Jack- Get dressed, we’re going out to dinner cutie ;)

That text was all it took for me to hop out of bed after being in it all day, thinking about Jack and our day at the fair.
It was so much fun…and he was so sweet. Especially when he wasted so much time and money just to win me that stuffed bear (which now has a special place next to me in bed when I sleep).
He didn’t even have to win it for me; I was just being really dumb and cranky from the rollercoaster thing. I don’t even know why I wanted to ride all of those so badly. I guess I was just trying to prove to him in a way that I can be strong and I’m not a crybaby, since he has seen me at my worse before, because of him. Or maybe I was only proving it to myself.
I don’t know.
I just knew that that night triggered a lot of butterflies and nostalgic yet bittersweet feelings about the way I used to be with Jack.
I just wanted to kiss him and hold his hand and let everybody know that I’m his.
But I’m not his. I never was.
Even though we’re just friends, I was still going to look good for this dinner. For him? For me? I don’t know. I just had to.
I decided on my black flag pants and a white button down, with a gray beanie. By the time I got my bangs to do what I wanted them to do, I heard a car honking outside.
I checked myself out in the mirror one last time before running out to his car.
“Okay okay I’m coming!” I giggled and opened up the passenger door and got inside.
“Wow cutie, you clean up nice!” Jack smirked over at me.
“I could say the same to you, Barakat.” I smirked back at him.
He chuckled and started driving.
“Okay so…where are we eating?” I looked over at him with curiosity.
“My favorite restaurant in all of Baltimore.” He smirked, keeping his eyes on the road.
“What, do they have the best crab cakes in town or something?”
He laughed at that and shrugged.
“Well sure, but we’re not going for the crab cakes. You could get those anywhere.”
“That’s true, I learned that after a week of being here!” I chuckled.
“Mhmm.” He smiled and kept driving.
I watched him drive, admiring the little things about him. His strong grip on the wheel, the focus in his eyes, his posture in the seat…he just fascinated me so much for some reason.
I broke out of my thoughts when he cleared his throat.
“I’m really starting to think you have a staring problem.” He glanced over at me for a second before turning his attention back to the road.
I rolled my eyes and looked away, trying to hide my blush.
“It’s not like you never stare at me..”
“I don’t.”
“You do.” I argued, turning to look at him again.
“Do not.”
“Do too!”
“Fine, you got me!” He chuckled, pulling up to the parking lot of a restaurant.
I looked up at the place and smiled.
“This place doesn’t look too fancy!”
Jack chuckled a bit and nodded in agreement.
“Well I don’t like fancy.” He got out of the car and I followed suit.
“You don’t? Then what do you like?”
He shrugged and walked with me up to the doors.
“Things that are comfortable, yet satisfying. And not too calm.”
I nodded and smirked as we approached the doors.
“Well I hope I’m not too fancy for you.” I joked.
He shook his head and smirked, holding the door open for me.
“If there’s one thing about you Alex, it’s that you’re not calm at all.”
I giggled and shook my head, walking into the restaurant.
“Thanks for holding the door.”
“No problem cutie.” He shrugged, and walked up to the little podium to ask for a table for two.
The waiter soon led us over to a small table by a window with pretty good lightning.
“Well this is a lovely spot.” I commented, as we sat down.
“Made for only the loveliest of people to sit.” He smirked at me, causing me to blush and quickly duck my head.
He chuckled at how flustered I was, and looked up when a pretty, blonde waiter walked over.
“Hi, I will be your server today! Can I start you off with any drinks?”
Jack perked up immediately, and I knew he was going to start flirting with her.
“Hey! Uh..yeah I’ll have a Bud Light and- do you want one?” He turned to ask me.
“Yeah, sure.” I nodded.
“Okay, make that two Bud Lights.” He turned back to her, smiling.
“Alright, coming right up!” She smiled back, turning to walk off.
“Thanks!” He winked at her, then watched her ass as she walked away.
I felt a strong pang of jealousy strike in my chest.
Sure, we were just friends, and I was to thank for that, but I guess I still had this feeling inside that he was still mine in a way. Like he was my property. Like he belonged to no one else but me. I guess my brain knew that wasn’t true, but my heart didn’t.
I bit my lip and looked down, fiddling with my fingers.
“Hey, why the long face?”
I looked up to see him looking at me with concern. Well you could call it that, but it was more like false concern. He had a bit of a smug look in his eye, as if he knew how his flirty actions towards the waiter was affecting me.
“Nothing.” I said shortly, looking at him with a straight face, attempting to mask the bit of anger I felt.
He just raised his hands in surrender and smirked.
“Okay! Sorry for asking!” He chuckled.
I didn’t see what was so amusing.
“What?” I snapped.
“Nothing, you just seem a little hostile, is all.” He chuckled some more.
“Yeah mkay, whatever.” I rolled my eyes and looked away from him.
I don’t know why I always let myself get so mad at Jack. He really doesn’t do anything wrong, it’s just that he always seems to do something crazy with my feelings and I just don’t like that.
I could still feel his eyes burning into my face when the waiter walked back up.
She sort of bent over the table unnecessarily, revealing her cleavage that was already barely hidden behind her black shirt.
I obviously took no interest in this, but Jack’s eyes most certainly did. It took everything out of me not to groan in annoyance.
“Okay here are your beers! So are you ready to order?” The blonde turned to me and frowned a little.
I didn’t know why, until I realized I was kind of glaring at her.
“Oh! Um..” I looked down at the menu and realized I hadn’t looked at it at all.
I looked up to Jack, silently asking for help. He luckily understood and spoke up for me.
“Uh..he’ll have the chicken alfredo and I’ll have the same.” Jack smiled his signature goofy smile at her, and I felt my jealousy coming back because I guess I just wished I could be the only one to witness that smile.
Gosh, I really needed to calm down.
“Alright! I’ll take up your menus!” She grinned and took them up, when Jack held up a finger to stop her.
“Also, I would just like to mention in advance that I will be paying for this whole meal. Okay?” He smiled warmly.
When I opened my mouth to protest, he just silenced me with his hand as she nodded with a smile and walked away.
“W-what was that??” I asked him, appalled at his random act of generosity.
“What was what?” He smirked at me.
“You know what! Why did you volunteer? I can pay for myself you know..”
“Yeah, I know.” He kept the smirk on his face and shrugged nonchalantly.
“Well…why?”
“Because I wanted to.”
I was still looking at him in disbelief.
“You don’t have to spend money on me every time I get a little pissed at you, ya know..”
“Aha! You admitted it! You’re mad at me!” He smirked, folding his arms.
“Uh..I’m not mad..just..annoyed I guess..” I said awkwardly, avoiding his eyes.
“But why, how come?”
I blushed as I looked up at his smug looking face.
I knew that he knew exactly why, and didn’t want to explain it to him. I didn’t want him to think I still had feelings for him. Because I don’t.
“Um…because you’re annoying, that’s why.” I answered lamely, looking down.
I heard him sigh, and I guess he decided to stop messing with me.
“Don’t worry cutie, you still capture my attention.”
I looked up to see him smirking at me, and my blushing was getting out of control.
“Fuck you.” I couldn’t help but smile.
“When and where?”
“Funny.”
“I know.”
“That was sarcasm.”
“It was a compliment.”
“It really wasn’t.”
“It was.”
“Do you even know what a compliment is?”
He stopped to think for a moment and then smiled.
“Yeah. Like, hey Alex, you’re really cute and I kinda like your eyes a lot.”
I blushed and giggled a bit.
“Flattered, honestly.”
“Good, it worked.” He smiled, and I smiled back at him.
“Wow. Dinner, paying the tab, AND compliments? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was a date!” I joked.
He opened his mouth but before he could say anything, a waiter came over with our food.
We both smiled down at the steamy noodles in front of us, as the waiter walked away.
Jack immediately dug into his noodles, stuffing them all in his mouth at once as if he was some kind of animal.
“Uh…you know the plate isn’t going anywhere..” I joked, causing him to stop and look up.
“Wha- do you men?” He mumbled with his mouth full of food.
“Gross!” I laughed, trying to look grossed out.
He just shrugged and continued at a slower pace.
I started eating mine and wow. Now I understood. I wanted to bury my whole face in these noodles.
“Oh my god…these are really really good!” I exclaimed, putting more into my mouth.
“Aren’t they??” He agreed, eating more, nonstop.
We spent the rest of the dinner eating, talking, laughing…maybe even flirting a little.
Come to think of it, it actually was a perfect date. But I wasn’t sure if it was a date to begin with. We’re not supposed to be going on dates but I guess I just can no longer deny the fact that I do indeed like Jack Barakat.
So when we were in the car on the way back to my place, I worked up the courage to ask him.
“So…” I started, playing with my fingers.
“So…” He mocked me with a smirk.
“So this was really nice…almost too nice, don’t you think?” I turned to look at him.
His facial expression changed to a straight one as he shrugged.
“I mean…I can’t be the only one feeling something here.” I continued.
“Depends on what it is you’re feeling.” He shrugged again, trying his best to avoid the conversation.
“I think you know, Jack.” I continued staring at him.
He glanced over at me before returning his eyes to the road.
“So what…you like me or something?”
“Do you like me or something?”
He shrugged in response again, and it was actually starting to annoy me.
“That wasn’t a no.” I raised a brow at him.
“I really don’t know what you want me to say.” He sighed, starting to get annoyed.
I was silent for a moment, before deciding fuck it.
“What are we Jack?”
He kept his straight face as he glared over at me.
“Friends.”
And ouch, that hurt.
I was a fool. I should’ve known this wasn’t meant to be a date. I should’ve known that Jack hadn’t suddenly caught feelings for me again. I mean, I don’t even want to start things back up with Jack, so why did I even bother? And why does this hurt so fucking much??
“Right…friends.” I looked down at my hands and tried not to show how sad I was.
He sighed, and continued driving to my house in silence.
When I got home, I went straight to bed with Jack clouding my thoughts.

Notes

The Jalex will happen soon don't worry children.

And heeeyyy I've become a really awful updater and I'm so sorry. Also, I do realize this chapter sucks ass so I apologize for that too. But I love you though so still leave me comments babes.

Also, anyone heard PTV's new song? I love it so much and I wanna go to warped soooo bad but I can't :'(

Thanks! :)

Title cred: Addiction And Her Name- There For Tomorrow