The Good Life

*Jack*

“I like you… I like you a lot. That’s why I hated Alex in high school, because you liked him. I forced myself to date other people so I could get over my feelings for you. I can’t go one day without thinking about you and I’ve felt this way ever since I met you in freshman year. And was the only vacation time I had left, so I decided to do this now so we could enjoy the New Year being together. I tried to ignore my feelings, I really did, and thought that once you moved away I could forget about you, but I can’t, Jack. I love everything about you: your smile, your laugh, your eyes, your sassiness, your personality. You! I love you!” Zack had just confessed his love to me.

I met up with him today at IHOP, after he stopped yesterday and said he wanted to talk with me. I tried to say something but nothing would come out when I opened my mouth. So I just sat across from him with my mouth agape and pinching myself, hoping I would wake up in my bed and find out this all just a dream.

“Please say something.” His voice cracked and I could tell he was on the verge of tears. I hadn’t even told him I was dating Alex. I wish I would have so it would have discouraged him from telling me the truth.

“I don’t know what to say.” I said as I put my head in my hands.

“Just say you love me too.” He said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

“I can’t!” I cried, stressfully running my fingers through my hair.

“Why not?” He questioned.

“I just can’t, Zack.” I sighed.

“…It’s someone else isn’t it?” He asked and I could see his body shaking with anger. “IT’S FUCKING ALEX, ISN’T IT?” He yelled and grabbed the attention of the small crowd in IHOP.

“Zack, Please calm down!” I pleaded, but of course he didn’t. He was actually scaring me. I’ve seen him angry before, but he never expressed any anger towards me.

“Answer my fucking question, Jack!” He demanded. I just wanted to get this whole conversation over with, so I decided to tell him the truth.

“Yes. Okay? I’m with Alex! I love him! I always have and I always will! I’m sorry, Zack! I’m so sorry, but I love him.” I tried to hold back the tears that fell, but the look on his face when I answered him made my heart break. He just sat there nodding his head, trying to take in everything I just said. He wouldn’t even look at me, he just stared off into to space. I looked up at him to see tears falling from his eyes too.

We sat there silently for two minutes and then he looked up at me. He took a few deep breathes and finally spoke again.

“I know I’m not your first love, but I intend to be your last.” He took one last look at me and left without another word.

I sat there for five minutes replaying what just happened over and over again in my head. My waiter came over twice to check on me and both times I lied and told her I was okay. I left a tip on the table and my waiter told me Zack gave them money for our meals, which we didn’t even get to eat.

As soon as I made it home I called my friend, David, because he wouldn’t be able to say I told you so. I explained the whole Zack situation to him and he was trying to help me figure out what to do.

“Is Alex there? Have you told Alex yet?” He asked after I finished the story.

“No. He went to his father’s house last night and ended up spending the night there. He texted me to check on me, but I haven’t texted him back. I’m just afraid he’s going to be so pissed off, he won’t think straight, and go look for Zack.” I told him. I didn’t think Alex was a violent person, but he punched John when he found out we slept together.

“Well just make it sound like something small. Don’t make it a big deal. Tell him Zack accepted you guys were dating and he went back home.” He insisted.

“You think I should lie?” I asked, raising my eyebrows as if he could see me.

“Well don’t lie just…you know…don’t exactly tell him the truth.” David explained.

“I-I don’t know. He usually knows when I’m lying, but I can try anyways.” I agreed.

“That’s the spirit! Now go call, Alex!” He cheered and hung up the phone before I could protest. I sat on my bed thinking for a few minutes before I finally built up enough courage to call Alex.

“Hello…” Alex mumbled, sleep laced in his voice.

“Oh! I’m sorry babe. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” I said.

“No, it’s okay. Come over so you can you can tell me about your date with Zack.” He pouted.

“It wasn’t a date, Alex. And are you at your place or your father’s still?” I grabbed my keys and walked out to my car.

“My place.” He answered.

“Okay. I’ll be there in a few.” I told him bye and started to drive to his apartment.

I pulled up to his place fifteen minutes and I knocked on the door.

“Hey!” Alex said as she opened the door for me. I said hi and kissed him once I walked through the door.

“Hi guys!” I told Rian and Cass when we walked into the living room.

“Tell us how it went.” Cassadee blurted out and Rian and Alex nodded their heads in agreement.

“It turns out that he did have a small, a very small, crush on me. And I told him that Alex and I were dating now and he took it pretty well.” I kept my head couldn’t make eye contact with any one of them which is probably gave me away.

“Bullshit.” Alex called out. “He flew across the map to tell you he had a crush on you and you tell him that you are dating someone else, someone who he hasn’t liked for eight years, and he just says okay?” Alex ranted.

“Yes.” I tried to keep my lie alive, but it wasn’t working.

“I’m going to have to agree with Alex here. I don’t think that’s how it happened.” Rian chuckled.

“Yep! So why don’t you tell us what really happened.” Alex said and smirked.

“Fine.” I sighed. “He said he’s been in love with me since freshman year of high school. And yes the reason he hated Alex is because I was in love with him. He tried to get over me, but apparently it was too hard and when I told him I was currently dating you, Alex, he threw a fit. He said that he knew I wasn’t his first love, but I would certainly be his last.” I took a deep breath because I was talking so fast.

“That asshole. Did he yell at you? Did he put his hands on you?” Alex asked me getting angrier by the second.

“No. Now calm down. That’s why I was so afraid to tell you, I knew you would overreact.” I sighed.

“Aw I’m sorry, Jack. It must have been really hard for you to hear him pour his heart out to you.” Cass sympathized.

“Yeah it was, but I think I’ll be okay.” I whined.

“He can’t have you. You’re mine.” Alex pouted.

“What am I an object?” I asked Alex, laughing.

“Yeah you’re my honey bear.” Alex said while cuddling with me on the couch.

“Well you’re my cupcake.” I shot back at him.

“You’re my apple pie.” Alex giggled.

“You guys are giving us diabetes.” Rian sighed, but Alex and I just laughed and kept going.

Notes