|| ETHAN ||

"So what did you get to do today?" My father asked, turning to me away from the tv projecting a quirky ghost hunting show.

"Same things as yesterday, but I don't think I'll be working on the stove soon," I sighed, bringing out some ingredients from the fridge and the cupboards to prepare our dinner.

"I'm sure you'll get to cook at some point," my dad tried shining hope to which I deeply appreciated. "Oh, and before I forget, there's something I have to tell you... do you have work tomorrow?" he says, making me focus on him fully. I shook my head side to side. "your cousins, Zack and Davey, are inviting us for dinner tomorrow," he says.

"Oh, okay," I nodded. I wondered what Zack plans to do, now that we're free to pursue what we want in life. It's been a while since I've last connected with him along with Davey. Setting all of the stuff and organizing it in front of me in the counter, I went ahead and preheated the stove. Pulling out the pork chops, I tenderized it and set it aside to prepare the eggs and bread crumbs. After a while, I coated each meat with seasoning and the mentioned crumbs. Having the potted oil ready, I carefully fried it with tongs as I heard it sizzle.

-

Delicately decorating our plates, I placed each dish in front of my Father, who was already sat on the dining table, and for my side. "Thank you," he grinned. Sitting down, we dug into small portions and enjoyed the food. As I was munching peacefully, a small ring came from my phone. Both of us were confused as hardly anyone would communicate me through my device anymore, "who's that?" My father asked curiously. Taking it out of my pocket to check, I did not expect to see Jackson's number.

"It's Jackson?" I murmured.

"Jackson? Did you make friends with him?" My father was equally surprised as I was.

"I guess?"

"That's nice," my dad nodded. Utterly perplexed, I wasn't expecting a message anytime soon. It feels bizarre to hear my phone ring and a different name that didn't belong within my small circle of very close friends, but it did fill in my void of an inbox. Shrugging it off, it was impolite to pull out phones on the table so I resumed to my dinner first.

-

Taking away our finished plates to the sink, I was preparing all of the soaps when my dad interrupted me, "it's okay son, I've got dish," he said with a chuckle, making me step away.

"Dad..." I started.

"Go on and relax, dishes can be handled by me," he nods calmly. Sighing, I padded over to my room and locked the door behind me. Bringing out my phone to stare at its screen, I opened it.

"Hi, Ethan! How's it going?" Sent by Jackson.

Blinking, I typed a response, "doing well, what about you?" I said.

Within only a few seconds, he had already replied, "my classes actually start tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous but also excited."

Genuinely reacting happy for him, I congratulated, "good for you!" My mind drifted back a few hours ago about his search for work, "were you able to apply for a job there by the way?" I questioned.

Lingering seconds flew by before he texted back, "I'll try to look soon, I hope to find a good one though!" He sent a smiling emoticon after.

Grinning, I shuffled myself onto my bed and adjusted my covers, "What are you doing right now?"

"Laying in bed until I eventually fall asleep, but I just can't right now..."

As each topic shifts and turns, the conversation lengthens to an unrealizable amount of time. It went from what we were currently doing, to how life is like and even reminisced past memories of what we did during high school, "remember that time when we went over to Noah's place to get together?" I was smiling to myself when my mind went forward in my memory to the part where we played spin the bottle.

"Yeah?" Was all he said.

With a blank look, I quickly redirected this section to I different way, "and that time when Liam threw up on us?"

"Gosh, I knew he shouldn't be around alcohol just like that. He's such an idiot..." I chuckled at that. I yawned, and that made me realize how tired and exhausted I was. My eyes were just as droopy as I am. "Hey Jackson, I'm off to sleep now, it was nice talking to you," I tried to end.

"Aww, okay," he sent back.

"You can message me again tomorrow if you want," I added. Turning my phone off, I trudged myself to the bathroom to clean up. Opening up the medicine cabinet to take out my medication, toothbrush, and paste, I washed my face first before applying all of the necessities.

After finishing, I redressed into comfier clothes and got on my bed. Heaving a sigh, I snuggled onto my pillow. Looking back, that moment of Jackson giving a kiss to my cheek had been engraved in my brain ever since; hours after that, he tended and cared for me after Liam threw up in the car we were in. Frowning, I don't exactly know what to feel. Closing my eyes, I just tried to ignore everything and got to sleep. Tomorrow, we'll be checking on Zack and Davey...