The Good Life

*Alex*

I was on my way to work when my phone, vibrated in my pocket. Usually I don’t text and drive, but I thought it was Jack telling me good morning, so I opened it. But it was actually a message from Lisa, I raised an eye-brow in confusion, but read it anyway.

To Alex:
Hey! If you aren’t busy today, I was wondering if you could help me move some of my furniture around in my room? I hope it isn’t much of a bother, but if you’re busy, it’s totally fine!

To Lisa:
Of course! Don’t be silly, you’re not a bother. But I get off at 3:30, so I should be there around that time.

To Alex:
Thanks! Can’t wait!

I pulled up to Jasper High School and walked to my classroom, trying to get ready for this long Monday morning, I mentally groaned just thinking about this whole week ahead of me, but at least I have Jack to ease up the stress a little bit.

I was going to text him by the way to see how his morning was going so far, but I remembered he had a meeting today so I decided I would just have wait for him to text me first. Sighing at the thought, I finished setting up and started the class.

I had a break between third and fourth period so I decided to go visit my dad while he was on his break too. I walked along the familiar hallways, smiling at everyone who greeted me, albeit, mentally judging them; my mind is such a dangerous place. I stopped at his door and knocked gently, opening the door and peeking inside to see if he was around,

“Hey, dad! How’s it going?” I asked, smiling warmly at his direction as I stepped into his office.

“Alex, I’m great, y’know, just trying to rest before I have to get into coaching mode again.” He said in a joking manner and laughed at himself, I shook my head and walked towards the chair in front of his desk and sat.

“Oh, I can come back later, if you’d like?” I asked hesitantly, I didn’t want to bother him. I didn’t even have a valid reason as to why I visited him in the first place.

“N! Nonsense! Come and tell me about that lucky lady of yours.” He said smiling at me, and folding his arms in front of him as he smirked at me. Oh, this was a bad idea. I thought of it, sighing.

I don’t know why, but hearing my dad call Jack a lady again just pushed me over the edge. So I took a deep breath and blurted out;

“Dad it’s a guy…I’m dating a guy!” He didn’t say anything; he just sat there staring at me. “Please say something dad,” I pleaded.

“Alexander, I don’t care if you were dating a space alien. You’re my son and nothing can change that, or how much I love you.” I let out a shaky breath I was holding. And smiled shyly at him, a blush creeping its way on my cheeks, and I could definitely feel it.

“I love you too, Dad.” I couldn’t believe I had just told him that. He got up to hug me, tightly and sat back down with a slight huff.

“So son what’s his name?”

“His name is Jack Barakat, he actually went to high school with me.” I said smiling to myself.

“That’s nice, I hope you’re happy.” He said sincerely. And winked at me, I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks again and my dad chuckled at my redness,

“I am” I reassured him. We talked about Jack for the rest of our break and went back to work.

“Jesus, Alex, you’re blushing like a tomato. Wipe that off, you’re a grown man, for Pete’s sake!” My dad said jokingly, and we both laughed as I stood up and told my dad that I had to go to my next class.

It was 2:45 and the last bell had just rung, signaling school was over. I stayed in my room for ten minutes more minutes to help the students who had questions on homework assignments. I left the school heading towards Lisa’s place. I arrived looking over at Jack’s house seeing the lights off, signaling he wasn’t home. I got out, walking over Lisa’s front porch and rang the doorbell.

“Hey, you’re a little bit early?” Lisa said as she opened the door smiling at me. Her eyes lighting up, something I was all too familiar with.

“Yeah I got out of work earlier than I thought I would.”

“Okay? Well, let me show you what I need help with.” She looked me up and down, but I only shrugged and ignored it. She took me up stairs and to her room.

“Can you move this chair to that corner?” She asked. I stared at the small desk chair that had wheels on it, confused. She obviously could have moved it herself.

“Umm, this doesn’t look that heavy.” I turned to her seeing a big smile on her face. It was a trap.

“Okay, okay. You caught me, I just wanted to spend some alone time with you,” She walked towards me pushing me down on her bed. I was caught off guard by this, but pushed her away before she could climb on top of me.

“Lisa, stop! We can’t do this!” I yelled trying to talk some sense into her. Trying my hardest to squirm myself out of this situation. I pushed her off of me and scrambled to the far end of the bed, far away from her.

“Yes we can, Alex. I know it, you know it. It’ll be just like old times.” She tried to climb on me again, but I just pushed her away again.

“No, I can’t, because I’m seeing someone and I happen to like them a lot.” I got up from her bed, hearing my phone vibrate.

“Who is she?” Lisa screamed, but I ignored her and read the message Jack had sent me.

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 was pissed. We just talked about how I had no feelings towards Lisa what so ever and he goes right back to being jealous. I looked up at Lisa who stood there with her face all red and pouting at me.

“I have to go, don’t text or call me again.” I left before she could say anything to me. I walked outside and paced back and forth trying to calm down and what I should say to Jack. I calmed down a little bit and went over to ring his doorbell. He didn’t come to the door, of course. I tried three more times before I sent Jack a message telling him to get up and answer the door.

When he finally opened it, he looked angry and hurt, but I was too pissed to care. I started to go off on him, which didn’t really help the situation, but once again, I was too angry to care. We went back and forth for a while and I could tell he was on the verge of crying. It hurt me to know that he was hurt, but it was too late to stop. He pushed me and told me to get out of his house. I didn’t want to leave until we had this whole thing sorted out, but he kept telling me to leave, so I finally had enough and left. I ran out to my car and sped off towards my apartment with angry tears falling down my face.

I pulled up to my apartment, only seeing Rian’s car outside, and cleared my face because I didn’t want him to see me upset. I walked in as if nothing was wrong.

“Dude, what the fuck happened to you? You look like shit!” Rian exclaimed and ran towards me, hugging me to his torso and letting me cry, before I could even shut the door. I don’t know how he knew I was troubled.

“Thnks, Ri. And, no, nothing. I’m fine. Just fucking peachy!” I quickly lied, but the tone of sarcasm in my voice gave it all away.

“Dude, your eyes are red and swollen, I can’t help but think you’ve been crying. So tell me what’s fucking wrong. And don’t make me force it out of you.” Rian said in a serious manned so I had no choice, but to tell the truth.

“Jack and I just got into a fight, I think it’s over, before it could even start.” I explained to Rian what happened between Jack and me. Sobbing continuously at his shirt and wrapped my arms around him tighter, he’s like a big teddy bear. It’s kind of comforting, but that’s not the kind of comfort I want. Not from him, though.

“Man, I don’t really know what to say, maybe…. Maybe, just give it about a week for the both of you, to realize that it was just one big misunderstanding, and then you can go back to being all lovey dovey with each other.” Rian was probably right, but I was still upset with the whole situation. I couldn’t even think straight, I just want everything to go back the way it was. Where there was no Lisa, where Jack and I are the most perfect couple in the land, well, now that was just fairytale thinking, but a prince could dream sometimes. I sighed and unattached myself with Rian, headed towards my room, not even bothering to change my clothes or remove my shoes, I just wanted to go to bed and forget about what just occurred, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I went to lie down on my bed, contemplating if I could just call in sick to work tomorrow, or face the harsh reality of the world, maybe the latter part, but who cares. Jack doesn’t, obviously. I closed my eyes and sighed heavily, one thing’s for sure, though; I feel like death.

Notes