Our Love || Karl Jacobs ✔️

-six-

*one month later*

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"Are you going to New York for Thanksgiving?" Alex asked softly, staring at the dark ceiling. Her and Karl were laid on the floor of her living room just basking in the presence and silence of one another.

"Probably, are you?"

"I dont know. I want to, but the gas money is terrible and i probably have to pick up a holiday shift for extra money. Just to get christmas gifts for everyone and to pay my rent on time without going broke."

"I can take you down if you want, i have enough money for gas and things like that so I wouldn't mind." Karl replied, running a hand through his hair to straighten it up some.

"I can't ask that of you, Karl." She whispered, "I'll just have to suck it up."

"No, im offering. Seriously, I don't mind. Im driving down anyway so i'll just bring you."

"Its thirty minutes out of your way, Karl."

"And thats thirty minutes more i spend with you, seriously Alex you act like i hate you sometimes." He said with a smile.

"I am insufferable sometimes, Karl Jacobs."

"You are not, don't talk about yourself like that." He whispered, his tone going from playful to serious.

"Karl, are we going to talk about what happened at Ashton's party?" Alex whispered into the darkness, fear swallowing her entirety.

"What about it? It was just a kiss or two.."

"Try five and a make out session." She sighed, wiping her eyes so she didnt start crying from feeling rejected.

"It doesn't have to mean anything." He whispered back. Silence engulfed them and he let it. He didn't want to run the risk of being hurt again, so he shoved his feelings into a box and kept them hidden from the world.

"Yeah. i guess not. We were drunk, drunken mistakes happen." She whispered. Now it was Karl's turn to feel rejected.

"Did it mean something to you?" Karl asked, breaking the silence. She just stood up from the floor in response and walked to the kitchen. He sighed, getting up to follow her.

"Alex, look at me." He spoke softly, holding the refrigerator door open for her as she looked for a bottle of water. She turned around, looking at him with a water in hand.

She wanted to scream at him, tell him that it obviously meant something because how could it not? She'd spent the last three years crying over his absence and telling herself he never existed because it hurt so bad when he left. She never stopped loving him, but he asked if kissing meant something to her? Made her feel any emotions?

"No, no it didn't." She lied, looking down and pulling her lips together. Karl gently grabbed her chin, letting the refrigerator door close softly as his other hand went to her waist.

"It didn't?" He asked gently, letting his emotions show through his barrier just this once. She shook her head, no amount of words being able to be formed from her in this moment.

"Okay." He replied, stepping away from her with a sad smile and tears in his eyes. She quickly grabbed the hem of his shirt, tears collecting in her eyes now.

"Kiss me again." She said, voice shaky and quiet. Like a delicate flower waiting for the petals to fall off one by one.

"But it-"

"Please." She begged. He nodded, leaning down and connecting their lips gently. She closed her eyes, allowing her tears to fall down her cheeks. He pulled away causing her to silently start sobbing.

"Lex, don't cry." He said softly, keeping his tears at bay for her. Everything he did was for her. Every decision he made, every choice he'd been brought to. He did everything for her, or so he thought he was. Those were his intentions at least.

Alex let out a heart wrenching sob and he quickly pulled her into a hug. His shirt started to get wet from the tears collecting, but he didn't care. He didn't move a muscle or even make any attempts to try and do anything but hold her.

Karl soon picked her up and carried her to her bedroom where he laid on the bed with her. He just held her frame as she sobbed into his chest. He wasn't sure what caused everything to fall. Well he did, but he didnt want to admit that he'd been the one to cause her so much pain.

He couldn't bare that knowledge again.

In all reality he was hurting the both of them by trying to deny his lingering feelings. While she wasnt doing any strides to admit hers, she wasn't denying them to herself and her friends.

"Im sorry." She said, sniffling and trying to calm her breathing.

"Never apologize." He said, taking a deep breath. He took off his damp shirt and laid her head on his chest, knowing exactly how to calm her down from this state. She relaxed against his touch and tried to slow her breathing to his.

"Can you stay, please?" Alex asked, looking up at him from where her head was.

"I'll always stay." He replied, hugging her closer. The pair had the entire queen sized bed to share, but took up very little space as they laid in one another's embrace.

Soon enough Karl had felt her breathing even out and she was finally asleep. He sighed, continuing to play with her hair.

"I love you, Alex, and I always will. That will never fucking change." He whispered, finally admitting his feelings out loud and not overthinking things. He felt a weight lifted as he said it, finally saying it out loud created some reassurance in his brain as well as tears in his eyes that fell swiftly onto the pillows below him.

Even if they never happen again, he'll always give his heart to her every single day and in every possible way.