The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 14: Falling

~Third POV~

Moving all of his belongings upstairs has proven to be a pain in the ass. When George walked in two hours ago, he instructed the two to set up in Cole's space as he himself was working on moving Cole's things into the art room; (Y/n)'s original room.

Alex is finishing up taking apart his gaming setup and neatly placing it all into a large plastic box. His eyes seem glossed over, like his mind is anywhere else than there with him.

"Alex!" Nathan barks and the freckled boy turns over his shoulder to find his brother holding an over-stuffed duffel bag and his guitar case slung over his shoulder. "Did you hear anything I said?"

"No. Sorry, Nate." Alex confesses as his hand goes to rub the back of his neck. It took no genius to discover that Alex has been having a hard time adjusting to the changes occurring the past few weeks.

Nathan studies over his brother while making an adjustment to the bag in his hand. Neither of them seem happy about this new arrangement, but when it came to their parents rules, they knew it was best to obey rather than fight.

"You're really distracted by all of this, huh?"

"I'm fine." Alex replies half-heartedly while scrounging the box up and walking over.

He had pictured this day much different than how it is going. Same as yesterday, of course. An internal groan sounds through his thoughts as he recalls the afternoon in the loft with (Y/n). How could he have been so stupid with his choice of words? It seems that ever since she came back home, he's been unable to properly think. And when he does, it's like he does the absolute opposite of what he intends to do.

So much has occurred in the last nine months and he knows he is a completely different person from it all. Note, the fact that he hadn't told the girl he has called his best friend for years that he was dating someone and had even fallen in love with her. Not to mention, he hardly spoke to (Y/n) during the time he dated Jackie in the first place. That he found strange of himself.

Having her back home and around all of the time, he expected life to return to the way it used to be. Simple and enjoyable. Yet, he finds himself even moodier and more confused than ever before.

"We should get moving. (Y/n) has all her things in the hall waiting to be moved in here for the night." Nathan exhales while he comes to term with the fact that his brother will not share his innermost thoughts at this time. One thing the family knew was when to let Alex simmer on his own. He comes around at some point.

His feet feel as though they are encased in led, each lift of them more difficult than the previous. Alex and Nathan have lived in that room downstairs from the day each could talk. They never even imagined living in any of their siblings bedrooms. What made matters worse, Alex was now moving into Cole's bedroom. Not to share with him, thank God for that. But still...

Stepping into the bedroom of his brother's sent his skin crawling. Danny is now off for the summer in New York. That's a big enough change for them to adjust to. No, now they are playing musical bedrooms.

"I'll take Cole's side." Nathan speaks, pushing around Alex who has yet to move a step any further than the inside of the doorway. Nathan is understanding of Alex's feelings - he ought to be after the years of hearing him gripe about the many irritations of their older brother.

The Cole Effect. Ugh. Has Alex ever grown sick of hearing about his older brother - the golden boy. Everyone loves him. Every girl wants him. Every. Girl. Which tragically includes pretty much every girl Alex has liked or loved. Paige? Made out with Cole at a party the night he came back home. Jackie? Made out with her after Will's wedding. After Alex confessed that he loved Jackie.