1995 || julie and the phantoms

𝟻. 𝚋𝚘𝚢𝚜 𝚙𝚝𝟸

February • 1994

[continuing on from last chapter]
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Someone had witnessed the entire thing.

Bobby.

The black haired boy was standing at the door. His mouth hung open slightly. Both of the boys raced to their feet.

"Alex..." Bobby started, but he clearly didn't know how to finish.

"I'll leave you too alone," said Jackson sheepishly. "I'm so sorry." he whispered to Alex just loud enough so that only Alex could hear. Jackson quickly left the bathroom so that the others could talk.

Neither Bobby nor Alex spoke. Alex wanted the floor to open up and swallow him right there. He stood uncomfortably in front of his friend, grasping the cuffs of his sleeves at his sides.

Alex's lip started to tremble. A tear rolled down his face as he choked back tears. Bobby then shut the door and pushed the door-stopper underneath. Once the entrance was sealed, he walked over and embraced his friend in a tight hug. Alex didn't hug back, he just melted into Bobby's arms and broke down.

Bobby's heart broke to see his friend like this, held tightly in his arms, face scrunched up, sobbing at his most vulnerable point.

"I don't know." Alex managed to choke out into Bobby's shoulder.

"It's ok. You're ok." said the guitarist, rubbing gentle circles on his friends back. "Let's ditch school and go back to the garage. We can talk there without getting interrupted."

Alex nodded and wiped away his tears before both boys exited the bathroom and Bobby drove to his house. Luckily, Charlotte was at school and his mother was at work. Bobby's father was usually on a business trip somewhere so they had some alone time.

Alex had calmed down and both of them were sitting in the studio.

"I just got so scared and I-I don't even know what happened. I don't know if it was me or him o-or-" Alex rambled.

"Dude, it's fine." Bobby reassured him.

"I just don't get it. Why does it bother me so much? It felt wrong but it also didn't and why am I so freaked out about dating?" Alex asked, refusing to make eye contact.

"Ok. I have an idea but please actually consider it before shutting it down. Alright?" Bobby said. Alex nodded.

"Maybe, maybe you aren't freaked out by the thought of dating . . . maybe you are just freaked out at the thought of dating a girl." he finished with an almost guilty expression.

Alex looked up at him, half scared, half confused. There's no way. Right?

"Alex, have you ever considered the fact that you might be gay?" asked Bobby.

That moment, that sentence. Everything seemed to fit into place. The tugging at his stomach was gone. The itch had been scratched. His head was now free. It all made sense now, kind of.

"Holy shit." he said, letting out a comical laugh of disbelief. Bobby smiled at him. He had never felt so proud.

Yet that moment was cut short by Alex's expression dropping.

"Holy shit. I'm gay. No no no oh god." he panicked. Bobby just chuckled and pulled him into a hug. The two embraced each others presence for a while.

Alex really appreciated Bobby, just being there. That's all he needs right now. He just needed a hug.

"My parents are going to kill me." said Alex, still in the hug.

"Let's not think about that now." Bobby replied with a laugh.

"Thank you Bobby, really." he replied.

"Don't get all sappy on me, Mercer." he chuckled. Alex just laughed along and didn't let go.

"I am so proud of you, Alex."
He didn't let go either.

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