Jack sat uncomfortably next to Alex, listening as he talked. “When we were going into ninth grade, the day of our freshman orientation. The day I...” Alex trailed off.

“The day you beat me up for the first time.” Jack said. He remembered it all so clearly. How he was so excited to be going into high school with his best friend. How Alex shoved him on his ass. How he started punching him repeatedly in the face for no reason. Alex nodded.

“Y-yeah.” He said. “Zack had come to me just before you arrived, and told me that they would leave us alone if I beat you up, so I did. I thought they only meant once, but they told me everyday until we graduated. He said if I talked to you, he’d beat us up ten times as worse.” Alex looked shyly at his hands, guilt washing over him as he thought back to that day.

“So you took him up on his offer? Why would you do that?” Jack asked, fidgeting in his seat.

“I thought maybe it’d be better for me to beat you up, than for them to.” Alex said, realization setting in that he had obviously made the wrong choice.

“Are you fucking kidding me? It would have hurt much less if it were them. I needed a friend, and my only friend was the one making me feel worthless each and every fucking day.” Jack said, his voice raising with anger.

“I realize that now Jack, and I’m so fucking sorry. I really am.” Alex said defensively.

“Why are you telling me this now, anyway? Isn’t Zack going to hurt you if he finds out?” Jack asked, annoyed. Alex shrugged.

“I’m telling you this, because of the other day. I was crying because I felt like such a fucking ass. I couldn’t tell you how sorry I was, cause that would just fuck you up more. Everyday when I got home, after hurting you, I would go home and cry. I wanted to tell you Jack, I really honestly did.” He said. Jack didn’t say anything, so Alex glanced over at him. Jack could feel the lump rising in his throat, and his eyes begin to burn.

“I-I think you should go, Lex.” Jack said, surprising Alex with his old nickname. The one Jack came up for him in sixth grade. “We can talk some other time, but for now you really need to go.” He said, standing up from the couch and turning his back. It was a good five minutes before he heard Alex get up from the couch, and walk over to the door.

“I’m so sorry, Jackie. I hope there’s some way I can redeem myself to you.” Alex said quietly. Jack still didn’t say anything, and that’s when he finally heard the door open and close. He glanced behind him to see that Alex was gone, and that’s when he let himself sink to the floor and let the tears escape.

Notes

sorry it took so long to get this up, i was super busy yesterday . I'm going to be posting another chapter as well in a little bit, because of how short this one is.

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love you all.