Jo [COMPLETED]

O

"How was?" Brian asked. He chewed on his fries obnoxiously while checking his Instagram.

"Hard," Alec replied, "but I did it. By the way, dick move about that Rick roll link. What what that?"

Brian smiled widely. "It doesn't let you leave the box until you end the task."

Glaring at Brian, Alec opened up his phone to see the link still popping around his screen and being as bothersome as the day before. He managed to end the task with the little knowledge he actually had of using the iPhone and stuffed it back into his pocket.

"Rick-rolling is so fucking old now." Alec stole a few fries. "I don't understand why you had to send that to me."

"It was all for this," Brian said, gesturing to Alec's face. "Your expression is priceless."

Alec shuffled through a deck of cards he made for his final the next day, occasionally checking the answers on the other side. He muttered the words under his breath, memorizing them with the hope that it wouldn't slip out sometime between then and the time of his actual test. Once it was over, he was packing for Texas. Alec could barely believe it was happening--he hadn't even told Brian.

The sudden realization caused a tear at his heart. He looked up so fast there was a crook in his neck. For some reason, Alec felt guilty. Brian didn't show any interest in Ali--not in the slightest--but Alec was almost taking her away from him. Yes, he was pursuing Ali. Yes, he liked her. Sometime in between the start of the first semester and the beginning of December, Alec had developed feelings. He guessed. He thought. He wasn't entirely sure of himself.

"I'm going to Texas with Ali," Alec spewed out. It was a jumble of words, twisted together yet somehow clear. "During break."

Brian's eyebrows furrowed. Alec's heart sank. "Are you guys dating or something?"

"What? No, man," Alec said. Even in his head, the thought of dating Ali was a little over-the-top. He didn't even know if he was pursuing her--it was too confusing to think about.

"So why do you look like a high school freshman about to go on his first date with a girl?" Brian scoffed.

Alec relaxed. "Didn't know if you called dibs on her," he said truthfully.

Brian laughed. "I haven't called dibs on a girl since I was sixteen. I don't need to anymore--they all flock to me like ducklings to their mother."

"Bad analogy."

"Fuck you. That was the best analogy you've ever heard." Brian shifted in his seat. He reached forward to grab his Coke but accidentally knocked it over, hissing out a curse. "Anyway, I don't give a shit whether or not you're going to be hanging out with Ali. Just know that you blew me and Aruba off."

He hoped that keeping his eyes trained on the set of white napkins soaking up Brian's spilled drink will keep him from noticing that Alec would rather spend time with Ali's racist family than watch Brian get with countless girls and drag him from club to club in Aruba. Not that he didn't enjoy spending time with his best friend. Brian could be...a little much. And sometimes Alec didn't have he energy for his nights out and daredevil streaks.

Of course Brian didn't notice. He's going to be the worst dad, Alec thought suddenly. Sort of like Jo, Brian bloomed under people's attention. And although Jo grew weary of it, Alec doubted that Brian ever would.

"Sorry I'm late," Ali called as she slid down into the booth. Alec immediately noticed that she chose to sit next to Brian. "So much shit to put away. Thank God I only have one more final left." She stuffed a few French fries in her mouth before making that surprised sound at the back of her throat and diving into her backpack. She swallowed the fries down. "Here's your ticket. I got you the seat next to mine. Do you think you can handle holding onto it or should I?"