Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous

Jack was pretty out of it all day. He put on a bad show at lunch, trying desperately to convince everyone he was happy. Though he seemed elated to take credit for the way I looked when our friends kept telling me I looked hot. I would scoff or roll my eyes but I couldn't keep the heat from creeping to my face, while Jack beamed and said it was his doing. If anyone asked about his new shiner though, his expression would drop just a bit and he'd wave them off saying it was his own fault. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep to one story, so I don't believe anyone actually bought it. I could see in his eyes he wanted none of his usual attention, so when the day ended I dragged him from the building quickly, telling our friends we had plans.

Jack sighed as he rested his arms and forehead against his car. “Thanks for that, I really didn't want to go out tonight.”
I used one hand to gently soothe the tight muscles of his neck. His head relaxed further into his hands as he exhaled a pleased sigh. “Sure thing. You've had a rough week, you deserve a night to yourself.” I felt the muscles in his neck tense again. “Unless you wanted to hang out? Just us?” He turned his head to give me a shy smile. “That's cool, wanna grab May and go back to yours?”

He shook his head. “May has a playdate today. Maybe we could go to your place?”

I quirked an eyebrow. “Mine?”

He chuckled. “Yes, that house where you have a room of your own with clothes that you don't whine about wearing.”

I rolled my eyes. “If you're going to be an asshole, I'll find other people to sit with at lunch.”

He scoffed. “You're already at the best table, cutie. I'll follow you home.” He winked and plopped into his drivers seat.

I met Tom at my car. “Took you long enough,” he grumbled. I just rolled my eyes and got in. After exiting the lot and making the first turn on the way home, my brother tapped my arm. “Is that guy following us?”

I nodded. “Yeah, that's Jack. He's coming by for a bit.”

I had forgotten just how much Tom felt the need to overreact to my friendship with Jack. “JACK BARAKAT IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE?” He gasped loudly shaking my arm, causing the car to swerve a quarter of an inch.

“TOM!” I punched him, maybe just a little too hard as we stopped at a red light. He let out a small oof noise. “What the fuck? You could have killed us, dipshit! Don't do that when I'm driving!” My phone vibrated on the console.

“Everything ok?” from Jack.

I sent a quick “yup” and socked Tom in the arm again before the light changed.

“What's the deal with you and Barakat?” Tom blurted out after a moment of silence.

I sighed as I turned onto our street. “What are you talking about?”

“We just got here and suddenly you two are spending all day every day together. I think you've spent more nights at his house than at our new house.”

I pulled into the driveway and shut off the car before turning to Tom. “That's ridiculous, I'm home plenty. Jack's my friend, and we hang out. That's it.”

“A lot. You hang out a lot.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I heard Jack's car shut off. “Fine, we hang out a lot. It doesn't matter, it's none of your business,” I snapped. I didn't quite slam my car door, but I did shut it with a little force. I brushed past Jack on the way to the door.

“You alri-”

“I'm fine,” I cut in, jamming my key in the lock.

Jack stayed quiet as we all piled in the house, and as he followed me up to my room. I threw my bag in a corner and landed on my bed, my arm flinging over to cover my eyes. I heard the door click softly as Jack shut it behind him, then soft footsteps before I felt the springs dip slightly next to me. “What's wrong? Don't tell me nothing, you're a fucking terrible liar.”

“No worse than you,” I grumbled.

I could almost feel him rolling his eyes as an impatient sigh escaped him. “Flip over, grouchy.”

I lifted my elbow so I could peak at him. “What? Why?”

He rolled his eyes and gave me a gentle shove. “Just do it.” I flipped over onto my stomach and felt the bed tremble as Jack maneuvered around, then felt the weight of him sitting on the backs of my thighs. Before I could question him, I felt his thumbs dig into my back, and very nearly moaned. “Now, will you tell me what's wrong?”

“My brother's an ass,” I muttered.

Jack chuckled. “I figured as much. What'd he do now? Besides nearly crash your car.”

I sighed. “He thinks I'm just slutting around with you.”

He laughed. “Who says I'd let you slut around with me?”

“Oh please, you know you could never do better than this!” Thwack! “Hey!”

“Down boy,” Jack chuckled as his hands went back to working on my back. “You couldn't handle this much man.” I snorted, but let it go. After a couple minutes of silence, Jack's hands slowed and I felt him roll off my back to lay next to me. “Better?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “Sorry about Tom, he's kind of an ass.”

There was a bang on the wall. “I CAN HEAR YOU DIPSHIT!”

“PISS OFF!” Jack yelled back. I lifted my head to find him grinning at me. “He's rude, too.” I laughed.

We ended up slipping into what had become out normal routine of just lazing about. We talked about nothing for maybe ten minutes before we ended up just laying next to each other on our phones. Occasionally we'd turn the screen to show something to the other, but beyond that, we just relaxed.

At about four-thirty, Jack stretched as he let out a yawn. “I have to go get May and bring her home. Wanna come?”

I plopped my phone on the nightstand as I shook my head. “I should probably stay here tonight, if only so that I can wear normal clothes in the morning.”

He pouted. “Lexyyy, you're going to make me sleep alone tonight?”

I snorted. “Oh the horror, I'm a terrible person.”

“You're the worst best friend ever,” he agreed.

I rolled my eyes as I walked him to the door. “Don't be such a baby.” I hugged him. “But, hey, call me if you need me, ok? You and May always have a place to go if things get too bad,” I said softly, uncertain of how he'd react.

He held me tighter. “Thanks, Lex.” He shot me a grin and a “See you tomorrow!” as he jogged out to his car.

“Jesus, you two act like girls,” Tom said as soon as I'd shut the door.

“Wow, I really don't remember asking you,” I grumbled.

Before Tom could answer, Mom called us for dinner. We took our seats, but I was surprised to see mine bare.

“Oh Alexander, I didn't know you were home,” she said, clearly surprised.

I sighed. “One night. I was at Jack's house for one night.”

“You were out past dinner the night before,” she said.

“And you stayed at his place the night before that,” Tom added.

I rolled my eyes. “I miss three dinners and suddenly you don't expect me to come back.”

“Who is this Jack boy,” my father interjected.

“Jack Barakat. He's guy Alex is doing,” Tom said easily as he dug into his plate.

“Thomas!” my mother scolded as my dad choked on his food.

I kicked Tom under the table hard enough to make him yip. “For the last time, Jack and I are just friends. I’m not ‘doing’ anyone!”

“Doing him or not, I’d like to meet the kid you’re spending all your time with,” Dad chuckled.

“You just missed him, he left right before dinner,” Tom said.

“Alexander! He was over all afternoon and you didn't invite him to stay for dinner?” Mom tutted.

“No, because he had to go pick up his little sister and bring her home.” It was quiet for a moment as my mother just stared at me, eyebrows raised. “Alright, fine! I'll invite him over for dinner on Saturday?”

My parents nodded before my father said, “Good.”

I sighed and excused myself to tell Jack that he's invited to meet my parents this weekend.

It could be worse, at least we're not dating.

I cringed at the thought.

Notes

So just an fyi, I am miserable about the whole "update on a schedule" thing and I know that it's always a while between chapters, but I never forget about a story or leave it incomplete! So just bear with me if you like it, yeah? Enjoy! - Anna