"So what's going on with you and that Lisa chick?"

Zack, Jack and Alex were currently hanging out behind the Gaskarth house, soaking up the Summer sun as they lightly passed at volley ball back and forth. It was the first day in a week they'd agreed to remain sober, because Rian had requested he take a day to go spend time with his girlfriend. The guys weren't bothered by this- They liked Kara, but more importantly, they liked seeing their best friend happy.

"I don't know, dude," Alex sighed, catching the ball as it left Zack's grip. "One minute she wants us to be all.. couple-like, and the next minute she's telling me I'm not made for serious relationships, so this is as good as it gets."

"She's right, isn't she?"

"I don't know, maybe," Alex tossed the ball to Jack. "It's not that I don't like her, it's just.. Fuck, I really don't know. I like being able to do whatever the Hell I want."

"Understandable," Jack shot Alex a quick smile before he released the ball into Zack's hands. "You gotta give her props though. At least she's not saying she'll stop sleeping with you if you don't."

"She's a really cool chick. If I did want to settle down, it'd be with her."

"Aww, look at our little Alex!" Zack roughly tossed the ball to his friend and cupped his hands together like a small child. "He's growing up!"

"No, Rian is growing up," Alex snorted, flipping the ball around in his hands. "Now it's just you two."

"Nope, no thank you," Zack shook his head as he found his way to the grass, letting his back hit the Earth. "I told you guys when we started the band, I'm not going to let anyone or anything distract me."

"But dude, it's the Summer. You don't even want anyone to fool around with?"

"You know I don't sleep around," Zack chuckled. "Besides, it being Summer just means I'm hanging out with all the chicks from your school. We don't go to the same one, remember?"

"The chicks from our school suck anyway," Jack finally spoke up. With Zack having laid down, he took it upon himself to fall back in a lawn chair. "One way or another they end up fucking you over."

"Don't think you're off the hook," Alex smiled at his friend, still twisting the ball around. "You're still getting hooked up with someone. Lisa has been pushing me to find someone for her best friend, ya know."

"I don't need you to hook me up with anyone, Al."

"Might do you some good," Zack laughed lightly from the ground, now using his arm to block out the rays of sunshine. "When was the last time you had any physical contact with anyone, when Gaskarth kissed you?"

There was a long moment of silence. Alex wanted to say something, mostly to defend himself, but the hurt look on Jack's face made him feel like shit. Honestly, he didn't think it was a big deal to play a joke on his friend, they'd done it before and he just figured they'd do it again. They had the kind of friendship where they could say or do anything to one another, and it wouldn't change a thing. But maybe Alex had been wrong. Maybe kissing Jack in front of everyone was a bad idea, because now people would keep talking about the lanky boy in front of him. At least Alex had Lisa to keep his reputation safe. Jack had no one but Alex.

Jack ran his fingers through his blonde streak, and shook his head. Alex watched the boy closely as he chewed his bottom lip. It seemed he was trying to find something to say, but gave up quickly. Instead, he pulled himself out of the chair and flew to the back door, making sure he closed it loud enough to make Zack Merrick jump.

"What the fuck, Zack?"

"What?" Zack uncovered his face, to reveal his own confusion. "What the Hell did I do?"

"You know he gets picked on all the time," Alex sighed, dropping the ball to the ground and taking Jack's seat. "The last thing he needs is for his own friends to make fun of him, too."

"I wasn't making fun of him, I was joking."

"He doesn't know that."

"Come on dude, was I wrong? You know just as well as I do, ever since he had that break-up with Tosh, he hasn't been the same."

"If I'm not mistaken, that's when the rumors started about him being gay," Alex narrowed his eyes, feeling the need to defend his best friend now more than ever. "This is my fault. I made it worse on him, I'm sure, but you don't need to push it."

"Okay, Al," Zack pulled himself up from the ground. He wiped the drops of sweat off of his forehead and looked up at his friend. "I'll apologize to Jack when he cools off, and I'll personally take it upon myself to scare off any shitheads that try to talk down about him... But doesn't it ever freak you out that he's do dependent on you?"

"No, not really. It's just the way we've always been."

"Then all I'm going to say is this, maybe it would be best for both of you if you put a little space between you. Not a lot, just enough to make Jack expand his life."

"Bu-But I like the way things are. He's like my other half."

"Well," Zack sighed, using his arm to try dry his face again. "Maybe it's about time you and Jack find someone else to complete you."

Notes

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