A Daydream Away

Alex’s POV

It’s crazy how you can go from being frustrated and sad and angry all the time to being the happiest person in the world in a span of one weekend. It had been a whole month since I’d found Jack laying on a rainy park bench and had mustered up the courage to ask him if he needed a ride. My total number of panic attacks since then had been 1. I hadn’t cried since that panic attack. I hadn’t been angry at myself or my dad or anyone for not accepting me. I was happy.
All because of Jack Bassam Barakat.
My friends had noticed it, my mom had noticed it, hell, even my song writing was happier. I had sheets upon sheets of lyrics like “The city comes alive when we’re together,” “I'm building a place, something amazing, just for the sake of saving us from under the sun, two plastic hearts with nowhere to run,” “I’m gonna break down these walls I built around myself, I wanna fall so in love with you and no one else,” and “Tattoos and a switchblade attitude, snakebite heart with a bubblegum smile. Sex in stereo, don't turn the radio dial.” It was amazing to feel something that wasn’t just frustration and hopelessness.
I mean, sure, I would never get to be anything but his friend, but being able to talk to him and get to know him was better than anything else in the world.
The only downfalls were his friends. I was being beat up constantly… once I couldn’t even walk because my leg was hurt so badly. I have no idea what started this new increase of harassment, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
Okay, I lied. There was another downfall.
“Hey there” Zack said, sitting down next to me at our lunch table. I glanced up at him, not bothering to respond.
“Whoa there, usually I get at least the beloved Alex Gaskarth smile. What’s up with you?” Zack questioned, stuffing some carrots into his mouth as he spoke.
“I feel like something’s wrong with Jack.” I stared at the boy I was speaking of, picking him out through the crowd of people easily.
“Have you asked him about it?”
“No, I don’t want to seem creepy.” I sighed.
“Who’s creepy?” Rian asked, sitting down across from me, Cassadee right by his side.
I filled him in on my thoughts, and he had the same advice as Zack. ‘Just ask him’.
Luckily, Cassadee was there to actually give me something I could work with.
“Why don’t you make a mental note every time he says or does something you think is off, then you can maybe see if they have all have something in common? Like maybe it’s only when he talks about his parents or grades or something.”
“Cassadee, you are a lifesaver. That is probably the smartest thing I have ever heard.” I said, going through my head and trying to figure out all the times I’ve noticed him acting strange.
“Hey, don’t hit on my girlfriend.” Rian pouted, wrapping a protective arm around Cassadee’s waist.
As much as I loved Rian and Cass together, it also made me extremely jealous. They were in love, and it was written so plainly on their faces, whether they were with each other or not. I craved that feeling. I’m that guy who watched RomComs and reads novels and wants to find true love, and it fucking sucked.
And then there was Zack. He’d had girlfriends on and off, but never really got attached, and he was perfectly fine with that. He didn’t want to stay with someone just for the sake of having them there. Why couldn’t I feel like that?
I groaned resting my head on the table.
“You’re gonna get sick, there are a lot of germs on the table.” I heard a familiar voice say from behind.
I saw Jack standing there, an uneasy smile plastered on his face. He looked like he’d just overheard some bad news or something.
“Is something wrong?” I asked. It was like I had flicked a switch with my question, and he changed his face, putting on his most convincing Barakat smile.
I guess it whatever it was wasn’t too bad.
“Nah, just worried about math and stuff. Do you want to hang this weekend?” Jack asked, not taking his eyes off of me.
“Sure, I think I’m free. How does Saturday sound?”
“Perfect” He responded, a true smile finally forming on his face.
He quickly said goodbye to my friends and I before returning to the table he usually sat at. I watched him say something to Max and felt my insides churn. It was kind of annoying that he was still friends with him after he knew he had beaten me up multiple times. I tried not to mind too much though, I knew they’d been best friends for a while and I knew it would be hell for me to have to say goodbye to Zack or Rian or Vic or even Cassadee, no matter what they did.
“So, what do you think you guys are going to do this weekend?” Zack asked, picking up his stuff to go throw it away.
“No clue.” I said.
Maybe I could figure out the real reason he was acting so weird, because it sure as hell wasn’t school. What was Jack keeping from me?

Notes

Okay so remember how Jack said he'd give himself 1 month with Alex?

tick tock tick tock

I'll probably post another chapter later tonight, but it all depends on when I get home from dinner tonight.

I hope you guys liked the chapter, I promise something exciting is going to happen soon<3