Future Favorite Regret (Jalex)

24: You are My Only One

Title: My Only One by All Time Low

"Jack, I can't go back," I say. I back away from the door. He turns and closes the door. "No- I can't go ba-back-" My back hits the wall.

He steps over to me. "Baby, listen to me." He grabs my hands. "Listen, shhh," he pulls me into his chest. "I'll tell principal Wentz, but... You can't hide forever." He rubs my back. "You're going to have to face them someday. I doubt any of them care."

"You don't get it." 

"Trace is gone. Mrs. Wick is gone. No one can hurt you now," Jack says. 

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," I shout. He pulls away. "You don't understand how embarrassing it is for me."

"I know. God, I know." He grips my hands. "But you're going to be strong. And you're going to get through this."

"I don't th-think I can," I mumble. He holds me. "Jack- I can't."

"You can, Alex. I know you can, please." He presses his face against my shoulder. "Just try. We can get out of it's too much."

I nod slowly. "O-okay," I let out a sigh. He pulls away and leads me out the door. Rian and Tay stand on the driveway, staring at us. 

"Busy doing each other?" Tay winks. "I'm kidding. How are you holding up?" 

I lean against Jack. "About as good as I could be."

"We fought anyone who said shit," Rian says. "I mean, it was just one guy. And Justin was kind of suspended for the rest of that day... But that's not the point."

"Wh-what did he do?" I ask. Jack shrugs.

"Uh well, one of Trace's friends started talking shit about you, and Justin went over in front of the entire courtyard and beat the shit out of him," Tay starts. "And let's just say the other guy is in the hospital and Justin got suspended for a day- well, more like 5 hours."

Jack knits his eyebrows together. "Only the rest of the day?"

Rian shrugs. "Principal Wentz let him off easy because he knew what happened. Besides, the other guy's parents agreed to it."

"Oh," I glance at Jack.

Tay lets out a soft sigh. "And then Vic slapped someone in the locker room for talking about it. Luckily Kellin was there to stop him from killing the guy."

"Talking about it?"

"I dunno just whispering about the picture. What I'm saying is, we're all ready to kill whoever as much as looks at you the wrong way. And our teachers went through our phones to make sure no one shared it or saved it."

"How did the get the right to do that?" I ask.

"Well, your boyfriend called principal Wentz," Rian starts. "And principal Wentz sent an email explaining to the parents what happened, he didn't put your name in it and got permission from everyone to go through phones. Any absent people will be checked today or whenever they get back."

"Woah," I turn to Jack. "You weren't kidding."

He shakes his head. "Not at all."

"They got the entire thing taken down. Don't worry too much, Alex," Tay says. 

We get to the school and Lisa runs over. Jack jumps away before Lisa tackles me to the ground. "Oh damn, Lis-" I groan.

"Sorry, I was just so worried," she mumbles. "You're lucky Jack texted us say you're fine. Otherwise, I would have gone to your house and never left."