Star Light, Star Bright

“Happy birthday, Alex,” Jack smiles when the now twenty-year-old wakes up. “I’d have gotten you something but-”
“It’s fine, Jack. I understand,” Alex tells him.
His voice is slightly rough from just waking up. It gives Jack that feeling in his stomach again, and his voice warms up. It’s been like this every single day, and it just got worse after Alex kissed him on the top of the head the other day. These feelings continue to confuse the younger, and he doesn’t really know what to do about it. He can’t tell Alex. He’s getting these feelings because of Alex, and well, Jack feels shy because of them. He doesn’t know why he gets shy either, but it is happening.
“You said that we were going to do something today?”
“Yep. I’ve got it all planned out. We’re going to go to the arcade today.”
“What’s an ‘arcade’?”
“You’ll see.”
Alex sits up and rubs his eyes some. He looks over at Jack and gives him a smile which makes the warmth in Jack’s cheeks to get even warmer. The younger quickly gets out of the bed and looks away. He’s nervous for some reason. He’s gotten all shy again. It annoys Jack so much, but it still isn’t stopping. Alex notices this and crawls over to Jack’s side. He gets up and takes a hold of Jack’s hand.
“Is something wrong?”
“Um, no.”
“Are you sure? You’ve been a little bit distance these last few days. Did I do something wrong?”
Jack shakes his head and turns to look at him finally. “Of course not. You could never do something wrong. I... I don’t really know what’s going on in my mind. I, um, I think it’s the headaches from the flashbacks. Yeah, they must be getting to me.”
“Well, OK. Um, I was thinking that we could go out to get some breakfast. I was thinking pancakes. Does that sound good?”
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you get changed in here and I’ll get changed in the bathroom?”
“Um, OK.”
Alex nods and grabs an outfit before heading out the door. Jack closes it and lets out a breath that he didn’t know he was holding. Now, what should he wear? Does eating breakfast out require a nice outfit? Does going to an arcade require a nice outfit? Jack goes over to the closet and looks at the clothes that Alex has bought him. Maybe he should wear a newer outfit? Alex did just buy him a couple of more shirts the other day while he was at work. Maybe Alex bought them for this occasion. Yes, that could be it. He grabs a pair of skinny blue jeans, a black T-shirt, and a blue-plaid flannel shirt. Hopefully this will be dressy enough. Jack doesn’t really know the levels of dressing up yet. He’s learned some from watching shows on Netflix, but he doesn’t really know how to use the clothing that he actually has as part of these levels.
Jack takes off the clothes that he has on and starts to change. He gets his pants when he hears Alex speaking. The younger knows that he shouldn’t, but he’s curious again. He opens the door slightly and sticks his head out just enough to hear what the birthday boy is saying.
“I was thinking of doing that sometime today. I’m taking him out. It’s just that he, um, he’s been a little bit distant... No! I haven’t done anything. I’ve been acting the same way... Well, he, um, he’s been blushing a lot... You think so? I thought that maybe I was imagining it... So I should go ahead with my plan?... Well, if you think that it will actually work now. You didn’t before, and now you are... So, you really do think that he, um... Well, I guess that it might just work out. I’ll call you and tell you if everything went OK... Bye, Rian.”
Jack quickly puts his shirts on and then walks out like he never heard anything at all. He walks over to Alex and gives him a smile. The elder puts his phone in his pocket and grabs his shoes. He doesn’t say anything, and Jack worries about if Alex knew that he listened in. When Alex starts talking again, it isn’t about that, and it appears that Alex didn’t know that he did at all.
“I would have had my shoes on already, but I was on the phone with Rian. He wanted to wish me a happy birthday since he won’t be seeing me today. The only one that will be is you. It’s Jack and Alex day. Are you ready?”
“I just have to get my shoes on.”
“Well, hurry up, so we can have a day of fun!”
Jack swiftly goes over and grabs his shoes. He puts them on as fast as he can in order to please the birthday boy. Once they are on, Alex makes sure that everything is set before they both leave and make their way downstairs and out of the building. The duo get into the car, and Alex turns the music on when he starts driving away. As soon as the tune reaches his ears, he recognizes the song. Jack does too, and he starts to hum along.
“Are you practicing this?” Alex questions the younger.
Jack nods. “I practice this one and the other two every day when you’re not there. Of course, I still give myself time to watch some shows on Netflix.”
“I’m glad. Is it what you thought it would be like?”
“Yeah. I mean, I didn’t think that it would hurt my fingers as much as it is, but I’m Ok with it. You said that it’ll stop when I play enough.”
“Yep. Well, I’m happy that you’re enjoying yourself.”
“When we get home, can I show you how I’ve been doing?”
“Of course. I’d love to see how you’ve been doing.”
Jack smiles at those words.
~
The duo get out of the car and into the building. They take a window seat and wait for the waitress to come. Alex rests his chin on his hand and looks at Jack, who is just looking out of the window. He wonders if what Rian said is true. Alex figures that it is, but he doesn’t want to just put that in his head and roll with it. Jack could just be getting shy again. Alex’s mind is telling him that’s it’s right, but Alex is just a bit afraid. He doesn’t even know when or how he’s going to tell Jack. He was planning on just finding a moment. What Alex does know is that Jack is too far away. He wants Jack to sit right next to him.
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to sit next to me?”
“Um, sure.”
Jack gets up and slides in next to Alex. The birthday boy smiles at the now blushing younger. God, he is so cute. For these past couple of weeks, Alex hasn’t been able to get this boy out of his mind. He’s just so cute. His eyes are cute. His large nose is cute. The way that he questions everything is just so cute. Jack makes him feel like some kind of schoolgirl. Alex really hopes that the way that Jack has been acting is because he feels the same way. he hopes so much. He’d hate to mess everything up.
~
“Did you like it?” Alex asks Jack after he gives the waitress the money. They are still sitting there since they both have a couple of bites left.
Jack nods. “It’s a bit sweet, but I liked it.”
“That’s good.”
Jack takes his last bite, and Alex notices that he has a bit of whipped cream by his mouth. The birthday boy takes his thumb and wipes it off. His touch doesn’t leave Jack though. His hand ends up cupping Jack’s face. It seems like a good time. This seems like one out of a cheesy movie or a badly written fan fiction. He leans in slowly, hoping that Jack will to. He does. Their eyes close, and their lips touch. Alex has kissed enough girls to say that this kiss is amazing. He doesn’t know if it’s his first or not, but it doesn’t matter because this kiss is magical. It’s just like he thought it was going to be. His lips are smooth, but they are a bit rough. Jack’s lips are a bit sweet too from the strawberry pancakes that he just ate. They just seem to fit together like two puzzle pieces. Could it get any better?
Apparently it can’t because Alex finds himself being pushed away...

Notes

Oh no!

I've had this planned forever. Ha! I just wasn't going to have it like this. I was going to have it at the end of the day, but the arcade part would have made this chapter too long, and I didn't like skipping around as it is.
I wonder what is going to happen though...
Sorry, this late. I took last week off because of school stuff.
Anyway, I hope ya liked it! Well, you probably didn't like that last bit... Muhahahahaha