Reflections (Jalex)

Chapter 7

Well, fuck. It's been so long but hey I have inspiration towards this now!!

Since Alex took Jack to his parents house in order to pick up the rest of his equipment, Zack's seemed even more distant. If that was even possible. But Alex wasn't sure why. All I did was offer Jack something to do because afterall Jack never seemed to do much. Okay yeah Alex was gone a little longer than planned but you can't predict the traffic can you? Once he got inside and locked the door behind him, he was just waiting for Zack to kick off. And he really did.

Before Alex even had a chance to move, Zack had pinned him against the wall. "Do you know how much I try with you?!" He was yelling and that was one thing Alex never really did expect. Zack was always quiet. "I don't even kno-" "I didn't say you could talk, did I." Letting out a defeated sigh he let go of Alex and stepped back. There was at least ten minutes of silence before one of the boys spoke up. "So I was thinking, there's this party tomorrow a-" "I'm kinda busy tomorrow.." Alex awkardly scratched the back of his neck. "Just like everyother day." The muscular figure whispered only loud enough for him to hear.

Alex was left confused but that soon went away when he felt the throbbing of his shoulders. Pulling down his sleeve he revealed the purple bruise that was quickly growing, "shit." was the only thing that crossed his mind. In high school, Zack would hurt other people to keep them out of Alex's path but now? Zack was hurting him. But why? To keep him out of Jack's way? But that wouldn't make sense.

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"So, you really like this show huh?" Jack broke the silence. "It's ok I guess." He shrugged, trying to avoid conversation. He hadn't even told the skunk-haired boy why he'd shown up at such a late/early time in the night/morning. Alex appeared outside his front door not too long ago and Jack couldn't say no seeing as he was shivering like a lost puppy. "You've not even touched your cookie!" Jack jokingly gasped while covering his mouth with the hand that wasn't holding Alex's damp jacket. At first Alex was confused but then he grinned and he hadn't grinned like that for a long time. "Hey, that made you smile." With a poking of the dimple, Alex slapped his hand away. "I'm trying- trying to ea- stop making me laugh dammit!" But he couldn't deny it. He was happy here. With Jack.

The laughing eventually died down but Alex's mood? Not so much. He was still practically on cloud nine. "Listen I know Zack doesn't like me but the least I could do is sending you on your way. I know you don't to Alex but you can't just hide out here, as much as I would love that."

Those last few words played through Alex's mind the whole time Jack was walking him over. "So, you in College tomorrow?" Jack came to a stop outside Alex's frontdoor. "Uh, yeah I guess. I have free periods but I'll probably find something to do." "Great. Well I'll see you there? Or whenever I mean I'm not putting a limit or anything to it you know? Lik-" Jack shook his head before placing his hand over Alex's mouth. "Tangent." He removed his hand, only to have Alex sloppily lick it much like a child would. Before he could protest their lips were attached. None of them were even sure how it happened but it did. Not long ago Alex was on the verge of tears and now? He was being pushed against his front door with a guy kissing him. Although he wasn't complaining. It was starting to get heated and everytime Alex moved forwards, Jack would push back, creating a thud against the front door. The final thud caused Zack to open the front door. Alex didn't remove himself from Jack for a few seconds because simply he didn't want to.

His face flushed red before letting out a small goodbye to Jack and slipping past Zack in the doorway. Only to be pulled into a hug with Zack. What was this guys deal? He wasn't drunk, he wasn't mad..I mean if he was totally being ok with him now he had to be drunk? Whatever. Alex definitely preferred this, whatever this friendship was after all these years. "So, you've got a crush haven't you." Zack asked in a playful tone, but Alex took it as more of a statement and shot a smile before stomping up to his room.

Zack was trying to play it off cool. He really was. He didn't mean to freak out at Alex earlier but he was scared. And if Alex knew about Jack he would probably be terrified. Alex would just have to find out for himself as much as Zack didn't agree with that. There was no other way.