Alex took a sip of the hot chocolate he'd ordered while he was waiting for Jack. It would probably be another ten minutes until the teen arrived but the teacher didn't mind it, he just had more time to sort his thoughts out and gain some composure; Which was absolutely needed.
Alex had absolutely no idea what he was even going to say to Jack...and a public place really wasn't anywhere for them to be when handling their potential relationship.
Alex picked apart the words he'd previously found perfect to say to Jack, now sounding too harsh, too cold, to unemotional, and too rational. He'd found ending it the easiest and obviously safest option...but he didn't want that. He wanted mad passion, falling in love, holding hands, being with someone he connected with. He wanted to be with Jack.
The teacher let out a breath and looked up to see Jack walking through the shop's door, and his decision was suddenly made up for him. "Hey." Jack breathed out as he sat down across from the teacher and shrugged his jacket off.
"Hey." Alex returned with a smile. "I got you a hot chocolate."
"Oh, thanks." He made a small attempt at a smile but it quickly faltered. "Uh...can we...talk?"
"That's what we're here for,right? Listen Jack, I'm really sorry for whatever I did...but I really don't know what I did so I'm not sure what I'm apologizing for...I just...I don't want you to be upset with me. I want you to...I don't know what I want really, I just know I want this."
Jack smiled slightly then frowned and gazed rather intensely at his teacher for a few moments.
"This doesn't make sense at all...you like me...but I'm just...I don't know what I am but I want it too."
"Well do you want to be confused together?" Alex chuckled, a hopeful smile occupying his lips. Jack nodded and returned the smile.
"Y'know I'd kiss you right now but I don't think this is the right place for that."
"Not at all. Uh...do you want to go back to my place? Kyle's there but he's cool."
Jack's smile fell and he shook his head. "Whats up with you and Kyle?"
Alex raised a brow, clear shock on his face. "Wait...you...do you think Kyle and I are together?"
"No...well truthfully it kinda seemed that way in class today."
"I promise you he and I are just friends, its always been that way and it'll always be that way. You don't need to worry about Kyle at all."
"Okay...I guess I kinda seem like an idiot for thinking that."
"Not really. Its cute...you were jealous."
"I was not!" Alex smiled and raised an eyebrow once more. "Okay maybe I was just a little."
Alex's smile widened and he shook his head. "Lets get out of here. I bet there's Chinese food at my place by now and I could use some help picking out a book for your class."
Jack giggled and nodded, already beginning to put his coat on. The teacher smiled and did the same with his own jacket, maybe things with Jack wouldn't be as complicated as he thought. "Wow...this is like a library." Jack gasped as he walked into Alex's apartment, bright eyes gleaming at the sight. "Its kinda how I imagined it...I mean I didn't like just sit and think of where you live..bu- I'll shut up now."
Alex laughed and shut the door. "You're absolutely adorable, don't worry." The teen only blushed in response and walked further into the apartment before settling himself onto the couch. "I'm gonna check on Kyle, be right back okay?"
"Okay."
Alex padded his way towards the guest room that Kyle was staying in. He found his best friend sprawled out on the bed, shirtless, and covered in french fries.
"...Ky...you okay?"
"No."
Alex walked further into the bedroom and sat on the floor crossing his legs.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Kyle shook his head and turned to face Alex, dropping some fries onto the floor in the process.
"No...how'd it go with your high school-er?"
Alex smiled lightly and shrugged. "Pretty well I guess...I mean he's here so that's gotta be a good sign."
"You have someone over and you're in here with me?...and I'm not even wearing clothes...out! Out! Out! Go away!" Kyle swatted limply at Alex and got off of the bed starting to push the dirty blonde out of the room.
"Okay, okay!" Alex laughed and stood up. "But I came in here to ask if you ordered the food you were talking about earlier?"
"Yeah, its in the kitchen...save me some, okay?"
"Sure asshole."
Kyle stuck out his tongue at the teacher who simply rolled his eyes in response and continued towards the living room. "So, which book do you think is better?" Alex asked the teen who was sitting next to him on the couch, rather closely.
"I don't know...they both sound equally terrible to be quite honest."
Alex rolled his eyes and placed both books onto the coffee table. "Well what would you like to read then?"
"I don't know...something interesting, fiction probably...a complicated romance story? I bet you've got something like that around here."
"Actually I have the perfect one in mind...but it'll be a surprise."
"Awh, no fair! I wanna know what it is now." Jack whined and draped himself over the teacher's lap, batting his eyes at him. Alex chuckled and ran a hand through the teen's hair.
"Nope, you've gotta wait. I promise you it won't be painful."
"Yes it will. I wanna know!" Jack continued to whine until Alex silenced him, pressing his lips against the teen's.
"You can wait." Alex whispered as he ghosted his lips over Jack's.
"I guess I can." The teen whispered back and brought his lips closer to the teacher's.
Alex couldn't help but smile into the kiss as he pulled Jack into a sitting position on his lap. Not only was he kissing practically the boy of his dreams but they were carefree. In that moment nothing mattered but the connection of their lips and the in-explainable joy that was desperately trying to leap out of each of their chests'.
Of course Alex was the first to pull away moments later, startled by the ringing of Jack's phone.
"Sorry." Jack mumbled and reached for his phone, pulling it out of his pocket before answering. He didn't bother to move from Alex's lap but twined his fingers with the teacher's, placing their hands in his lap. "Hello...Yeah, Rian can I call you back later?"
Alex could make out an agitated voice on the other end saying something along the lines of 'why? What are you doing that's more important?'.
"I'm..." Jack glanced at the teacher and bit down on his swollen lip. "Uhm-"
"You're either jerking off to gay porn or you're up to something with Gaskarth. Now which is it?" The voice on the other end said more clearly now, Alex didn't even have to strain to hear it this time.
"You're a really crappy friend, know that. I'll see you tomorrow." With that Jack hung up his phone and shoved it into his jean pocket. "I'm sorry about that." The teen mumbled softly, his cheeks turning a soft pink.
"S'okay...so your friends know about me?"
"Well yeah...they know I like you...and they're all in your ninth period class." Alex nodded, students of his knew about Jack's crush and quite possibly them...but never even said a word. "Its only three of them though. And Zacks' the only one who knows anything beyond a crush. I doubt I can keep it from Rian and Cass though since they're dating and each of them know me pretty well...it'll be impossible."
"Its fine. I promise...just, we can't have more people know. It wouldn't be safe for us, me specifically."
Jack nodded. "I know...I don't want to get you into trouble either...I wish this didn't have to be complicated, like if I were eighteen already and worked at a coffee shop you go to and I could write my number on your cup and we could...sorry I'm rambling...sorry."
Alex just smiled and raised their hands to his chest.
"Its cute, I like it when you ramble." The teacher paused, looking over Jack's features, the teen was clearly nervous but Alex found it adorable which really wasn't surprising. "Besides writing your number on your essay was a lot more creative don't you think?" Alex chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess it was. But still I wish this could be easier. I want to be able to show you off to the world, y'know?"
"Yeah I get that. But according to the district's policy after graduation you're all mine."
"So we've just gotta make this work until May twenty fifth?"
"Looks that way." Alex smiled, squeezing the teens hand lightly.
"Wait, how'd you know that?"
"They made me learn the policies over the summer for reference...after a few weeks of talking to you its one I kept in mind." Alex admitted, a shy smile creeping onto his lips.
"Don't worry, its cute." Jack teased.
Alex only rolled his eyes and gently nudged Jack out of his lap and onto the cushion next to him, still keeping their hands intertwined.
"When do you have to be home?"
"Before ten tonight, school and all y'know." The teen smiled, seemingly embarrassed about his curfew. "But... tomorrow is Friday...and uh...maybe we could hang out?" He stammered out, looking to Alex with expectant eyes.
"Are you asking me out on a date Barakat?"
Jack blushed and tried to cover his eyes with his fringe but Alex's fingers got in the way of that, wiping the hair from Jack's face.
"Y-yeah...I think I am."
"Yes, I'll go out with you." Jack's blush only deepened and Alex pulled him in closer for a kiss, cupping the teen's jaw in his free hand. "Meet me here at seven tomorrow." Alex whispered before kissing the corner of Jack's mouth and pulling away. "You've gotta be home soon."
"Really? What time is it?"
"Nine." The teacher pointed over to the far wall behind Jack at the clock.
Jack sighed and rested his head on Alex's shoulder.
"I don't wanna leave yet...I don't want to leave at all." He laughed.
"There's tomorrow too. And you'll see me twice before seven. You'll be alright. Do you want a ride home?"
"Its fine. I'll have Zack pick me up."
Alex nodded and slipped his hand out of the teens, replacing the contact by wrapping an arm around Jack's small waist. The latter gave into the contact almost immediately, only moving to send a quick text to his best friend.
"Do you really think we can make this work?" Jack murmured into the crook of Alex's neck.
"Jack if someone like Edgar Allan Poe found love, mind you with a thirteen year old when he was at least twenty four, we can make this work completely. We've just got to make the start of this our only irrational decision."
"You could've just said 'yes'." The teen chuckled, looking up at Alex, doe eyes' showing a mixture of fear and something else Alex couldn't quite put his finger on.
"I mean it though, Jack. We can make this work...It may get a little messy at times but I'm sure we can hold on until May."
"T-thanks...I kinda needed the reassurance. You're the first person in a really long time that I've been willing to let in, I guess its just good to know you actually want to make this work too."
Alex just smiled in response and gave a light squeeze to Jack's hand. Being so involved in words for so many years he'd easily learned when they simply weren't needed and a simple gesture could say it all. "I'll see you tomorrow." Alex whispered into Jack's ear as they stood at the closed door of his apartment. Why they were whispering...neither knew but it just felt right.
Jack nodded and wrapped his arms around the teacher's waist, pressing his own soft lips against Alex's stubbly cheek.
"Bye Alex." The teen whispered a few short moments later, dropping his arms from the elder's waist and slipping out of his arms.
"Bye Jack."
With that Jack opened the apartment door and shut it behind him leaving Alex alone with his thoughts.

Notes

Yayy for early updates. Feedback would be appreciated, I hope you liked this chapter!