Jack

I walked up the path, glancing around me at the frosty morning. I tried to leave my thoughts behind me at the door as I walked inside, scuffing my shoes on the floor and removing them, my sock covered feet sliding slightly on the floorboards. I paused in my movements, trying to listen for signs that another living creature, also known as Alex, was here.

I shut the door behind me, finding no such noises. I trailed into the hallway, down to the bedroom we had shared last night. It was still empty, still a mess and still holding the scent of last nights' booze. The bathroom was in a slightly better condition from where I had left it. I picked up the bathmat and hung it on the rack, knowing that I should give up looking for Alex; he clearly wasn't here. Checking the time, I went into my contacts, finding Alex's familiar number and listening to the dial tone as I held the phone to my ear.

This is Alex, I can't come to the phone right now. Leave a message and I might get back to you.

I sighed in frustration, the air escaping my lungs loudly as I listened to the same message for the third time.

'Why aren't you picking up!' I yelled in frustration, throwing my phone across the room. I raked my hands through my hair, become more worried by the minute. Just calm down, he just needs some alone time - you did reject him after all, the thoughts that ran through my mind betrayed my feelings of panic. Deciding to listen to them as much as my heart told me not to, I continued on with the daily events.

I made myself a substantial lunch of leftovers, rifling through the fridge desperately for a scrap of something to eat. Adding "grocery shopping" to my mental list of things to do, I sat down at the table and complied a list, the reheated pasta slowly going cold in front of me. I washed the dishes after lunch, leaving them to drip dry, and then scurried around looking for dirty laundry. I scoped the bedrooms first, before hunting for dirty socks in the lounge room.

Piling my arms high with filthy clothes, I added a few socks to it and stuffed it into the washing machine, one of the few luxury items we had in the house. I didn't bother sorting them into darks, whites and colours - I had more pressing matters on my mind. After all, it wouldn't hurt anyone would it? Returning to the lounge room where I knew I had left a few socks laying around and possibly a shirt that had fallen.

A small piece of paper on the lounge table made me stop in my tracks as I reached a hand out to pick up a white and black ankle sock. Written in an elegant cursive was my name, which had been underlined. I hurriedly started the washing machine, throwing in the extra clothes and returning to the lounge, where I sat on the lounge and opened the folded up piece of paper.

Jack, I'm sorry, it began, the script looking more like it belonged a calligraphy book rather than a note addressed to a lover. I can't do this continually - the running around, the cheating, the lying and the oh so sweet make ups. It's going to eat me alive. I am sorry. You proved it last night. I understand, just know that I'm leaving and I don't plan on seeing you ever again. Don't call. It will only make this harder.

I still love you, but love doesn't last forever.

Yours, Lexy.

I clutched the note tightly in my hands, wanting to forget the words I had just read. Surely he didn't mean them? We were above this, just running out. We had promised to only be each other's, whispered words into each other's ears late at night when we thought the other wasn't listening, of how we would be eternal now that all of this was behind us. But that has been before the kiss, and my blatant refusal.

A new dial tone met me as I shook, not wanting to lose Alex.

'Elissa,' I barked as she picked up with a timid hello? 'Do you know of Alex's whereabouts?'

'Why would I know that?' She asked, seemingly annoyed.

'He hangs out with you.' I said, bluntly, pacing up and down the small apartment with my arms crossed and the perfectly white piece of paper in danger of being torn by my grip. I heard the washing machine stutter, and as I walked to pull it back into place I heard Elissa say,

'I have no idea where he is. I assumed he was with you. Do you know where my brother is? It's seems like he and a few friends of his have jumped ship, and I'm getting really annoyed. We have another gig -'

'Did you say your brother's friends?' I interrupted her seething as my ears jumped to attention. Now that the washing machine was fixed I walked back out to the lounge room, intent on hearing her answer.

'Dan, I think his name was. I don't know. They just [i]left[/i]. Anyway, I can't talk anymore Jack.' She snapped the last sentence, becoming increasingly annoyed. My blood had run cold though, from a single word she had uttered - Dan. She hung up, leaving me with the dull, endless beeps to listen to.

'Not Dan.' I whispered, panic coursing through my veins. I tried desperately to reach Alex's mobile - but again he ignored it. The washing machine stuttered to a halt, the halt of the droning making the house echo with the silence left behind in its wake. I suddenly felt very small, and very alone. Once last attempt at trying to reach Alex and being met with yet another disappointment, I continued on with the mind numbing chores of the day, the hours stretching on for an eternity knowing that my Alex wasn't safe.

Notes

c0l0urfultears
Title credit: Pick Up The Phone - Falling In Reverse