Alex

I do feel bad for what we’ve done. A part of me does, yet I know that Zack, Jaime and Vic have doubts. I’ve known them for quite some time now, which means that they know more about me than I would like. But the problem is that they don’t understand. They don’t understand what it feels like to be put down for most of my life. They don’t understand what it’s like to have everyone ignoring you. They don’t understand what it’s like to feel powerless.

Standing in the middle of my room and watching as Jack tried to get himself in a slightly less uncomfortable position, made me feel some sort of joy. Seeing that he was completely in our mercy made my blood rush faster, giving me that bit of an adrenaline I never knew I craved.

What surprised me though, was the fact that he hadn’t tried to call for help. Or tried to break free. Anything. He just let everything happen as we had planned. While I was watching him, not once he pulled on his restrictions. He didn’t try to get the blindfold off or anything.

I watched him for a while longer after he stopped moving and was laying still on the floor, but I got tired of it, seeing as I’ve been up since early morning and it was definitely past midnight by now. I moved to turn off the lights in the room, causing Jack to jump. His head shot up, turning to face me, the blindfold keeping him from actually seeing me, or anything in the room.

“Who’s there?” he asked, his voice slightly shaky.

“You know it’s kind of stupid to ask that, right?” I chuckled, turning the lights off and climbing in my bed.

I moved around in the bed, trying to get comfortable while still being able to see Jack’s silhouette in the darkness.

“So now I have a babysitter?” he asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“Don’t be an idiot. Since you’re occupying my room, we’re kind of a room mates now,” I joked.

“Didn’t ask to be locked here with a psycho,” he muttered.

“No one here is a psycho and I’ll let that slip cause you’re tired and freaked out, it’s late and I want to sleep,” I pulled covers closer around my body, “so please shut up.”

He didn’t answer me and I smiled at that. It’s kind of good that he’s not putting much of a fight up against us. Easier for everyone. All we had to do now was figure out how to get money out of his parents. First half of the plan went smoothly.

My high school life wasn’t what everyone says it’s going to be. I didn’t get invited to parties, I didn’t date anyone, I obviously wasn’t popular, but thanks god I wasn’t bullied either. Most of my high school years I was ignored. Like I didn’t even exist. No one ever noticed whether I was in the class or not. Even teachers rarely acknowledged my presence.

That could’ve had something to do with my outbursts, but it wasn’t my fault. At that time I didn’t
know how to control myself and my family couldn’t afford to find someone to help me. I was sent to a doctor once, but the moment he told my parents how much the medicaments would cost, they ignored it. They ignored me completely from that point. At first I was angry at them. I would yell at them, demand an explanation, but obviously they had none. They had nothing to say to me and over the years I got used to that.

Some would say that being ignored is better than constantly being picked on by someone, but you can only understand what is worse when you’ve felt it on your own skin. When you’re being picked on, at least you know you exist. I wasn’t sure of my existence for way too long. I had to fight to be notices, to be acknowledged while people like Jack Barakat had it all – the good looks, money, attention.

After high school things thankfully changed for better. I found people to call friends, I got the help I needed and I got attention I wanted, and left everyone who ignored me behind. That was a really good feeling and I finally felt free. I was my own boss. Both – literally and figuratively.

Although things weren’t going as great as they could have, we managed to pull through. That was until few months ago rent got higher and we physically couldn’t earn enough at the coffee shop. It doesn’t matter how many hours we work. People just don’t tend to waste their nights in a coffee place. It’s not like that would be a bar or something.

And then Jack Barakat just walked through the doors, completely ignoring me behind the counter as he placed his order, finding his damn phone to be more interesting than me, or his coffee. It was painful. It brought back too many memories and a thought popped into my head. A thought that could solve all of our problems if everything goes as it should.

---
“Hey,” the doors were suddenly opened and Zack’s head popped in, “one of your booty calls is here and I think we can all agree it’s best if you get rid of…them,” he quickly said, obviously trying to hide as much information as possible, seeing as Jack had sat up straighter once the doors were opened.

“Shit,” I muttered, swinging my legs off the bed.

I quickly walked over to Jack and took a hold on his chin, turning his head towards me even though he wasn’t able to see me, “if you make any sound, I’ll smash your face,” I said with a smile on my lips, enjoying a light tremble his body gave at my words. I patted his head and stood up to leave the room.

Zack was standing by the doors, shocked look on his face, “did you really need to say that?” he whispered to me as I was to leave the room.

“Keep an eye on him, will you? So I don’t have to do what I just said,” I gently pushed him inside of the room, closing the doors behind him.

Running my fingers through my hair and trying to make myself look presentable, I walked the short way towards the front doors to meet one of my booty calls, as Zack liked to call them.

They guy was leaning against the wall, hands crossed over his chest and eyes having a blank look in them as he was staring at the wall.

“Hey,” I said, making him jump as he hadn’t noticed me.

“Hi, cutie,” his face lit up and he pushed himself away from the wall, “you didn’t call me last night, I thought we were gonna hang out together…have some fun,” he pouted, coming closer to me and wrapping his arms around me.

“Sorry, I was busy,” I mumbled and closed my eyes as he leaned closer, expecting a kiss.

“What was more important than me, huh?” he bumped his nose against mine, but I suddenly felt irritated by his question.

“Excuse me?” I pushed him away, “We are nothing! A lot of things can be more important than you!” I exclaimed, seeing his expression turn to bewilderment, “My mother could’ve been dying but all you care about is getting laid!”

“Your mom was…” his eyes widened.

“No! I don’t have a mother and you know that!” I nearly yelled.

“Sorry,” he said, looking like I would’ve kicked him or something.


I sighed, closing my eyes and lightly pinching my nose to calm myself down, “you need to go.”

He didn’t seem to understand me, as he didn’t move at all, instead placing his hands back on my hips, “are you okay?”

I really wanted to punch him, but that reminded me of last night and Jack, and my hand was still hurting, and…yeah…I slumped in his chest, wrapping my arms around him and breathing in his scent to calm myself down.

“You really need to go, Brendon. This is really not a good time,” I said, closing my eyes and reveling in the feeling of his fingers running up and down my back.

“Promise to call me if you need anything, okay?” he asked, lightly pressing his lips to my hair.

“Yeah, fine,” I sighed, pulling away from him and pushing him towards the doors.

He pressed a quick kiss to my lips before I closed the doors and leaned against them. I didn’t want to return to my room. Zack was looking at me like I was crazy and I’m sure he didn’t trust me to be alone with Jack, seeing as he checked on us more than two times during the night. I was able to see Vic sitting on the living room couch, throwing worried glances my direction and god knows where Jaime was. Probably at the police station already, telling that there’s a guy in
our apartment.

“Where’s Jaime?” I called to Vic, not ready to leave my place in front of the door.

“Out. Buying some food,” he called back, before turning around in his seat to have a better look at me, “you okay?”

“Yeah,” I leaned my head against the doors.

“I get it that this situation you’ve put us in, is not the best, but you seriously gotta pull yourself together. If not, then Brendon is not going to be the only one who notices that something is wrong,” Vic propped his elbows on the back of the couch.

“Shut up!” I grumbled, pushing myself away from the doors and going back to my room.

Vic was right though, I had to pull myself together before they start to catch up. I was able to do that before and it’s not like this is forever. We just have to get the money. Then everything will be fine. For me and for them. And Jack will be out of our lives or good.

I could hear voices behind the closed doors, meaning that Zack was talking to Jack. Or other way around. Doesn’t change the fact that they were talking and that is not good. Nor is it smart from Zack’s part.

I opened the doors, glaring at Zack who was sat on my bed, his body turned towards Jack. I noticed Jack shrinking in on himself, his body becoming tensed. It was actually quite funny to see how he always turned his head towards the noise. Like he was hoping to see something through that blindfold.

“He needs something to eat,” Zack calmly said to me.

“No, he doesn’t,” Jack answered before I could even open my mouth to say something.

I frowned at the answer, my eyes meeting Zack’s, confused look on his face.

“Don’t need you to poison me too,” Jack mumbled, pulling his knees up as best as he could, “but a chance to go to the bathroom would be great,” he said with a little bit of confidence evident in his voice.

“You’re not a child. Can wait a bit longer,” I said in a sweet tone.

I motioned for Zack to leave the room, but he stayed seated on my bed. I clenched my teeth, pointing a finger at him and then at the doors, but he just shook his head. Even though I considered him to be my best friend, sometimes I just wanted to strangle him. He could be so stubborn and not listen to me. Sometimes it was useful, but not when he was stubbornly sitting in my room and refusing to leave.

I sighed loudly and turned around to leave, but Jack’s voice stopped me, “so no bathroom for me?”

“Oh, for Christ sake! Take him to a bathroom and hold his hand while he does his business,” I said in a mocking tone, glaring at Jack even if he couldn’t see that.

I could feel annoyance and anger radiating from Zack. I knew he will have something to say to me. Actually, I was surprised he hadn’t said anything to me about the last night yet. After I punched Jack few too many times. All I got from Zack was a disapproving look. But I didn’t feel like he needed to give me a lecture about that. I did feel bad about that. The guy’s face looked like it had seen a better days, dried blood decorating his lip and nose, some also smeared across his cheek. Not to mention that my hand hurt every time I moved my fingers.

I watched from my spot by the doors as Zack untied Jack, keeping a strong hold on his arm as he helped him stand up. I felt the need to yell at Vic to keep an eye on the front doors, but that might put some unwanted thoughts in our captives head.

“My whole body feels broken,” Barakat whined as he finally stood up straight, his faced scrunched up in discomfort.

“Excuse us that we can’t provide you with a high class service,” I replied, sending a glare his way, yet keeping a smile on my lips.

He kept his mouth shut, stumbling over his feet as Zack tried and guided him out of the room.

“Pull your shit together,” he spat at me through clenched teeth.

I didn’t say anything. It wasn’t a good idea to start a fight in front of Jack. Especially when he wasn’t safely handcuffed to the radiator in my room.

Notes

yeah, totally no pressure at all after all those shameless compliments being poured all over me.

more explenations about alex in my next chapter ;D
to be continued...

- ilovetea ^.^