SIX FEET UNDER THE STARS

18 - I'll be your gravity, you be my oxygen

Chapter 18 - Alex

I opened my eyes as a ray of sunshine tickled my face. I was still half asleep nearly forgetting Jack has been right next to me all this time. I lifted myself up and let out a big yawn.
''Mmm, what time is it?'' Jack mumbled, pulling me back down into his warm embrace.
''Cuddles.'' I could barely understand him. A morning Jack is a sleepy Jack, he's always been like that. I reached to the nightstand and grabbed my phone. It was almost noon.
''It's noon.'' I said. He pulled me closer.
''No classes till Monday, you better not leave this bed or else.'' He said, trying to threaten me in the cutest way you can be threatened, if possible.
''Or else what?'' I teased and rolled around to face him. I pressed a gentle kiss on his lips.
''Let's just say you'll have a tough time sitting through all your classes next week.'' He chuckled and returned the kiss, more passionate and wet. He didn't even have morning breath, I swear. He never smelled bad, even if he was sweating like crazy. I guess it's chemical, our love I mean. We really were meant for each other.

''I wasn't even thinking about leaving this coziness.'' I looked into his eyes, they were barely open... well, when he saw me staring, he opened them. There they were... the beautiful brown which always reminded me of hot chocolate. Combined with his thick lashes, it sometimes looked like he's wearing eyeliner. I wouldn't give those beautiful eyes for anything else in the world. If I could stay in bed with him forever, that I would.

''Why are you looking at me like that?'' He asked, giving me his cutest little smile.
''Just wondering.'' I replied. And I was. I was wondering how I ended up with the best guy in the world.
''Oh yeah? What's that...'' He said, pushing small strands of my hair off my face.
''How I ended up with you, the best thing in my life.''
''Yeah, I was wondering the same thing, how did you end up with the coolest dude ever.'' He chuckled again and so did I, when he smiled, I did too.
''No, really. I'm so thankful for you Alex, whoever I have to thank, besides your parents... THANK YOU!'' He finished the sentence louder. Then he jumped on me and started tickling me and pressing small gentle kisses all over my face.
''Stop, stop, nooo... Jack!'' I was squeeling like a little girl and twisting around, trying not to slap him, reflexes and all. I usually don't like being tickled.

''Okay princess!'' He said and threw himself back next to me, his head gently hitting the pillow.
''What do you wanna do today?'' He asked.
''Well, I was thinking we could check the mall nearby, we need to buy some shower gel and a few more bathroom supplies. I left everything at home, since it was half empty.'' I replied.
''Alright, shopping it is.'' His mouth curved up into a big smile as he was leaning in to kiss me. I could feel it inside me and I can't even explain, but everytime his lips touched mine there were like these weird chemical things happening inside me, exploding. It felt electric. It was, by far one of the best feelings I've ever felt.

After we cuddled some more, got energy to get out of bed and dressed, we left to the mall. It's a short 5 minute walk and they have plenty of stores, including Hot Topic, which I was obsessed with because they've always had like the most awesome shirts, well stuff in general. We picked up some supplies, got cheesy red and white toothbrushes that were packed in pairs and if you put them together, the patterns on the brush form a little red heart. Coupling. Hard coupling.

We spent out afternoon in bed, watching movies and eating popcorn. We picked up some with butter and caramel. Fortunately the dorm room came with a small microwave. I don't usually like microwave quick lunchy meals, but I sure enjoy popcorn. The whole room smelled like caramel, but hey, at least I didn't have to use candles. I did buy them at the mall though, because I love lighting those small ones before I go to bed, it relaxes me. Not that I had problems relaxing ever since me and Jack started messing around, but it still looked cool and smelled nice. After the second pack of popcorn I rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom. It was just right down the hall. I was sleepy so I just put on a tank top and some sweatpants that were lying on the floor. I left Jack in the warm cave I called our bed and closed the door behind me. I was walkin down the light pink colored hall when I heard my name yelled out.

''Alex!'' A familiar voice said. I stopped but didn't immediately turn around. I was hoping I wasn't right about who this voice belongs to.
''Alex Gaskarth, is that you?'' I turned around, my palms started sweating and my hands shaking a bit.
''It is you.'' This person started walking up to me. I could not believe my eyes, I was right.
''Josh?'' I blurted out. My heart started racing and I felt like I was going to puke out my insides.
''Wow, you're different.'' Josh fucking Dun. How the hell did he find me?
''Well, yeah...'' I couldn't even form a sentence. I haven't seen him in over 2 years.
''W-what are you doing here?'' I asked, stuttering like back then when I had real problems with it. But I practiced a lot to get rid of it. It now only happens if I'm really nervous.
''I go here, what else.'' He said with a smile on his face.
''Oh...'' I was basically speechless. I was thinking of running to the bathroom, but since he's living in this dorm, I can't embarrass myself like this. He'll think I still love him.
''I suppose you do too?'' He asked.
I just nodded and started walking in the direction of the bathrooms. I don't think he was surprised by my behaviour, not after how we left things.
''I gotta go, it was nice to see you.'' I said and turned around.
''Yeah, see you around Alex.'' He yelled after me.

All I could do after this unexpected encounter is wave and run off to the bathrooms. I splashed my face with cold water. What the fuck just happened? Josh was the last person I wanted to see, like anywhere. Now he's living in the same dorm? I mean it is pretty huge, but I will eventually bump into him again. I wanted to hug Jack, I needed him right now. I grabbed a paper towel to dry my hands and headed back to the room. I was afraid how Jack would react. I mean, I've told him about Josh before, but it wasn't very detailed. Now I owe him an explanation and I better do it fast before it all comes after me.

The only thing I wanted to avoid is for Jack to interpret this in a wrong way. Maybe I should be living in the dorm I was first assigned to.
I barged into our room and shut the door behind me.
''Shit, shit, shit!'' I cursed to myself quietly, pacing around the room, back and forth.
''What's wrong?'' Jack asked when he lifted himself up. He put on his sweatpants and came to me. I took a seat on the other bed and he kneeled down in front of me, like he was going to ask me to marry him. I would in a second though, but that's not the point at the moment.
''I ran into someone...'' I started, still shaking. Everything came back to me and it made me pissed, because of Josh's actions 2 years ago.
''Who was it? Are you alright, you're shaking.'' He looked concerned. I've never seen him like this before.
''Guess. It was Josh.'' I said and buried my face into my palms.
''Hold on, asshole ex-Josh?'' Yes, the infamous idiot. I looked up and nodded.
''What did he want? Did he hurt you? Cause I swear I'm go-'' I interrupted him.
''No, no! He didn't hurt me. I'm alright.'' I assured him.
''He goes here, I didn't know, I haven't heard from him since he moved...'' I said.
''Just relax, Jesus... you scared me.'' He exhaled.
''You don't have to talk to him, okay? You don't even have to look at him. And if he says or does anything that bothers you, he's gonna answer to me, you understand?'' I nodded and he gently pulled me into a hug. This is one of the reasons I love Jack. He always finds a way to make me feel better. He put up with my nervewrecking sharades at home and he always suceeds at calming me down. He's so good to me. In his warm embrace, I kept thinking... I hope that someday we'll be having a different conversation with him kneeling in front of me. A conversation that requires my answer, an answer that I already knew and that is YES.

[ credit for the title goes to: BMTH ]