Long Live Us

*Jack POV*

It was the week after the booklet exchange, and they'd swapped back on Monday. Jack noticed that Alex had taken the rose drawing, which he was surprised at - it wasn't his favourite. But the shorter boy has said it reminded him of Tom, so Jack was happy for him to have it, and was quietly proud of himself for his drawing having an affect on someone. Now, however, he was sat in Penny's office, with Jenna next to him, and the two were having a proper girly gossip. They had spent fifteen minutes discussing each other's shoes. The boy had just sat with his head in his hands and eyes eyes shut, sleepily day dreaming. He had absolutely no interest in whatever the girls were talking about, and they knew that, so left him too it. A few minutes later, though, Jack opened his eyes when he heard them say Alex.
"Yeah he likes him." Penny said, chuckling and looking at Jack.
"What's going on?" He asked, mumbling sleepily and sitting up.
"We were just discussing you and your new love interest." Jenna cooed, poking Jack's cheek.
"Ask him out for his birthday." Penny said simply, looking at Jack. He just stared blankly between the two girls.
"I'm not- he doesn't- but-"
"Jack, I think it's time to admit you like him. Gay or bi or whatever, doesn't matter. Try telling him how you feel." Penny spoke.
"How?" He chocked, fear overwhelming him. How was he gonna tell Alex anything? He couldn't muster up the guts too kiss him last week, how could he ask him out on a date?
'These two are mad.'
"Go see him tomorrow, tell him, then organise next week?" Jenna suggested, adjusting her position so she was facing Jack more. He nodded at this suggestion, his cheeks heating up. Since he'd asked Alex about how you would go about finding out if you were gay, his mind was just getting more and more confused. He didn't want to risk his friendship with Alex, but at the same time he just HAD to know. There was one plan building up in his head, which he was certain Jenna would make him out into action if she knew about it: asking Alex about his confusion, but not saying it was over Alex.
'That would work, right?' But then again, how would he ask him out on a date without telling him? Groaning, Jack put his head into his hands.
"Why does it have to be so complicated?" He murmured, pulling at his fringe slightly. Jenna's arm snaked round his body, so he leaned into her, resting his head on her shoulder.
"It'll go smoothly, Jack... I know you're confused but us two will always be here, you know that." She murmured, running a hand over the back of Jack's head.
"I don't want to let him in anymore...It scared me Jen..."
"I know, but he's in the same position. I think you're made for each other." Jack chuckled, knowing Jenna believed in fate and everything like that, soul mates, you meet everyone for a reason, and all that. She made a well reasoned argument if it was ever brought up, but Jack had never given it that much thought. Just as Penny took a breath in, Jack's phone buzzed, and the two girls watched intently as he answered.
From Alex Gaskarth:
are you busy later? I need to talk to you..
Jack frowned, worry building up inside him. What had he done? Maybe Alex had found out and didn't want to be friends with him anymore.. Maybe Alex had decided Jack was too much of a fuck up to be worth anymore of his time..
"Jack, calm down." Penny told him softly, making the boy realise he was breathing really heavily and shaking slightly. He nodded, and showed them the message.
"Well isn't that convenient?" Penny chuckled, shooting Jack a smile. Jenna laughed as well, leaving the boy a little confused. Looking at each other, the two blondes rolled their eyes.
"You both need to talk to each other. Go for it." Jenna said, motioning to Jack's phone.
"What if he's upset or angry at me?" He asked, his eyes betraying his worry.
"You'll just have to find that out." Penny said from the opposite side of the table, sorting out Jack's folder for the end of the session. He looked between the two of them, still frowning, trying to work out what the hell was going on.
"Fate that is, fate." Jenna said, winking, and standing up to signal they should get going. "Just text him saying the same thing back." Taking a deep breath in, he typed his reply before saying goodbye to Penny.
To Alex Gaskarth:
nope I'm free, I need to talk to you as well..

An hour later, Jenna was dragging Jack round the supermarket, stocking up in supplies. She was spending the weekend and until Wednesday at Jack's while her parents were away. The tall boy was pushing the trolley around, wanting to get out of this place, traipsing around after Jenna. He leant on the trolley, and let it carry him along as he rolled over to where Jenna had stopped by the cereal.
"Have you thought about your date yet?" She asked, looking over the various boxes lined up in the shelf.
"Er...no.." He replied. Honestly, he had a little bit, but hadn't come up with anything he felt was good enough. Jenna just nodded, before pulling down a box of Cookie Crisps and putting them in the trolley. She grinned at Jack, knowing he would be miserable, so he smiled sarcastically back, making the blonde roll her eyes.
"Oh c'mon handsome, lighten up! One more aisle and we're done, and I'll treat you too a chocolate cake." Jack knew his eyes lit up at that, because only Jenna would buy them for him. "Such a child." She said, shaking her head as she set of down the aisle again. The tall boy followed now with a spring in his step, knowing they could leave soon and he would have cake. The pair waltzed down the final row, Jenna grabbing what was needed, before going to the check out. Jenna politely greeted the women sitting behind the screen.
"Hey Jen, do you remember that song from primary school?" Jack piped up whilst unloading the trolley. She frowned, looking skeptical. "Remember? Take it to the check out, get it scaaaaanned, take it to the check out, that's the plaaaaaan, you can pay your money and back your bags at the checkouttt!" He sang enthusiastically. Jenna just laughed hysterically at him, shaking her head in embarrassment. The checkout lady gave Jack a look which suggested he should put in a mental hospital, but he ignored it and continued grinning happily.

Later that day, Jack was nervously standing in his room, waiting to go round to see Alex. He'd got changed six times, and still wasn't happy with how he looked. Desperately wanting to impress, he scanned over his black jeans and blue top, wondering why this wasn't doing it for him. Sighing, he straightened out a bit of his hair, before putting on his puffy black cardigan and black trainers. With one more glance, he nodded to himself, and went downstairs.
"Finally! I was beginning to think you'd fallen asleep!" Jenna called from where she lay on the couch watching television. Her blonde hair was tied up in a messy pony tail, and she was wearing Jack's Raven's shirt - which was huge in her.
"We're like a married couple." He chuckled, making Jenna laugh.
"No we're not. Go ask the hottie next door in a date. Good luck!" She said, shooing him out of the room. He rolled his eyes and walked to the door, through the hedge and up to Alex's. Taking a deep breath, he rang the doorbell. Jack heard talking from the other side of the door, before a man opened the door. He looked a bit like Alex, but older, and his hair was shorter and darker, and his eyebrows weren't as thick.
"Can I help you?" He asked in a rough voice, thick with a British accent.
"Hi, I'm Jack. I live next door and I'm here too see Alex?" He introduced himself, sticking his hand out to try and make a good impression. The man then smiled, obviously remembering that he was expected.
"Oh, yes that's right. Come in, come in." He said after shaking Jack's hand. Stepping into the house, the tall boy felt more nervous than ever.
"Would you like a drink or something?"
"Erm, no thank you, Mr Gaskarth." Jack replied politely with a small smile. The man nodded, then pointed Jack through to the living room.
"This is that guy Alex was talking about." Alex's dad said, motioning between Jack and a women sitting on the couch. She turned her head, and had the exact same eyes as Alex. She had short, wavy hair that fell just above her shoulders.
"Oh! Nice to meet you Jack!" She greeted with a smile, standing up to greet him properly.
"You too, Mrs Gaskarth." He smiled again, his nerves threatening to overpower him any moment as he stuck his hand out.
"Oh, don't be silly!" She said, pushing his hand away and hugging him. "And call me Isobel, and this is my husband Peter." She told him, re-introducing him to the man that opened the door. Jack felt he was playing the part of the boyfriend trying to impress the girls parents, and him and Alex weren't even dating.
'Yet..' he silently hoped. Isobel started up some small talk about school, whilst Peter went and as back down on the couch, ignoring the pair. A few minutes later, the door opened and Alex was stood there.
"I thought I heard the doorbell ring!" He exclaimed, smiling brightly at Jack, who smiled nervously back. It suddenly hit him how this looked from Alex's parents eyes: they probably though he was their sons new boyfriend. Awkward.
"Am I allowed to see my friend now? Has the interrogation finished?" Alex joked, flicking his hair.
"Oh, stop it Alexander. I just wanted to know a little bit about this lovely young man!" She said, signalling to Jack that he could go with Alex. The two boys left, and went into Alex's room. It was a very typical room, nothing too exciting, with a few pictures, concert tickets and guitars on the walls. Another wave of nerves hit Jack as he remembered what he was about to do. It was either going to work, and go perfectly to plan, or fail miserably and destroy a perfect friendship. That last thought nearly made the tall boy bottle out. Was it all going to be worth it? What if they fell out, again? Jack didn't even know if he was gay or not, and he was trying to ask Alex on a date. It still didn't make much sense in his mind, but at the same time he knew this was the only thing he could do about it. He wanted his head to be right again. He wanted to know how he felt for certain again, like he used too.
"Jack? What's wrong?" Alex's gentle voice brought him back into the room. The shorter boy was sat in his bed, looking up at Jack with round worried eyes, who was still standing at the door to the room.
"I.. Er... It... Er..." He stuttered, struggling to look at Alex.
"What's wrong? Why are you so nervous?"
"I... Erm... You..." He mumbled, not having any idea how to start. He'd never had to do this before, and didn't have a clue what to say.
"I make you nervous?"
"Er... Well... Yes..." Jack started. Alex's brown eyes flashed with hurt, and his eyebrows came together in confusion.
'Well this is the best start I'm gonna get..' Jack thought, forming the first sentence in his head. It was now or never.
"Yes, Alex, you make me nervous. Nervous in the way that when I look at you my knees feel like jelly and my stomach does tumble turns. Nervous in the way my heart beats twenty times faster when you smile. Nervous in a way that makes me want to always look my best because I know I'll be seeing you. I.. I don't know... Why or anything.. I just know that's what's going on.." He dared to glance up, and the hurt in Alex's eyes had faded, and his facial expression had softened. Maybe he would be okay about it. They remained silent for a few moments, both waiting for the taller boy to continue. He figured out the jist of what he wanted to say, before taking another deep breath, running his hand through his fringe and continuing.
"I'm really fucking confused right now... Like, REALLY confused, But.. I know I.. Well I think.. I'm pretty certain, that I.. Erm, like you. I've never felt like this before, not this strongly, and if it's okay with you...I kinda want to explore this. I want to take you on... Like a date, for your birthday. If you'll let me, obviously..." Blushing like mad, he finished his little speech, and looked back up at Alex, whom was staring back at him. Jack studied his brown eyes, how they were glowing with happiness. How this bushy eyebrows sat perfectly above his eyes, and his lips formed dimples in his cheeks when he smiled. His brown hair flopped across his face, and Jack was beginning to think he was perfect. Then, after a few minutes passed, Jack began to get a bit freaked out. Obviously Alex thought he was a twat and wanted nothing to do with him or something.
"Alex I-"
"Yes."
"...What?"
"Yes, I will let you take me in a date." He said with a small smile and a blush creeping onto his cheeks. Jack stood in complete disbelief. Was this really happening?!
"Really?" He asked, still not believing it.
"Yes, Jack bloody hell! I like you too..that was actually what I wanted to talk to you about.." Alex replied, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red. "I've got one question though."
"Uh oh..." Jack began to panic a little bit again - he hated when people said that.
"Why'd you push me away when I tried to kiss you...?" He looked away sheepishly, evidently embarrassed and probably not really wanting the answer. The answer wasn't as bad as Alex thought though, as Jack chuckled at his nervousness.
"Okay a few reasons. One, you kinda took me by surprise. Two, I was still in denial... And three, I hate not being in charge and not being in control." He replied with a little grin. Alex laughed, looking back up as he flicked his hair.
"I'll bear that in mind." He laughed.
"This won't make things weird between us, right?" Jack asked, voicing his worries.
"Of course not, I just feel a little but like a teenage girl who finally got asked out by the guy she's been crushing on for ages right now." Alex replied, smiling shyly up at Jack, who giggled. The brunette really was cute.
"Okay good. So, I'll see you on Monday, but I'll pick you up on Saturday at half six, okay?" He grinned, winking when Alex looked up to nod. They spent a moment just smiling at each other, before Jack said he'd better go and check Jenna hadn't ruined his house. As he turned around to open the door, Alex stopped him.
"Hey! Don't I even get a hug?" He requested with a pout, crossing his arms to try and look annoyed. Jack just thought he was adorable. He walked across the room towards the shorter boy, and engulfed him in a hug. Moments later Alex wriggled so that he could get his arms around Jack's neck, and the two stood there in each others arms.
"I think I could get used to his." Jack whispered, burying his face into Alex's neck.
"Me too." He whispered back, fiddling with some of Jack's hair at the back. As Alex pulled away, Jack snuck a quick kiss into his cheek, before leaving. With his lips tingling from where they had connected with Alex's skin, he said goodbye to his parents and made his way back to his own house. There was a ridiculously huge grin plastered on his face, and definite spring in his step. It was then he realised how happy the boy next door made him, and how much he wanted this too work. A few ideas for the perfect date were swimming about in his mind, it just needed to be fine tuned. Jack wasn't going to fuck this up. Not this time. He pushed the door open, and Jenna was instantly in front of him.
"So? What happened?" She demanded, tension evident in her stiff shoulders.
"He said yes!" He squealed like a girl, just as Jenna did as she leaped forward and hugged him. Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around, stupidly happy and without a care in the world.
"I told you it would! Oh Jack I'm so glad!" She said, tightening her grip on him. He smiled into her neck and rubbed his head against hers to acknowledge she spoke. It all worked out. It was all worth it. Jack Barakat was taking Alex Gaskarth on a date. A real, official date.

Notes

-thanks for reading! enjoy! xox