Therapy (Jalex)

Session 28

Patient: Alexander William Gaskarth

Notes: out of hospital, seems to be doing better

-Dr. Bassam Barakat

-

"Alex, baby, Rian, Zack, and I are going to the Royal Diner tonight, and they asked if you wanted to come," Jack said, twirling my hair with his fingers. We were laying in his bed, naked more or less, after I had finally paid back Jack for what he did at the hospital.

"Oh... Sure, yeah," I replied quietly. I didn't really like going places with other people with Jack. Whenever we did, I would get less attention, and we couldn't exactly start making out. But I liked Rian and Zack, so it was okay. "Should we start getting ready? It's already five."

"I mean..." Jack trailed off. "If you want. No one's going to get home until six."

I smiled. I liked what Jack was suggesting, even though we had finished a while ago. My hand travelled under the sheets and stroked Jack, making him squirm.

"Yeah, I guess it's a little too early to get ready," I murmured, climbing on top of him.

-

"Jack!" Rian called as we approached the diner table he and Zack were sitting at. "Hey, Alex."

"Hi Rian, hi Zack." Zack nodded at me. Jack and I slid into the booth across from them and scanned the menus as the friends chatted.

"Jack, how did you do on the chemistry test?" demanded Rian, setting down his menu. "I think I bombed it."

"Oh, please," scoffed Zack, "you always get amazing grades, Ri."

"I totally failed it," announced Jack with a wide grin, apparently proud.

"Why... is that good?" I wondered out loud. All three boys looked at me, amused.

"It's not," Rian replied, laughing. "Are you in honors chemistry?"

"Uh, yeah." I nodded. "But I'm homeschooled."

"What can I get you boys?" The waitress strutted up to our table with her notepad. My eyes scanned over the menu one last time.

"I'll have spaghetti and meatballs," said Zack.

"The sub with turkey, pepper jack, and tomatoes, please," ordered Rian, throwing in a dazzling smile.

"I'll have what I usually have, Wendy," sighed Jack, leaning back. The waitress, Wendy, nodded and scribbled down. They knew each other? Jack must have come here a lot. I wondered what his usual was.

I realized it was my turn. My eyes grew big, and I quickly averted my gaze to the menu again. Wendy tapped her pen against the notepad, and I frantically blurted out, "Cheeseburger, please."

"Alright. I'll be right back with your orders." Wendy collected our menus and stalked off.

"Really, Jack?" snickered Rian. "The usual again?"

"It's called 'the usual' for a reason," replied Jack coolly. Rian rolled his eyes.

"You're going to have a heart attack one day. I know you will."

"What's your usual?" I asked, not knowing what they were talking about.

"Jack, do you never take Alex here?" Zack's jaw dropped. "Dude."

"Okay, well we never really go out that much..." Jack was clearly trying not to laugh, and he didn't meet his friends' eyes. Rian raised his eyebrows, and Zack started laughing.

"Just don't get pregnant," Zack giggled. My cheeks flushed, and I bowed my head in embarrassment.

"You'll see what my usual is," murmured Jack in my ear. I nodded.

"Here are y'all's orders, boys," announced Wendy as she walked up to us, her hands full with trays carrying out dishes. "Enjoy!"

My eyes bulged when I saw Jack's plate slide in front of him. I nearly choked. His "usual" was just a big plate of greasy french fries. They were actually steaming, and the plate shone with oil.

"What the actual fuck," I uttered, my eye twitching. "Jack Barakat."

"What?" he peeped innocently. "Growing boys need their protein."

"A-Are you..." stammered Rian, probably in awe of Jack's stupidity. I was in the same boat as him. My eyes were narrowed, and my mouth was slightly open. "Potatoes have starch."

"Exactly my point." Jack snapped his fingers, and I sighed, rolling my eyes. Jack's hand found mine under the table, and I smiled warmly at him. Zack and Rian exchanged smirks, and I looked the other way, my cheeks reddening more.

Dinner was nice, it really was. I didn't talk that much, but it was interesting to listen to the guys' conversation, and I quietly are my food while occasionally picking off some of Jack's fries. They tried to include me sometimes, but I was fine just listening.

After we finished eating, Rian offered to pay. Jack and Zack were slightly salty about that, since Rian was the only one with a job-he worked at GameStop, lucky bitch-but they didn't argue.

As we walked out of the diner, Jack had his arm around my shoulders and the guys started talking about football, which somehow led to science projects. Joe was waiting in the parking lot, and Rian and Zack parted to go to Rian's car. We said goodbye, and Jack and I got into Joe's car.

"That was actually quite fun," I remarked after I had secured my seatbelt. Jack laughed.

"Fun?" he sputtered. "You barely talked!"

"I like listening..." I murmured quietly. "And food is fun."

"Yeah, food is fun."

-

Friendly reminder: The next chapter may be triggering. If you don't want to read about suicide, don't read the next chapter. I'll be recapping what happened in it in the last chapter, so if you choose not to read it, you'll still know what happened.