Long Live Us

*Alex pov*

With Jack's birthday fast approaching, Alex was beginning to stress about what to get him. The brunette was determined to find something that was simply perfect. He didn't want to go over the top, but it couldn't be too small. He wanted it to be unexpected, yet illusively obvious. It's just he couldn't think of anything that filled all his criteria. His mind was completely blank. This dilemma, doubled with the fact Tay is female, led to the two brunettes having a massive shopping outing. The girl insisted that she would be able to help, or just by wandering around he might have a stroke of genius, but Alex wasn't convinced. He'd woken up doubtful, then could not get his hair too look right, and the weather was at the point where it was way too hot to wear a coat, but the clouds were dark enough to taunt you with the almost definite possibility of rain. Tay, as she always would, had then met him with a grand smile on her face and looking as perfect as always, making Alex shrink inside his body feeling more self conscious than ever. Alex currently found himself following Tay around some girly clothes shop, trying to cheer himself up because he hated being this grumpy. So much so, that he was glad when Tay began asking his opinion of random items of clothing as it gave him something else to think about.
"Do you think I could pull this off? Or is it not my colour?" She asked, holding up a top to her body.
"I don't see why not. Try it on if you want." Alex said, unintentionally monotonously, highlighting his mood to the girl, who let out a sigh and put the clothing back.
"No it's okay." She shot him a small smile, before carrying on. The brunette let out a quiet groan and rubbed his forehead.
'Snap out of it Alex.' He told himself sternly, taking a few deep breaths, and taking out the shirt Tay liked. Jogging slightly, he caught up with her and held the top out to her, his signature grin on his face.
"Try it on, for me?" He asked, liking they way her eyes lit up and her cheeks reddened.
"Come on, best friends put up with each other. It's not a one sided thing!"

Another hour or so of shopping and Alex still hadn't found that perfect thing for Jack. Yeah, he'd brought the pair of sneakers the taller boy had been pining over for ages, and a new pair of jeans that he just knew would make his arse look great. But there still wasn't that something. As the pair were walking past a random coffee shop he had never noticed before, Tay demanded she needed a coffee and dragged the boy into the building. Despite her saying she was having a craving, Alex was almost certain it was because she had noticed the rather attractive man behind the counter - although she'd never admit that. The girl instantly went into full flirting mode when they ordered, leaving Alex feeling like a third-wheel-gay-best-friend hybrid, so he wandered over and sat down at a table, opting for one of the secluded ones at the back, where you could only just hear the strange music that was playing.
"He's sooooo hot!" Tay cooed when she finally came over to the table, sliding into the seat opposite Alex. The brunette tipped his head side to side, half agreeing. "He's bringing our drinks over in a minute."
"Are you gonna ask him out?" He asked, realigning the beanie on his head and looking back at Tay.
"Maybe... Do you think I should?" She shrugged, before looking sincere and focused.
"Not to burst your bubble or anything," Alex started, putting his hands on the table in front of him, "but my gay radar is beeping."
Tay laughed, rolling her eyes and brushing his comment off, checking her hair quickly as said boy made his way over. Alex had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing, picking at his nails to distract himself for the few moments.
"Cappuccino?" He questioned, placing the mug down in front of Tay, who giggled flirtatiously and smiled up at him. The guy then looked at Alex, a small smile sneaking onto his lips as he toyed with the mug before actually serving.
"So the latte must be for you, cutie?" He said, sliding the mug towards Alex along with a wink, before sauntering off, not being subtle at moving his hips in an attempt to make his bum look better.
"Told you." Alex said, laughing at the look of shock, horror and dismay on Tay's face.
She grumbled about how unfair it was for a few minutes, totally blaming Alex for the boys sexual orientation, before she decided she had let off enough steam and built her self confidence back up by slating him and changed the conversation.
"So what else do we need today?"
"I still haven't got Jack anything."
"You brought him shoes and jeans, what more do you want?" She questioned, looking at him like he had said something utterly crazy.
"Something.... Perfect." Was all he could come up with, letting out a loud sigh and pouting. Tay had a thoughtful look on her face for a few moments, before her eyes lit up and she smiled.
"Go to the place you had your first date. Take your notebook and guitar, just in case. You'll think of something." She said, as if it was all really obvious, although Alex still felt like he was missing a trick or something. The fair was only seasonal, so it was currently an empty field - how could that possibly help? But he didn't want to argue, so he shrugged and agreed.
"Okay, whatever you say."

Later that evening, Alex found himself strolling down the road, heading towards the field that housed the fair that one special night months ago. He had his guitar on his back, his notebook in his coat pocket, but still wasn't one hundred percent. On the bright side, the weather had made its mind up and had decided to go with cold and drizzly. Which Alex didn't actually mind, he found rain quite relaxing and therapeutic. The brunette arrived at the field, it being almost empty, minus a few dog walkers and a young couple. It was still light out, so he didn't expect to be alone, but he didn't really care. After spotting a tree, he made his way over too it, glad the leaves above has kept the ground dry. Placing his guitar in its case against the tree, he sat down, back against the tree and stretching his legs out in front of him.
Taking a deep breath, he started to think. There must be inspiration to be found somewhere. His gaze first fell over one of the dogs being walked, the lively Labrador bouncing around, tongue lolling as he chased after his owners; who watched and laughed as their beloved pet ran around. The sight brought a smile to Alex's own face, leaving him wondering if him and Jack would ever be like them.
As they wandered further away, a couple walked past much closer to the tree Alex was situated at, them happily singing to each other with the soft music playing out of the phone in the guy's hand. Alex didn't recognise the song, but still smiled at how happy they were, eyes and smiles glowing as they shared their time together.
"I love that song." The girl said, smiling broadly as they walked past Alex, who then had a stroke of genius.
'Song.'
After a short chuckle and a shake of his head at how well Tay knew him, Alex removed his notebook from his pocket and his guitar from its case. It normally took the brunette a while to get the writing of a song going, but this felt right. Looking at the sign that separated Thames Street and South Broadway, the chorus came instantly, the chords and other lyrics following suite. And so, Alex was sat under the tree, with his guitar and notebook, quietly strumming and singing away as the notes and words came together, occasionally looking up at the sign, or up at the sky where the first few stars were emerging. Sure enough, the song came together within a matter of hours, capturing everything the boy had felt over the last few months, into just over three and a half minutes. The perfection he had desperately been searching for had found him in the form of his own work, and Alex walked home with a smile on his face, knowing that what he had come up with was exactly what he had been looking for.

--------------------------------

"Just bring this side down a little bit. Yeah keep going.... More... Stop!"
The day of Jack's birthday had arrived, and the group were setting up Alex's living room. Rian was currently stood on a step ladder, trying to pin up a massive banner that said 'happy birthday Jack!' on it with Zack helping him. Tay, Jenna and Cass were running between Alex's and Jack's houses, picking up all the presents left - Joyce left them all out, after already having celebrated her son's birthday before being called out of state for work once again. That left Alex to cook his boyfriend, and inevitably everyone else, breakfast. Once the bacon was perfectly crispy, enough pancakes were made, there was a big bowl of scrambled eggs and sausages, he lay it all out on the table in the living room, laughing at everyone who was still setting up.
"Guys, you're meant to be doing this quietly." He whispered, raising his eyebrows at them.
"We are!" Jenna defended, placing what seemed to be the last present down.
"Go and get him up." Rian ordered, before everyone started searching for enough room for hiding spaces in the room. Laughing quietly, Alex exited the room and made his way up the stairs and into his room, where Jack was still sleeping. The dark haired boy was lying on his side, his arms wrapped around the duvet where Alex had previously been lying. His long legs were all over the place, as was his hair, and his usual soft noises were escaping his lips. It took a few moments for Alex to get over just how cute he looked, before he went to wake up the sleeping beauty.
"Jay baby, wake upppp." He received a whine in response, and something murmured incoherently.
"Jaaaack, it's your birthday, come on!" Alex pressed, grinning when the younger opened his eyes.
"There he is! Happy birthday gorgeous." Alex smiled, kissing the sleepy boy, who yawned and stretched.
"Aren't I supposed to wake up to a birthday blow job or something?" Jack complained, sitting up and guiding Alex onto his lap.
"Mm maybe later. Come on get up." The brunette smirked, pressing their foreheads together briefly, admiring Jack, as he so often did, before kissing him once again. Today was going to be perfect, he was going to make sure of it.

Notes

I'd planned to update today then wasn't going too but decided I would anyway... Not that anyone cares lol
seven chapters left guys; so not long to vote and comment and stuff *hint hint nudge nudge*
enjoy, big love homies!
xoxoxoxo