Stutter - to talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants.
Jack hated his stutter.
Out of all the things he hated about himself, and trust him, there was a lot, he hated the speech impediment the most.
He was too shy to speak to anyone, scared they'd just get annoyed or impatient, or worse, laugh at him. No one tried to talk to him anyway, to them, he was just a tall, awkward guy with a big nose who never spoke.
He didn't answer roll call with words, only raised his hand, and when he was called on for an answer, he'd just shrug. The teachers backed off eventually, just leaving him to it.
Jack hadn't spoken to anyone that wasn't his mom in three years, and that was only because his mom was ridiculously patient and insisted on him speaking at home, so he didn't actually lose his voice.
And it probably would've stayed that way for the rest of Jack's life.
But that day was the day someone finally tried to speak to him.
It was a drizzly break time, and Jack was sat cross-legged at the back of the school, his tongue stuck out, scribbling lyrics in a little journal he kept in his bag. He was so lost in the words, which flowed so effortlessly from the pen, that it took him a few minutes to realise that someone had sat down next to him.
Alex Gaskarth.
Jack's cheeks began to go red, and he kept his eyes down, pretending he was still oblivious.
Alex had just transferred here from England a few weeks ago, and to say Jack had a crush on him was an understatement.
Alex was everything Jack wanted to be. He was pretty much known to everyone. He'd stick up for people who were bullied, and could make people laugh in half a minute of talking to him. He openly flirted with everyone, male or female, and no one was actually sure of his sexuality, because he was just that flirtatious.
He was also the hottest guy Jack had ever seen. He was lean, a little smaller than Jack, and always smiled with the most adorable dimples imaginable. He had a soft sweep of brown hair across half his face, which always seemed to stick up at the back, and no matter what he wore, he always looked hot.
Alex leant closer to Jack, smiling warmly.
"Hey. You're Jack Barakat, right? I've seen you around."
Jack nodded, his face going red. He couldn't believe Alex was actually here, speaking to him.
"I'm Alex Gaskarth. Nice to meet you, Jack."
Alex extended a hand, and Jack dropped his pen in his eagerness to shake it. Alex chuckled, leaning over Jack to get it for him, and Jack's nose filled with a smell of vanilla and smoke. The smell was just so Alex, and it made Jack go even redder.
"Here." Alex spoke softly, handing Jack his pen back. His mouth pulled up into a little half-smile, a dimple appearing, and Jack nodded his thanks.
"You don't speak, do you?"
Jack glanced down in shame. No one at Dulaney High knew about his stutter.
"That's cool. Do you just, like, not like anyone?"
"N-n-no, I h-h-have a-a…" Jack went red again, his eyes beginning to burn, and gestured at his mouth, praying Alex would understand.
Alex's soft brown eyes filled with understanding, and he smiled sadly.
"You have a stutter?"
Jack nodded, feeling ashamed.
"Jack, you know you don't have to avoid everyone just because you have a stutter."
"I k-k-know, b-b-but t-t-they'd j-j-just g-g-gett a-a-nnoyeddd."
Alex smiled gently at Jack.
"Yeah, you're probably right. The majority of this school are dicks. But I won't get annoyed. Pinky swear."
Alex's smile turned cheeky as he childishly offered Jack his little finger. Jack felt his own lips tug up at the corners as he locked in with Alex's, and felt a surge of heat go from the area of contact.
"So Jack, you like Blink 182?"
Jack nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up. He loved music more than anything else in the world.
"Which one's your favourite song?"
"A-a-all t-t-the s-s-small t-t-t-tings." Jack murmured. Delight speed across Alex's face.
"Mine too!" he exclaimed. "I love the lyrics. I'd love to be in a band like that. And just the tune, everything!"
Alex opened his mouth, singing the opening line to All The Small Things in a soft, melodic tune. He had the most perfect voice Jack had ever heard, and he leant in, drinking it in eagerly. He got so drawn in by the light that was Alex that he didn't realise he'd joined in until around 30 seconds after Alex had stopped, to listen to Jack sing.
Jack quickly shut his mouth, his heart racing, and met Alex's eyes.
"Wow Jack…just, I mean, your stutter…it went!"
"I-I-It's w-w-w-worse t-t-t-the m-m-m-ore n-n-nervous I a-a-a-am." Jack explained softly. "M-m-m-music m-m-makes -m-m-me h-h-h-appy."
A slow smile spread lazily across Alex's lips and he leant forward, his rope necklace swinging with him.
"That's literally the most amazing thing I've ever heard." he murmured softly.
Jack smiled.
"Judging by that…do you mind if I try something?"
Jack shook his head side to side.
"Close your eyes." Alex whispered, his hot breath tickling Jack's cheeks. Jack obediently closed them.
He felt Alex's soft lips meet his own, and shock coursed through his veins. Alex kissed a little harder, opening his mouth slightly. Jack mirrored his movements, and felt Alex's warm tongue run across his bottom lip.
Alex broke the kiss, but kept his hands tangled in Jack's messy hair, so their foreheads were pressed together.
"Jack Barakat." he murmured, kissing Jack again.
"I've only just met you." Another kiss.
"But you are the sweetest." And another.
"Most adorable." And another.
"Beautiful." A long one this time.
"Boy I've ever met." Another.
"In my entire life." Another one.
"And I'm drawn to you." Another kiss.
"So to get to my point." Kiss.
"Will you be my boyfriend?"
Alex finished with his longest kiss yet, this time darting his tongue in Jack's mouth. They kissed for a long while, before having to break for breath, and Alex playfully nibbled Jack's trembling bottom lip before leaning back and surveying Jack from under his long eyelashes, breathing heavily.
"Yess." Jack whispered, surprising himself. The syllable came almost flawlessly from his clumsy lips.
"Excellent." Alex smiled, and stood up, pulling Jack with him and slinging an arm around his shoulder. He pecked Jack on the head. "Then it's settled."
