“Come on, Lex... Wakey-wakey...”

Alex's eyes fluttered open and tried to concentrate on the face that was closest to him. The golden hazel eye’s came into focus, and Alex watched as they crinkled at the corners at the man smiled.

“Hey there, beautiful,” Jack chirped. Alex blinked a few times and reached up to touch the aching spot on his head, finding a sizable lump near his temple, “No, Alex, don’t touch, just rest.”

Alex smiled lazily at Jack and opened his mouth to speak, “We really need to stop meeting like this...” Jack looked confused so Alex carried on, “You know, one of us with our brains nearly knocked out on the floor?” Jack smiled and shook his head, carefully moving Alex's hand away and clasped it gently between his own two. He sat up a little straighter and looked around at the others. Tay and Zack were crouched next to the sofa where Alex assumed he had been moved to. Matt was sat at Alex's feet, peering over the end of the sofa, and Cassadee was stood behind them, arms folded and chewing on her nails looking very concerned. Rian was nowhere to be seen.
“Heya Alex,” Tay smiled, “You alright there? You remember what happened?” She watched him with worry, but still grinned at him.

“Yeah, ‘m fine...” Alex sat up properly now, Jack resting a hand on his shoulder as some kind of precaution. “Yeah, Rian went psycho and tried to hit Jay. Where is Ri?”

“Kitchen.” Grunted Zack, nodding his head in the direction of the open door.

Cass stepped closer and looked at Alex, her eyes filled with fear and shock, “Alex, I am so. Sorry. Really, I don’t know why he did that. I’m not making any excuses for him.”

“It’s alright Cass. Not your fault.” She smiled softly at Alex, continuing to bite her nails.

“Rian said he’s sorry.” Zack spoke quietly, “but we didn’t want him anywhere near Jay. We thought he might try it again, otherwise.”

“Has he calmed down?” Alex asked, his head somewhat swimming from the impact of the coffee table.

“A bit. He feels really shit about hitting you.” Tay shrugged.

“Yeah, he fucking should.” Cass growled from behind them, causing everyone to turn to look at her. “What? He should! Not only did he try to hit... Sorry,” she turned to Jack, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Jack, but everyone calls me Jay.”

“Okay... Well, not only did he try to hit Jack, he fucking knocked Alex out!” She threw her arms in the air and sat down on the edge of the coffee table, head in hands.

“Zack was a fucking star though,” Matt smiled, “He literally wrestled Rian into the kitchen and sat him down. Told him not to move. And it worked.” Matt smiled sideways at Zack, who smirked back, gently stroking Matt's little finger with his own.

“You know,” Rian called from the kitchen, “I can hear you talking about me?”

“Shut the fuck up, Rian!” Cassadee shouted back. The group shushed her, thinking of Alex's mom, and she pulled a face and raised an apologetic hand.

“Can I talk to him?” Alex asked, looking at Jack.

“Well... Are you sure?”

“Yeah, don’t worry.”

“Okay,” Jack smiled softly, and then he turned to Zack, “Go get him, will you?”

“Sure thing.” Zack stood up and walked into the kitchen, returning a few seconds later with a fairly annoyed and awkward looking Rian. He wasn’t looking at anyone in the room, not even Cass, and instead chose to watch the floor.
“Well?” Matt asked, standing up from his crouched position at the end of the sofa.

“Look,” Rian spoke, still looking at his own feet, “I didn’t mean to hit Alex. I just over reacted, and-“

“Damn right you fucking overreacted!” Cass half shouted, hands balled into fists and a look of anger across her face.

“Calm down, Cass,” Jack said softly, “Look, Rian,” he stood up, taking a few steps closer to the boy, “I know you’re angry, and I know it was wrong of me and Alex to have done anything like that. But honestly, we’re happy, and I love him.”

“Love?” Rian asked, no trace of emotion in his voice.

“Yes, Rian,” Jack turned to look at Alex, his expression soft and loving, “I love him. And I will do anything in my power to be with him. That’s why I quit my job.”

“That’s why?” Rian looked up, slightly puzzled.

“Yeah, well,” Jack shrugged, “Lisa tried to kiss me, and it gave me the perfect excuse to leave. Me and Alex have been seeing each other for nearly 2 months now. I know it doesn’t seem like very long, but I’ve never felt the way I feel about Alex with anyone else before. You can ask him if you like.”

Alex looked up at Jack, then to Rian, who still looked suspicious. Alex shifted in his seat and put his legs down onto the floor, slowly standing. Jack stepped closer, holding out his hands, expecting Alex to fall. He stepped closer to Jack and pushed his arm away, sliding his hand down and lacing their fingers. He wrapped his other arm around Jack's middle and stepped to his other side, leaning against the man and breathing in his heavenly, never changing scent. Coffee. Cigarettes. Peppermint. Aftershave.
“I love him, Ri.” Alex said quietly, watching the older boy’s expression soften at his words, “I love him more than anything. And if you can’t accept that, then we can’t be friends.”

Rian looked shocked at Alex's words and tried to walk towards him, but was stopped by a low warning growl from Zack. He sighed and dropped his arms in a shrug.

“I’m sorry Alex. I just... It’s weird. Is that why you would stay behind after class so much?”

Alex nodded solemnly, resting his head against Jack's chest and the man gently squeezed his side.

“So... you guys are, like, for real then?”

“Or course we are, Ri.”

“And he hasn’t like, hurt you or anything?”

“No I fucking haven’t, Rian.” Jack hissed, offended that Rian would think he would do anything of the sort. Alex gently squeezed his hand so calm him down, standing on his toes to kiss Jack's jaw.

“Ri,” Alex turned back to look at him, “We love each other, okay? This. Is. Real.”
Rian sighed and shrugged again, “Well... It’s weird, but, I guess it’s something I’ll just have to get used to it. Welcome to the group, Jack.” He smiled shyly and extended an hand.

Jack stepped forwards and shook it, smiling slightly. "So, I have your approval?"
Rian laughed, “Yes, you have my approval. I’m sorry for trying to hit you, and I’m sorry for actually hitting you, Alex. And, Cass,” the brunette looked up, arms folded, “I am a massive ass, I know that.”

Cassadee sighed and unfolded her arms, “Yeah, you are a massive ass.” She walked forwards, past Zack and hugged Rian, “But you’re my ass.”

“So, what?” Tay turned to the rest of the group, “Is all forgiven? No one’s going to try punching anyone else’s lights out?”

The group laughed in agreement. Jack hugged Alex closer and kissed him softly, smiling against each other’s lips. Rian pressed his lips to the top of Cass' head, the girl smiling and squeezing his middle a little. Matt stood up and linked his little finger with Zack's again, the two standing side by side and Zack draped his arm over Tay's shoulders.

“So,” Alex shouted over the brief chatter, “Film?”

The group made noises of agreement, but the sound was cut through by the chorus of ‘Pretender’ by the Foo Fighters. Everyone went silent as Tay blushed and dug out her phone from her pocket.
“Hello?” she answered the phone, her face glowing red, all eyes turned to her, “Oh, hi Patrick...” she turned away from the rest of the group and headed out into the hallway pursued by wolf-whistles and kissy noises.

“Oh, shut up guys!” She laughed over her shoulder, closing the living room door behind her. Alex just laughed and shook his head, smiling up at Jack and thinking just how lucky they all were.

Notes

Last official part of the story, although a short epilogue shall be posted either later or tomorrow :)