Sick Little Games

Jack's POV:

Today's the day...the day that I'm finally going to propose to the love of my life. I'd had the ring for a month now but I've never found the right moment to ask him. I've taken him out on countless dates and each time the ring has been in my pocket, sitting, waiting to be revealed but nerves just took over each time and I bottled it. But today was different, the sun was shining, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and I'd managed to make pancakes without burning the house down; I had a good feeling about today. I had plans of taking Alex out for dinner, going to the beach to propose in the summer evening and then who knows what would happen after that?

I'd set the pancakes down on the table in the kitchen and was on my way to wake Alex up from our room. My mum had signed the house over to me when I turned eighteen so Alex and I wouldn't have to look for a house and so she could move back to Lebanon without any ties. It all worked out, I missed her a lot and the house will never be the same without her, but it's nice to be able to have some privacy.
I sneaked into our room and crawled over to the bed that Alex was literally sprawled out on. His mouth was open slightly, his hair was all over and his cheeks were slightly rosy. He looked adorable and it took all my will to stop myself from pouncing on him. I perched on the end of the bed next to Alex and shook him slightly.
"Lex...wake up,Lex."
Nothing.
"Lex? Wake up, babe, come on."
I planted a kiss on his lips as his eyes started to flutter open slightly.
"Hmmm...more kiss."
Alex's voice was rough and gravely from sleeping...it actually sounded completely adorable actually.
"I made pancakes, Lex, hurry up or they'll go cold."
Alex bolted upright at the mention of food, successfully head-butting my due to me hovering over his head.,
"Sorry, Jay...kind of your fault though."
Alex was smirking and I could hear the chuckle in his voice as he and I both sat rubbing our heads.
"Whatever, Lex. Pancakes. I'm hungry."
"When are you ever not?"
I just shrugged, took a hold of Alex's hand and led him down the stairs and into the kitchen.

The pancakes went within a matter of minutes and soon after, Alex and I were sat cuddling on the sofa, watching the movies I'd previously laid out: Peter Pan.
"Hang on a second, Jay...Pancakes and Peter Pan...What's going on?"
"Hmm? N-nothing...can't I just do something nice for my boyfriend?"
"Well, yeah, but you've been doing a lot of 'nice' things lately. Don't get me wrong, I love it almost as much as I love you, but it's just...I don't know."
Oh shit, he's onto me.
"I just like making you feel...loved, I guess."
"You make me feel like that anyway, even without all of this...but don't stop it though: it's nice."
I smiled again pulled Alex into my side.

-

We spent the rest of the day snuggled up on the sofa, watching Disney films and throwing popcorn at each other. To some, a movie day with popcorn is cheesy but I think it suited Alex and I: we were hellishly cheesy at times. I looked up at the clock on the wall and realised that there was only an hour and a half till we had to be at the restaurant. I know that sounds like a long time but do you have any idea how long Alex spends on his hair? He's so vain but I wouldn't have him any other way.
"Lex, go put something smart-ish on: we're going out for dinner at that Italian place you like."
Alex cocked an eyebrow at me but went up the stairs nonetheless. Right, come on, Jack. You can do this.

I followed Alex up the stairs and into our room.
"This smart enough?"
Alex was holding up a pair of black skinny jeans and a dark blue button-up shirt. I nodded, walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans and a red button-up. We were both dressed and I'd styled my hair into a sort of controlled mess but Alex was still faffing around with his hair, making sure each individual strand was in place.
"I'll go and call my mum whilst you do your hair, don't be too long though, we've got to be there soon."
I kissed Alex on the cheek and left him standing in front of the mirror, gassing out the entire world with copious amounts of hairspray.

I picked up my phone from the arm of the sofa and called my mum.
"Hi, Mum, how's it going?"
"Oh, Jack, honey. It's all okay over here, how about you? Have you asked him yet? Does he like the ri-"
"Mum, I'm asking him tonight...and this time I'm not going to bottle it."
"Good, it's about time you grew some balls."
"Mum! You cannot say that about your own son."
"Jack, honey, of course I can. I'm your mother and I've had to change your nappies so, yes, I can tell you to grow some balls. Now, get off the phone and make him yours!"
"Whatever, Mum. Right, I'm going, love you."
"I love you too, Jacky. Good luck, not that you'll need it but there you go. He'll say yes anywa-"
"Got to go, Mum, Lex is ready. See you, love you. Bye."
I hung up on my mum and jumped up to pull Alex into a hug.
"Ready to go?"
Alex nodded against my chest.
"Okay then, you go and wait in the car whilst I lock up and shit."
Alex nodded again before practically skipping out of the room and out to the car. I quickly scurried to the ring's current hiding place, the cleaning cupboard, and shoved it in my pocket. I hurried out to the car and drove Alex and I off to the restaurant. I could feel the nerves buzzing inside me already. I tried my best to hide them but I'm not brilliant at that sort of thing. Alex places his hand on my thigh and started rubbing circles with his thumb into the fabric of my jeans. Ordinarily, this would turn me on, but now is not the time to be dealing with a boner. Plus, I'm pretty certain I'm too nervous to even think about anything sexual.

Alex and I arrived at the restaurant. I rushed out of the car and ran over to Alex's door, opening it for him and bowing slightly.
"Such a gentleman."
Alex chuckled as he took my outstretched hand. I lead us into the restaurant and up to the little desk thing where you go to be seated. A hard-faced woman looked Alex and I up and down, her nose turning up slightly.
"Yes?"
"Reservation for Barakat?"
"Oh, yes. Welcome. Please come this way."
The woman's demeanour soon changed after she discovered that we did actually have a reservation. Yes, as uncommon as it seems, two eighteen year old guys can go out for a civilised meal at a sophisticated restaurant without acting like immature school kids and without causing trouble.
"Your waitress will be Natalie. She'll be over shortly. Enjoy your evening."
The woman offered us another forced smile before returning to her post at the little desk.
Alex took hold of my hand from across the table and squeezed it.
"I love you, Jay."
"I love you too, Lex. Forever."

Notes

Cute sort of filler...
Oh, I'm so horrible for dragging this out but I'm just really enjoying writing this bit right now so I'm going to drag it out for as long as possible :)

Thanks again for reading etc, it means so much to me.
Em x

(Also, awesome to see that others listen to La Dispute too- they're an epic band and if you don't listen to them, I suggest you do so right now.)