Chapter Inspiration: I Had A Heart - Real Friends


"Oh and little Alex used to run around naked with his little toy guitar, oh were you cute as a button, WHAT HAPPENED!" Alex's grandmother laughed with the room as Alex tried to hide his blush in my shoulder.

"NANA!" He would groan as I giggled placing a light hand on his jaw.

"Oh Lex don't be embarrassed, I think it’s cute!"

"Yeah Alexander, it’s cute!" His grandad would chuckle beside his wife, "don't worry Jase I’m sure the rest of him has grown to match his ego-"

"DAD!" Peter cut in trying to hide his smile as I bursted into a fit of giggles.

"It’s not funny!" Alex whined as he buried his face into the crook of my neck. I smiled as I ran my fingers over the forearms he had wrapped around my middle to keep me on his lap. As the afternoon rolled into the night, many of our relatives with small children headed home. The diminished population of babies caused Rian to resurface along with Jack, Cass and Zack. Apparently they had been hiding away across the street as a result of, A. Jack realizing my cousin was a spoiled brat mixed with, B. Zack's apparent fear of making a baby cry and not knowing what to do. Either way Alex hadn't taken any notice to their presence as far as our imposter relationship went and the night carried on with ease. Aside from a few questionable looks from my aunt Helena, no one seemed to question the closeness of Alex and I, not even our friends. "I'm getting a drink!" Alex stated as he stood us up and placed me back onto the warm cushion where his body had just occupied, "you want anything?" He asked pointing at me as I smile up at him with sleep heavy eyes and shook my head.

It wasn't until he disappeared out of the room that I tucked my knees into my chest, savoring the warmth. My eyes sliding shut as the nonsense noise of my family continued to buzz around me. The idea of sleep welcoming me with open arms like waking up before your alarm on a Monday morning. The calling of the warm blanket telling you to stay in the safe haven. Your mind at a total bliss knowing for the next few moments you could be wrapped in silence until your alarm sounded.

My alarm had a name, and its name was Cassadee. My eyes snapping open to glare at her as she nudged my side. Sitting up I rubbed my eyes as I leaned forward and began to grumble something along the lines of being done with the day, "I think your man is looking for you!" Cass poked my shoulder blade and nodded for the entryway. "Under the mistletoe might I add!"

My eyes narrowed at the brunette in confusion before shifting to see Alex perched against the doorway with a smug smile on his face. His eyes lighting up slightly as I tucked a section of my hair behind my ear and stared at my lap. "What are you waiting for..." Cass nudged me again, "go get 'em!" She shoved my shoulders causing me to nearly tumble to the floor. I clambered to my feet as I rolled the waist band of the gray Ravens sweats Alex had worn last night as I neared him. My hand going to scratch through my messy bun my hair had been thrown into when I gave up on looking decent for my family. Smiling up at Alex he weakly did the same and pulled me into his chest. His cheek coming to rest against the top of my head as he rocked slightly in the embrace.

"I have something for you..." He mumbled pulling his head from mine. I looked up at him as I chewed on my lip wondering if he was being serious or not.

"Alex, I can't accept anything from you, you've done so much for me as is..." I pleaded with the taller boy as he rolled his eyes. It was my chance to roll my eyes when he shifted to fish something from his pocket. I wanted to laugh at the boy standing before me as he was clothed in his dress khaki pants and a tee shirt at that point but I was far to put off to be anything but uneased.

"I know you don't do the whole sentimental gift giving thing, but I can only hope you can accept this..." Alex paused as my breath caught in my throat; he held out to me the engraved pendent as my eyes rolled over it. The same guitar pick shaped necklace I had so selfishly thrown out the window those months ago, "I know I've done some stupid shit, and I've been a total dick at times, but you more than anyone know how I feel, and if anything doing this today only made me realize I don't want to fuck up with you again, and made me appreciate what it’s like to have you as my friend, so Jasey Rae Dawson, will you be my best friend again, for good this time?" I looked up at him with a light smile as he chewed nervously on his lip. With a shaky hand I reached out to lift the necklace from his tender grasp and thumbed it in my hand. As I looked down at the pendent knowing that day I threw it out the window Alex must have run after me. But that was the day Riley first began trying to swoon me. He couldn't have been there...

"For good..." I muttered running a thumb over the engraved words.

"Good" he smiled placing his hands on my hips to rub small circles into the still tender bones.

"Good" I repeated staking a step closer to wrap me arms around his nec-

"JASEY AND ALEX ARE UNDER THE MISTLETOE!" A young voice shrilled with a giggle. I laughed looking over to see my little cousin Tilly looking up at Alex and I. "Now you gwotta kiss him!" She cooed scrunching her little nose.

"Do I have to?" A whined mocking her tone throwing my head back, "Tilly, he's got cooties!"

"Do not!" Alex quipped poking my side.

"Do to!" I poked my tongue out at him.

"AWEX HAS CWOOTIES!" Tilly cooed hopping on the balls of her feet.

"Do not!" He scrunched back crossing his arms over his chest causing her to giggle.

"Prove it!" She taunted smiling up at him.

"I will!" He laughed back. I watched as he stomped over to her and scooped her up by the hips before she could take two steps. Tilly squealed as he tossed her in the air before catching her and letting her small face hover above his own. "MWAA!" Alex exaggerated as he placed a small kiss to Tilly's forehead as she giggled. "Now you have them too!" He laughed wiggling the small girl around before placing her back on the ground.

"Jasey! Jasey!" She hopped pointing back at me as I shook my head.

"No, No, I’ve had enough Alex kisses for a life time!" I laughed.

"Come on Jase, one kiss..."

I watched with a smile as he reached for my hips. The intent to pull me into a sweet and simple kiss would almost simultaneously be ruined by me breaking into a run down the hall. I heard Alex call after me as I stumbled into the kitchen. My weight being caught on my toes as I searched for a place to hide. "GET BACK HERE!" I heard Alex stumble down the hall as I made a bee line for the living room to loop up to the stairs.

"LEX NO!" I giggled as he nearly caught my ankle as he scrambled after me up the stair case.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" He shouted wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me off the ground after I tripped up the last step.

"LEX PUT ME DOWN!" I squirmed as he laughed and began walking down the hall towards my bedroom. Upon reaching the door he tossed me lightly so I was twisted and thrown over his shoulder in a fireman's hold allowing him to shove my door open with ease. "ALEX!" I screeched as I continued to kick. "PUT ME DOWN!"

"Fine!" He laughed as he took hold of my hips and somewhat gracefully plopped me to the bed. His body instantly moving to hover over mine before my back fully sank into the mattress. His hands coming to lightly tangle in mine as they were pressed deeper into the bed, "gotcha!" He smiled in victory as I looked up at him.

"Well congratulations, now what?" I cocked a brow at him as he looked me dead in the eyes.

"Well isn't it obvious?" He smirked, his voice low and gravely, a tone it had never quite taken on around me. My features scrunched in confusion, but only for an instant before his lips were pressed to mine. My body tensed over as an image of Riley that was imbedded into my mind flashed before my eyes. The fear soon seeped from my lips as Alex expertly moved his against my own. His hands separating from mine as he shifted his weight. "Alex" I hummed against his lips as he sighed. Alex pressed deeper into the kiss letting the heat of our two bodies mingle as the action grew heated. My freed hands moving to get lost in his hair instead of pushing him away. This kiss was much different than any other that day. With no eyes watching us the untold truth of our bottled up emotions evaporated from our pores. My fingers shifted to hook around his belt and pull his hips against mine. Alex's hands alternating between running on my neck to pulling at my hips. His lips hungrily attached to mine as I pressed the pads of my fingers to the base of his spine. A soft moan rumbled against my lips from Alex as I rolled my-

"HOLLY SHIT!"

With a crash Alex fell off the bed and to the floor before shooting up onto his feet. My chest heaved off the bed as we looked at the door. Jack stood in the doorway with a shocked expression on his face. "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN STANDING THERE?" I shouted quiet enough to not draw any attention from down stairs.

"Clearly not long enough!" He looked at Alex and pointed a finger. "HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME?"

"Jack it’s not what it looks like!" Alex protested holding his hands up.

"Really because it looks like you were just minutes away from getting in her pants!" Jack smiled a wide smile that caused my chest to clench.

"JACK THAT’S NOT IT! IT WAS JUST A KISS!" I answered.

"OH MAN I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT CASS AND RIAN HAVE TO SAY!" He laughed.

"Jack don't!" Alex begged.

"I always knew you two had something going on!" He laughed wagging his finger, "I could see it you know!"

"Jack!" I called from the bed as he disappeared through the door, "JACK DON'T!"

"Jasey, he's bluffing” Alex ran his hands through his hair.

"Oh my god" I breathed ripping my fingers through my hair, "oh my god!"

"Jasey, Jasey breathe, it’s okay!" Alex hushed rushing to squat down in front of me.

"Alex none of this is okay, Rian is going to kill you!" I exclaimed, "Oh my god, RIAN'S GOING TO KILL ME!"

"Jasey look at me!" Alex snapped grabbing my face and forcing my eyes to lock on his, "it’s going to be okay!"

"This can't be happening!" I rushed as my breath labored.

"Jasey it was a kiss!" Alex hushed brushing my loose strands from my watery eyes.

"I know it was just a kiss, and you know that... But Rian doesn’t!"

"Well I wouldn’t say it was JUST a kiss..." Alex clicked and chased it with a whistle.

"ALEX!" I snapped dragging him back to reality, "he nearly ripped you a new one when you fell asleep in my bed with me, what do you think he’s going to do when we were actually doing something!"

Alex looked at me as his mouth desperately opened and closed. I bit back my collecting tears as I pressed a hand to his jaw. Alex placed his hand over mine as he examined my face.

"GUYS!" Jack's voice bellowed from the doorway, "I was kidding why are you two freaking out?"

"Jack do you know what Rian would do if he knew what just happened!"

"Uhm he'd say he knew it all along like the rest of us?"

"Firstly no!" I stood up, "nothing more is going on between us and secondly, he would skin Alex alive!"

"Then why were you two in a heated make out session of Rian wouldn’t approve?"

"It wasn't a 'heated make out session' Jack!" Alex cooed dragging a hand through his hair.

"Sure looked like it!" He whistled rocking on his heels.

"No matter what it looked like you have to PROMISE me you won’t tell Rian!" Alex held out a fist.

"Why?" Jack question with that same sickly smile.

"It’s just easier on everyone, please Jack PROMISE ME!" Alex begged again holding his first closer to his skunk hair friend. The same smug smile grew on Jack's features.

"One condition!" He smiled at Alex, pounding there knuckles together before his eyes shifted to me, "I wanna see what all the fuss was about... I'M NEXT!"

"WOAH WOAH WOAH NO!" Alex jumped in front of the enclosing Jack to lightly holding him back, "don't even think about it Jacko!"

"But you got to kiss her!" Jack whined as i stifled a giggle.

"Not a chance in hell Jack!" Alex laughed shoving his friend out the door.

Notes

i dont really think i like this chapter..

TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS AND IF YOU THINK I SHOULD DELETE IT.. or maybe you like where that was going.. im torn between deciding if they should actually date or not..

and for future reference the story thats in the works (the Jack/OC) will be pre-written and no more than 30 chapters..


-Sarah