Glitter And Ash (Jalex)

Chapter 6

Warning: Mentions of past homophobia/homophobic treatment, alcoholic parents, parent death, complications during childbirth

When Jack woke up the next morning, he was shocked to find he wasn't the last one up for a change.

He groggily made his way to the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine. He glanced sideways and noticed Alex curled up on the couch watching cartoons. He looked terrible.

"You look like shit," Jack called, making him jump.
"Well don't you know what a guy wants to hear?" Jack chuckled at the sarcasm. "At least I look how I feel." He muttered and Jack couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. Hangovers were the worst.

He ended up pouring two mugs of coffee and headed in, joining him on the couch and wordlessly handing one over. He sent him a grateful look, cradling it to his chest like a lifeline.

Jack checked the time on his phone and shuddered when he read ten-fifteen am. Way too early.

"So how come you're up so early?" He asked, making Alex roll his eyes so hard it must have hurt. "It's not that early, Jack." He didn't bother to look away from the TV. "It really is." Alex just shook his head.

"I guess some of us are just used to getting up before midday and doing normal work at normal jobs." Jack cringed at the thought.
"Yeah, I do not miss that." Alex sent him a disbelieving look. "Don't look at me like that, I worked part-time in high school. I know how retail works." Alex rolled his eyes once more but at least this time it was accompanied by a small smile. Jack took that as a win.

They sat in silence for a while and Jack watched as Alex's messy bed hair slowly fell over his face, tickling the tip of his nose.

"So, what normal job did you leave to join this fabulous crew?" Alex snorted at that. "Oh please, no one would leave a steady job for this madness! I've been unemployed for almost a year." Jack felt his jaw drop. How in the hell does anyone survive that long without money?

Seeming to read Jack's thoughts he said. "It wasn't so bad. Vic let me stay with him for free while I looked for work. But to be honest, we're both sick of me sitting around on my ass all day mooching off him even if he is too polite to say anything."

It suddenly occurred to Jack that he had no idea how Vic and Alex knew each other. In fact, he didn't really know anything about the caramel-haired cutie sat across from him. He should probably work on that if he wanted to get anywhere with him.

"So, how'd you know Vic?" Alex seemed a little surprised by the question. "My family used to have a holiday home near where his family lived. Every year we'd go, and I'd meet up with him. We kept in contact all year round and I mean he was basically my best friend. When my parents kicked me out his family took me in, and we've looked out for each other ever since. He's like a brother you know?"

The words hung heavily between them a moment and despite Jack's burning curiosity, he decided it was best not to ask why he got kicked out. He clearly didn't want to talk about it.