The hotel is.... nice? They managed to get a room with two beds, which for some reason was almost disappointing for the both of them. It's just your average, run-of-the-mill, overcrowded, family owned hotel in the mountains. Log cabin theme with a modern twist. Cozy, but not quite a home.
They tried to book a flight back to Baltimore, but Baltimore is snowed in, and the next flight they would've gotten wouldn't have been until New Years anyway.
They're lucky enough the hotel even had space available so close to the holidays.
May had driven them there and made sure they settled in okay, and promised to visit for Christmas, but she had to run damage control.
Someone has to, and given Jack's current disdain for most of humanity, it isn't going to be him.
Alex is laying in his bed, watching A Christmas Story on repeat, trying to ignore the fact that the shower has been running for an hour, and Jack's sniveling is not as quiet as he thinks it is.
For Christmas Eve, it feels pretty lonely.
His phone buzzes on the nightstand, and Alex almost chooses to ignore it and the no smoking sign on the door. Unfortunately, he hasn't carried cigarettes on him since the first tour, and it's his mom calling to wish him a merry Christmas.
He picks up the phone and forces a smile, not that Mrs. Gaskarth could see it anyway. Alex also decides it best to leave Jack be in the hotel room for a while.
He knocks on the door and says he's just taking a phone call and will be back later. All he gets is a muffled "'Kay."
"Hey, Mom," Alex says into the receiver, making sure the hotel room door locks behind him.
"Alex! Sweetie, merry Christmas! How are you and Jack doing? You're spending the holidays with the Barakat's right?"
Alex glances back at the hotel room as he makes his way to the balcony down the hall. He bites his lip, debating wether or not he should be honest or cheerful.
He chooses honesty,
"Actually, Mom, it... didn't go to well. We, um, thought Jack's parents would be more accepting of his sexuality if they saw a friendly face was his, uh, fiancé."
"Jack has a fiancé? Since when? You didn't tell me he was getting married!"
"I'm the fiancé, Mom."
There's silence on the other end of the phone.
"Peter!" His mom finally calls. "Peter, I told you Alex is gay, you owe me a boat!"
"What?" Alex squeaks. "Mom, I'm not-" He clears his throat. "I'm not gay, Mom."
"Bisexual then, oh honey why didn't you tell us sooner? Were you trying to break the news to Jack's family to soften the blow? You know how his parents are, Alex, you should spend the holidays with people who love and respect you."
It takes Alex a minute to explain the prank, and their thinking behind it, which gets him a, "Well that was stupid and, frankly, immature. You know Jack's been in love with you since high school, you shouldn't play with his feelings like that." And a moment of silence on his part.
"What?" Why did his voice crack like that. He's not going to cry on the phone with his mom on Christmas Eve.
"Jesus, Alex, I know you struggled in school, but I thought you at least had enough knowledge in that big brain of yours to notice something so obvious." His mother huffs, shouting to someone in the other room. "Peter, cancel the boat, our son is just an idiot!"
"Mom," Alex starts before he's even thinking about what he's about to say, "how do you know Jack's been in love with me since high school?" His voice sounds hollow, like he's not all there. He feels something he doesn't know how to describe, it's like somethings pulling at his chest, clawing at his insides and holding his heart hostage.
There's a short pause, and Alex can hear quiet chatter in the background. It's probably around dinner time in Essex, if not later. He suddenly feels guilty for ruining his mother's night.
"Alex," Mrs. Gaskarth starts, "it was impossible not to know. He looked at you like you were his world, and he still does. The way he talks about you when you're not around... I almost felt bad that I could never be sure you felt the same. For a second I thought he was going to ask you to prom once when he was over for dinner, and the way his face fell when he realized you were going with Lisa... Alex he loves you so much that the only reason he never told you is because losing your friendship would crush him."
Alex can feel the hot tears burning his eyes. Why hadn't he noticed? How hadn't he noticed? Did everyone know except Alex? Why didn't anyone tell him? Did Jack ever tell anyone he felt this way about him?
"Mom?" Alex croaks, his voice tight as he holds back tears.
"Yes, honey?" It's like she already knows what he's going to say next.
"I think I love him, too."
She laughs quietly into the phone. "I know, Alex. But he doesn't, and he's the one who's been waiting for you to say that."
"How do I tell him? What if it's the wrong timing? Fuck, mom, everything went so badly today because-"
"Alex, just be there for him for now. He'll know."
Alex turns to look at the balcony door, leading back into the hall. Just be there for him. He'll know.
"Thanks, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too, Alex. Merry Christmas. And good luck."
YOU ARE READING
Coffee and Christmas (Jalex)
FanfictionJack's parents are low key homophobic, but they don't argue as much with Jack about his bisexuality as much as they used to. However, now that the holidays have rolled around, they want Jack's (non-existent) girlfriend to join them at their lake ho...
