Jack POV

When I wake up the room is empty and quiet, sun peaking through the vertical blinds leaving stripes on the walls. There’d a folded note on the nightstand next to the bed and I open it.

Went to get checked out by some doctor, be back soon -Lex

I sat up slowly and went to the bathroom and wet my bedhead down in an attempt to tame the mane. I pull up my shirt and the bruise had started to spread across my chest and stain down my side.

Zack called and I told him what happened and that Alex was doing well, but we both won't be in school for a week. Alex returns with a nurse and a set of aluminum crutches tucked under his armpit. He sits on the bed and his mom walks through the door and immediately grasps onto her son.

“So I just talked to your doctor and you can go home today but you are on bedrest for at least a week” She sat next to her son and I sat in the chair that I slept in

“That's great" Alex forced a smile

"And work is letting me take the week to make sure you're okay" she cooed

"That's really unnecessary mom, I'll be fine and if I need anything I can call jack over" he looked at me and nodded

"Yeah. I will be staying home this week too” I looked my phone

"Well if you are okay with watching over Alex a little, then I would be okay with you staying home alone" she looked at me

"It's no big deal. Really" I looked at Alex

"Okay then. Let's get you signed out and I'll drive you home" Alex's mom walked to the door

"Uh, can I ride with Jack," Alex blurted out "h-his car is bigger than yours and I think it would be more comfortable for me." he smiled

"Oh sure honey, I have to work anyways so you probably should hang out at Jack’s house to make sure you’re okay“ Mrs. Gaskarth walked out of the room and we both breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at each other

The door shut and I moved to sit on the edge of his bed. I leaned over Alex and my hand moved to cup his jaw, our lips connected and the kiss was nice. It was short lived as the same nurse from last night walked through the door with a chart in her hand, I pushed myself off Alexander I landed on the chair next to the bed, clutching my ribcage.

"Okay, boys. I was hoping I wouldn't have to explain this to you. You both have cracked ribs, that is very sore and painful without muscle contractions and pressure. I thought it would be obvious but no sex or full contact make-outs for at least two weeks. Now here are your doctors' notes to be out of PE" she handed them to us and walked out shaking her head

Alex's mom walked in as she was walking out and stood in front of us with another nurse with a wheelchair.

"Let's get you home sweetie" she smiled and I slid my shoes on and pulled my hoodie over my head

"I'll wait by the entrance with my car" I smiled and walked out, throwing on my sunglasses and a beanie

I finally got to the car and attempted to make myself comfortable in the driver's side. I pulled in front of the hospital and waited there for Alex and his mom to show up, I get out of the driver's side and open the door to the passenger's side and sit there, scrolling through twitter on my phone, waiting. I put my phone away and lean my right side up against the back of the seat and place my hand on the left side of my ribs. The doors of the hospital open and Alex smiles at me and I gingerly hop out and walk next to him. He gets up and gets in the passenger side and I put his crutches in the back. He waves to his mom as we pull out of the drive and lays the seat back and pulls his beanie over his eyes.

“You okay?” I put my hand on his left thigh

“Let's just get home so I can crawl into bed and curl in a ball” He croaks

“Pain?” I ask

“Yeah” He wraps his arms around his chest

“I’m sorry” I put my hand back on the wheel and finish the drive with just the music playing

We make it to my house and I held his crutches as he got out of the car. We made it inside and my mom was making dinner and ran up to me and squeezed me as hard as she could. I yelped and she released me from her grip.

“Shirt, up” she motioned and I pulled up the left side of my hoodie “Cracked or broken?” She asked as she brushed her hand against the bruises and scars

“Three cracked” I responded and pulled my shirt down

“Sit and rest, what about you honey,” She asked Alex as I sat down next to him on the love seat

“Broken leg and two cracked ribs” Alex placed his leg on the ottoman in front of us

“Jesus and this all happened in the fight?” She asked

“Yeah” Alex squirmed in the chair and I put my hand on his and he clamped down a little

“Well your mom called me and asked me to make sure you’re alright, you’re free to stay here whenever your mom is working, and Jack will be home all week if you need the help, it's good to have a nurse as a neighbor. Now let's get you two some food” Mom smiles and walks back to the kitchen and starts cooking again

Alex scoots a couple inches away from me and lets go of my hand.

“My mom doesn’t care, she already knows” I whisper in his ear

He exhales and grabs my hand and squeezes it as hard as he can. He leans into me and puts his head in my neck and sniffles.

“Hey, do you want to go and lay down upstairs?” I whisper

He nods his head and I get off the chair and help him up, I tell mom that we are going to go upstairs and Alex and I slowly walk upstairs and into my room.

“Can I crawl under your covers?” Alex asked and hid in his hood

“Please, make yourself comfortable” I sit on the window sill and face him

Alex leaned his crutches against the wall, pulls my covers back, climbs in and pulls the covers over him. I sit on the side of the bed and run my hand up his arm. He sniffles and shakes.

“Hey” I look down at him, he covers his face with his baggy beanie

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want you to see me like this” He whispered

“Are you in pain?” I ask and he nods his head

I run downstairs and ask my mom for the strongest pain meds she has and she only gives me two 800mg ibuprofen and two ice packs wrapped in towels. I run back upstairs and give them to Alex with a glass of water and hand him one of the ice packs. I lay on the other side of the bed and put the ice pack up my shirt. Mom eventually brought up two bowls of chicken noodle soup and put them on the desk. I sat at the desk and ate my soup while Alex laid in the bed. I finished mine and got up and gently shook Alex, who had fallen asleep. He wakes up and sits up, pressing his back against the pillows that line the wall. I hand him the bowl of soup and sit beside him.

“This is really nice to be this loved for once” Alex smiled

“Get used to it, I’m going to take a shower are you okay for now,” I ask and get out of bed, Alex nods and eats the soup

I walk into the connected bathroom and shut the door, turn the water on, and strip off all my clothes. I connect my phone to the speaker in my shower and play music just loud enough to be heard over the shower. The scars on my stomach and thighs had turned white and were barely noticeable. I double washed my hair and conditioned it as I stood under the slightly too hot water, I washed that out and turned the water off before I wrapped a towel around my waist. Sitting on the toilet were a fresh pair of underwear, joggers, and a tee. I dried off my hair, took out my contacts, and put on my glasses before exiting the bathroom. Alex looks at me and giggles.

“What” I pout and cross my arms over my chest

“You’re so cute” he smiles and pushes his hair back

“You’re lying” I raise my eyebrows and walked. To the side of the bed

“No, you’re adorable with your glasses on.” He smiles

“Well good, because I’m going to wear them all week, sleeping in contacts and keeping them in is not fun” I laugh and join Alex in bed

“Your scars have faded so much” Alex ran his fingers over my forearm

“I know, the ones on my stomach are basically gone” I lift up my shirt and run my hand over my stomach

“That's amazing” Alex kissed me and sat back on the bed “Mind if I shower, I feel gross,” he asked

“Yeah, there's an extra towel in there, and you can steal some clothes” I got out of bed and walk to the dresser and open a few drawers and pull out a shirt, shorts, pants, and boxer briefs and put the pile of clothes in the bathroom

“Uh, can I get a trash bag, to cover my cast” Alex mumbles

I scamper downstairs, deposit the bowls into the dishwasher, grab a bag, and run back upstairs. Alex is in the bathroom and I knock before I enter. I hand him the bag and open the closet and pull out the first aid kit that I had stashed in there and tossed him an elastic bandage before putting the kit away.

“Is there—dry blood on this?” Alex pauses and looks at the length for more

“Only stains, they have been washed multiple times, the stains just don’t want to come out,” I say and close the door

I sit on the bed and pull out my MacBook and start going through messages and posts. Most are positive, reassuring me that everything will be okay, some a little unnerving, and two that are repulsive. Those two were hate-filled, saying that we deserved this and that that's what we get for being gay. I brushed it off and deleted them. A few minutes of web surfing and Alex emerges from the bathroom and joins me on the bed. We are laying side by side and Alex just gazes over at me and doesn't take his eyes off me.

"What are you staring at" I laugh

“The only person that could make this shitty situation better“ Alex smiles

"Come here" I place my hand under his chin and pull his face to mine and we kiss

It's soft and sweet but the spark I felt from the first time we had kissed was still there. We brake as we hear footsteps outside the door

"Alex, jack, I'm going to bed, try and get some sleep" mom chimes and walks to her room

I get up, turn the lights off, and climb back into bed. Alex has slithered all the way under my covers, I gently pull him close to me and he rests his head on my shoulder. His arms wrap around my body and we fall asleep entangled in each other.

Notes

So there's part two, hope you like it.