Sin
Twenty-three
Alex
Jack had given me a ride home and we were sat on the curb, me not wanting to leave him quite yet. Honestly, Jack getting mad was really scary, and that terrified me, but at the same time I was glad he was there to intervene, because who knows how far that would have gotten.
I kicked a small stone into the middle of the road, sighing and looking across the the skunk haired boy sat next to me, his hand carefully on top of mine. ''Hey, Jack?''
''Mhm?''
''I er, my mom's gonna ask about this,'' I muttered pointing to the small cuts on my face, ''And I, er, don't really want to do it alone...''
Jack's hand moved slightly so that he could lace his fingers through mine and give them a gentle squeeze. ''C'mon Princess, I'll explain to her if you want.''
I smiled gratefully and nodded at him, pulling him up and hugging him with a 'thank you'. We walked down my street, not hand in hand as I didn't want my neighbors to see anything and rat me out to my parents, so instead, we linked our pinkies together so it just looked like we were walking side by side like any normal friends.
Once we got to my house, we stepped inside and went straight for the kitchen, expecting to see my mom, but she wasn't there. Instead of saying anything, I skipped to the fridge grabbing two drinks and throwing one to Jack, who might I add nearly dropped his and made a huge mess.
I led him into the also empty lounge and plopped down on the couch, handing Jack the remote so he could chose what to watch. After we'd been watching a cartoon for about ten minutes, I shifted on the couch so that my feet were in his lap and prodded his stomach with my toe. He shot me a playful glare and I just poked my tongue out at him, breathing out a giggle and he smiled back. Looking at him, I just felt... happy. Sure, I had confessed to liking him, but that was based on his personality, and now I was taking in everything about the way he looked. How his features were all subtly too big for his face, but you were drawn away from that by the way his eyes crinkled at the edge when he smiled, how his lips pressed into a tight line that curved up at one end when he was trying not to laugh at something. I could admit now, that yeah, I was physically attracted to him too.
As I looked at Jack, I saw my mom walk through the hall with the washing basket, and stopping to pick up a stray sock that she dropped.
''Heya, mom!" I called, catching her attention.
''Oh hello sweetie! How was-'' She said walking in to the room and then stopping, looking at my face, horrified. ''Oh, Alexander, what happened to you?!"
I suddenly felt self-conscious and lowered my head a little, running my fingers through my fringe. ''There were these kids at school and-''
''Who did this to you, sweetie?'' She asked, kneeling down in front of me and putting a reassuring hand on my leg.
Deciding that I didn't want to be a grass and tell on Johnathan, I just shrugged. ''I don't know, but it would have been a lot worse if Jack hadn't found me.''
My mom then smiled at him, ''thank you, Jack.''
''Anyone would have done it,'' he smiled back.
She turned her attention back to me and gave me a sad look, ''maybe it was a bad idea moving you to public school.'' She sighed.
My eyes widened immediately, ''No, no, no! Mom it's fine! Honestly, it won't happen again, I promise!"
''Fine,'' she sighed again, ''but if it does happen, we'll have to pull you out. I'm not going to let this thing happen.''
''Thanks mom.'' I smiled weakly.
''No problem, honey. Jack, would you like to stay for dinner?''
''I should probably b getti-''
''It's the least I can do... To say thank you for being Alex's first friend.''
Jack looked at me nervously, as if to ask if I was fine with it....like he even needed to ask.
''Thank you, Mrs Gaskarth. I'd love to.''
After mom had asked what we wanted and dad arrived home, Jack and I went upstairs to my room for a while. I had completely forgotten that I hadn't cleaned it for a day or two, so there were a few clothes strewn about the place, my homework led out on the desk untidily and my bed not even made yet. I quickly darted around the room, making it presentable and putting things where they belong as Jack just made himself comfortable in my bed. Not on my bed, actually in it, under the covers and everything.
''G'night.'' He smirked, closing his eyes and getting comfy.
''Oh hell no.'' I mumbled, taking a running jump at my bed and landing on him. I peeled the duvet from over his head and laughed at how I'd messed his hair up.
''Oi oi, Princess,'' he winked.
I felt a crimson heat rise in my cheeks and I knew I was blushing from what he was suggesting, but before I could even reply, using his strength that exceeded mine, spun us around so he was now straddling me instead. I had my arms pinned above my head and my fringe was falling the wrong way across my forehead, sure to leave me looking awful, but Jack didn't seem to notice. He shuffled my hands higher above my head and held both of my wrists in one hand, then with the free one he trailed the tip of his index finger down my left side, causing me to flinch away slightly.
''Oh no,'' Jack tutted, ''You're not ticklish, are you Lex?''
''N-no.'' I said, trying to bluff my way out of a tickle assault.
It didn't work. Jack could obviously tell when I was lying, and so carried on for what seemed like forever making me squirm beneath him as I tried to keep my laughter quiet so my parents wouldn't walk in on us like this. Luckily for me, he slowly shuffled up my body, leaving my legs exposed to freedom, so with all the energy I had left, I rolled us off the bed and onto the floor, Jack lying beside me in a panting mess, laughing softly.
I turned my head to the side, and under the bed spotted something I hadn't used in years. My old polaroid camera. Making sure Jack didn't know what I was doing, I grabbed it, carefully turned it on and rolled over to my side, quickly snapping a picture of Jack.
''Dude!" He breathed out, still laughing.
I took the small white paper that exited the camera and shook it for a few seconds before the photo started to emerge. It was actually a really good picture, he looked like he was camera ready, sure his hair was sticking out in all directions, but that didn't matter, because looking at it, I would remember how much fun we had had.
''Let me see,'' he said, taking it from me and frowning, ''my God that's awful.''
I shook my head, ''nah, you look cute.''
Jack looked at me, a sincere smile playing on his lips as he placed the photo on the ground between us and holding his hand out for the camera. ''Your turn.''
Reluctantly, I handed it to him and did my best 'duck face', Jack laughing at me. Once the picture was developed I inspected it, not really liking what I saw and I groaned out loud. ''Wow, the cuts look worse than they feel.''
He scooted closer to me so that we were now sat cross-legged on my floor opposite one another, ''You still look like my little Lex.''
I felt a blush ride out over my entire face as I tried to hide behind my bangs, ''Can we take a picture...together?''
''Sure thing Princess!"
He moved around to my side, putting his arm around my shoulders and leaning his head in the crook of my neck as I held the camera and snapped the picture. As I took the slip of paper and shook it, Jack laughed beside me.
''It's like taking a selfie in the 80's!"
We both quickly looked at the photo and it was instantly my most prized possession. I looked decent, Jack looked adorable and it just made my smile widen even more. He look the camera from me and put his arm around my shoulders again. Oh okay, I guess we're taking another picture.
''Say cheeeese!" He cooed.
As I smiled, I felt Jack press his lips softy on my cheek and then heard the click of the button, followed by the buzzing of the paper being dispensed. Jack took it and started to shake it, a concentrated look etched on his face. I just stared at him, smiling at the kiss he surprised me with, it was really sweet.
''Thank you Mrs Gaskarth, Mr Gaskarth,'' Jack said as he made his way to the front door after dinner.
''It's no problem honey,'' my mom replied, standing up and giving him a hug.
''Any friend of Alexander's is a friend of ours,'' my dad added, shaking his hand.
''I'll show him out,'' I smiled at Jack, then looking back at my parents as they said their final goodbyes to him. I was glad that they could all get along, I'd never had a friend before that my parents actually liked enough to invite around, it was amazing.
I led Jack out of the front room in which we just were and to the front door, me taking the polaroid from his back pocket and looking at it.
''Hey now Princess,'' he chuckled, ''That's mine!"
He snatched it back out of my hand and stuck his tongue out, to which I rolled my eyes playfully.
''Meany.'' I pouted.
''You love it really, don't deny it. C'mere,'' he said, pulling me in for a hug.
Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around him and sighed, not wanting him to leave. I pulled back slightly, looking up at him. ''Thank you, for earlier, with those guys...''
''Like I said, I care about you,'' he replied, lifting my chin up with his finger to bring our faces that much closer together.
He just smiled at me, eyes searching mine for something. Now felt good, so I rose up on my toes and pressed my lips to his smoothly for a second and pulling away again, my eyes fluttering open and seeing him still smiling, but this time it was even bigger.
''I'll see you tomorrow, Lex.''
''See you tomorrow.'' I repeated.
Jack slunk out of the door and I closed it behind him, and I went straight up to my room, grabbing my polaroid of the two of us and flopping on my bed, staring at it happily.
Yep, I definately like Jack Barakat.
Jack had given me a ride home and we were sat on the curb, me not wanting to leave him quite yet. Honestly, Jack getting mad was really scary, and that terrified me, but at the same time I was glad he was there to intervene, because who knows how far that would have gotten.
I kicked a small stone into the middle of the road, sighing and looking across the the skunk haired boy sat next to me, his hand carefully on top of mine. ''Hey, Jack?''
''Mhm?''
''I er, my mom's gonna ask about this,'' I muttered pointing to the small cuts on my face, ''And I, er, don't really want to do it alone...''
Jack's hand moved slightly so that he could lace his fingers through mine and give them a gentle squeeze. ''C'mon Princess, I'll explain to her if you want.''
I smiled gratefully and nodded at him, pulling him up and hugging him with a 'thank you'. We walked down my street, not hand in hand as I didn't want my neighbors to see anything and rat me out to my parents, so instead, we linked our pinkies together so it just looked like we were walking side by side like any normal friends.
Once we got to my house, we stepped inside and went straight for the kitchen, expecting to see my mom, but she wasn't there. Instead of saying anything, I skipped to the fridge grabbing two drinks and throwing one to Jack, who might I add nearly dropped his and made a huge mess.
I led him into the also empty lounge and plopped down on the couch, handing Jack the remote so he could chose what to watch. After we'd been watching a cartoon for about ten minutes, I shifted on the couch so that my feet were in his lap and prodded his stomach with my toe. He shot me a playful glare and I just poked my tongue out at him, breathing out a giggle and he smiled back. Looking at him, I just felt... happy. Sure, I had confessed to liking him, but that was based on his personality, and now I was taking in everything about the way he looked. How his features were all subtly too big for his face, but you were drawn away from that by the way his eyes crinkled at the edge when he smiled, how his lips pressed into a tight line that curved up at one end when he was trying not to laugh at something. I could admit now, that yeah, I was physically attracted to him too.
As I looked at Jack, I saw my mom walk through the hall with the washing basket, and stopping to pick up a stray sock that she dropped.
''Heya, mom!" I called, catching her attention.
''Oh hello sweetie! How was-'' She said walking in to the room and then stopping, looking at my face, horrified. ''Oh, Alexander, what happened to you?!"
I suddenly felt self-conscious and lowered my head a little, running my fingers through my fringe. ''There were these kids at school and-''
''Who did this to you, sweetie?'' She asked, kneeling down in front of me and putting a reassuring hand on my leg.
Deciding that I didn't want to be a grass and tell on Johnathan, I just shrugged. ''I don't know, but it would have been a lot worse if Jack hadn't found me.''
My mom then smiled at him, ''thank you, Jack.''
''Anyone would have done it,'' he smiled back.
She turned her attention back to me and gave me a sad look, ''maybe it was a bad idea moving you to public school.'' She sighed.
My eyes widened immediately, ''No, no, no! Mom it's fine! Honestly, it won't happen again, I promise!"
''Fine,'' she sighed again, ''but if it does happen, we'll have to pull you out. I'm not going to let this thing happen.''
''Thanks mom.'' I smiled weakly.
''No problem, honey. Jack, would you like to stay for dinner?''
''I should probably b getti-''
''It's the least I can do... To say thank you for being Alex's first friend.''
Jack looked at me nervously, as if to ask if I was fine with it....like he even needed to ask.
''Thank you, Mrs Gaskarth. I'd love to.''
After mom had asked what we wanted and dad arrived home, Jack and I went upstairs to my room for a while. I had completely forgotten that I hadn't cleaned it for a day or two, so there were a few clothes strewn about the place, my homework led out on the desk untidily and my bed not even made yet. I quickly darted around the room, making it presentable and putting things where they belong as Jack just made himself comfortable in my bed. Not on my bed, actually in it, under the covers and everything.
''G'night.'' He smirked, closing his eyes and getting comfy.
''Oh hell no.'' I mumbled, taking a running jump at my bed and landing on him. I peeled the duvet from over his head and laughed at how I'd messed his hair up.
''Oi oi, Princess,'' he winked.
I felt a crimson heat rise in my cheeks and I knew I was blushing from what he was suggesting, but before I could even reply, using his strength that exceeded mine, spun us around so he was now straddling me instead. I had my arms pinned above my head and my fringe was falling the wrong way across my forehead, sure to leave me looking awful, but Jack didn't seem to notice. He shuffled my hands higher above my head and held both of my wrists in one hand, then with the free one he trailed the tip of his index finger down my left side, causing me to flinch away slightly.
''Oh no,'' Jack tutted, ''You're not ticklish, are you Lex?''
''N-no.'' I said, trying to bluff my way out of a tickle assault.
It didn't work. Jack could obviously tell when I was lying, and so carried on for what seemed like forever making me squirm beneath him as I tried to keep my laughter quiet so my parents wouldn't walk in on us like this. Luckily for me, he slowly shuffled up my body, leaving my legs exposed to freedom, so with all the energy I had left, I rolled us off the bed and onto the floor, Jack lying beside me in a panting mess, laughing softly.
I turned my head to the side, and under the bed spotted something I hadn't used in years. My old polaroid camera. Making sure Jack didn't know what I was doing, I grabbed it, carefully turned it on and rolled over to my side, quickly snapping a picture of Jack.
''Dude!" He breathed out, still laughing.
I took the small white paper that exited the camera and shook it for a few seconds before the photo started to emerge. It was actually a really good picture, he looked like he was camera ready, sure his hair was sticking out in all directions, but that didn't matter, because looking at it, I would remember how much fun we had had.
''Let me see,'' he said, taking it from me and frowning, ''my God that's awful.''
I shook my head, ''nah, you look cute.''
Jack looked at me, a sincere smile playing on his lips as he placed the photo on the ground between us and holding his hand out for the camera. ''Your turn.''
Reluctantly, I handed it to him and did my best 'duck face', Jack laughing at me. Once the picture was developed I inspected it, not really liking what I saw and I groaned out loud. ''Wow, the cuts look worse than they feel.''
He scooted closer to me so that we were now sat cross-legged on my floor opposite one another, ''You still look like my little Lex.''
I felt a blush ride out over my entire face as I tried to hide behind my bangs, ''Can we take a picture...together?''
''Sure thing Princess!"
He moved around to my side, putting his arm around my shoulders and leaning his head in the crook of my neck as I held the camera and snapped the picture. As I took the slip of paper and shook it, Jack laughed beside me.
''It's like taking a selfie in the 80's!"
We both quickly looked at the photo and it was instantly my most prized possession. I looked decent, Jack looked adorable and it just made my smile widen even more. He look the camera from me and put his arm around my shoulders again. Oh okay, I guess we're taking another picture.
''Say cheeeese!" He cooed.
As I smiled, I felt Jack press his lips softy on my cheek and then heard the click of the button, followed by the buzzing of the paper being dispensed. Jack took it and started to shake it, a concentrated look etched on his face. I just stared at him, smiling at the kiss he surprised me with, it was really sweet.
''Thank you Mrs Gaskarth, Mr Gaskarth,'' Jack said as he made his way to the front door after dinner.
''It's no problem honey,'' my mom replied, standing up and giving him a hug.
''Any friend of Alexander's is a friend of ours,'' my dad added, shaking his hand.
''I'll show him out,'' I smiled at Jack, then looking back at my parents as they said their final goodbyes to him. I was glad that they could all get along, I'd never had a friend before that my parents actually liked enough to invite around, it was amazing.
I led Jack out of the front room in which we just were and to the front door, me taking the polaroid from his back pocket and looking at it.
''Hey now Princess,'' he chuckled, ''That's mine!"
He snatched it back out of my hand and stuck his tongue out, to which I rolled my eyes playfully.
''Meany.'' I pouted.
''You love it really, don't deny it. C'mere,'' he said, pulling me in for a hug.
Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around him and sighed, not wanting him to leave. I pulled back slightly, looking up at him. ''Thank you, for earlier, with those guys...''
''Like I said, I care about you,'' he replied, lifting my chin up with his finger to bring our faces that much closer together.
He just smiled at me, eyes searching mine for something. Now felt good, so I rose up on my toes and pressed my lips to his smoothly for a second and pulling away again, my eyes fluttering open and seeing him still smiling, but this time it was even bigger.
''I'll see you tomorrow, Lex.''
''See you tomorrow.'' I repeated.
Jack slunk out of the door and I closed it behind him, and I went straight up to my room, grabbing my polaroid of the two of us and flopping on my bed, staring at it happily.
Yep, I definately like Jack Barakat.
Still miss this story so much :(
5/25/18