Runaways [Alex Gaskarth]

Numb

I sat, staring into space on the couch of my apartment. I had a coffee in my hand which had now gone cold, Cassadee was currently cleaning the scrapes on my knees through my, now ripped, fishnets. I winced as she dabbed disinfectant on to them.

"Sorry" she said quietly, pulling a band aid from my first aid kid and pushing one on to each of my knees.

"Thanks Cass" I mumbled, putting down the coffee mug. I felt totally numb right now. I didn't know what to feel. Alex had totally betrayed my trust. I didn't know what to think. I'd trusted him, I'd opened up to him about Hazel, he'd kissed me. What the hell happened?

"Are you gonna tell me what happened?" Cassadee asked, pulling a blanket off the back of my couch and securing it round my shoulders.

"I, uh, I don't know Cass" I managed hoarsely

"Please, Taylor" she said, taking my hands in hers and squeezing them "what did Alex do?"

"I, he was in his room.. with uh.. some girl" I stumbled

"Dick" she cursed

"I just, am I over reacting?" I asked her seriously, she just shook her head.

"He's lead you on, Taylor, I mean he kissed you, on more than one occasion" she said, I think this was the first time I've ever seen her remotely angry. The doorbell rang and I sighed, walking over to it. I looked through the peep hole to see Jack. Sighing again, I opened it. He smiled softly at me.

"I don't wanna talk about Alex" I said to him

"That's not why I'm here" he said, he held up a bag with three ice cream tubs in it, I only just noticed the pizza boxes in his other hand and I smiled at him.

"Thank you, Jack" I said, he walked in and put them down on the table. I followed him, he turned back to me and crushed me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around him, tears forming again as I clung to the back of his shirt.

x

"Taylor, you don't have to do this" Jack said as he walked me from work over to their house, we were hanging out for a movie night. It was just over two weeks since the incident at the party.

"I'll be fine Jack" I sighed "I promise I won't try to kill him"

"He's really sorry" Jack said softly

"I know, Jack" I sighed "I've forgiven him"

"Tay..." he said

"Okay, so I've not forgiven him but we can still be friends right?" I sighed, I felt Jack squeeze my hand as we walked up the drive way. He rang the door bell and I rolled my eyes at him, trust him to not have his keys. Zack answered the door in a Power Ranger onesie.

"Hey guys! Hurry up, we've been waiting!" he said, a little unnaturally cheerfully. I think they were all cautious of me now. I followed Jack and Zack in, I took a b-line for the bathroom to get changed into my ninja turtles onesie. This was a strictly onesie night, apparently. I unlocked the bathroom and walked towards the living room, taking a couple deep breaths. This was the first time I was gonna see Alex since that night. I pushed open the door of the living room, they all turned to look when I walked in. Rian was looking uncomfortable in a tiger onesie, Cassadee was in a pink one with polka dots, I could see that Alex had gone for Batman - typical and Jack had changed into one that was obviously meant for a girl as it was a pink bunny one.

"Taylor!" Cass smiled "come snuggle with me, they're making us watch Saw!"

"Oh god, I hate horror" I laughed forcefully, I walked over and flopped down next to Cassadee. I could see Alex looking at me through the corner of my eye but I forced myself not to look at him. I sat cuddled up with Cass for the whole movie. Rian didn't complain about it. I think Cassadee must have told him not to. I was glad about that, I really needed her right now. When the movie was over I could hear the oven beeping to tell us the pizza was ready.

"I'll go get it" I said, feeling more comfortable now. Though I can't pretend he didn't exist for the rest of my life. I felt someone follow me and I stiffened when I realised it was Alex. I just walked into the kitchen and took the pizza out the oven. Not turning around from the counter to face him I started cutting them up.

"Taylor?" he said softly

"Yeah?" I managed

"Listen, can we talk about-"

"There's nothing to tak about, Alex" I interrupted frostily

"I just wanted to explain-" he started

"Alex" I snapped, turning around "Listen, there's nothing we need to talk about. What happened happened, it doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?"

"I suppose, it's ju-"

"Good" I stopped him, taking the pizza's through to the guys, my eyes stinging. I curled up next to Cassadee again and she gave me a tight hug, she could probably see my eyes had gone red, or she just knew me that well now. How the hell did I survive without her?