Time: After the hospital (yikes my timelines are all over the place)

Rich was feeling really self-conscious. Was it about his lisp? Yes. Was it his broken pride? Probably. 

Was it that he felt like Jake would hate him? Fucking yeah. 

I mean, Jake was clearly worried about Rich, but now that Rich didn't have anything to tell him what to do or what to say? Everything was just going to be awkward. 

As soon as Rich stepped out of the hospital, he was surprised to see Jake waiting for him, hands behind his back. He couldn't help but smile and run up to him. Jake put his hand up to stop Rich from hugging him. 

With his other hand, he revealed a bouquet of flowers. Rich sighed because he thought Jake wasn't going to hug him. That would've ruined his day, that's for sure. 

Rich hugged Jake tightly before even taking the flowers. When they pulled away, Jake kept his arm around Rich. 

"You're so tiny!" He excitedly whispered. Rich snorted.

"Yeah, I know. And you're tall. What'th new?" He retorted. He brought his hand up to his mouth. It's been so long since he had a lisp, that he's still not used to it. Jake didn't seem to mind, though. 

"C'mon! The town isn't far from here! I want to treat you." Jake said. Rich held back a laugh as they started walking. 

"Promitheth, promitheth!" He said. Jake snorted and Rich couldn't help but wonder if he did that because of his lisp... he wouldn't blame him. It was so awkward.

They continued walking while making small talk with each other. Rich was pleasantly surprised to find that Jake wasn't making fun of rich or abandoning him. 

Jake bought Rich a stuffed animal (which Rich loved with all his being) and a nice lunch. 

"So... I want to talk to you about something important," Jake said as he twirled his spaghetti with a fork. Rich stopped eating and sighed. He knew where this was going. 

"Look, I know what you're going to thay. And I underthtand. I mean, I don't blame you. I'm a weirdo again, and you're... cool. I underthtand that you don't want uth to be friendth anymore." Rich said, suddenly very interested in his shoes. He didn't look up because he didn't want to see Jake's reaction.

"Well... you're half right. I don't want to be your friend anymore." Jake said. Rich solemnly nodded.

"I, uh- I want to be something more." Jake stuttered out. Rich looked up to see Jake's face red. 

"Best friends?" Rich asked, genuinely confused. Jake smiled and shook his head.

"No, dum-dum. We're already best friends. I meant, like... I don't know, I just- look. I really like you. A lot. I'm very fond of you, Rich and I like being with you. So... I was wondering if maybe we could go on a date sometime? Because I don't care what you say, you're the coolest person that I know and yes, you're weird. But hey, I am too. There's no such thing as 'normal'. I understand if you don't immediately want to go out, or if you don't want to in general. But... it's been on my mind recently and I don't want to keep anything from you. Even if it's something like what I'm doing now. And if you say 'no', I can trust that we'll still be friends. So... yeah..." He trailed off. 

Rich blinked several times before processing what just happened.

"Yeth." Rich said. Jake tilted his head.
"Yeth, I'll go out on a date with you. One condition: never ever  fool me into thinking you don't want me in your life again because jethuth chritht you gave me a heart attack!" Rich said. 

"Wait, no! I'm sorry, I didn't thin- I jus- ugh I'm sorry! I definitely still want you in my life until the day that I die! Oh god wa- was that too cheesy? Sorry, I just didn't expect you to say yes. Sorry." Jake awkwardly said. Rich laughed. A real laugh, for the first time in years. It felt nice.

"Hey, Jake?" Rich asked. Jake hummed in response.
"Ith... ith thith a date? What we're doing right now?" He asked. 

"If you want it to be... I know I want it to be." Jake answered. 

"Then, yeth. Thith ith our date." Rich decided. Jake smiled wider then Rich had ever seen. 

They talked nonstop while they ate their lunch. At one point, Jake excused himself to the bathroom and Rich took out his phone.

ittybittytinyhuman: Yo! Guess who got a possible boooooyfriend??? That's right. Good ol' Richard!

Ganglyuncoordinatedbitch: Dude! That was freaking fast. How do you do it?

ittybittytinyhuman: Just my rugged good looks and amazing personality

ittybittytinyhuman: Okay, that's a lie. I have no idea how I did it but boy howdy it feels good

 Ganglyuncoordinatedbitch: Jake must be pretty happy about it!

ittybittytinyhuman: How did you know it was Jake?

Ganglyuncoordinatedbitch: Because you two obviously really like each other. GTG, Sammy keeps poking my head. I need to tickle him. Bye!

ittybittytinyhuman: Bye Jere!

Rich put his phone away just as Jake sat back down at the table. 

"Who were you texting?" He asked. No judgy tone, he was genuinely curious. 

"Jeremy. Tho... quick questhtion. Can I thay thomething thuper weird?" Rich asked. Jake nodded.

"All these yearth I thought you were like a thlide. Only goeth one direction. I didn't think you could be gay or bi or whatever." Rich admitted. 

"Dude, I'm like a merry-go-round. I go all directions. Basically, I'm pansexual. You?" He asked.

"I'm like a thwing. I go both directionth. Bathically, I'm bi ath fuck." Rich said with a giggle. 

They finished eating lunch and left hand in hand. Rich gasped.

"I jutht realithed that I can wear all your over-thithed thweaterth!" Rich excietedly said. 

"Yes! And I get to internally freak out by how adorable you look! I am so down for this!" Jake said. Rich and Jake laughed as Jake pulled Rich closer to him. Rich sighed and let his head rest against Jake's chest.

Yes, he could get used to this. 

I ship RichJake so hard I don't think you understand. I would die for these two. 

Okay, so that's it for this chapter. Next chapter is going to be Meremy because I wrote this whole book for that ship specifically and I feel like I've drifted away.

Stay awesome fabulous t-rexs!