This World's An Ugly Place

"Time to eat," Sebastian declared, setting down the pizza boxes and opening them across our kitchen island. I grabbed the plates from the cabinet, grabbing enough for the entire group and then grabbing cups to pour soda for everyone.

"I would've never guess Angel was such a hostess," Alex remarked as he walked passed me and towards the pizza.

"Yeah, she shocks everyone in that regard," Lexus said and we all laughed at that.

"When did I become the Jack of the group?" I protested, grabbing my own plate.

"Sucks to be you," Jack said as he sunk his teeth into his pizza that was straight out of the box.

"Get a plate," Lexus scolded and Jack obliged.

I took a seat next to Alex at the dining the table while the rest of the group bickered over what slices they wanted and how big they wanted them. Alex looked over at me, a small smile coming onto his face.

"I feel like I never get to see you alone now," I joked.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's nice that you guys opened up so quickly to me, I really appreciate it," he said, looking down at his hands. "I never would've thought that I'd be so happy in a foster home."

I smiled sadly. "Well, you're always welcome here, got it? This is my home so it's also yours."

He looked at me questioningly.

"Well, this is where I get to live when I turn seventeen, at least," I explained.

His confused look still didn't leave his face. "Seventeen? I thought you had to be eighteen to leave the foster homes."

"Well, when Sebastian went to court to get my housing to be here, they ruled it to have to wait until I was seventeen and wait until Sebastian was older to take care of me," I explained once more.

"Then what about Jack? Why did Lexus get to keep him? You're all the same age..." he trailed off.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Judges are dicks," I concluded. "But, it might be because Lexus had a better record than Sebastian did."

He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Sebastian used to be quite the rebel when he was younger," I told him and his eyes widened. "I know right? You would never guess it! He grew up a lot after my parents, uh, died." I glanced away now, hating that this topic always got brought up. "But, hey," I said now, changing the mood. "Did you like the song?"

His face brightened. "I knew that was for me!"

"What was for you?" Case asked, sitting down opposite of me and Jack slid in beside me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "That's a secret."

He pouted his lips down. "That's not fair," Case pouted.

"Let's face it," Jack said now, "there are no secrets in this family."

"Very true," Sebastian said, sitting down beside Case while Lexus sat down on the opposite side of him.

"And since you're not technically family," Jack said, pointing a finger at Case, "it is in fact a secret to you."

Sebastian snorted. "You kidding? He might as well get adopted into this family with how close we are to him."

"Still doesn't count!" Jack declared.

"Then what about me? I'm only a half cousin," Lexus pointed out.

"Still family, though."

"But Alex knows, and he's not family," Case went on.

Jack frowned. "Good point. And I don't even know what the secret is either." Everyone started laughing at that. Leave it to Jack to get overly passionate over something he didn't even know about.

"So, what is the secret?" Lexus asked, taking a bite of her pizza.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's not really a secret, it's actually pretty obvious."

"Good," she said once she swallowed. "What is it then?"

I blushed and looked away while a growing smile went on Alex's face and Lexus smiled knowingly as well. Case and Sebastian frowned still, not quite understanding the picture.

"So, what movie are we watching tonight?" Jack asked, changing the subject.

"I want a horror," Lexus voted.

"But we watched horror last time!"

"Alex and I have to get going soon, our curfew is in less than an hour," I pointed out.

Jack let out a groan. "How old are you Alex?"

"Seventeen," he said through a mouth full of pizza.

Jack's eyes brightened. "When are you turning eighteen?"

"December," he responded.

"That means you can leave the home this year," Jack said with a smile.

Alex nodded his head, shifting uncomfortably.

"Do you have a place to stay in after you turn eighteen?" Sebastian asked now.

"N-Not really..." he admitted, looking down.

All our faces dropped and I looked up towards Sebastian and he nodded knowingly, turning his attention back to the sad boy in front of him. "You know, Alex, when you turn eighteen you're welcome to stay here."

Alex peeked his head up. "You don't have to do that," he said, shifting in his seat.

I let my hand hold onto his under the table. "Don't worry about it, Alex. We want to."

A smile brightened Alex's face but he looked back down at his hands, suddenly becoming shy once more.

"Well, I on the other hand am looking forward to having an awesome neighbor," Jack said, beginning to gnaw on the crust of his pizza.

"Excuse me?" I asked, pouting my lip out at him.

He winked at me. "Sorry, cous, but you're not very entertaining."

"I could say the same for you," I said, pushing him with my shoulder and he retaliating by bumping me harder; except he bumped me straight into Alex. "Sorry," I said, rubbing Alex's shoulder before shooting Jack a glare.

He simply shrugged his shoulders at me and I stuck my tongue out at him.

After everyone finished their pizzas, they all gravitated towards the living room while I stayed behind and picked up all the left over plates. I brought them over to the sink and began washing them, figuring Sebastian probably wouldn't start washing them until next week; he was mature, but he was also a messy boy.

"Hey," Alex said, appearing beside me. "You need help?"

I offered him a smile. "You can dry if you want," I replied.

He grabbed a dish towel, drying the plate I handed over to him. We stayed silent for the first few minutes; my mind off some where else and I figured Alex was still staying quiet because of earlier. When something upset him, it often made him quiet for the rest of the day.

"So...when do you turn seventeen?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I looked over at him, his eyes filled with curiosity. "I actually turn seventeen in December, the tenth."

He nodded his head. "I turn eighteen the fourteenth, so I'm only four days behind you."

"But you're still older," I pointed out, just about a year, though.

"Guess that means I'm wiser," he joked lightly and I chuckled at that.

After the dishes were all done, I placed the plates and cups back into their cupboards and turned to face Alex. I looked up at him, his tall frame leaning beside me. "So, I didn't actually get to thank you for tonight, but thanks," he told me, looking down towards the ground.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "For what?"

"The song," he answered, looking back up at me.

I smiled happily at that. "Thought you'd like it, well, since it's your favorite, anyways."

"That's the only reason why you chose it..?"

I shrugged my shoulders, not exactly willing to answer that.

It was his turn to smile now. "Either way, it was awesome. I hope All Time Low will be as amazing as The Star Gazers."

"I'm sure it will, with your singing voice, anyways."

"You haven't even heard my singing voice," he pointed out.

"Not yet," I said back, pointing up at him. "Speaking of which, you still need to sing something for me."

He quickly changed the subject now. "Why didn't you guys play any of your 'amazing' Guns N' Roses?"

I let out an exasperated sigh, the subject being crossed a lot at band practice with the guys. "Because Sebastian and Case wanted to play more of 'popular' music, or something like that," I remarked, looking away and frowning.

He chuckled lightly at that, knowing my love for music was strong.

"So, Alex, can I ask you something?" I asked, looking up at him.

He nodded his head, not breaking my eye contact.

"I know you say you don't really believe in love, but have you ever wanted to actually fall in love?" I asked, leaning my head back against the wall.

He looked up at the ceiling, letting out a hum. "Recently, I've been doubting that statement, actually. I'm not sure if I can deny that much longer."

I felt my stomach begin to churn with butterflies. "And why is that?"

Instead of answering my question, he offered his own, "well, what about you? Do you still believe love isn't for you?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I guess anythings possible."

Notes

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