Destined To Explode

Things are certainly awkward at breakfast, me and Alex having just managed to cover the purple bruise I had apparently felt like giving Alex in my drunken state, with make-up that wasn’t too obvious on his skin tone, as long as you didn’t look too hard. I hope that Lisa didn’t decide to inspect her boyfriend’s neck for the rest of the week because as nice and timid as the girl normally was, I had seen her flip out and I did not want to be on the receiving end.

He had apparently gotten us both bundled into the cab and during the ride, casually put his arm around my shoulders, like he had done a thousand times before to keep me warm seeing as I hadn’t brought a suitable jacket with me and I had just started to molest his neck.

“If, uh, Lisa tries to kill me, you will protect me, right?” I dare a glance up at him as I shuffle two pop tarts on his plate. “I was intoxicated.”

“And I didn’t have the will nor the want to stop you.” He shrugs. “It felt good from what I remember so I’m not blaming you at all. If she’s got a problem, then let it be with me.”

He shrugs again and just like that, it’s not awkward anymore. It’s just me and Alex and apparently not so awkward hickey’s from drunken fondling in the back of a cab.

“We didn’t do anything when we got in, right?”

“I helped you change.” I know the fear in my eyes is evident as Alex shoots me a sad smile. “Where did you get all of those bruises, Poppy?”

I laugh, hoping that he falls for it. “I’m a clumsy bitch, Lex. I trip and fall a lot.”

“Mhm.”

The subject is dropped again when Jack stumbles up from the basement, mumbling about coffee and tacos alongside ‘I wish Vinny was here’.

* * * *

Just like that, I’m leaving again. Case packed and re-packed with all of the clothes that May had let me take and exclusive merchandise that Jack had attempted to sneak in before my departure, alongside the clothes that I had bought on the trip with my Mother is now all safely stowed away in the trunk of my car.

“Are you sure that you’ve got to leave?” Jack pouts before yanking me against his chest and swaying us. “I’ll let you have my bed and I won’t be annoying anymore.”

I laugh as I let myself cuddle into his chest. “I’ve got to get back to work, Jacky. Mark’s already been on the phone saying that he needs me back.”

“He’s getting a mouthful of complaints about taking you away the next time he gets in contact.”

I ruffle his hair like he’s a toddler when we pull away. “Just try and not get me fired before Christmas, eh? I kind of need the bonus.”

I step away from my cousin then, quickly saying my goodbye’s throughout the rest of the house, making sure to tell Joyce that I wouldn’t be a stranger again and letting May know that she can come and visit any time. Rian and Cass arrive just after I finish saying my farewells to Zack, having to also pay him twenty dollars to make sure that Jack doesn’t go through with his request of kidnapping me.

“I will actually call you this time.” Cass grins as Rian lets go of his girlfriend’s waist so that we can embrace, and then he takes her place.

“I will too, but only because I need to know the secret of calming Jack down.”

I can’t help but laugh as Jack starts hopping around right on cue, making Rian groan and scuttle back inside the house after his girlfriend, leaving me outside alone with Alexander Gaskarth.

“Promise that you will be back for Christmas?” He crosses his arms as I open my own to accept an embrace. “No goodbyes until you do.”

With a scoff, I turn away, marching my way from the raised porch and towards my second hand car only to be grabbed by the hood and hugged from behind, arms tight around my waist.

“Never mind, love.”

I turn in his arms, daring to let my own go around his neck so that my head can tuck into his neck comfortably.

“Don’t forget the clarity, Lex.” I poke him where I know the now yellowing bruise is, making him hiss quietly but not necessarily in pain. “Anytime. No one needs you freaking out inside.”

“As long as you don’t forget how much we all miss you and want you back here.” He kisses my temple gently. “All the time.”

* * * *

I have barely gotten back into my normal Chicago routine, having only been back in the windy city a week, including the weekend, when I get the call that I never thought that I would get, especially not so soon.

“Poppy speaking.” I say politely into the home phone, sighing as quietly as another flash of lightning forks through the sky, dampening the day that I had planned.

“Pops, it’s Alex.”

I can tell by the tone of his voice that he’s tired, actually exhausted, and that he’s stressed. “Alex? Hey, what’s the matter?”

“I’m on my way to Chicago.”

That simple statement has my heart racing, which is only accelerated by another clash of thunder outside the apartment window, and I have to take a deep, shaky breath before I can speak again. “Are you driving?”

I hear a scuffle like he’s either shaking or nodding his head, but without being able to see him, I don’t know. “No, no; I’m on a train. I don’t know what I’m doing, Poppy. What the fuck am I doing?”

“Hey.” I say soothingly. “Calm down a little, Lex. I will be waiting for you at the station and we will sort this out, no matter what it is, we’ll have you on a train home before you know it.”

“She mentioned marriage and kids, Pops, and I just flipped out and ran away from her.” He sounds on the verge of tears, sniffing every few seconds, hiccupping as he stutters through his words. “I don’t even care that I left her, as long as I get to see you. I don’t want to go back.”

I can’t help but think of how miserable and broken he sounds, practically begging me not to send him back home, like he’s done something terrible.

“I won’t make you, Lex, alright? You can stay here with me for as long as you want, for as long as you need.”

Notes