The Nights We Felt Alive

Chapter 1- Do You Remember?

Jack POV:

–Current Time–

I felt the summer rain begin to drizzle on my shoulders. It rained a lot in Baltimore, I was used to it but I didn't want to be soaking wet to this stupid masquerade that my job invited me to. I owned a local bar in town, and people wanted me to come. It was only to make a good impression. But considering I owned two of the busiest bars in the city, people knew me around I guess. I didn't really care, but masquerades seemed to be fun. I opened the door and saw the room decorated with gold, and food and drinks were placed around the room equally. People were dressed in exquisite costumes, and I kinda felt bad for what I was wearing. I was dressed as fire, I knew it was a common costume but I didn't really care. I wore a red tuxedo, with a red sequin tie, and a maroon dress shirt. My costume did match the streak of red in my hair, and the mask had flames going off of it. I walked in the room and grabbed a drink to just get this thing over with. I sat down at a table and began to just ponder my thoughts which mostly were about which cocktail I was going to consume next. I get up and walk to the bar, and I feel someone's shoulder rub against mine. It felt almost familiar, and I turned my body to look at him. He was handsome, a slim figure but he was built more than me. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and the jawline he had was handsome. He was dressed in a blue tux, with a white tie and was disguised by an icy mask. I thought to myself how ironic it was that he was dressed as ice and I was the fire. His touch seemed warm when mine seemed cold.

"Oh uhm Hi," He smiled shyly as he extended his hand to mine.

I shook it, and he had a firmer shake than me and I was right about his hands being warm. I felt compelled to him, and I was curious. I relaxed my body and smiled at him. "Hi, sorry I wasn't watching where I was going," I blushed.

"No Uhm it's okay either was I, maybe it was just meant to be that we bumped into each other," He smiled glancing at me. I liked his smile, it looked so familiar it was comforting.

"Yeah," I laughed, realizing I was still holding his hand. I blushed and pulled away but he took my hand and glided me on the dance floor.

I placed my hand on his waist and took his hand, and gently swayed with him. He looked lost almost, in question which made me even more curious.

"What's your name?" I asked him as he moved in rhythm with me.

"It's a masquerade ball, you will have to wait till midnight until we can take our masks off," He smirked.

"That's fair, but I want to do more than take your mask off," I said slyly as I pulled him closer to me.

"I wouldn't mind that at all," He said, biting his lip slightly as he moved closer to my lips.

"You have to wait for that," I said, puffing air on his lips.

He rolled his eyes dramatically and continued to dance with me. Our bodies were in sync, and he soon rested his head on my chest. I liked him, but it just felt similar and I didn't know what felt so similar about this.

"You want to get a drink with me?" I asked him.

"Yeah I would like that a lot," He said as he clung to my arm and walked with me to the bar. I could tell that he was a little anxious, I don't know how I just did. We walked to the bar, and I ended up ordering a glass of red wine and he wanted the same thing. I paid and sat down at a table with him.

"So mystery man... I wanna get to know you before we have to unmask ourselves," I laughed, pressing the glass to my lips.

"There isn't anything that interesting about me... I honestly shouldn't be here but I came anyway," He said. He looked disappointed slightly and looked down at his feet.

"I'm sure there is," I smiled faintly. He looked up at me and held my hand gently, I could see he was hurting or he was confused. By confused I mean with his sexuality, he looks lost.

"Uhm well I'm married to a girl but I'm really gay and the only boyfriend I had who was my soulmate left me because of how I was," He frowned looking up at me.

"That's okay, sometimes it gets confusing. I mean the only relationship I was really happy with was with a boy who wasn't ready for one. It hurt the most," I said. I remembered it well like it was yesterday honestly. Alex Gaskarth was my soulmate, our love was just too strong for him being so fragile at the end of it.

"I understand that," He said, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

I nodded and held his hand tighter. I looked at my phone and saw that it was 11:00, but I didn't want this night to end with him. I didn't even know his name, but I knew he had a hold on me in some mysterious way.

"Would you wanna walk with me? We could ditch the party and walk on Thames Street? Maybe get a drink or something?" I asked him. I wanted to make it clear that I didn't want him to leave.

"Uhm sure I told her I would be out for the night anyway," He said hesitantly, taking my hand.

I smiled, and we walked out of the room where the party was, and I walked him to my car in the parking garage. I helped him in, and we decided to keep the masks on until we got in my hotel room. I got a bottle of whiskey, and took his hand, and began to walk with him down Thames street. Sooner or later we drank half the bottle and were already two miles away from the car.

"When will you show me who you are?" I asked him eagerly.

"When you take me back to your hotel room and kiss me," He smirked as he took my hand once again.

"Well come on then," I smirked, bolting to the car with him chasing after me. I heard his laughter trailing behind me, and I laughed as I reached the car out of breath. He jumped in my arms and kissed me as he held me against my car. I breathed heavily and bit his lip while pulling his hair.

"Take me," He said, panting getting in the passenger seat.

I smiled to myself in secret and turned on my playlist as we drove to the hotel. Blink of course came on first since they are my most played artist. I saw his lips turn into a smile, "I love Blink this song seems fitting too," He smiled.

"Yeah," I laughed as I finished parking and taking him up to the hotel room. "Let me see your face now."

He nodded and took off his mask. Alex Gaskarth was standing right before me. I felt my heart sink to my stomach, and my body began to freeze. "A...Alex," I stuttered.

He looked at me confused, and he walked over to me and took off my mask. His expression deepened, and his eyes filled with tears like mine. "Jack?"

That's why everything felt so familiar, it was him, my Alex.