Chapter Text
Clay's PoV
I threw on my jacket and slipped into my shoes and bolted out the door. Jeff's parents called me and told me he had woken up about 30 minutes ago. I was frustrated they didn't call sooner, but I shook those selfish thoughts away, Jeff had family that was probably very worried about him. They take priority over one of his close friends, and I understand that. It wasn't long after I had rushed out of the house when I realized I didn't even call Tony AND my parents were supposed to be home in a couple of hours. I sent a quick text to my mom letting her know that I might be gone when they get home and then I called Tony. He didn't pick up, so I called him again. Nothing. I texted him.
C: Jesus Tony, pick up every once in a while...
5 minutes later and I was a little worried when my phone buzzed.
T: Sorry Clay, I was a little preoccupied with Ryan. ;)
C: Fucking hell Tony, I didn't need to know that!
T: You tried interrupting 3 times. Anyway, what's up?
C: Jeff woke up a while ago, can you give me a lift?
T: Oh, of course, be there in 10.
C: Thanks a bunch.
I slid my phone back in my front pocket and waited out front for what seemed like forever and then I heard the familiar rumble of Tony's Mustang approaching. I got up quickly and rushed to the sidewalk as he pulled up. He unlocked the door and I got inside quickly and waited for him to start going. He just stared at me in disappointment.
"What?" I asked both impatiently and confusingly.
"You're a huge dork. You're in such a hurry that you shut the door on your jacket Clay." I glanced over to the door and saw half of my unzipped jacket was stuck in it. My face went a little red due to embarrassment as I opened the door to free my jacket and then shut the door again. Shortly after Tony took off and we were on our way to the hospital. The drive to the hospital from my house was about 15 minutes if we had good traffic, I wanted to be there now, that's how much I wanted to see Jeff. I felt butterflies in my stomach. I couldn't wait to tell Jeff how I felt about him, and at the same time, I was terrified. Every scenario played through my head. I chicken out and we stay best friends and then end up separating come college and we never see each other again. I tell him I love him and he tells me he loves me back. I tell him I love him and he avoids me and finds someone else to tutor him. I tell him I love him and he yells at me to get out, that I'm disgusting and he doesn't want to have anything to do with me ever again. Or he really isn't okay and he dies before I even get there and I'd never find out... I could only hope for the best.
"Clay." I shook away my thoughts and turned to Tony.
"Hmm?"
"We're here... We've been here for a while, I've been trying to get your attention for the past minute or so." I apologized and went to get out of the car and Tony stopped me.
"Look Clay, Jeff is a really great guy. If he doesn't share your feelings he won't criticize you or be a jackass about it. It may be hard if he doesn't love you back, but he won't put you through hell for it. Trust me." I nodded my head shakily in response.
"Alright, go get him tiger." he winked at me and pat me on the back.
---
I rushed to the elevator, once it reached the floor Jeff was on I calmly made my way to the room he was in now. I saw the room number not too far from me and made a beeline to it. There was a window on the outside and I saw his mom in there giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek and she got up and left the room. She saw me immediately after leaving the room.
"Clay! I'm glad you came. Jeff was getting worried that you wouldn't come." she smiled at me, but soon after it faded away. It seemed like she had just been crying. She... well... hugged me? It was a little strange but I awkwardly hugged her back.
"Oh, uh... Got caught up in traffic. Strangely busy at this time of night." she nodded in response.
"Well, nonetheless you made it, and I'm very glad you could come." we said our goodbyes shortly after and I stood nervously in the hall for a while and then finally worked up the courage to talk to Jeff.
As I entered the room I saw Jeff looking outside through the window on the wall. I knocked on the door slightly to get his attention. He swiftly turned his attention over to me and he smiled brightly.
"Hey Jeff." I smiled right back at him.
"Clay... I'm glad you came." his smile faded and was replaced with a small frown.
"So, how are you feeling? When are you going to be able to leave?" I was hoping he'd feel well and could leave soon. All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and stay that way with him forever.
"Umm... I feel fine, but the doctors said I'm not." My hopeful smiled was shattered and I quickly started to worry and panic on the inside.
"W-What do you mean? Are you going to die? You can't die Jeff." he smiled softly and shook his head.
"I'm sure you know that I had a large cut on my side, right?" I simply nodded my head in response, I could start to feel tears welling up in my eyes.
"Well... whatever caused it also punctured my kidney. They said it can't be saved and will fail eventually. I donated my other one to my mom a while back when she had kidney disease. The doctors are trying their best to find a kidney for me, but they've yet to find a good match, which they said is common with my blood type being AB. If I don't get a transplant before it fails, well..." I could feel tears running down my face. I couldn't lose Jeff. I just got him back. I didn't know what else to do so I hugged him and just cried. I felt him place a hand on my back and the other at the back of my head. After about 10 minutes I calmed down enough and pulled away, Jeff looked worried about me, even though he had no reason to be worried about anyone else but himself. He could die. After a few minutes of pure silence, besides some sniffling, I spoke up.
"If you die on me Jeff, I'm gonna kill you." he laughed and sat there for a moment and looked down at his hands.
"I'm sorry Clay." I tilted my head in confusion.
"Sorry about what?"
"I thought you lied to me about liking Hannah. I just saw the two of you making out and assumed. I'm sorry." he looked me in the eyes this time.
"It's fine, Jeff. Really. I couldn't like Hannah like that." he nodded then shook his head.
"But why? She's perfect for you. She's got the quirks and the looks." I looked into his eyes and they looked... hopeful?
"Like I said at the library. I have feelings for someone else." I realized I was closer to Jeff than I was a minute ago.
"Oh really? And who is this mystery person whom you never bring up...?" we were just inches apart now. My heart was racing, is this actually happening?
"His name is Jeff Atkins." after I said that, to my surprise, he closed the distance between us and kissed me. It felt better than I had ever dreamed. After some time he pulled back.
"I love you Jeff." he smiled. In this moment there was no worry, fear, or sadness on either of our minds.
"I love you too Clay."
---
I left the hospital shortly after and filled Tony in. He was worried about Jeff like I was, then he turned to look at me.
"Wait... remember back in 9th grade when we all did some science project about blood types and we figured out what our blood types were?" I knitted my eyebrows together in confusion. What'd this have to do with Jeff's condition?
"Uhh... yeah? What of it?"
"Clay, your blood type is AB." My eyes went wide. Could I donate one of my kidney's to Jeff? Could I save him?
---
I arrived home shortly after and my parents were in the living room watching TV.
"Mom? Dad?" I almost shouted and they looked at me in concern. My mom was quick to respond she got up and rushed to me.
"Clay, honey, what's wrong?"
"Jeff is in the hospital and his only kidney is failing. If he doesn't get a transplant soon... he'll die." both my parents know about my sexuality due to a very embarrassing day when I accidentally left gay porn on my computer, and they know how I feel about Jeff. My mom's face fell after hearing what I said.
"I-I'm so sorry honey. If y-" I cut her off. "My blood type is AB right?" she nodded her head in response.
"I want to donate a kidney to him."