The Good Life

*Jack*

I feel bad for making Alex leave yesterday night, but I have a meeting today, I can only wake up and get ready for an 8am meeting if I get at least eight hours of sleep. Also I was still a little pissed at him for making plans with Lisa, but let’s not tell him that. If I didn’t think that a shower with Alex wouldn’t have taken hours I would have jumped at the chance to shower with him.

Once I was dressed and had my breakfast I got in my car and drove to my office. I glanced at Kate’s house and it automatically reminded me that I was living next to Alex’s ex. A three year old could see that I was jealous of Lisa, she dated the love of my life, I couldn't help it. I didn’t trust her, I could tell she was still into Alex, but I was prepared to fight to the death for him. So if she thought she could just waltz back into his life and sweep him off of my arms, she was dead wrong.

I pulled up to my building, angry because of the scenarios I made up in my head, which could happen between Lisa and me. I went in, ignoring the hello’s everyone was giving me, went straight to my office and closed my door. I needed to cool down before I went into my meeting and made decisions based off of my anger. I spent the twenty minutes I had left, thinking about Alex and the way he looked at Lisa. I made myself angry again just thinking about it. God! Why can’t I just relax and trust my boyfriend a little?! I’m turning into this…. This obsessed and possessive boyfriend! And it’s not healthy for me anymore. I need to cool down.

After my meeting I decided to go check on the Jagk store that we had in the mall. I walked in to see a guy no more than twenty behind the counter texting, not helping the costumers inside shopping. I walked over to him and cleared my throat. He kept looking down at his phone and said, “Can I help you?” in a very uninterested tone.

“You can help me by helping the costumers in the store.” I called out. Raising and eyebrow at him, I’m so not in the mood for his shit.

He was still looking at his phone and asked, “And who are you?”

“I’m the guy who signs your checks.” he looked up at me quickly and dropped his phone. Before he could say anything, Erick, the store manager, ran over to greet me.

“Mr. Barakat, how are you? They didn’t mention you were coming in today?” He stammered out his words. I guess he saw the interaction between me and the lazy worker. He walked up towards me and reached out his right hand for a shake, in which I didn’t take. Obviously, he knows that I’m pissed, so he slowly dropped the hand and smiled nervously at me.

“Yeah, well I didn’t think I had to give you guys a heads up for you to be maintaining my store.” I was annoyed because the employees represent the store which has my name on it. And if they looked bad, the store looked bad, which meant I looked bad.

“I can guarantee you, he isn’t always like this.” Erick point to the worker still standing there, staring at me, petrified and stunned. “It just isn’t a busy day and--” I cut him off.

“And nothing! There is no excuse for this! And if I see it again, I’ll have to find other sales associates that want to be here and a manager that knows how to control the sale associates. Is that clear, Erick?” I raised my voice, because I had all the point, although I’m angry, there’s still sense as to why I’m mad at my workers.

“Yes. Sir, Mr. Barakat. I’m so sorry. I promise, it won’t happen again. ” He looked down. I really didn’t like to talk to my employees this way, but it’s the only way to get them to respect me. I walked around for an hour, checking inventory and helping customers.

As I was about to walk out of the store, I saw Cassadee about to walk in.

“Hey what are you doing here?” I asked as she turned to face me.

“Jack! Hey, I finally got a day off and decided to go spend some of Rian’s money at the mall,” We both laughed. I followed her as she walked around the store looking around.

“I love these!” She exclaimed picking up a pair of teal sunglasses.

“Get whatever you want, no charge at all.” I told her making her smile even bigger.

“If I didn’t know you were gay I would think you were coming on to me.” she laughed, picking up the glasses. We walked around for ten more minutes and all she had in her hands were the sunglasses, a pair of flip flops, and a shirt she picked out for Rian. I walked up to Erick and told him I was taking these items so he could check them off the inventory and remove the security tags.

“Thank you, Jack! Let me take you to lunch, please? My treat!” She said as we walked out of the store. I agreed to go, but I told her she didn’t owe me anything. We ate at a subway inside the food court.

“I don’t appreciate you made my Alex stay out past his curfew the other day Jack.” she joked with a serious face.

“He could have left at any time he wanted, but he decided to stay with me. Therefore, it is not my fault, Cassadee.” I told her laughing and raised my eyebrows at her, patiently waiting for her witty response, but laughed harder when she just raised her hand in surrender.

“How are you two doing anyways?” I looked down, debating on whether or not I should tell her about the whole Lisa situation. I decided that I should just so I could have a second opinion.

“Actually, we’re not doing our best right now. His ex-girlfriend moved in next door to me, and I feel like he still has feelings for her.” I complained to her.

“Has Alex talked to you about her yet? Like, said or did anything to make you think he still has feelings for her?”

“Well, when he exchanged numbers with her and said they should hang out sometime, he did it while I was standing there, not acknowledging me at all, like I didn’t exist!” I ranted. Flailing my hands in annoyance, and then folding it with a slight huff.

“Let me imagine if that was Rian instead of Alex,” she stated and closed her eyes thinking for a moment. “Yeah I would be pretty pissed, because it’s like, he was disrespecting you in a way, but at the same time you guys haven’t been seeing each other.” I had stopped listening after she said he disrespected me. I was pissed all over again.

“Hey Cass, I’m going to go home now and call Alex so we can talk about this, yeah?” I said getting up and grabbing my keys. She nodded and watched me walked away. It was around 4pm so Alex should have been finished teaching for the day.

I walked to my car, started it, and drove towards my house. When I passed Kate’s house I saw Alex’s Honda outside. That was the last straw! I went inside my house and pulled out my phone to send Alex a message, for the first time today.

To Alex:
Really? Alex it’s been, what? One day and you’re already over there with Lisa. I feel betrayed. Am I nothing to you?

I sat my phone down and laid in my bed thinking about what Alex and Lisa could be doing at this time. About seven minutes later, I heard my doorbell ring. I knew it was Alex, but I didn’t move to go answer it. I heard the doorbell three more times before my phone vibrated. It was a text from Alex, of course.

To Jack:

Get up and let me in now.

I was hesitant, but I got up anyways and slowly walked to my door. I opened it to see a furious Alex, standing there tapping his foot and his arms crossed. I moved to the side signaling for him to come in. I was still angry, but scared at the same time. He’s very intimidating when he’s outraged.

“What the hell is up with you, we talked about this Jack, there’s nothing going on between Lisa and me. So, why are you jealous all of a sudden again?” He wasn’t shouting, but he was pretty close to it. He had his hands flailing around, and his eyebrows were knitted together in anger, but to say that I was scared was an understatement. But I won’t just stand here and get called out on,

“Then why, after she just moved in a day ago, are you with her?” I questioned. Arms folding in front of me, raising an eyebrow at him and sending him a death glare.

“She needed help moving her furniture, Jack!” he tried to reassure me, but I still didn’t believe him. I don’t know why I couldn’t believe him, maybe I do trust Alex, but I just don’t trust that Lisa girl.

“Don’t you think that she would have already had plans for someone to help her move her furniture? I mean, she didn’t know you were going to be here, but she knew she wasn’t going to be able to move the furniture by herself!” I knew for sure he was lying. Why would he lie to me? Don’t I mean anything to him right now for him to lie, straight to my face? This is unbelievable! I could feel tears brimming on the corners of my eyes. And I couldn’t help but let them fall.

“You sound like a fucking crazy person right now. You’re not thinking straight, Jack!” he threw back at me. By now, he was yelling at me, and I was yelling at him. I couldn’t even look at him in the eyes, there’s too much hurt and tears clouding my vision.

“I’m crazy? You thinking I’m fucking crazy, Alex?” I yelled, and scoffed when I finished talking, I rolled my eyes at how pathetic our situation is right now, I’ve had enough.

“You know what? Get the hell out of my house!” I yelled at him, pointing to the door.

“No! We’re not through talking about this!” he yelled as he walked towards me and gripped both of my arms tightly, which I just shrugged off forcefully, I pushed him away from me but he kept trying to take a hold on me.

“No, Alex! I’m through! I’m done! I thought I could fight for you,” I sobbed, I swear my words weren’t even audible and understandable anymore, I wiped my tears that were violently streaming down my face, but I continued, “But this just is too much, so, please, get out of my house.” I pushed him towards the door.

“Okay, fine!” He yelled and turned to face me, ripping his arms from my grasp violently,

“You want me gone? Then I’m fucking gone!” And he walked out the door. Tears still falling from my eyes as I heard his car start up and pull off the driveway. I felt a piece of my heart break and fall to the floor. I leaned against the door, sliding down and crouching at the floor as I let out loud sobs and choked noises, balling my fists and curling them to my chest, I can’t believe that, that just happened.

Notes