the tin."

"I vote for the biscuits," Daniel says and nobody else seems to have a problem with that.

"Biscuits it is then."


xxx

There's something about watching Jonah hang out with Isaac's sisters that makes Daniel unreasonably happy.

Perhaps it's because Daniel is seeing another side to Jonah, a Jonah that is great with small children, is patient and sweet and happy to listen to them ramble on about their day. Or perhaps it's because cute boys who are good with kids are instantly twenty times cuter.

"You okay?" Daniel asks Jonah.

Jonah looks up from where he was analysing Holly's drawing of a cat when he hears Daniel's voice.

"Fine thanks," Jonah says with a warm smile, "I was just admiring Holly's art skills."

Daniel can't help but think that skills might be a bit of an overstatement.

Daniel's never really been very good with little kids. He's happy to admit they're cute but that doesn't make it any easier for him to put up with their incessant noise and need to be a centre of attention. Admittedly Isaac's little sisters are tolerable, nice even, but Daniel never seems to behave around them the same way Jonah is doing. It's as if Jonah has some sort of knack for making friends with little kids, another skill of Jonah's that Daniel wishes he had.

Leah sidles up to where Daniel is stood, half leant against the countertop and tugs on the end of his T-shirt, waiting for him to look down at her and give her his undivided attention.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Leah tries to whisper, however her voice is still quite loud and Daniel can tell Jonah has overheard when an amused smile graces the other boy's face.

"No," Daniel replies simply, "he's just a friend."

"He's very handsome," Leah tells Daniel, gesturing for him to pick her up.

This is honestly one of the longest conversations Daniel has ever had with her. Usually when he's round at Isaac's there's time for nothing longer than a casual greeting before Isaac is tugging Daniel up the stairs for them to play a game or watch the latest episode of whatever TV show they're currently obsessed with.

Daniel picks Leah up none the less, balancing her on one hip.

"He is," Daniel agrees, "but don't tell him because he already knows."

"He's very nice too."

"He is."

"So why isn't he your boyfriend?" Leah asks in confusion. "If I was old enough then I'd want him to be my boyfriend."

Jonah is still listening in to the conversation, it shows when he lets out a muffled laugh at Leah's comment.

"I don't think he wants to be my boyfriend."

"Do you want him to be your boyfriend?"

"Why are you so bothered missus."

"Zach told mummy that you used to be really sad," Leah says, "and maybe if you had a boyfriend then you'd be happy."

"Leah, stop bothering Daniel," Isaac says sharply, beckoning his sister over.

Leah quickly squirms out of Daniel's arms before joining her big brother. And as she leaves, Daniel can't believe that he just received life advice from a six year old.

The next hour or so passes by fairly quietly. The twins soon disappear to watch television and the boys are left to gather round Isaac's kitchen counter with steaming mugs of hot chocolate in their hands. Isaac's home is warm and welcoming, and the combination only serves to help Daniel's body slowly relax.

"I think I might actually be starting to feel dry," Jonah says jokingly.

"Stop being a wimp, a little rain never hurt anybody," Isaac replies

"What if I was allergic to rain?"

"Then I wouldn't live in England if I was you, you have seen the weather right?"

"But still..."

"Who the hell is allergic to rain Jonah?" Daniel asks, cutting to the chase.

"Me."

"So nuts, rain, anything else I should know about?"

"Not really," Jonah tells Daniel, "I think you now know everything you need to know about me."

"I don't think I'll ever know everything I need to know about you," Daniel says quietly, his voice so quiet in the hope that no-one will hear him.

Jonah does though.

But it's true. Daniel can't possibly imagine a time when there's nothing new for him to know about Jonah Clarke. Whether it's discovering one of his new quirks or loves or hates. Or even just finding a new freckle on his wrist, there always seems to be something about Jonah Clarke that Daniel doesn't know. And they're not all possible for him to find out for himself, Jonah seems to have more secrets than Daniel ever realised, and all Daniel can hope is that one day he'll find out what they are, that Jonah will trust him enough to let him know.

Jonah fixes Daniel with a questioning gaze, and Daniel pretends not to notice the way that his own cheeks heat up. As if just by looking at him, Jonah can somehow create the response that a kiss induces, that strange tug on the stomach, like butterflies in overdrive.

"What do you mean?" Jonah asks.

"I don't know everything I need to know," Daniel replies, "because I need to know everything."

Isaac clears his throat, and it's only then Daniel remembers the two of them aren't alone, that it's not the right time for them to be discussing things like this. Although when that is he can't say exactly. He can tell it's the same for Jonah, as Jonah's gaze quickly drops from his face and Jonah's ears begin to become tinged red.

"Am I interrupting something?" Isaac asks teasingly.

"No," Jonah says quickly.

"You sure?"

Daniel is pretty sure that his face may as well be permanently blushing.

"Yep."

"What about you Daniel?"

"Of course you're not."

Isaac raises his eyebrows in a disbelieving manner, as if he's suggesting something. Daniel only wishes that he wasn't quite so close to the truth. He knows exactly what Isaac's response will be. He'll call Daniel an idiot, and worse of all, he'll probably be right.


xxx

It's starting to fall dark when Jonah leaves Isaac's house.

He and Daniel stand on the corner of the pavement in silence, neither of them moving just yet, neither of them quite wanting to go their separate ways.

"I would say you could come back to mine but if you come round any more I think your mum might start to hate me."

"My mum could never hate you."

"Even though I'm constantly stealing you away from her?"

"She's probably glad to see me gone," Daniel says.

"Like that's true," Jonah replies, "your mother loves the hell out of you. I mean, you're a total momma's boy."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing," Jonah says, "absolutely nothing. Just thought you should know."

Daniel smiles shyly before his gaze flickers back up to Jonah.

Jonah isn't sure what to do or say. He's not used to the two of them being alone anywhere except his own house. Back there they're in comfortable territory, it's familiar and Jonah likes that. But here he's entirely out of his comfort zone and it makes his feel awkward. Because how are they supposed to act now? Are they friends? Jonah can't exactly ask, and so he shuffles from foot to foot and wonders when would be an acceptable point to work all of this out.

It begins with a kiss. Nothing too passionate. Jonah has never been a fan of public displays of affection, and he has no plans to start subjecting others to that. Not there's anyone else around, but still, it's a matter of principle.

Jonah pulls away, and looks down at the ground.

"I guess I better go," Jonah says.

"I guess you better."

"You catching the bus?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Nah, Ruth's picking me up, her shift is finishing early tonight."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

"Well bye."

"Bye."

Daniel initiates

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