We Go Together Or We Don't Go Down At All

A Second First Impression

Zack stood outside the coffee shop on the first floor of Alex's office building. A dozen roses in hand.

Zack tried texting Alex to let him know he wanted to talk, but his messages kept coming back to him. Which meant that Alex most likely blocked him. Zack wasn't surprised by it, But he was a little hurt by it.

So with not a lot of options, Zack decided he was doing this the old-fashioned way. By lack of better term ambushing him at his office building.

Zach didn't wanna do it this way... But he felt like he had no other choice and he's just hoping that Zach meeting him downstairs and not in his actual office would make a difference and redeem him.

It was 7:30 in the morning, which left Zack with approximately three hours of sleep. But he wanted to be here early so that when Alex arrived at 8 AM for work, Zack could talk to him before he went.

Zach and his bouquet of flowers didn't have to wait long though... Around 7:45 he saw Alex open the front lobby employee door, scanning himself in. Alex had his headphones on as he walked in the door which meant that he didn't have any awareness of Zack standing there until he started walking towards the coffee shop and quite literally ran into him.

Alex looked up from his phone that he was typing away on, and started to mumble. "I'm so sorry" to the person he ran into.

But, when he looked up, he was met with the eyes of someone he thought he would never see again. When Alex's eyes locked with Zack's, Zack's eyes seem to have a mixture of joy, fear, and regret mixed in them. Which is not the look that Alex was expecting from him.

Alex thought if he ever saw Zack again, it would be pure anger and disappointment. Not kindness and regret like he seems to be seeing now.

Alex, once again mumbled "I'm sorry I ran into you. Are you OK?"

Zack shook His head. "You run into me and asking me if I'm OK... Is that all you have to say to me?" Zack whispered.

Alex Sheepishly shook his head, and he started to mumble again, worried that if he spoke too loudly, Zack would somehow disappear into the ether. Alex didn't want to fuck up his chance of a second first impression... but it seems like he may have already because Zack already seemed disappointed by Alex's response to him .

"I mean, no... That's not all I have to say to you. I just don't know if you have much to say to me. I fucked up." Alex whispered. Again, worried that if he spoke too loud, the moment between them would be shattered.

Zack just looked at Alex for a long moment. Alex looked quite confused and upset, and now Zack's worried that he shouldn't have done this.

Zach decided to take a chance and stick his hand out, offering it to Alex for him to shake. "Hi. I'm Zach Merrick. It's nice to meet you."

Alex smiled a little. "Hi. I am Alex Gaskarth. Nice to meet you Zack."

Zack smiled. "I see you heading in to get some coffee, can I buy it for you?"

Alex smiled. "Sure. That's nice of you."

Zack smiled. "Anything for handsome men like you."

Alex smiled. Checking the time on his phone. Zack saw his lock screen was him and his daughter. Everly.

"I do have to hurry, I may be late to work." Alex said sheepishly.

Zack nodded. "Good thing I placed a pick up order for a drip coffee and a chai latte with extra shot of espresso since I was unsure what you would be in the mood for." Zack walked up to the shelf with pickup orders and he grabbed the cups labeled with his name. He grinned as he offered them to Alex. Deciding he would drink whatever one Alex didn't. Although he might have to get some milk in the drip coffee.