MENDED

forty-three

saylor

just over a month after alex started therapy, it's the end of july, and alex just finished their fifth session. therapy has definitely been tough on them so far. after all of their sessions, they kinda just shut down for a while. they either lay in bed by their self, cuddle with me, or ask me to go driving around the city with them. they won't even really talk for at least two hours.

at the same time though... i think it is helping, if only slightly. they seem to be a little less tense than normal. they've been able to open up to me a little more. on top of that, they also haven't drank any alcohol, as far as i'm aware, since i found the whiskey in their coffee that one day. it's not something they've been particularly happy about; in fact, they were a bit of an ass about it for the first week or so. i can't exactly blame them though due to their withdrawal symptoms.

though alex usually shuts down after their therapy sessions, they can't exactly do so today. our album was finally mastered a nearly a month ago. during the weeks since then, laura has been getting a handful of things finalized. we announced the album about a week and a half ago, and we announced the tour for it a few days ago. the album comes out in a few weeks, and our tour begins in october. today, we're already starting tour rehearsal. or, at least, we're trying to come up with a set list, and find out how we want the shows to turn out.

before we went to the tour rehearsal, we stopped by alex's apartment. they wanted to take axel with us, because they hate leaving him alone at the apartment. along with therapy, i think axel has really helped alex as well. i noticed during our first tour how relaxed and happy cats make alex, so i'm a bit surprised that it has taken them this long to get one.

when we walked into the building, jessie's eyes landed on us, and they lit up as they looked in alex's arms. "axel!" they yelled with a grin as they ran over to alex.

"bro, go away, he doesn't like you," alex huffed as they turned away from jessie to block her from petting axel.

"yes, he does, bruh. axel loves me, thank you," jj argued.

as they both continued to bicker, miguel walked over. "hey, saylor," he greeted softly with a grin as he opened his arms.

"hi, migs," i smiled and stepped into his arms to give him a hug.

his phone pinged, and he pulled it out. when he read it and smiled, my curiosity got the better of me, and i looked over at his screen. when i saw the heart by the person's name in their contact, i gasped and turned to look at him. his face started to flush.

"miggy!" i looked at him with wide eyes.

"shush. we're just talking right now, it's not even serious," he mumbled.

"so? i can't even recall the last time you were talking to someone! this is huge!" i grinned.

"yeah, yeah, whatever," he tried to wave me off.

before i could question him any more, jessie came running over to us. "pookie!"

"hi, jess—" i was quickly cut off with my own scream as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around me. i was so caught off guard that the force of it caused me to fall backwards. i took note of how she cupped my head, though it luckily didn't hit the floor.

"i've missed you, pooks! i feel like i haven't seen you in forever!" jj grinned, as if nothing even happened.

"it's been, like, three days," i let out a small laugh. "was that really necessary? now my ass hurts," i pouted.

"dude, why are you hurting my girl?" alex huffed as they walked over. they kneeled down, and they pushed jessie off of me and onto the floor. they turned to me, and they cupped my face. "are you okay, angel?"