Seven Stupid Roses

The Red Rose

Thank you to the beautiful and lovely catisafaker for making the cover.
Written in Jack's POV

I gently pattered up the stairs in mine and my boyfriend's house and peeked in the door.

Alex laid in the bed, blankets and pillows wrapped around him tightly, and the sleeve from my sweatshirt tossed over his face.

He was sleeping soundly and the tag on his wrist from the mental hospital was tossed on the floor. The small elephant I brought him was on his head and the curtains were tightly shut.

There was no sunlight at all outside today. It rained or stormed in random patterns, and Alex surprisingly slept through it. I couldn't sleep in past ten. Even though Alex's arms were tightly wrapped around me, and his head tucked in my neck, I had to get up. It wasn't that I didn't like to cuddle with Alex, fuck, he's been gone for three months! But it's just I got fidgety and I couldn't wake him up.

So I went grocery shopping and stocked out house on food. I took a small two hour shift where I work while Rian picked up his boyfriend at the airport. When I got back, Alex still wasn't awake.

I knew he probably didn't get the best sleep in the hospital. With all the screaming patients and hopeless cries of sorrow. But he was back in my arms now, and better than before.

Alex rolled over and snuggled up on my side of our queen sized bed. I knew I'd have to wake him up so he can eat and take his meds, but that can wait. I did pick him a fresh red rose out of our garden even though it was raining big, cold drops of rain.

I went down the hall and into our baby blue kitchen. I would start the tea when my love got up. I began to finish cutting the broccoli for our broccoli and cheese soup. This was one of Alex's favourites that I made. He sticks to the cleaning and gardening while I do the cooking and working. Not that it mattered; Alex even volunteered at the local library and got paid. It still didn't matter. I love him and will always take care of him.

I put the broth on and walked back into our dark blue and black room with the posters. There was lava lamps and a tapestry of Pink Floyd in 3D. There was pictures of us and pictures of a few bands and cartoon shows.

Alex was cuddled up with my pillow when I came in and the blankets were still wrapped around him. Thunder shook the house but Alex still did not wake up.

"Hey, cutie pie, it's time to get up."

Alex mumbled something to me and grabbed my hand. I kneeled by the bed and gently kissed his lips. Alex kissed back and pulled away so he can yawn.

"Come on, princess. I have dinner going."

"Dinner? How long did I sleep?" Alex yawned again.

"All day." I smiled as he sat up.

Alex swung his legs over the bed and opened his arms cutely. I noticed he was wearing his fuzzy pajama pants with the frogs and lily pads on them.

I scooped him up and easily carried him into the lights of the kitchen. Alex put his face in my neck and nuzzled me softly.

"What are you making?"

"One of your favourites." I kissed his hair.

"Soup?" Alex asked as he took his face from my neck.

I hummed in response and set him on the counter so he can watch me cook. He always liked watching me cook and helped sometimes.

Alex got out the box of green tea and our little frog strainer. It looked like a frog sitting on a lily pad. You put your tea in it and let it float. The tea seeps in the kettle or cup and you take it out and add sugar or honey.

I started the kettle and let him put the tea in the strainer. Alex reached for his meds, still obviously tired, and popped the few in his mouth. I handed him a bottle of water and began to add the broccoli to the broth.

Alex got down two tea cups and slid them over to me. I poured our tea and let Alex take them to the table to sugar them.

We both knew how many sugars each other wanted.

I poured us each a bit of soup and got the spoons. Alex was sitting at the table and opened the drapes so he can see the rain patter outside.

Reaching over the table, I kissed his temple and worked down to his lips. He smiled against my mouth and gently ran his thumb over the stubble on my jaw.

"You're still my bitch, Jack." Alex laughed, obviously more awake.

I scoffed and watched as he took a bite of soup.

"Yeah says the bottom." I rolled my eyes playfully and ate some of my soup.

Alex giggled and sipped at his tea. We both finished eating, me slightly smiling at Alex's jumps when thunder rumbled, and did the dishes.

Our dishwasher was broken and neither of us wanted to fix it so we left it broke. It broke the day he left for the hospital and instead of fixing it when he got back, I finished the garden and painted the living room. Also got new furniture for our living room and gave the old furniture to a few of my mates who lost their furniture due to a fire.

Alex dried the last cup and reached over me on his tip toes to set the cup in the cabinet.

"Hey, I got you something." I smiled as Alex turned to me.

"What's that?" He asked.

I got the rose out of the vase and set it in my mouth playfully. Alex rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Get it, Alex." I winked.

Alex rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around my neck. I went towards his lips and Alex took the rose with his tongue first. We gently kissed for a brief moment and he took the rose from his lips.

"Is this from our garden?"

"Yeah. I put some fertilizer on our flowers and most of them double in size. This one tripled. It's beautiful, like you." I said.

Alex smelt the rose and gave me his soft shy smile.

"I love it Jack." He smiled.

Alex set the rose in the vase and put it on our table. We both retreated to the living room and I watched Alex play Kirby Super Star Ultra on his DS.

We watched a little TV too and went to bed again. Alex was telling me how tired he was when he was falling asleep, and I held him until he fell asleep.

I'm so glad he's back now.