Jack

I assessed Alex's reactions as he turned around, back facing the house. His shoulders had tightened, and his movements were slow. 'Uh,' he paused, looking to the side, glancing at me with his peripheral vision, 'I don't remember.' He walked off stiffly. I looked down at my feet, knowing that he was hiding something from me. I felt May's hand on my shoulder.

'Don't worry, Jack.' She said, smiling softly before following Alex into the house. I put my cup back down on the makeshift table and walked out to the more grassy area, laying on my back and looking up at the few stars. It was cold, the grass already covered in dew, and the hair on my arms and back stood on end, protesting against the temperature drop. Why is he lying to me?

I lay outside for God knows how long, the stars twinkling merrily. I couldn't hear a peep from inside the house, and no one came outside. I closed my eyes peacefully, enjoying the silence and loneliness. I had needed this for a long time. My breathing became steadier, and before I knew it I had drifted off.

'You silly thing.' I heard Alex's voice whisper. I was being rocked, and I opened my eyes wide enough to see I was in Alex's arms. He was carrying me inside. 'Hey, there. Lucky I came out, huh?' He placed a kiss on my forehead and lay me down on the bed. 'I'll let you sleep.'

Dumbfounded, I did nothing but nod at him and roll over, pulling the covers up and falling back asleep. I didn't question as to why he didn't get in beside me, but walk back out to the lounge room.

- - -

I groaned and rolled over, checking the time as I did so. Alex was sleeping soundly by my side, a light snore escaping his mouth every so often. I smiled at him while he slept on, oblivious to the world. I don't know how long I lay there, but I ended up taking him in my arms so that his head was on my chest, tracing swirling patterns up and down his arm.

'Good morning baby.' I said quietly as he woke himself up with a particularly loud snore. He blinked, squinting as the light registered with his senses. I placed a kiss on his forehead.

'Hmm.' He stretched, before turning around and giving me a light peck on the lips. 'Good morning to you too.' He relaxed, resting his chin on my chest. 'Did you seriously let me snore and breathe all over you?' I nodded, combing his hair back.

'Why wouldn't I?'

'Because my breath smells bad.'

'I'm sure mine doesn't smell like sunshine and daises either.' Alex chuckled.

'You're right there.' This comment earned him a smack to the left side of his head and a shove off my chest. 'Hey!' He protested, wiggling back over.

'Nuh-uh.' I said crossing my arms and sticking my nose up in the air. 'You insulted me.' Alex inched my arms apart, quickly moving into the position on my chest before my arms snap-closed around him. I kissed his forehead again, and he closed his eyes.

'Breakfast!' May called, hammering her palm on the door. 'Get up!'

'Come on.' I told Alex, letting go and crawling out of bed, not ready to face the day.

- - -

'I was thinking we headed out and looked around town today.' Alex suggested, slathering butter over his toast.

'That's a good idea,' May piped in, pouring our coffee and Alex's iced tea. 'You could show us where your old school was.'

Alex shook his head, a sad look crossing his face. 'Apparently it was bulldozed a few years ago.'

'Oh, sorry, Alex.' May sympathized, passing him his drink. Alex shrugged,

'No great loss. I can't remember it that much anyway.' May rubbed between his shoulder blades anyway, leaving me to retrieve our drinks. I put a splash of milk in mine, deciding that I didn't want a black coffee this morning.

Once dressed, we headed out into the cold English air. I wrapped an arm around both May's and Alex's waist, pulling them into me to help keep each other warm. May's face was soon red with the wind slapping against it. Alex had opted to wear a beanie-and-hat combination to keep the fierce wind off his face.

'God, the weather really showed her bad side today.' I commented, earning a chuckle from Alex.

'Yesterday's weather was a rare occurrence. Don't get used to it.'

We reached a string of shops, the weather causing us to stumble ungracefully into the first one we saw. Alex and I blushed, while May laughed. Lingerie. While we males turned away, May started browsing the racks.

'We'll, uh, meet you at the coffee place.' I said, pulling Alex out who had blushed even harder as a pair of teenage girls walked into the shop and almost ran into him. They seemed alarmed at the presence of two fully grown men, but we left before they could question any more.

Luckily, the coffee place was a few shops down from the lingerie store, so we had time to cool our faces - or just make them, if possible, even redder due to the stinging wind. Alex ordered a coffee scroll for himself and May, before turning to me. I chose an apple and cinnamon scroll, a sweet craving filling my body. The cashier rang it up, saying,

'Six pounds fifty.' Alex handed over a crumpled five pound note and fifty pence, while I took the white paper bags our food was in and went in search of a table. I saw May lurking outside the shop, a fancy bag with the name of the lingerie store on it dangling from her arm, and I waved to get her attention. She came in, sitting down opposite me and smiled, taking her coffee scroll out of the package as Alex slowly made his way over, getting stuck between tables as a small child ran through the middle.

'Thanks for the scroll.' May said, taking a small bite.

'No worries.' Alex smiled back at her, rubbing her leg before switching over to mine. May stayed quiet through the sparse conversation, as Alex taught me a bit more about pounds and the conversion to the American dollar. I simply shrugged after a few minutes.

'It says it on the notes and coins. I'll figure it out.' I gave his cheek a kiss and we left the store, in search of someplace else.

Notes

c0l0urfultears
Title credit: Postcards And Polaroids - Sleeping With Sirens
Filler. Sort of. Sorry.