Alex

There's something so comforting about throwing a ball at a wall constantly. The rhythmic thudding that slowly tunes itself to the best of your heart. It helps you think, it helps to clear your conscience, and that's exactly what I'm trying to do right now.
I was trying not to think about yesterday's events too much. I made it home in one piece; there were no cuts on my face so mom and dad didn't question why I was slightly late. The only damage done was a few more green tinted bruises, an aching arm from Jon bending it back, and a little bit more fear added after seeing Jack angry again. For a moment, just one moment, I thought he stepped in because he cared, but then he said it didn't change anything so I picked myself up and followed after him ready to confront him, only to turn the corner and find him gone. Dammit.

So here I am, throwing a tennis ball at a wall, Patrick led on my bed playing that Flappy Bird game and You Me At Six quietly playing.

"I'm bored, can we actually do something today?" I asked.

"Like what?"

"I don't know, anything."

"What's the time?"

"Uhhh, two." I said, checking the time on my cell. "Hey...you're staring right at you phone, why couldn't you check the time?"

"I'm busy."

"Ugh," I groaned, rolling my eyes, "So, can we do something or not?"

"Sure, but I mean it can't be for long-"

"Paaaaat, why nooooot?"

"I erm...have a date?"

Caught off guard, I threw the ball at the wall one more time, and because of the sudden 'date surprise' I forgot to catch it, so it hit me straight in the face.

"Ow, fuck!" I hissed. "What do you mean you have a date? Since when?"

"I didn't want to say anything in case it went wrong. But yeah, her name's Elisa and I met her online..."

"Online? Isn't that dangerous? What if you get Catfished and she's a pedophile?"

This caused Patrick to finally stop what he was doing, and he looked at me as if he'd seen a ghost.

"I-I didn't think about that....would you, maybe, come with me?" He asked shyly.

"Are you crazy? I'm not going on a date with you and a stranger!"

"C'mon Alex, pleeeease? I don't want to die!"

"Where exactly is the date?"

"Aha! I was smart enough to suggest a public, we're meeting at a bar in town." He smiled.

"A bar? You do realise we're not old enough to drink...right?"

"Yeah I know, and usually teens aren't allowed in, but our family is pretty tight with the owner..."

"If I come, you're buying my drinks. Deal?"

Patrick bit his lip in thought slightly, then nodded at me. "Fine, but dress nice would you? You look like a slob."

Charming.

---

Patrick and Elisa were sat in a corner together. Turns out she is a real person, really petite and cute too. From what I could tell, they made a good match.

I was sat on the next table over to give them some privacy, sipping on my Cola and watching some kid play an acoustic set on the little stage they had set up. Apparently Saturdays are the days the bar gets live music in...so at least that would keep me entertained whilst the happy couple beside me flirt and do relationshipy things.

I tore my gaze away from the stage to come face to face with, well, Patrick and Elisa sucking face. Oh lord I can't watch this.

"Be right back, I'm going to use the bathroom."

I went in, sat on the counter for a while and decided I should head back out, I didn't want my best friend thinking I had ditched him.

Walking out and making my way to the main room, the music was getting louder, and the acoustic kid that was playing before had obviously been replaced by an actual band. Thank fuck for that, they'd be a lot more interesting to watch than one boy sitting on a stool with a guitar in his lap.

Or not.

Jumping around the stage was none other than Jack, Rian, Zack and...Brendon?! That's their replacement singer...Brendon?

I couldn't help but stop in my tracks and stare at them, at how happy and carefree Jack looked. It was like if never existed. I knew he'd moved on from whatever the fuck it was that we had, but Brendon? If he did that on purpose, then that just hurts. Stupid fucking Brendon. Stupid fucking Jack. Stupid fucking me for even caring.

For the rest of the 'date' I sat quietly at my little table bored out of my mind. I would have went home, but what kind of friend would I be if I left Patrick? I tried to not pay attention to Jack or Brendon, but every time I caught myself looking at them, they would be laughing and joking with one another, Brendon would rest his head on Jack's shoulder whilst he was singing, touching Jack's leg or rubbing his arm and winking. He's so smug. You know what, if Jack wants Brendon then so be it, he seems happy now that I'm gone. And if he's happy, then I can be happy.

The room suddenly went quiet, so I assumed they were preparing for another song. I finished off the rest of my drink and lolled my head back on the seat, wishing Patrick would hurry up. I'm starting to think free drinks didn't compensate for all this wasted time and torture watching Jack and Brendon. The intro started playing, a fast paced chord sequence, then followed by Brendon's annoying voice doing some 'oh's and then a voice I'd never heard before...

"When will the Princess figure it out, she ain't worth saving?"

I pulled my head up from the couch to figure out what was going on, and Jack was staring directly at me.

I got lost in his voice, wondering why I'd never heard him sing before, or why he'd never told me that he writes his own material. I didn't want to watch, or listen, but I was drawn like a moth to a flame. But for all the wrong reasons.

"But there's a monster standing where you should be
So I'll paint you wings
Now I'll set you free"

He kept a steady tune and melody, and if the song wasn't blatantly about me, I would have liked it. He sees me as a monster? I listened to verse after verse, chorus after chorus of him making me out to be the bad person in all of this. Granted, I did snap at him in school a couple of weeks back, but he started it with being grumpy at me all the time. What was I suppose to do, let him sulk all the time and let my grades slip?

No, this wasn't fair. None of it was fair. And this time, I was going to confront him before he could leave.

The 'Princess' song seemed to be their last one, and I watched them pack up their equipment before heading outside to load it all up to take it home again.

"I'll be outside." I said, turning to Patrick and waving goodbye to Elisa.

I took my empty glass over to the bar and set it down before making my own way out, seeing them all finish loading the instruments, like I had predicted. Everyone was patting each other on the back and cheering about their 'amazing set'.

"Shit, I left my cell, hang on!" Jack said, turning on his heal.

I hid behind the inside of the door, so that I was stood inside now, and as Jack rushed past me, not acknowledging my presence, I grabbed him by the back of his jacket and pulled him backwards.

"I see you were having fun tonight." I growled, referring to Brendon.

"What do you want, Alex?"

"Oh, nothing. Just wanted to congratulate you on your singer...nice choice." I said sarcastically.

Jack grinned at that, "Tell me about it. Also, you wanna know a secret?" He almost whispered, looking around us to see if anyone was there. "He's great in bed-"

I didn't want to hear it, and out of nowhere, I backed him up against the wall and glared at him.

"What's the matter, Princess?" He winked.

"You." I deadpanned, bringing my face closer to his. "With your stupid motorbike and your stupid sulking and your stupid song-"

Jack scoffed and then smiled at me. How is this funny? How is any of it funny?

"What?"

"You're fucking hot when you're mad." He grinned, hooking his finger under my chin.

I just stared at him, then his lips and back up to his eyes. Dammit Alex don't even think about it. Jack however, made my mind up for me and roughly pressed his lips against mine. I should have shoved him away, but I'd missed the feeling of him kissing me, I just missed him. So I kissed back, my hands finding their way to his hips and I pulled him closer. I wasn't used to being so forward, or dominant, but the anger was still inside me, needing an outlet, and I guess this was it. Jack stepped forward, our lips not parting, and pressed me up against the other wall, his hands tangled in my hair and he dragged my lip out between his teeth making me let out a soft moan.

Here we go again.

Notes

JALEX, UNITE! -BMB