Thunder was roaring through the sky. It was a dark night, the moon was totally covered by gray clouds. If it wasn't for the cracks of lightning, Alex wouldn't be able to see one foot in front of his face. He was standing alone on his front porch clutching a cold beer. His tight skinny jeans were getting smacked with rain drops, as was his upper body, but he couldn't feel them through his hoodie.

He stepped closer to the storm, watching the lights in the house three doors down flicker. Poor Jack must be terrified, being all alone in this mess of a storm. Alex smiled at the thought of Jack trying to create his own traps like some he'd seen in Home Alone.

A warm wind gushed through the air, making Alex smile even wider as the hood flew off of his head. He found the storm to be comforting- It matched his emotions completely. All the things he was feeling, all the words he wanted to speak, the sky was screaming it all out for him.

Alex took a long drink from his beer, which despite the storm, was growing warming with the weather. He sighed, and finished off what was left in the can before it became too warm. Sitting the empty can down, he jumped the porch steps. He told himself he wouldn't go near Jack, and he intended to keep that promise. Instead, he pulled his guitar off of the porch and brought it with him to the cold, wet ground. Daring a bolt to strick him down, he began to play a soft tune. His only hope was that his best friend would hear him, and take it as a plea to mend their friendship.

With one more boom of thunder, Alex watched closely as all the lights around him died out. The power was gone, which brought him new hope. Now, if Jack was awake, he was bound to hear the notes. Alex had been working on this song since Jack left, and though he didn't have the kinks worked out, he had enough done to ease his soul.

"I'm sitting here wishing for something that's missing, I'm waiting for your you, to tell me that time keeps on passing, I'm hoping, I'm asking, to stand by your side. At least for tonight..."

As his fingers worked their magic, Alex tried to remember any signs of Jack showing interest in him. He thought back to when they first became friends, the excitment in knowing there was someone else out there who thought the same way he did. There was an instant connection, a joy that made his heart almost explode.


"Let's follow through with this reckless dream, that's tearing me up inside..."

The rain was running down his face, blurring his vision as he remembered more of his past. The way Jack would stare at him for no real reason, and when Alex would catch him, he'd simply smile.. The way Alex would do the exact same thing to Jack. He thought of all the long nights that consisted of nothing more than conversation and endless laughing. Alex remembered the way Jack would curl up to him while they were watching movies, and fall into a welcoming sleep. The way it was so easy for them to talk to one another, no fear of what was being said. All the times they told each other their biggest secrets, and how when one of them would get upset, the other would hug them with no intentions of ever letting go.

"Now let's take our chances, please give me your answer, it's all up to you, so please take me away..."

With each passing moment, Alex's mind was flooding with more memories. How even on the worst days, Jack would brighten up when he saw Alex, and Alex was the same with him. The way they would literally run through the hallway at school, just for a hug. All the way down to the times Alex had messed up with a girl, and Jack would be there to make it all go away. He knew Alex better than anyone else in the world, and damnit, Alex couldn't imagine Jack not being there at all.

"I can't say it feels wrong to close my eyes, when all I see is you..."

Alex licked his lips, soaking in all the raindrops falling on his face. All he could see was Jack's face in his mind. His very best friend- His tall, beautiful, crazy, fun-loving best friend. It had been right there in front of his face the entire time, why had he been too blind to see it?



"So don't you go, I've got you where I want you and I'm never letting go. Hit the lights, we'll be all right, tonight our dreams come true..."

He was gasping for air by the time he got the last word out. Honestly, he hadn't expected to play or sing so loudly, but it felt good to say a select few of the things he'd been feeling. Alex let out a soft groan and lifted his eyes. His gaze was supposed to meet the Barakat's home, but instead, they landed on Jack.

Just a few feet away from him, Jack was soaked to the bone. His hair was glued to his face, and his eyes were filled wtih sadness. Alex could have sworn that some of the drops on his face were from tears.

"New song?" Jack managed to choke out. "I like it."

"I hoped you would hear," Alex whispered. He slowly stood from the ground, his jeans now dripping wet. He slowly moved to the porch and sat his guitar down, nervous to turn and meet Jack's gaze again. "I'm sorry for everything, Jack."

Those words were painful to hear. Jack thought back to the fresh memory, chills shooting down his spine. After Alex shoved him to the floor, Jack started with the apologies. He desperately tried to explain his feelings to Alex, but it was hopeless. He would never unserstand. Jack's heart was torn out that night. Alex personally packed his bag, threw it in his face, and told him he'd no longer be needed in the band. Rian, Zack and Kara had no idea what happened, so they watched with pained expressions as Jack left. Nothing would ever be the same.

"No, I'm sorry," Jack said coldly, still damaged by the way Alex had treated him. "I shouldn't have kissed you. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Maybe you shouldn't have kissed me, but I needed to know the truth. I just had a bad reaction to it. I never should have said some of those things and I damn sure shouldn't have thrown you out. I fucking suck, and I'm really sorry for that."

"Wanna know what sucks even more?" Jack sighed heavily, dragging his feet closer to Alex. "I still forgive you."

"You shouldn't, dude. I don't deserve it."

"Don't you get it, Alex?" Jack's feet managed to move a little more, carrying his body even closer to Alex, but not too close. He didn't want to make things worse. "I fucking love you. I can't stay mad at you."

Alex stared at Jack's face, squinting into the darkness. There was no expression to be seen, but his eyes, they were saying everything. The sadness that was weighing him down, and the way he was too afraid of Alex to come any closer made Alex want to cry, but it was the words that Jack spoke that really broke Alex down. Sure, Jack had said 'I love you' before, but this time it was different. It held a completely different meaning; one that made Alex feel sad and hopeful, all at the same time.

Another crack of lightning confirmed that Jack was indeed crying. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face had turned a deep shade of pink. Alex had only seen Jack cry a handfull of times, most of them were because of all the bullying he had to suffer.. The bullying which he was the cause of.

With no words leaving Alex's mouth, Jack took it as a hint, and turned his back to the older boy. His feet squished into the wet the ground. He carried his body slowly, the fear of being alone again bursting into his mind.

"Jack, wait!" Alex shot after him. The wind was picking up. It knocked his body to the side as he chased after Jack's figure. "Please, just stop."

"If you're going to tell me that we can still be friends," Jack stopped, turning his body slightly to Alex. "Don't bother."

"We will always be friends, Jack," Alex put a firm grasp on Jack's soaking wet jacket, and pulled him back so that they were face-to-face, only inches apart. "It's the rest of it that we need to figure out."

"What else is there, Al?"

"This," Alex breathed, closing the space between them with a soft kiss.

After all this time, it was finally clear. Alexander Gaskarth was in love with Jack Barakat.

Notes

I finally caved and joined the Husterls club last night. I've been addicted to ATL for seven years, and I JUST got around to it. I know, I know, I suck. lol. Are any of you on there? I haven't got to play around on it yet, and I'm very sad to say that I'm probably going to miss the Spring Fever tour. This will be the first time they've ever come to my area and I won't be there. ):