Jack walked into first period absolutely terrified, he still didn't know how to approach Alex and had even considered ditching first period, but he'd opted on going to class and avoiding his teacher as best he could. Which is why he was so relieved to see a platinum blonde guy sitting at Alex's desk when he sat in his seat. But that relief was momentary when he saw Alex in the corner of the room writing something out on a sheet of paper.
Jack sighed and wiped the back of his hand across his still puffy eyes. He'd cried nearly all night with Zack just holding him and the older teen still had no idea why.He made a mental note to tell Zack exactly what was up but pushed that to the back of his mind when he heard Alex call him.
"Jack, can you come here?"
Fuck, today was going to be worse than he thought. Jack stood from his seat and went to the front where Alex was waiting for him.
"Y-yeah?"
"Can we talk? Not now obviously, but later. Sixth period?"
Jack shook his head, he didn't know why but he couldn't bring himself to talk, not today anyways. He'd spent all night crying over his teacher, what he needed now was space...just time to figure out what to talk about.
"I-I...I don't know."
"Okay." Alex made a small smile and nodded, seeming to be completely understanding, but the confusion lay clear in his eyes. Jack felt guilty for that but shuffled back to his seat anyway. "Guys it'd be nice if you shut up so we can get started." Alex yelled, the bell had to have rung at least five minutes ago. Jack sighed and leaned back in his seat, even the teacher's voice put him on pins and needles. "Okay, now that I have your attention, I bet you were all wondering who this guy is." Alex gestured to the platinum blonde standing next to him, wearing bright red skinnies a white button up and a black skinny tie, Jack couldn't help but check him out. The blonde was hot, not his type but hot nonetheless. "This is my friend Kyle. He's gonna be a little helper today, you guys can ask him questions, for the most part he knows what he's doing."
"Hey! I know exactly what I'm doing. Lex you are so rude sometimes I swear." The blonde cut in, pouting at Alex. And suddenly Jack wasn't liking the blonde as much anymore...were him and Alex together? Jack couldn't help but think that with how the blonde kept smiling at the teacher and looking at him...Alex had a boyfriend and hadn't even mentioned a thing to him. That thought alone made Jack want to run out of the room and cry, the thought of kissing Alex yesterday and the teacher obviously not caring about him...now that did make him start to cry. He quickly wiped his tears away whith his hoodie sleeve before anyone could notice and put his head down.
A girl in the front raised her hand and Alex pointed at her.
"Whats up Liv?"
"How do you guys know each other?"
Kyle smiled and laughed at that. "Freshman year, Alex was at the park reading, big nerd I know, and he dropped his book in a puddle and started freaking out so I went over and helped the poor kid dry off his book and the rest is history."
Jack looked up from his desk, still hiding his eyes beneath his fringe, and focused on Alex. The teacher was blushing lightly and a wide smile rested on his lips, fuck Jack was an idiot. Alex was with someone else but Jack let himself fall...if he had of been like a normal teenager and distanced himself from the teacher he wouldn't be feeling this guilt and complete remorse right now and he most definitely wouldn't be feeling sick to his stomach.
- Jack had convinced Zack to take him out for lunch, which is why they were sitting in Zack's truck silently eating McDonalds. The younger teen knew Zack detested that restaurant but he'd wanted it and was in too bad of a mood to be denied anything.
"Jack?"
"Yeah Zee?"
"I don't want to pry or anything...but whats going on with you? What happened?"
Jack sighed, he saw that coming but he'd hoped to be the one to breach the subject. "I kissed Alex."
Zack frowned and pursed his lips for a moment before speaking again. "I guess that's why he was like a storm cloud all during class yesterday...but there's gotta be more to it than that Jack."
"I ran away...yesterday when I just came into the practice room crying, that's why. And...today he's got this guy in class with him and they're so obviously together. He said they're friends but they've gotta be together. He kissed back and everything though...he doesn't care about me at all like I thought he did."
"Jack, does it occur to you that Alex is an open book with us? If he were dating someone he would've told us already, every single one of his students would know that. And if he kissed back he obviously likes you the same way and if he was as hurt as he was yesterday about you running away he cares. I know you're all clouded over cause you like him but he's into you and you need to stop thinking so much."
"How can I not think Zee? He's my fucking teacher, not only is it illegal but its wrong."
"That didn't stop you from kissing him yesterday. Look all I'm saying is you need to take a chance if its bugging you this much, I've never seen you act like this over anyone else and I want you to be happy. Alex may be the person you're meant to be happy with, just talk to him tomorrow and see what happens. Okay?"
Jack nodded and let out another sigh, sometimes Zack made too much sense and it drove him crazy.
- Alex unlocked the door to his apartment and walked in, Kyle following behind stuffing his face with the french fries they'd picked up on the way home. Alex really didn't understand how Kyle stayed so thin with how much he ate, but then again it was Kyle the envy of every guy and girl who'd ever tried to lose weight.
"Lex, what're you making for dinner?"
"Dinner? You're thinking about dinner already?"
"Duh, I'm hungry."
"You're eating right now. You can not be serious?"
"I am but its fine. I can bug you later about food, what're we doing this afternoon?"
Alex shrugged his shoulders and plopped down onto the couch.
"I've gotta grade papers tonight but other than that you've got me completely to yourself Burns."
"Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that." Kyle said under his breath and sat down next to Alex.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Kyle. I heard you, you said you wouldn't be so sure about that...what's that supposed to mean?"
The peroxide blonde sighed and turned to face his best friend. "Don't get pissy with me... but you and that skunk haired kid, there's something going on there, right?" Alex's eyes widened, although this was Kyle, the guy he could trust with anything and everything, he was really hoping to not have this conversation with anyone until he'd maybe found someone who it was legal to date. But despite that he nodded.
"How'd you know?"
"I can read you like a book babe. Plus the kid looked like he wanted to cry when he came in and then when I started talking he did start crying. And when he looked at you...it just reminded me of myself when I was going through all that shit with Travis, tons of confusion but totally wanting it at the same time...don't hurt the kid Lex, it could fuck him up forever and I know you'd never hurt a fly but with this an accident could happen and easily cause a shit more trouble than intended."
Alex nodded again and mulled over Kyle's words in his head. "Ky...I'm scared of what could happen between me and him."
"I know and you should be. Dating him is totally illegal and could get you in a ton of trouble...but the heart wants what the heart wants and damn you're screwed."
Alex blinked his eyes a few times and shook his head."Aren't you supposed to be the voice of reason here?...telling me not to do anything with him and to be an adult and not creep on a seventeen year old. Maybe even tell me you have a friend our age who'd be my 'perfect match'? A-"
"Shh...if that's what you really wanted you wouldn't have gotten as far as you have with that kid. Whats his name anyway?"
"Jack." Alex paused and smiled to himself at the thought of the teen. "Jack Barakat...You think he really likes me as much as you liked Travis?"
"I didn't just like Trav, I loved him. I still do. But to answer your question, yeah. And I'm pretty sure its gonna turn into a lot more really quickly."
"How are you so sure?"
"Because you're not one to take it slow, not until after sex at least, and a teenage kid...he won't want to take it that slow either. And as I said before he looks at you the way I used to look at Trav..." Klye paused and sighed. Alex knew that would be the end of their conversation, talking about Kyle and Travis's more than complicated and messy relationship was generally a forbidden subject unless the pair had made up ad gotten back together. And telling from how Travis's name fell from Kyle's lips like a dead weight their relationship was on the rocks yet again but worse than any time before. "Why don't you call him?"
Alex raised a brow. "C-call him?"
"I know you have his number, go ahead. I can order some take out, Chinese sounds good." Kyle mumbled- more so to himself-as he got up from the couch and walked towards the spare which he was staying in.
The teacher shook his head and stared off in the direction that Kyle had walked off in, it was obvious that the blonde was hurting, but Alex knew better than to try and comfort him. Kyle would come to him when he needed that, for now he just had to cool off on his own.
-
"Hello?" A shaky voice answered on the other line, it alone made Alex feel terrible. He'd already hurt Jack and barely anything had happened.
"Hey Jack." The teacher said as gently as possible. "Uh...can I talk to you?"
"Y-yeah...Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"Can we like meet somewhere...now?"
"Sure, is the coffee shop on Valentine and Skyway okay?"
"Yeah. I'll be there in like twenty minutes."
"Okay...and uh...Jack, I'm sorry if I hurt you at all." Alex already knew that Jack probably wouldn't be able to respond and the silence on the other end was proof of that. "I'll see you in a bit."
"Y-yeah. Bye." Jack mumbled before hanging up.
Alex sighed and pulled himself from the couch to tell Kyle he was going out.

Notes

Yayy, so now everything is up to date here. Lemme know what you think and uh..yeah.

I'll try and have another update ready by next Sunday/Monday for you guys if not sooner!