Best Years // Alex Gaskarth

Chapter 9 - Dirty Little Secret

Stella's POV (same night before last sentences)
My vision was beginning to blur but I didn't care.
I threw my phone onto the bed watching it bounce off and onto the floor. Jack and I burst into laughter at my bad luck. I was far more drunk than he was though he managed to match my energy. I went to grab it and slipped, hitting my head on the wood floor.
"Fuck!" I laughed more. "I think my brain fell out!"
"You dumbass!" Jack slide and laid next to me.
"No you." I punched his arm and watched the ceiling spinning. "You know who's the real dumbass"
"Hm." Jack grumbled.
"Alex fucking Gaskarth." I laughed at myself. "Imagine letting a label keep you from such a hot girl." I motioned to myself. "Weeeeaaaak!"
"Wah- wait what?" Jack looked at me, blankly.
"Oh my god!" I screamed. "You weren't supposed to know." My eyes narrowed and I let a grin spread across my face. "but I don't care." I turned on my side to face him. I spilled all of the details about Alex, about Tay, about Me. It felt nice to finally get it out loud.
"I can't believe he never told me." Jack lost eye contact with me and stared at the wall. "That's so fucked." He stood up and paced the room.
"Yep," I said "and imagine he uses THAT to date me on the down low." I laughed more. "I feel like shit!" I took other sip causing Jack to rip the bottle from my hands.
"Stella.. it's not his fault. It's a contract I-"
"Jack." I interrupted him and motioned for him to take a sip.
He obeyed and continued ranting. "You don't deserve that but I mean... neither does he." He began drinking more and more. It looked like he was trying to chose what to be upset about.
"What do I deserve then hm?" I said smugly.
"Shut up." He rolled his eyes and took another sip.
"No, tell me." I gave him sad eyes.
"You deserve someone who flaunts you everywhere they go, okay?" He said, giving in.
"Oooooo" I hollered while laughing. My head fell onto his shoulder.
"You asked!" He got defensive but couldn't keep a grin off his face.
I looked up at him and we made prolonged eye contact. I grabbed Jack by the collar and pulled his face to mine.
"Woah! Easy, easy." He breathed heavily and I could feel the warmth from it on my face.
I pressed my lips to his. It reminded me of my first kiss with Alex. It was spontaneous and daring. His lips weren't quite as soft as Alex's and he didn't quite grab my hips the same way.
He tried going farther and beginning to reach down my shirt.
"Jack." I grabbed his wrist to stop him. "I don't think we should.."
"Why not?" He tensed up but backed away.
"Alex." I muttered under my breath.
"He's probably busy with Tay anyway." Jack blurted out and I could see his face regret it.
I moved my hands away from him and wrapped them around myself.
"Maybe." I said. I could see how bad he wanted things to escalate.
Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door.
"Fuck." Jack muttered under his breath. He stood up and fixed his clothes.
"Jack?" A familiar voice called out.
Jack motioned for me to hide in the bathroom. If he sees me we're screwed, there wasn't another option. I ran in and laid down in the tub, pulling the curtain closed.
I heard the door swing open. "Alex, what's going on?" Jack said.
I could hear them rumbling around but it was hard to make everything out.
"I can't do this any longer." Alex groaned. He said a few more things along those lines, Jack trying to comfort him. I could've sworn I heard my name as well.
I laid in that hotel bathroom for the longest 30 minutes of my life. I heard the door close and Jack opened up the bathroom door. "Okay, you're good."
"What was all of that about?" I hoped out and followed him back into the room.
"I don't think that's my place to tell you." Jack sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"What? You're my best friend you have to tell me." I tried holding in my emotions.
"I'm Alex's too. I love you both so much but I can't be the middle man right now. Please just go back to your room and rest." Jack said. He looked distressed and I didn't want to put any more of a burden on him.
"Okay." I held out my arms and he pulled me into a tight hug.
"Thank you." He whispered and we stayed like this for a bit. The drinks were starting to wear off and my brain was free to race with thoughts.
I woke up the next morning in my room. The sun was shining down onto my bed.
I checked my phone to see 25 texts and a call from Luke. I ignored it and tried to fall back asleep.
There was a bang on the door, giving me flashbacks to last night. I opened it and was pleasantly surprised to see Sierra.
"Hey." I began and she pushed me into the room closing the door behind us. "Everything okay?" I asked.
"Yes but also no." She smiled through her teeth.
"Did Luke do something? I swear I'll kill him."
"No," she rolled her eyes and held my shoulders with shaky hands. "But he might."
"I- what?" It was a lost to process first thing in the morning.
"All I'm going to say is please go and talk to Alex." Sierra sighed.
It was all very confusing but I had a feeling as to what was going to happen. That little knot reunited with my stomach. The things being said last night clicked in my head. Alex didn't want to run around things anymore. I guess it was too much effort that I wasn't worth. I just couldn't believe everyone else knew before me.