All I Want • Alex Gaskarth (Adoption)

Time To Go

"Let me be your rock."

His words echoed throughout my head. Alex keeps his eyes on mine, allowing me to process what he just told me. My head started to hurt, because of the strain of trying to understand. It's a lot to take in, it's not like someone just said they got a piece of candy. It's much more than that.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" I asked. He nodded his head, a grin firmly placed upon his lips. His eyes were hopeful, anticipating what would surely happen next.

I smile back at him. "I thought it was Jack who was adopting."

"No, not at all. That idiot can hardly take care of himself," he chuckles. "So? What do you say? I'd love to adopt you. I want to be there for you. I can take care of you. I will always try my best, for you."

Instead of answering, I think about everything happening. Alex was the one adopting all along. Why did he walk with me to the mailbox instead of listening to the other girls? I feel like he caught a glimpse of who I really am that way. I'm not some mute, who refuses to talk to people. I'm not exactly an introvert, I just like being alone sometimes. During our conversation, I was able to be myself, talking about how I feel. I didn't feel uncomfortable around Alex, at all. All Time Low's music has been around me for so long and it's helped me through so much. And being able to tell Alex how I felt about it was nice. He was able to be himself around me too. I don't think of him as some celebrity in a band. I think of him as Alex. Same for the other guys, really. As this thought passed me, I knew my answer. I guess I've known it all along, since he told me in the first place.

"Alex? I think it'd be amazing for you to adopt me... And for you being my rock, I want to be yours too. We can both work ourselves to it," I smile at him. I feel insanely happy. Nothing can break me out of my reverie.

Alex jumps up, his wide grin never leaving his face. Before I can react, he's pulled me up into a bone-crushing hug. I squeeze him back just as hard. At least until I couldn't breathe anymore. He can give hard hugs when he wants to, I've learned. But that's better than what I'm used to, no hugs at all. It's pretty nice.

"Alex - can't -" I sputter, in between deep breaths.

"Oh, right! Sorry," he pulls away with a sheepish grin. He takes his seat back on the chair, and just smiles at me. We sit there for a minute, eyes locked and silent.

"Why did you choose me?" I dare to ask, breaking the silence that had settled around us. But a comfortable silence.

Smiling, he tells me. It's as if he knew I'd ask. "I sort of knew it once I saw you. Especially since you had a band shirt on," he laughs. "It was like I was drawn to you. I watched the way you stayed quiet, not bothering to talk to everyone else. There's more to it though. I see much of myself in you -"

I cut him off to giggle. I didn't mean to, really. "That's what she said," I laugh. Alex laughs too, glaring at me. "Right, right. Inappropriate in this situation." I roll my eyes at him. It's still really funny, because he really had that one coming. He continues on with his reasoning, while I try not to laugh again.

"Anyway, I watched the way you joked around with your friend. And the way you could so easily respond to things, half of the time with a witty comeback. I don't know, it was sort of weird for me. Everything about you made me need to talk to you, I don't know. Once I had the chance, I took it. I can see that you need help - sorry - and I want to be the one there to help you. Why not, as long as you don't get distracted by how good-looking I am. It can be distracting, I know." Alex is definitely a character. And really full of himself.

As he finishes his statement (and assumptions about his looks), I watch as my door opens. A grinning Jack, Zack, and Rian walk inside. I don't bother telling them to leave, I just smile and let them enter. Plus I don't think they'd leave if I had told them anyway.