Dark Angel // Alex Gaskarth

Chapter Eight: Time Will Heal Your Wounds

Song: The Light Behind Your Eyes by My Chemical Romance

Angel.  

I chewed the eraser on my pencil as I stared blankly at the paper below me. Since it's senior year, we're filling out the paper on what want to do when we leave high school. I hate feeling out these stupid papers. I already know that I want to become a artist or something that has to do with drawing when I get older but I still think it's wrong that these people expect us to decide our careers at 17/18.  

I think people should give us more time to answer such important questions. What if some poor kid gets pressured into picking something he doesn't like and ends up spending the rest of his life working somewhere he absolutely hates?  

I don't know a lot but I do know that I want to do something with my life. I don't want to end up waking up everyday for the rest of my life; dreading the thought of going to work. That's definitely not something I want to do. My mother was like that, she didn't have many opportunities here in the United States so she ended up working in fields, factories and even motels. Everyday, she would come home exhausted but content with the fact that she was able to feed us and give us clothing.  

I spent most of my childhood caring for my mother when she came home from an exhausting day at work. Usually, her jobs wouldn't last more than two years. Always ending in her getting fired due to either lay offs, the factory shutting down or some stupid reason.  

Even at a young age, Oscar and I saw how unhappy my mother used to be with her jobs. It wasn't until my father left us that my mother finally found a decent job helping her friend out at some office downtown. The pay was less but my mother was happy she didn't have to come home too exhausted to hang out with us.  

I glanced up at the clock and saw that there was only five more minutes until this class was finally over. I have five minutes to decide my fucking career. I looked down at the options and rolled my eyes once I saw that there was only five different options.  

1) Computer Engineer 

2) Office Worker 

3) Teacher 

4) Business Owner  

5) Other  

Those four options were probably the only options the school viewed as a realistic career choice. Anything else would probably be too out of line. Of course, I chose the 'other' option and wrote down what I aspired to be and the reasons why.  

Honestly, I never want to see myself working at some stupid job and living the cliche life most people in the U.S live. Which consist of going to college, finding someone you love, starting a family, getting a decent sized house, maybe owning a dog or cat and working at some terrible job were you have to suck up to the boss in order to get anywhere in life until finally, you're lying on your deathbed, regretting never doing the things you wanted to do in life.  

Yeah, I definitely don't want to do that.  

The bell rang and we all quickly stood up from our seats. I handed the teacher the paper before hurrying out of the classroom and towards my locker. I knew I wouldn't have to run into Alex again because he's been gone these passed two days which I thought was kind of strange.  

I'm going to see him today anyways because I'm going over to Jack's house to watch their band practice and be their 'audience'.  

After shoving my textbooks inside my small locker, I hurried over to where the gym room was located. I walked inside the large room and hurried over towards Jack who was staring blankly at the wall. Not something unusual though, I'm used to seeing Jack completely spaced out.  

"Hey, Jack." I greeted, doing my best to smile for him. "Where's Alex?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.  

Jack looked at me with sadness in his eyes, "He's um... he's taking a couple of days off." Jack replied, the pain in his voice was clearly visible.  

"Oh, is everything alright?" I asked, trying not to push him with questions. I've known them for about a week but I've grown close with Jack and Rian. I've tried to keep my distance with Alex due to my feelings but nevertheless, I care about him and I'd be devastated if anything happens to him.  

Jack sighed, he ran his fingers through his skunk like hair before looking back at me. He grabbed my hand and began pulling me away from the other students. The gym teacher was usually ten minutes late to class everyday so I knew we wouldn't get scolded for 'messing around'.  

"Promise not to tell anyone?" Jack asked, he held out his pinky finger and looked at me with a completely serious expression 

Nodding, I wrapped my finger around his and promised to keep whatever 'secret' he was going to share with me.  

Jack smiled sadly, "Okay," He began, "A while ago, Alex's older brother, Daniel, committed suicide. Alex doesn't really like to talk about but he always takes a couple of days off from school around this time because tomorrow is the anniversary of his suicide."  

[A/N I don't know a lot about Alex's older brother or anything and I understand that his suicide is something really private and personal so I don't mean to upset anyone by adding it in this story A/N]  

By the time Jack was finished explaining, I had tears streaming down my face. I didn't know Alex had lost his brother and I definitely didn't know that his suicide also happened on the day my brother's death was. Yeah, in two days it will be three years since Oscar was shot and killed.  

"Hey, don't cry." Jack said, he wrapped his arms around me and embraced me in a tight hug. "Alex is going to be fine. He just took his brother's suicide really hard, you know?" Jack mumbled, his voice cracking slightly. I could tell that Jack hated seeing his best friend in pain.  

We stood there in silence while I cried silently in Jack's chest. By now, other people were staring but I honestly could care less. I know how Alex must feel. I know how it feels to loose someone like he did. I know how it feels and it's the worst feeling ever.  

"Jack," I sniffed, pulling away from our hug, "Can you please give me Alex's address?"

&&&

Hopefully, this chapter makes up for the last shitty chapter. ^.^ I got some motivation back in this story and I'm going to try to update again by Saturday.

By the way guys, if you see me make ANY mistakes, please feel free to point them out. ^_^