Quick note: ***PLEASE READ MY MORE RECENT FICS RATHER THAN MY FIRST ONES. While I still don't like my writing, I can tell that I have gotten better over time. I don't want to delete my first few but please don't judge how good of a writer I am based on them. If you are looking to see and judge my writing, look at the later oneshots. (Well, some of them.) thank you!!

"Rich..."
"D-don't come in!!"
Came his echoed reply
"Can we just talk, I've been really worried. Rich, you're my best friend."

He didn't respond and I took that as my cue to walk in. Rich had been let out of the hospital late yesterday night and it had taken everything in me not to run down to his house the moment he got there.

The two of us hadn't talked since the...incident and while I have a suspicion as to what went down, I'm still very confused. He's my best friend....he seemed so happy....was that really him all along, or was my best friend a boy I never even knew?

I stopped in my tracks the moment I saw him, however. He sat on the foot of his bed, face turned away from me but his arms were in clear eyesight. Ragged lightning-bolt scars streaked down his back, and crisp red burns littered every inch of skin.

"Ric-"
"Don't thay anything Jake....I dong deserve to hear it. I think you thould leave."
He has a lisp. He has a lisp. That's the first time I've ever heard that. He sounded serious, but I knew Rich, or I think I did, and as his fists clenched, I knew he was as unsure about this situation as I was.

"I'm not mad..."
I toed over to the bed, standing at the side but still unable to see his face.
"Why not? I burned down your houthe for goodneth thake! All I'll ever do is hurt you. I'm a wathte of thpace." ((That was hard to understand, he said 'I burned down your house for goodness sake! All I ever do is hurt you. I'm a waste of space' ))

"Hey, that's not true", I sat on the edge of the bed, "you're my best friend, Rich. Supercomputer in your blood or not."
He shivered at the mention of the SQUIP. I placed a hand on his shoulder, to which he immediately leaned into, his tenseness decreasing greatly.

"Rich...."
"Hm?"
"Can...can you turn around?"
He sighed, his shoulders tensing back up the slightest bit.
"Jake..."
"Your not ugly"
I assured him, knowing what he would say.
At those three words, he slowly turned his head, hands rising to his face in instinct.

I placed my hands against his,
"You're NOT ugly."
I assured again. He lowered his hands, opening his eyes to meet my gaze. He looked so venerable and small in that moment. His eyes seemed to sparkle, standing out from his burnt skin. He looked so beautiful, I wanted to kiss him....

Wait what?

I'm straight....right? Oh gosh, those eyes. Think straight....I'm STRAIGHT.....I'm...straight?

My heart began to beat out of my chest, and my thoughts trailed circles around my head.

What's going on with me? Why does he look so....cute? He's...my best friend.

Oh dear gosh, I've fallen in love with my best friend.
"Jake...I"
"You look beautiful"
I blurted out. His face lit up, burning a dark crimson.
"I-I meannn... you look just fine. Not that you don't always look fine! I mean! You don't look bad at all? It's jus- I'm going to stop taking now."

What. Was. That. I'm cool! I'm chill! That was....Jeremy.

"I get it....thank you."
He whispered.
"Why?"
I asked, my mind slowing as my heart still echoed through my ears. We both knew what I meant.
"I-I-I was a Loser....I wanted to be...like you. I-I-I-I-"
"Hey, relax. We can talk about this a little later if that's better. You need to relax for now."
I looked at him just in time to see him touch his cheek and wince.

"Can I get you something for that?"
I asked. He shot his gaze towards me.
"Actually...there's a kit over on my desk...do you mind?"
He whispered cautiously.
"Of Course."

I did as instructed, getting the first aid kit and placing it back on the bed. Rich motioned to the pink bottle, telling me that should help with the pain. I changed positions just as he reached for the bottle go do it himself.
"Hey, no way, I can do this. Just stay still."
I comforted, reaching for the bottle from his hands.
"Tha-thank you...."

I placed one hand on his left cheek to steady his face, chills crawling down my wrist. While my other hand held the cloth against his darkest burn.

His eyes met mine again as I stroked small lines down his face, careful not to hurt him anymore. But that's when it happened again, the sudden feeling to have his lips on mine. My heart rate speed up again and I could feel my hands start to shake.

"Jake are you-"
"Can I kiss you?"
My mind spoke for me, asking him the question I didn't even think to ask myself. His breathing quickened but his gaze didn't falter as he slowly nodded his head.
I didn't waste a second, pulling his collar to get him closer to me.

Our lips smashed together and that feeling was indescribable. Passion. Lost feelings. Recognition. Forgiveness.

Love.

I pored all the love I hadn't realized I had bottled up for him into that kiss, wrapping an arm around his waist to get him even closer. Eventually, the two of us had to pull away, breathing heavily.

We both fell back to the bed, gazing into eachothers eyes.
"I fell in love with you freshman year..."
He spoke suddenly, still quiet.
"Hm?"
I asked
"That'th one reason I took the...you know..I knew you would never love me, let alone notice me the way I wath.Tho I figured, why not change?"
"Rich, I DO love you for who you are though."

He laughed,
"I gueth I can thee that now..."
I chuckled as well.
"Hm, can I show you again?"
"Not thure. Do you really want me?"
I gave him a light peck on the lips.
"More than anything in the universe."

This time, he grabbed my collar, pulling me over to connect with him once again.

A//n: okay, I don't really like this...but again, I wanted to do your requests. Hope this was okay! Comments make my day! Please comment! I love them!

Thank you broadwayschuyler for suggesting this!