The Trouble-Makers (Alex Gaskarth Fan Fiction)

Chapter Sixteen

Alex unlocked his car, hopping into the driver's seat and I slipped into the passenger seat.  He started up the car and without a word and drove away from the school.  My heart was still beating quickly and I had no idea where we were going or what Alex planned on doing.  I knew he was still pissed off, I could see it in his body language, but at least now he was calming down.  Kellin seemed to really know how to set Alex off and I was only glad I was able to stop it.

I don't know how you were able to stop him, because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to myself...but if it's one more strike, Kellin's out...

Jack's words echoed in my head and I felt a shiver run down my spine.  That meant Alex really was going to give it to Kellin this time, and who knows how far he would've taken it if I hadn't stepped in.  I didn't like Kellin in the least, but there was no way I was going to let Alex do that to someone.

The car ride was silent until Alex pulled to the side of the road.  We were right next to a park for little kids, but since school was still supposed to be going on no one was there.  Alex finally looked over at me, his face masking whatever emotions he was feeling right now.  He nudged his head to the side before getting out of the car and I got up to follow him.

Walking over towards the park, he sat down under an old oak tree, resting the back of his head against the trunk of the tree.  I sat down next to him, chewing on my bottom lip. 

"You shouldn't have done that, you know," Alex finally said, staring off at the park in front of us.  Our shoulders were pressed against each other and I could feel him heave a sigh. 

"Done what?"  I asked, looking over at him.

"Gotten involved," he said, his voice quiet and not seemingly tense at all. 

"I couldn't just stand there and let you do that," I defended myself. 

"But you should've," he said, his voice harsh before he blew out  a breath.  "What I'm saying is when I get like that, it's best to stay out of my way.  Jack and the guys know that, that's why they didn't get involved."

I paused, looking away now.  He really was a ticking time-bomb, just waiting for the spark to set him off, and right now Kellin was that spark.  "You  had to have had some control over yourself, I mean...you backed away, didn't you?"

Alex shook his head, looking down at his hands.  "You don't understand, Stella.  It's not always like that.  Sometimes I don't realize what I'm doing and..." He took in a sharp breath.  "I've hit Jack before," he admitted. 

"What?" I asked, confusion coursing through me.

"I've hit him before; hard.  I got pissed off and was going at this guy and when Jack went to pull me off and I hit him and broke his nose, but I realized what I did afterwards."  Alex shook his head, still staring down at his hands.  "God, Stella, are you serious you want to be around us when we act like that?" He looked over at me.  "If I did that to you I wouldn't be able to live with myself.  So when I'm like that, you have to back off.  You can't intervene, that's why Jack and the boys don't."