The Trouble-Makers

"You're getting a job?" I couldn't help myself, I began laughing and leaned into Alex for support. We were all sat at the lunch table and all of us Trouble-Makers had already made it to the table along with Vic whom always sat here nowadays; probably because of Mike.

"Shut up, princess," Jack growled, looking down at the table, obviously embarrassed my reaction.

"I'm sorry," I sputtered, regaining my composure. "I just can't imagine you in an actual job."

"It's true," Alex also put in. "I thought you'd just mooch off your parents as much as you could."

Jack pouted his lip at us. "It's not even an actual job, I'm helping fix cars with my dad, geez..." He sighed. "Plus, I need to find a way to save up for that guitar some how. Because I'm so getting it."

Alex frowned, nodding his head in approval. "I didn't think you'd actually go through with it."

"Dude, that's sweet," Jaime finally added in. "That guitar and you are like soul mates; meant to be."

Jack smiled, lifting his hands up and leaning back in his chair. "What can I say?" He let out a chuckle.

I shifted in my seat, pushing my chair out but Alex caught my wrist. "Where you going?" he asked. As much as I did like Alex's protectiveness over me sometimes, but other times it came across as him being overly possessive and that was a trait that worried me.

"Just going to the bathroom," I informed him, forcing a smile and trying to wriggle my wrist out of his hand.

"I'll come with you," he said but I shook my head.

"No, it's fine," I insisted, standing up and walking away from the table. I heard Rian mumble something to Alex, and Alex let out a small frustrated growl. The more I hung out around the boys the more I realized it wasn't just Jack who wasn't used to being defied; it was Alex too. It was just Alex didn't show it to me as much as Jack did, probably because Jack cared less about what I thought.

I walked out of the cafeteria and entered the school hallways, walking towards the nearest bathroom. Despite me pissing off Alex to get into the bathroom, I didn't actually have to go. It was just an excuse for me to get up and walk away because I knew I would have to slowly work on Alex's possessive behavior.

After checking myself thoroughly in the mirror, I walked out of the bathroom and my eyes instantly caught a hold of someone I tried to avoid; Zac. I stopped in my tracks as I noticed he was making a beeline straight for me and I almost considered jumping back into the bathroom, but he advanced on me too quickly for that.

"Hey, can we talk?" he asked and I bit the bottom of my lip. The last time we had a talk Jack had to come and drag me away.

Reluctantly, I nodded my head and he grabbed a hold of my hand and dragged me towards a more secluded hallway that was right beside the bathrooms.

He intertwined our fingers and I couldn't help but shift uncomfortably from that; it felt awkward with him now. "Are you doing okay?" he asked, leaning closer towards me.

I pulled my hand out of his and a look of hurt crossed his face but I attempted to ignore it. He couldn't keep thinking that it was okay to still act like this when we weren't even dating. "What's it to you?" I asked harshly.

He sighed, looking away from a moment before looking back down at me. "Because I'm worried about you hanging out with them; they're not a good crowd. It won't be long until they try to make you join for real and-"

"Stop it," I hissed out, shaking my head quickly. "Don't talk like that because you will never know them like I do. They're my friends and they're there for me and would defend me no matter what; unlike you who couldn't even stick up for me to your friends."

His eyes widened. "Is that what this is all about?" he asked. "Stella, I swear I'll do better if you just give me another chance."

I shook my head again. "No, Zack. Just move on." My voice came out hard again and I hated acting like this, but I need it to get through his brain that we were never meant to be.

"Stella," he murmured, running a hand through my forehead to brush my hair out of my face. "Don't say that," he breathed as he leaned closer to me, closing the distance quickly.

"N-no," I stammered, but couldn't find myself to move away as my back was already pressed against a locker door.

But Zack didn't respond as he was thrown off of me and I saw Alex's taller frame stood in front of mine; protectively shielding me from Zack. I peeked around Alex's shoulder and noticed Zack was rubbing his jaw and it took a moment for me to realize Alex had just punched him.

"Piss off, Merrick, and don't come near her," Alex's voice came out dark and I knew he was holding back from doing a lot more to him.

"Just because your life is crap doesn't mean you have to make hers crap too, you know," Zack said back, his voice just as intense as Alex's.

A bitter laugh left Alex's mouth and it caused a shiver to ripple down my spine. "You have a lot to judge when you don't know much about me, Merrick. I do know that she left you to join us crap-lives so I guess we're a hell of a lot better than you."

Zack's eyes darkened at that, and I almost thought he was going to punch Alex back but he just shook his head. "She'll come to her own senses," he murmured, "and realize what low lives you guys are, just like Kellin says."

At that I hopped around Alex and went straight to Zack, slapping him across the face. Silence fell between us and even Alex was too astounded to say anything.

Zack slowly turned his head back to face me, confusion morphing into his eyes. "If you ever say crap like that about my friends ever again, I won't hold Alex back next time," I spat and grabbed a hold of Alex's hand. I began walking away with him before I turned around to face Zack one more time. "And just so you know, I joined them. I am a Trouble-Maker."

***

"That was the hottest thing ever," Alex told me, shaking his head and pacing back and forth. "Like, seriously, the way you told him; I don't think he's ever messing around with you again." We had walked back towards the cafeteria but took a detour and ended up in the school's parking lot. I didn't really want to face anyone else right now.

"Oh, please, if I didn't I knew you would," I defended myself as I leaned against the outdoor wall. The sun was shining brightly outside and it tingled against my skin.

"Don't deny it, you so wanted to hit him," he countered, turning towards me now, a smile still spread across his face. He obviously was one to like violence from the way he acted at the party, but he also liked it on others too, I suppose. "You can't even deny that rush it gave you."

"Okay," I admitted, "I kind of did want to shut him up."

Alex walked towards me and stood in front of me, closer than he usually did. "You really are a true Trouble-Maker," he murmured down towards me and I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Yeah? Well, I learned from the best," I spoke back, not being able to stop the flirty vibe that entered my tone.

A spark ignited in Alex's eyes and I knew what he wanted to do; it was the same look he gave me a few nights back when we almost kissed.

My breath hitched in my throat as I noticed he was leaning towards me, and the air around us felt much more calmer and welcoming than it did a just a few minutes ago with Zack. I even found myself leaning forward as well to close the distance, and then our lips touched.

At first he slowly kissed me, before he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to him and I couldn't help but feel protected by his strong arms and tall frame; it was as if he was shielding me from the outside world. "I swear to God I will protect you from them," he murmured into the kiss and I knew who he meant by them; pretty much anyone who threatened to harm me.

We got lost in time until we heard someone stammer, "h-holy hell!" and Alex and I jumped apart from each other.

Of course, it was Jack again and he didn't fight the smile that spread on his face as he pushed his way further out the door. "Well if it isn't princess and her knight."

Jaime was straight behind him, not seeing the make-out scene that Jack did but obviously putting the pieces together by our flustered behavior.

"Shut up, Jack," Alex said, pulling me back into his arms and resting his hands on my back.

"You're such a cock block," Jaime joked, laughing as they walked away and towards, I assumed, where Jack parked his car.

My blush didn't leave and I hid in Alex's chest, letting out a giggle. Alex was silent at first but eventually gave way and laughed with me, kissing the top of my head.

Notes