Alex was getting worried. It had been two weeks since Zack phoned him crying but Alex was out with Jack and he wasn't risking Jack nearly leaving him again, he thought Zack would come to his and wait but he never showed or the day after that. Jack even went round to Zack's and he found Rian passed out drunk on the sofa at 11 in the morning and nearly killed Jack because he dropped something, when Jack came home he told Alex how all Zack's clothes were gone along with Zack himself. Now Alex was standing in the office of Zack's teacher waiting for him to arrive, a few minutes later a man with short brown hair and a grey suit walked in smiling and Alex couldn't believe this man was a photography teacher. "Mr Gaskarth?" He asked extending a hand to Alex and he nodding while giving his hand a shake.
"Colin Marshall, please sit" He smiled as ge sat behind his desk and Alex took the seat just infront of him.
"What can I help you with?" He asked Alex smiling.
"It's about one of your students, Zack Merrick?" Alex asked just wanting to know where is best friend was, he watched as Colin's smile disappeared and was replaced with a frown while he cleared his throat.
"Ah yes Mr Merrick, I've not seen him in class in nearly two weeks. Do you know where he is?" He asked and Alex sighed defeated shaking his head.
"That's why I came to talk to you, me and my friend are worried we haven't heard from him and can't get in touch with him. Is there anyone he was friendly with who might know something?" Alex asked praying that Zack was somewhere safe.
"He was friends with a boy called Evan I'll give you his address" He said standing and opened a wooden drawer and rumaged until he found what he was looking for, he handed Alex a small sheet of paper with Evan's address and phone number. Alex stood smiling
"Thank you so much" Alex said shaking his hand once more before quickly walking out to his car where Jack was waiting for him.
"I think we might have found him" Alex said as Jack shifted gear and drove off quickly and as they went to Evan's house Alex knew they we're both thinking the same thing.
"I really hope he's here Lex" Jack said softly as they walked up the stairs to Evan's house, Alex turned and looked at Jack
"Me too" He said before kissing his cheek and knocking the door, a few seconds later a boy Alex guessed was Evan answered frowning slightly.
"Evan right? I'm Alex and this is Jack, we're Zack's friends if you know anything about where he is-" Alex was cut off when he heard lighy footsteps and someone croak
"Alex?" Alex and Jack ran into Evan's house and scooped Zack into a hug.
"Zack! Fucking hell!" Jack breathed nearly crying while Alex was shocked at how skinny his friend was, he could feel Zack's ribs through his t-shirt. Zack was gripping onto both of them so tight sobs shaking his entire body.
"I-I want to g-go home!" Zack sobbed as Jack wrapped him up and took him down to the car telling him it would be okay, Alex then turned on Evan who had been standing quietly in the corner of the kitchen on his phone.
"Can you get me his things?"Alex whispered as Evan nodded quickly and disappeared before returning again a few minutes later.
"He's not been eating and whatever he does eat won't stay down for to long, he also has bad dreams every night and is scared to sleep. I honestly helped in the best way I could but please kick the guys ass who done that to him" Evan said handing over Zack's bag,
"You done great Evan thanks for being there for him and don't worry I plan to" Alex said darkly before walking down the stairs and climbed into the backseat along with Zack as Jack drove them home, Zack had went from sobbing to just shaking and gripping onto Alex's jacket as if he was going to disappear on him. "Zee? We'll take care of you" Alex whispered stroking his matted hair lightly as they pulled up to his house, Alex helped Zack into the house and put him in the guest bedroom whike Jack made him something to eat.
"Let's get you changed c'mon bro" Alex said helping Zack into a baggy t-shirt and his boxers trying not notice how much weight Zack had lost, the t-shirt swamped him, he ribs and hip bones sticking out too much and his eyes looked dead, not the bright green he remembered only a short few weeks ago.
"Eat this" Alex said handing Zack a small bit of a pop tart, Zack sighed but ate it anyway swallowing hard.
"I don't want to sleep, Alex I have such bad dreams. I can't!" Zack said gripping the covers looking like a terrified child, Alex went to get up but Zack grabbed him tightly.
"I'm just going to get you something to sleep" He said as Zack released him slightly and nodded quickly, Alex got up and took out of the medicine cupboard the tablets Jack uses when he can't sleep. Taking two he handed them to Zack
"Sleeping tablets, they'll knock you right out, no bad dreams I promise" Alex smiled as Zack took them and closed his eyes whispering a
"Thank you Lex" before he was fully asleep, Alex smiled sadly at his friend and went into his own room and cuddled up next to Jack.
"I'll fucking kill him Jack, I swear to God I'll kill him" Alex said angry rushing through him as Jack squeezed him tighter.
"Shh Lex" He said and kissed Alex's forehead.
"Jack did you see how thin he was!" Alex said now upset and he felt Jack nod
"We'll take care of him Lex I promise" Jack said handing Alex two of his own tablets and some water.
"Your getting better at knowing when I need them" Alex mused and Jack just smiled
"Enough talk time to sleep, I have a feelig tomorrow will be a long day" Jack whispered leaning down and kissing Alex lightly.
"I'll kill him" Alex whispered to no one but himself
"I know Lex, I know" Jack said squeezing his waist before they both fell asleep.