Jack

I pursed my lips and looked up at Alex's mum.

'Oh, no one. Just a, uh,' Alex took my hand and squeezed it as I was talking, 'an old friend of Alex's.'

'Oh, okay.' She replied, giving me a soft smile. 'Wouldn't it be best for you two to pop off to your own home? Only because it's getting dark out and it is new to you both.'

'I guess.' Alex said, standing up and pulling me with him. 'Bye, Mum. See you soon?'

'Of course!' She exclaimed pulling him into a hug. 'And goodbye Jack. It was lovely to meet you.' She gave me my own bone crushing hug before her husband came out and shook hands with me and gave Alex a more "manly" hug.

I wrapped an arm around Alex's waist as we walked down the street, Alex taking my other hand and drawing it across my body as he played with my fingertips.

'I'm sorry, Alex.' I mumbled. 'For bringing up Tom, I mean.' I added on as I felt his quizzical glance land on my skin. He shook his head, saying,

'It's fine. I knew what her reaction would be.' I pulled him in closer as I heard a soft sniff, comforting him. He rested his head in my shoulder, and we continued walking to our new home.

'What do you think it's like?' Alex asked abruptly, moving out if my hold a little bit so he could see me a bit better. We had been walking in silence for a few minutes, Alex leading the way, and I was beginning to think we had become lost.

'What is what like?' I asked, puzzled by his question.

'Death.' He said softly, scuffing a toe on the ground. I blinked, unsure if how to answer.

'Well, it differs from person to person, doesn't it? I mean, Christians say that you'll either go to heaven or hell, Satanists say that hell's better than heaven and stuff like that, but nobody actually knows what death is like.'

'I don't mean religion-wise. I want to know what it feels like.' Alex insisted, turning us down a street.

'Uh, when you die doesn't your brain shut off? So, that would mean that you feel nothing - like sleeping.' I said, hoping Alex was satisfied with my answer as I had no more thoughts to give him.

'Oh.' He said quietly. 'I prefer the religious answers. At least they say that there's a life beyond death.'

'Why are you asking me this?'

'No reason.' He said, snuggling back into my hold. My step faltered before picking back up again. 'Do you think Tom's okay?' A childlike plead coloured his tone, as though he was begging me to say that Tom was okay, to delude him from the truth that was stated plainly before him, to go against reality. His voice was soft, unlike the loud, brashness that usually came out of his mouth, tipping me off that something was wrong - and he had turned to me to fix it. As usual. I kissed the top of his head and rubbed his hip soothingly.
'Of course he is, baby.' I felt my shoulder begin to become wet and and I glanced down to see silent tears trailing down Alex's cheeks. He didn't believe me. My harshness and true to reality answer had hit him hard and curved his perception. 'I haven't heard much about him, but he's an angel. He really is.' My voice had become croaky, and I gave Alex's head another kiss. As though Tom's spirit up in heaven agreed with me, the leaves of the tree rustled beside us, a light breeze picking up. It picked up a few broken leaves and swirled around them, creating a mini-tornado, the dry, orange-red leaves lifting up into the air.
'See?' I said to Alex, pointing out the gorgeous sight. 'He's just fine.'
- - -
We walked into the dark apartment and made a beeline for the bedroom. It was almost one in the morning thanks to a late night pit stop at an all-hours coffee shop. I locked the doors as Alex started searching for the bedroom, bumping into a few walls as he did so.
'Shh!' I hissed at him, silently walking over and picking him up at the waist. 'May's sleeping, idiot.' He huffed and threw himself over my shoulder, slapping my arse playfully and giggling. Caffeine and late nights were never a good combination.
'But I don't wanna go to sleep.' Alex complained, kissing my back. I found our room and dropped him on the bed before turning around and closing the door. I turned back around and Alex was kneeling on the bed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. 'I have a better idea.' He said, pulling me down and on top of him, nibbling at my ear.
'No, Lex. Go to sleep.' I said, brushing him off and crawling under the covers after discarding my shirt and jeans.
'What? But you're even discarding your clothes for me!' Alex protested, gesturing towards my half-naked body under the sheets.
'If you don't shut up and go to sleep I'll go and sleep on the couch. Come on, we have a big day tomorrow.'
Alex grumbled but finally crept under the covers, snuggling into me. 'But I can't sleep, Jackie.'
'Close your eyes and try,' I said, clenching my eyes together. Alex started placing tiny kisses over my face. I didn't complain, knowing he would soon tire of dotting my skin. Sure enough, a few minutes later and Alex surely had no lips left he yawned. He nuzzled into my neck and I snaked my arms around his midsection, smiling as he finally fell into a deep slumber.

Notes

c0l0urfultears
Title cred: This Girl's A Straight Up Hustler - ATL