Alex sat there stunned. What did he mean by stay with me forever and after? Alex asked himself, still looking down at Jack's hands. His finger weren't tracing patterns in the table anymore, they were just still. Alex looked up at Jack, well, his hair.

"What do you mean?" Alex asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. There was so many possibilities to what Jack had said. So many reasons. But there was one. One that was very important for both him and Alex.

"That you'll never leave me. No matter what happens, you won't leave me." Jack spoke quietly. All this fear of Aldemar was getting to him. What if he suddenly came back? What would he do when he sees how close he is to Alex? He could do almost anything!

"Why would I?" Alex asked hesitantly, his eyes glued back onto Jack's hand. Jack bit his tongue. He knew now he couldn't talk. If he spoke now, it'll end badly. The truth will spill. Jack kept quiet, not wanting to answer Alex. He knew at some point Alex will get tired of him. They all do! Well, the people who took notice of Jack, anyway. Like his dad. He got tried of him and now he verbally and physically abuses him. He's just waiting for that one day where Alex will turn his back on him and leave him hanging on to loneliness.

"Jack?" Alex whispered, getting concerned because Jack hadn't answered him.Jack shook his head, then lowering it down further. Alex took that as a sign that Jack didn't want to talk, but he wanted to know what Jack meant. Jack's weird with words. They can mean so many different things when they roll of his tongue.

Just then, the bell rang, saving Jack from his thoughts. He got up, tucking his chair in. He saw Alex still sat down, looking directly in his eyes (as he had his head slightly down.) Jack shyly looked away, his head facing to beside him. He heard Alex get up, his chair being placed neatly behind.

"Alex, did you get your homework done?" The homeroom teacher perked up. Jack heard Alex mumble a 'shit' under his breath.

"Yeah." Alex lied through his teeth, sounding convincing.

"That's great. Can I see it?" The teacher smirked at Alex. Alex mentally shot himself. He quickly used the most known excuse in the book.

"I left it home. I should have it by tomorrow, though." Alex smiled, picking up his bag and swinging it over his shoulders.

"Sure you did. Get gone." The teacher chuckled, turning to the computer. Alex let out a breath.

"Let's go." Alex said quietly to Jack before walking out the room with him.

"We're late for next lesson, as always. I don't get how we're always late." Alex chuckled, his shoulder slouched back, not really caring if he's late. Jack nodded, showing that he was listening. Alex barely caught the nod from the corner of his eye.

"Oh well." Alex shrugged.

~~~

"Boys! This is the second time you"ve been late for my lesson. Don't let it happen again." The English teacher scolded at Alex and Jack. They hung their heads, making their way to their seats. Alex's seat was thankfully beside Jack's. They sat down, both knowing that they're not going to pay attention to the lesson.

~~~

Next was History. Alex bit his lip as he walked beside Jack, remembering what happened the last History lesson he had. Jason better not be a dick.

"Hey, boys, take a seat. You're a minute late, but it doesn't matter; it happens." The cover teacher, whom both boys remember from yesterday, said. Alex sent the teacher an apologetic, small smile and made his way to his seat, in front of Jack's. Alex did notice Jason staring at him as he arrived though. It made Alex feel slightly anxious. Alex was grateful that Max was only in his P.E class. Alex barely did P.E, anyway. When he did, he wore long sleeves.

"Alrighty, I got a bad impression of you guys last time, care to restart and make me forget about what your guys' behaviour was like?" The teacher glanced at Alex and then to Jason as she spoke. The class hummed, some chuckling.

"I'd care and make you forget." A voice came from the back. An obvious smirk was plastered on Jason's face as he spoke. The teacher rolled her eyes.

~~~

"And so, that's how War broke out," The teacher smiled proudly, shutting the text book in front of her.

"Alright, I'm gonna but you in teams of four, and I want you to produce a poster and some notes to present to the class in three lessons time. If you have any problems with as such, then come tell me and I can help." She spoke calmly to the class. Jason raised his hands, a smirk on his lips.

"Yes, Jason?" She asked. Alex could tell she was trying not to roll her eyes.

"I have a problem in my pants, I need help!" He screeched as if to say he saw a spider.

"Jason, zip it." She sighed, standing up from where she was currently sat at the front.

"Miss? We barely know anything about this. You only taught us about it in two lessons." A girl whined.

"Just do what you can, you have others," She smiled to the girl.

"Okay, the groups: Alex, Jack, Jason and Maria.
Jessica, Amy, Phil and Dan.

Emma, Luke, Patty and Mark..."

Alex had zoned out a long time ago. He gulped when the teacher mentioned that Jason was going to work with him. At least I have Jack. He relaxed just a little, but that soon went when Jason called his name out.

"...get 'ere." He snapped. Alex took a deep breath, turning around to Jack.

"Jack,can you kill me?" He let out A breath-y chuckle, trying to swat the nerves away. He didn't need to get this nervous. Jason and Max were probably on about someone else.

"Let's go to the dick." Alex sighed, getting up. Only then did he realised how wrong that sounded and he blushed.

"I mean, let's go to the dicks as in Jason's a dick, not dicks." Alex chuckled, tucking his chair in, waiting for Jack to get up. Jack smiled, getting up. He wasn't really excited about going over to Jason, but he guess he had to, he had Alex anyway.

They slowly made their way to Jason and Maria, Jack feeling just as nervous as Alex. Jack hated people and they made him so nervous. They made him feel so small. They were towering over him because they're 'better' than him. Alex looked around, seeing no chairs. He frowned.

"Put the table together and I'll get two chairs." Alex spoke to both Maria and Jason.

"Why?" Jason snapped. Alex rolled his eyes.

"We need to sit, du-" He cut himself of, not thinking it was the best idea to call Jason a dumbass.

"Sit on the floor." Jason said, making it sound like the obvious thing in the world. Alex laughed bitterly.

"No." He said sharply and short. He turned away from Jason and went to collect two chairs. Jack stood there awkwardly, automatically becoming triggered as he felt Jason's eyes on him. He shuffled in his spot, biting his lip. Do you know what it feels like to be stared at when you're always self- conscious about yourself? Where you hate people as it is, and when they continue to stare at you it puts you in a bubble of anxiety that you can't escape until they look away? And yeah, Jack was basically suffocating in his little bubble of anxiety. Jason's eyes just wouldn't leave his body, and he just wanted to melt away. He was thankfully saved and his bubble popped when Alex returned with both chairs. Jack felt like a prick for not helping Alex, but he was sort of stuck in one spot, too embarrassed to move; too scared to lift a foot.

"Wow, Alex. Such strong." Jason smirked at Alex. Alex laughed bitterly again, placing the chairs down, making sure they were as far away from Jason and Maria. Maria wasn't a problem, she was quite. She wasn't mean at all, but she was sat near Jason. Alex realised Jack hadn't moved a muscle as he had placed the chairs down. He didn't even move to sit on them. Alex pulled on Jack's hoodie sleeve, pulling him down slightly. Jack got the sign and sat down, a blush of embarrassment as he sat.

"Okay, so, Alex and Jack- you can do all the work. Maria- don't worry, you don't have to do anything." He smiled at Maria, pushing his chair back so it was on its two back legs, the back of the chair resting against to radiator.

"Uh, no." Alex protested. As Alex finally looked at Jason, he could see a bruise on his cheek and one near his eye. Woah, I didn't know I was capable of that. Alex admitted to himself.

"We're not your Joeys, you can help." Alex sighed, sitting up straighter, to yet sulk back down.

"You're so British." Jason sighed back, putting his pen in his mouth.

"Is that meant to be an insult?" Alex asked, raising a brow. Jason shrugged.

"Take that pen out your mouth, it's gross." Alex said in disgust. That pen could've been anywhere.

"Take that dick out your mouth, it's disgusting." Jason smirked back, continuing on chewing loudly on his pen. Alex furrowed, mumbling a 'whatever'.

"Can we just get on?" Maria asked, obviously becoming annoyed by the two boys fighting. Alex smiled.

"Sure, I'll go get the paper and colours." Alex grinned, getting up and yet leaving Jack by himself again. He felt them familiar eyes back on him.

"So Jack, tell us about yourself." Jason smirked. Jack's breathing stepped aside. He froze right on the spot. He felt more triggered than ever. Jason knew Jack doesn't like speaking, why the fuck would he ask something like that?

"It's not nice to ignore people, Jack. I think you should get some manners." Jason said, making Jack begin to shake. He was so embarrassed by the fact he couldn't talk to people. He felt like such an embarrassment.

"Jason, leave him alone." Maria calmly said. But that didn't calm Jack down much. He was beginning to shake up.

"The noob never talks, what a mute." Jason complained. That's all it took to make Jack a shaking mess.

"What the fuck is wrong with him now?" Jason asked Maria.

"Jack? Jack oh god, come on, let's get you outside." Jack suddenly heard Alex's voice. Alex quickly set the paper and colours down, giving Jason a death glare as he tugged on Jack's sleeves. Jack got up with some difficulty, seeing as his whole body was shaking. Alex helped him up before he pulled Jack out the class.

"Hang on a second." Alex held his finger up, even though Jack couldn't see. He opened the classroom door again, trying to find his teacher.

"Miss, I'm taking Jack outside, can I have a pass please?" He asked politely. He didn't mention the fact Jack was having an attack outside the classroom, he figured Jack didn't want anyone to know.

After waiting un patiently for the teacher to get him a pass, he finally got one and got out the classroom.

"Come on, some nice fresh air will help." Alex tried to stay calm, even though he was anxious himself. He knew what it was like to have panic attacks, he had them sometimes. He just hoped he could calm Jack down before he passes out.

Notes

The chapter didn't show up, so I deleted the "Numb" quote and it worked, sorry. I'm finding it really fun writing this. The writer's block is gone, but I know it's gonna come back. >:C I hope you enjoyed this and I berry you wanna kill Jason?