Naïveté.

Chapter eight.

Alex woke up to a bit of an unfamiliar sight. Jack laying beside him, passed out. He doesn't recall much of last night but he does remember that he took a drag off of Jack's cigarette and then they may have fooled around for a bit before passing out. Alex smiled, cuddling into his lover's side and closing his eyes once more, relaxing. He fell asleep once more and woke up around 2pm, only knowing that because Jack had gotten up and he could see the clock on the table.

He sighed, sitting up and stretching lightly, so as not to disturb the stitches. He pulled off the covers to discover he was naked, so he'd have to steal something of Jack's to wear. Speaking of the elder, he wasn't actually sure where he'd went. Pulling on a pair of boxers and one of Jack's t-shirts, he made his way downstairs to find Jack in the living room, watching tv.
Alex smiled, deciding to join the older boy. He sat down beside him, startling him a bit.
"Didn't hear you get up," He said, smiling and wrapping an arm around the boy. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good, actually." Alex yawned, cuddling into Jack. "How long did you say your parents would be gone?"
"They're coming home tomorrow, so unless you have to be home right now, you can stay."
Alex nodded. "I just hope that my mom doesn't find out about all of this... She'd absolutely kill me if she knew anything about that whole... Incident."
"Promise i'll be more careful next time," Jack teased. "Though I could've sworn I used a condom.."
Rolling his eyes, Alex got up. "Which is why I now have a bunch of stitches in my stomach and can't move very well. Next time, we're being more careful."

The younger boy made his way into the kitchen and made himself breakfast, nothing extravagant because his stomach was still upset with him from last night, though he was happy he was keeping the alcohol down now. He made some toast and poured himself some orange juice before sitting down with Jack again, both silent as the younger boy ate.
But after a half an hour had passed and Alex's stomachache persisted, he couldn't keep telling himself it was from the alcohol.
"Jack?" Alex bit his lip nervously.
"Hm?" Jack hummed, not taking his eyes off the television.
Sighing, Alex grabbed the remote and turned the tv off, turning to face Jack.
"We need to talk."

"About..?"
"About what happened that night." Alex clarified. "You know i'm underage, right..?"
"All too aware." Jack nodded.
"A-and you know that having sex while you're inebriated, with a minor, can count as statutory rape, right?"
Again, Jack nodded.
"Why aren't you phased by this?" Alex asked, clearly upset.
"Baby," Jack sighed. "I think you're thinking too hard on this. We're okay, alright? Promise. You're not too much younger, and you can legally consent, can't you?"
Alex nodded slowly, starting to believe maybe he was overreacting.
"So it's fine. And besides, no one knows. No one needs to, do they, now?"
The younger boy shook his head, looking down at his lap, twiddling his thumbs.
"I guess i'm just so nervous about all of this.." He mumbled. "I've never had... This. I've never had to sneak around, let alone had a boyfriend. It's so stressful."
Jack smiled, taking one of Alex's hands and standing up.
"C'mon, I think you need a smoke. It'll help."

Alex was proud of himself, smiling as he finished his first cigarette without actually dying.
"Feel better now?" Jack noticed the dopey smile on his lover's face.
"Mm," Alex hummed. "I wish it didn't have to be like this, though."
"Let's just focus on the here and now, baby boy." Jack smiled.
Alex smiled too, noticing the affectionate pet name. "Where'd that come from?"
"What?"
"The pet name."
"Dunno. Just feels right." Jack shrugged.
After a moment of silence, Alex's curiosity got the best of him.
"How do you feel about graduating soon?"
Another shrug from the taller boy, "Fine, I guess. Not worried, if that's what you meant. I've got everything all set up for me. I've got some good friends in California who're gonna put me up for a bit while they get me my own apartment. My parents are gonna give me a fuck ton of money as my graduation gift, so i'll be pretty well off for a while."
Alex nods, "I wish I could graduate now. I'd rather not go through two more years of this."
Jack blows a puff of smoke and then puts the cigarette out.
"You can legally drop out if you get your parents' signature."
"Huh?"
"Yeah. It's easy as hell, but I can't forge handwriting for shit."
"Wait, so I don't have to go to school if I can forge their signatures?"
"Exactly."

The idea kept spinning in Alex's head for the rest of the day, even when he went home. He didn't want to be a drop out, but if it meant he could stay with Jack, he was going to do it. He hadn't asked if Jack would let him tag along just yet, but he figured he wouldn't mind, right?