Holding On To Keep This Strong
Something Good Can Work
Alex woke up with a smile on his face already turning over to see Jack before his eyes were even open. But to his surprise Jack wasn't in bed as he'd been the night before. A frown burrowed deep in Alex's brow, Jack wouldn't leave without saying anything, right? Alex pulled himself out of bed and set off to look for Jack around his apartment. His first guess was to check the kitchen seeing as it was usually one of the first places he'd go to on a Saturday morning. Sure enough Jack was there, leaning against the counter Kyle standing across from him leaning against the island in the middle of the kitchen.
"Hey Jack I think your boyfriend finally got up." Kyle chuckled, looking over at Alex who stood in the kitchen's entrance.
"Yep he is." Jack giggled and raised his arms motioning for Alex to come over to him. So the elder did, wrapping an arm around Jack's skinny waist. "I was going to wait for you to get up but I got hungry...sorry?" Jack offered with a smile.
"It's fine. I would have much preferred waking up to your adorable face instead of an empty pillow though." "Awh you guys are cute." Kyle interrupted clearly excited about the budding romance between Alex and his student. "Sorry...but seriously you two are adorable. Like I hope people find me and Trav that awh-worthy when they see us." Alex rolled his eyes but secretly he appreciated Kyle's gushing. With no one else being able to know about his relationship with the teen it was nice to see that someone approved of them being together.
"For the record you two are really cute together." Alex laughed as he pushed his nose against Jack's throat.
"Is Trav your boyfriend?" The teen asked clearly confused.
"Something like that, we've been off and on for a really long time. Right now I'm hoping we stay together for longer than a few months."
Jack nodded, not bothering to completely understand the situation or ask for more details.
"They're 'meant to be'" Alex said in a sing-song voice accompanied by a half hearted laugh.
"Oh shut up Alex. Travis and I are going to work through everything, don't doubt us so much."
Alex rolled his eyes and decided to drop it. "Did you guys make food or are we just standing here?"
"Well I was going to make food but Kyle came in and we started talking so I guess we're just standing around."
"Let's order food. I can pick it up from the place, no ones delivering right now."
"From where?" Alex asked, he'd rarely gone to breakfast places since he'd moved into his place.
"That cute little cafe we went to over the summer? Is it still open?" Alex nodded knowing exactly where Kyle was talking about.
"Jack have you ever been to Ethel's?"
"Yeah, I went there with my mom last week." The teen laughed. "I can put the order in if you want. My brother worked there all through high school I know the owners pretty well."
"Awesome!" Kyle chirped and hopped up onto the island, long legs dangling from the edge. "What do you guys want?"
"Surprise me." Alex laughed as he unwrapped his arm from the teen's waist and made is way to the refrigerator for a bottle of water.
"Same." Kyle stated from where he sat.
"Cool lemme go get my phone."
"So what do you think?" Alex addressed his best friend once Jack had left the room and was out of ear shot.
"I like him. I wish he were older for a lot of reasons but I like him. He's good for you."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Nope." The peroxide blonde said with a shake of his head.
"Why not?"
"Cause you know exactly what I mean. He's good for you, a lot like your mom. It's pretty simple." Alex smiled at the thought of his mother he still missed her more than anything but day by day he was moving on as best he could.
"You really think so?"
"Yeah, they've both got that 'smile like you don't give a damn about the consequences' thing. Really full of life y'know?" Kyle paused knowing he was close to striking a chord with Alex which was completely unneeded at this hour let alone any time of day. "Anyways, next weekend I was wondering if you'd go out with me and Trav. You don't need a date or anything, really you can't even bring Jack so just dinner and stuff, like old times?"
"Nah. I already have an idea for what I want to do next weekend." Kyle rolled his eyes and hopped off of the counter.
"I see, you want to spend time with your own boyfriend instead of me and mine. Next time you have to come though, I miss when the three of us used to be friends."
"Okay next time. I really hope he's cut his hair by then."
"Nope, it's still past his shoulders just how I like it and it'll stay that way." The platinum blonde pranced out of the kitchen with that probably set on texting his boyfriend for the next half hour. Alex rolled his eyes and left the kitchen too to go into his bedroom where Jack was.
"So I was thinking you could stay the rest of the day with me and maybe we can actually watch a movie, what do you say?" Alex offered as he and Jack snuggled close together on the couch.
"Can we spoon while we watch?" Jack asked shyly, down casting his gaze. Alex simply stood up from where he was seated and offered a hand for Jack to take. "I call dibs on being the little spoon." Jack said childlike excitement ringing clear in his voice as he took Alex's hand and got up.
"Whatever you want."
Alex sighed and leaned against his front door, he hated that Jack had to go back home. In all honestly he really wished that Jack were older. Not only would it have made life much easier but it would also eliminate a lot of possible problems that their age gap could cause. The ringing of Alex's phone brought him back to reality with a startled jolt.
"Hello?"
"Hey, just wanted to thank you for such an amazing first date...and uhm for giving me a chance." Alex smiled although Jack couldn't see him, he could practically hear the blood rising to the teen's cheeks. "You don't have to thank me. But you're welcome, I'm glad you had a good time." Alex paused and lightly bit down on his lip. "I really liked spending time with you."
"T-thanks...uhm I'm pulling into my garage now...I kind of have to go but I'll call you later tonight."
"Alright, bye Jack."
"Bye Alex."
The teacher slipped his phone back into his pocket and decided to pay Kyle a visit. With nothing to grade and his plan for the rest of his unit made why not just waste time with his friend?
"Ky, come on. We're gonna miss the movie."
"Alex, hair this perfect does not just happen, let me finish."
"Well isn't someone being quite the fop."
"What does that even mean?" the platinum blonde asked, clearly annoyed. "You know what, I don't care. I'm done with my hair, lets go." Alex laughed and lead his best friend out if his apartment.
"Hey, Lex I've got bad news." Kyle said, looking up from his phone screen a genuinely upset pout on his face. The pair were at Noodles and Company still working through their meals.
"What's up?"
"I've gotta go back to school next week, there's a small chance that they'll push back our return date just to be safe but either way I have to go back."
"You've got a whole week, don't be upset now."
"Yeah, I'm gonna stay at school during break next month though...that's too much time there."
"Kyle...you really don't have to do that. I thought things were good with your family."
"No...I refuse to go there and be with them...I can't."
"But your dad apologized and everything, right?"
"I don't want his apology...I'm not the person he should be saying sorry to. Point is I'm not going to stay with them."
Alex sighed, he knew Kyle's family hadn't been the greatest but it was past time for Kyle to forgive them. Yet and still Alex felt like it was his job to give Kyle a place to stay other than his dorm room. "You know how I feel about you and your family...but if you want you can stay with me and my dad during break."
"Really Lex? I mean I don't w-"
"Yeah you do want to impose yourself upon us, but you're like another kid to my dad. He'll be fine with it. Besides I wouldn't mind for you to be with us for break."
"Is he coming up here or are you going back home."
"I'm going home, this time and for winter break."
Kyle nodded and forked a piece of pasta into his mouth. "Well I'm already excited. We'll have so much fun, I can even teach you guys how to bake my mom's recipe for those cookies I used to bring to group all the time." Alex rolled his eyes, if there was one person in Kyle's family that the peroxide blonde loved more than anything it was his mother, second to her would be her cookie recipe.
"I look forward to it. Anyways you still have to tell me about your date with Travis, do you really think he's in it for good this time?"
And so Kyle started to giddily explain every last detail of his new standing with his boyfriend to Alex. As annoying as Kyle and Travis's relationship was he loved seeing his friend so happy. So he listened contentedly, smiling and laughing in all the right places.
"Hey Jack I think your boyfriend finally got up." Kyle chuckled, looking over at Alex who stood in the kitchen's entrance.
"Yep he is." Jack giggled and raised his arms motioning for Alex to come over to him. So the elder did, wrapping an arm around Jack's skinny waist. "I was going to wait for you to get up but I got hungry...sorry?" Jack offered with a smile.
"It's fine. I would have much preferred waking up to your adorable face instead of an empty pillow though." "Awh you guys are cute." Kyle interrupted clearly excited about the budding romance between Alex and his student. "Sorry...but seriously you two are adorable. Like I hope people find me and Trav that awh-worthy when they see us." Alex rolled his eyes but secretly he appreciated Kyle's gushing. With no one else being able to know about his relationship with the teen it was nice to see that someone approved of them being together.
"For the record you two are really cute together." Alex laughed as he pushed his nose against Jack's throat.
"Is Trav your boyfriend?" The teen asked clearly confused.
"Something like that, we've been off and on for a really long time. Right now I'm hoping we stay together for longer than a few months."
Jack nodded, not bothering to completely understand the situation or ask for more details.
"They're 'meant to be'" Alex said in a sing-song voice accompanied by a half hearted laugh.
"Oh shut up Alex. Travis and I are going to work through everything, don't doubt us so much."
Alex rolled his eyes and decided to drop it. "Did you guys make food or are we just standing here?"
"Well I was going to make food but Kyle came in and we started talking so I guess we're just standing around."
"Let's order food. I can pick it up from the place, no ones delivering right now."
"From where?" Alex asked, he'd rarely gone to breakfast places since he'd moved into his place.
"That cute little cafe we went to over the summer? Is it still open?" Alex nodded knowing exactly where Kyle was talking about.
"Jack have you ever been to Ethel's?"
"Yeah, I went there with my mom last week." The teen laughed. "I can put the order in if you want. My brother worked there all through high school I know the owners pretty well."
"Awesome!" Kyle chirped and hopped up onto the island, long legs dangling from the edge. "What do you guys want?"
"Surprise me." Alex laughed as he unwrapped his arm from the teen's waist and made is way to the refrigerator for a bottle of water.
"Same." Kyle stated from where he sat.
"Cool lemme go get my phone."
"So what do you think?" Alex addressed his best friend once Jack had left the room and was out of ear shot.
"I like him. I wish he were older for a lot of reasons but I like him. He's good for you."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Nope." The peroxide blonde said with a shake of his head.
"Why not?"
"Cause you know exactly what I mean. He's good for you, a lot like your mom. It's pretty simple." Alex smiled at the thought of his mother he still missed her more than anything but day by day he was moving on as best he could.
"You really think so?"
"Yeah, they've both got that 'smile like you don't give a damn about the consequences' thing. Really full of life y'know?" Kyle paused knowing he was close to striking a chord with Alex which was completely unneeded at this hour let alone any time of day. "Anyways, next weekend I was wondering if you'd go out with me and Trav. You don't need a date or anything, really you can't even bring Jack so just dinner and stuff, like old times?"
"Nah. I already have an idea for what I want to do next weekend." Kyle rolled his eyes and hopped off of the counter.
"I see, you want to spend time with your own boyfriend instead of me and mine. Next time you have to come though, I miss when the three of us used to be friends."
"Okay next time. I really hope he's cut his hair by then."
"Nope, it's still past his shoulders just how I like it and it'll stay that way." The platinum blonde pranced out of the kitchen with that probably set on texting his boyfriend for the next half hour. Alex rolled his eyes and left the kitchen too to go into his bedroom where Jack was.
"So I was thinking you could stay the rest of the day with me and maybe we can actually watch a movie, what do you say?" Alex offered as he and Jack snuggled close together on the couch.
"Can we spoon while we watch?" Jack asked shyly, down casting his gaze. Alex simply stood up from where he was seated and offered a hand for Jack to take. "I call dibs on being the little spoon." Jack said childlike excitement ringing clear in his voice as he took Alex's hand and got up.
"Whatever you want."
Alex sighed and leaned against his front door, he hated that Jack had to go back home. In all honestly he really wished that Jack were older. Not only would it have made life much easier but it would also eliminate a lot of possible problems that their age gap could cause. The ringing of Alex's phone brought him back to reality with a startled jolt.
"Hello?"
"Hey, just wanted to thank you for such an amazing first date...and uhm for giving me a chance." Alex smiled although Jack couldn't see him, he could practically hear the blood rising to the teen's cheeks. "You don't have to thank me. But you're welcome, I'm glad you had a good time." Alex paused and lightly bit down on his lip. "I really liked spending time with you."
"T-thanks...uhm I'm pulling into my garage now...I kind of have to go but I'll call you later tonight."
"Alright, bye Jack."
"Bye Alex."
The teacher slipped his phone back into his pocket and decided to pay Kyle a visit. With nothing to grade and his plan for the rest of his unit made why not just waste time with his friend?
"Ky, come on. We're gonna miss the movie."
"Alex, hair this perfect does not just happen, let me finish."
"Well isn't someone being quite the fop."
"What does that even mean?" the platinum blonde asked, clearly annoyed. "You know what, I don't care. I'm done with my hair, lets go." Alex laughed and lead his best friend out if his apartment.
"Hey, Lex I've got bad news." Kyle said, looking up from his phone screen a genuinely upset pout on his face. The pair were at Noodles and Company still working through their meals.
"What's up?"
"I've gotta go back to school next week, there's a small chance that they'll push back our return date just to be safe but either way I have to go back."
"You've got a whole week, don't be upset now."
"Yeah, I'm gonna stay at school during break next month though...that's too much time there."
"Kyle...you really don't have to do that. I thought things were good with your family."
"No...I refuse to go there and be with them...I can't."
"But your dad apologized and everything, right?"
"I don't want his apology...I'm not the person he should be saying sorry to. Point is I'm not going to stay with them."
Alex sighed, he knew Kyle's family hadn't been the greatest but it was past time for Kyle to forgive them. Yet and still Alex felt like it was his job to give Kyle a place to stay other than his dorm room. "You know how I feel about you and your family...but if you want you can stay with me and my dad during break."
"Really Lex? I mean I don't w-"
"Yeah you do want to impose yourself upon us, but you're like another kid to my dad. He'll be fine with it. Besides I wouldn't mind for you to be with us for break."
"Is he coming up here or are you going back home."
"I'm going home, this time and for winter break."
Kyle nodded and forked a piece of pasta into his mouth. "Well I'm already excited. We'll have so much fun, I can even teach you guys how to bake my mom's recipe for those cookies I used to bring to group all the time." Alex rolled his eyes, if there was one person in Kyle's family that the peroxide blonde loved more than anything it was his mother, second to her would be her cookie recipe.
"I look forward to it. Anyways you still have to tell me about your date with Travis, do you really think he's in it for good this time?"
And so Kyle started to giddily explain every last detail of his new standing with his boyfriend to Alex. As annoying as Kyle and Travis's relationship was he loved seeing his friend so happy. So he listened contentedly, smiling and laughing in all the right places.
Okay I normally cringe at student/teacher fics, but cuz it's a 6 year age difference, I gave it a shot. This story is so great! The ending is beautiful. My eyes are watering. Not even kidding.
2/28/16