RUNAWAYS - Alex Gaskarth

t w o

I woke up the next morning in Alex's bed. He slept on the couch. I looked over at the floor and saw my wedding dress taking up half of his normal walking space. I climbed out of bed and peeked my head out of the bedroom. I walked over to the couch and looked over on the other side. Alex was still sleeping, his face smushed against a pillow.

"Alex," I whispered. He didn't move. "Alex!" I poked him until he finally opened his eyes.

"I forgot you were here," he mumbled as he rolled onto his back. I walked around to the other side of the couch and sat down. He pulled himself up and rubbed his eyes. "I need some coffee."

He got up to make coffee, and he waited in the kitchen while it brewed. He brought over a cup for both of us. I had my legs crossed, the shirt he gave me the night before barely reaching my thighs. Alex sat next to me, his leg bouncing up and down nervously.

"Why'd you leave Noah at the altar?" He asked, breaking the silence. I sighed and wrapped my hands around the coffee cup.

"I think you know," I said quietly. I looked down at my hair as Alex's eyes shifted over to me. I felt Alex stand up from the couch.

"God damn," he mumbled. He started pacing, and he set his cup down on the coffee table. He stopped walking and looked at me. I looked up at him.

"It was a one-night stand, Hunter. Nothing was supposed to come of it," Alex said. He started pacing again, and I rolled my eyes. I moved my feet from their crossed position to the floor.

"I understand that Alex, but something happened. We didn't just go our separate ways, and now look where we are," I said, my voice rising as I continued on.

"If you felt something from that night, then you shouldn't have agreed to marry Noah!" Alex yelled. He'd stopped pacing and was standing in front of me.

"I didn't go through with the marriage. Doesn't that count for something?" Alex shook his head and wandered off into the kitchen. I pushed myself off the couch and went to his bedroom. I heard him leave about five minutes later. I poked my head out to make sure.

I scoffed as I looked around the empty apartment. I thought about getting a cab home, but I didn't have any pants. I crossed my arms over my chest as I sat down on the couch again.

I jumped off the couch when another door opened. It was Jack, and he looked just as surprised to see me. "I thought you and Alex left!" Jack exclaimed. He had his hand over his heart as he breathed heavily. I kept pulling on the end of the shirt, trying to keep myself covered.

"Alex left. I don't know where he went," I said. Jack ran his hand through his hair, and then disappeared back into the room he came from. I stood up and followed him.

"Ever heard of pants?" Jack asked. I pulled down on the t-shirt again. I told him how Alex said he didn't have any pants that would fit me, and I wasn't about to wear the wedding dress all day. "Why not go home?"

"I don't know, I just needed somewhere to sleep last night," I said. I sighed, and sat down on Jack's bed. He picked up his phone, and called someone. I tried not to stare, but I did listen in.

"Where the hell are you?" Jack yelled into the phone. I couldn't hear what the person on the other end was saying. I was pretty sure he was talking to Alex, though. Probably wondering why he left me here with him.

"Hurry the fuck up, man. I don't wanna be involved in this," Jack finished, and then hung up. He threw his phone on the bed, and I turned around to look at him. "Are you hungry?"

Alex showed up about ten minutes later. He had a grocery bag in his hand, and set it down in front of me. "What is this?" I asked. He opened the bag up, and pulled out a box. I glanced at it, and then back up at Alex. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Take it. I need to know, Hunter," Alex said. I sighed, and took the box from him. I pushed the chair back, and got up. I went to the bathroom, and opened the box. I really didn't want to do it. I couldn't believe Alex wanted me to take a pregnancy test. I peed on the stick, and left it by the sink.

"We have to wait a couple minutes," I told Alex. He thanked me for taking it, and then we all sat back down at the table. There was an awkward silence. No one was speaking, just looking at each other. I bit my lip. This was the first time I'd actually considered the idea of being pregnant. I didn't think it was possible. That definitely wasn't part of the fairy tale plan.

I got up, and went back into the bathroom. I picked up the test, and looked at the little picture. I breathed the biggest sigh of relief. I brought it out into the living room for Alex to see. He also breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up, and hugged me. I held the test away from us, remembering that I had peed on it.

"Thank God!" Alex whispered as he hugged me tighter. I pulled away first, and went to throw away the test.

"Take it again," Jack said. Both Alex and I looked at him. I was a little offended, and Alex looked confused. "Just to be sure. Better safe than sorry."

I took a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with water. I drank half of it, and then set it down on the table. Jack and Alex were talking about something. I didn't really care to listen. I finished the rest of the water, and then went to the bathroom. I took the second test out of the box and peed on it. I left it by the sink again but didn't join Jack and Alex. I waited in the bathroom, and Alex joined me after a few minutes.

"Want me to look first?" He asked. I nodded and breathed in sharply. He picked up the stick and turned to me. "It's still negative."

He was smiling from ear-to-ear. He threw the test in the trash and pulled me into a hug again. This time, when he pulled away, he pressed his lips against mine. I felt myself melt into him. I wish I could say I'd never felt that way with Noah. It would sure make me feel better if I could.