Alex's POV

You always want something you can't have.

We yell and we fight. We never fought seriously before. A few punches are thrown. After what seems like an eternity, we know that we have to stop somewhere. But that doesn't mean the end of our argument.

So here we are, sharing a bottle of vodka from my secret stash of alcohol. I'm lying on my back on the bed, while Jack takes his place sitting on the floor, his back leaning on the bed.

"I'm sorry I talked shit to you." He finally speaks up

"Well I'm not."

"Whatever man, I'm tired." My best friend sighs below me

Deep down, I know I should've been the one to apologize first. I'm was the one who started this. I'm the dick here.

"I'm sleeping here, fighting or not. I won't risk driving back home." He says

"Why don't you go sleep at Gail's?" I remark sarcastically

"Uh excuse me, unfortunately some asshole begged me to come here just for a stupid fight. Or do I need to recall it for you?" He replies

I groan, "I'm sorry, okay?"

"Took you a while to say it." Jack casually sips the vodka

"We're not done yet, you realize that don't you?" I say

"Yeah, I do."

"So.. What are we gonna do about it then?" I tiredly ask

"Be honest to me, Alex. Do you like her?"

I shake my head. It's no use, he can't even see me. "I don't."

"Really? Cause I don't think you would've done that if you didn't."

"I don't... I don't know." I confess

"I thought you hated each other's guts."

"Well, not anymore." I nudge his shoulder, signaling him to give the vodka bottle

"I don't see how anyone could hate her."

"And now you, be honest to me. Do you like her?" I ask this time

"I do." He says firmly

"I'm sorry then.." I say slowly

He lets out a hugh sigh, "Bros before hoes."

"What do you mean?"

"That means, I won't be anything more than friends with her. I wanted to say staying away from her but I couldn't out of a sudden just cut out contact with her, could I? I don't want to look like a jerk to her." Jack explains

"Yeah, I understand." I silently nod. I still can't believe after all the shit I've done to him, he's still kind enough to forgive me and do that.

"Bros before hoes, Brother." I say slowly

"Bros before hoes."

And that also means none of us is getting her.

-------------
Gail's POV

I'd left my phone in Jack's car.

I only realized the morning after it. lt was a lazy Sunday morning, and I was thinking of going to Alex's to ask Jack since I don't have his number memorized. But it was Isobel who opened the door saying that he wasn't home. We ended up chatting a little bit before I finally got back home, spending the rest of my Sunday painting and reading books until I fell asleep. I'd just ask him on Monday.

It's now Monday morning as I see Jack by his locker, picking up his books. I decide to stop by and ask about my phone.

"Hey there, Jack-o." I greet him with a wide smile

He slams the locker door, "Oh, hey! Didn't realize you were here."

"Yeah, I just got here. Uh, Jack, I think I left my phone in your car last Saturday. Have you seen it?" I ask

"You did. I was gonna call you about it. It took me a few calls until I realized you weren't gonna pick it up. It also took me a few hours to think about how stupid I was." He fishes my phone from his pocket, "I was gonna return it yesterday but it was already late when I found it under the seat. Sorry."

I laugh, "Thanks, at least I can say it's not missing now."

The bell rings signaling that it's time for homeroom. "Walk together to homeroom?" I gesture

Jack chuckles uncomfortably, "Uh, go on first, Alex wanted me to wait for him."

"Ah yes, Alex. What happened to him?" I ask

"You know- he got himself in trouble. Uh, you know him. I needed to pull him out of the situation."

"Oh.. Well, okay then. See you around." I say quite disappointingly. I'm pretty sure he's hiding something.

I turn on my heels to head for homeroom, but Jack calls me once again.

"Gail?"

I turn, "Yes, Jack?"

"It's not that I don't like you or what, but I think I need some space first to process everything after our night out... There are some things you don't know that need to be figured out, I think it's best if we.." Jack stops mid-word. "Don't see each other too much."

I smile, "I know exactly what you mean."

"I didn't want this, Gail. I'm so sorry." He says slowly

"Why would you be sorry? It was just a friendly night out, wasn't it after all? Not that I expected too much from it."

He clearly didn't say it was a date, didn't he? Oh, wait. He did! In my room after I'd invited him upstairs.

Damn, I give myself a slap in my mind for still being sarcasm as fuck even when the tears in my eyes could just stream down my face any second.

"Yeah. Of course it was." He says slyly

I readjust the strap of my bag, "Well, Jack. It's been fun. I gotta get going."

I'm literally running my way to the bathroom, I can't hold back the tears anymore.

"It was a friend's favour, Gail. I swear." He shouts behind me. I don't bother to see as if he's following behind.

"Yeah, of course it was." I shout back.

Nobody can see me past the walls, and I finally let the tears out behind the safety of bathroom. For the second time in just a couple of months.

I'm so weak.

I text Jaz to see if she could come check on me in the bathroom. She comes within a blink of an eye after I hit the send button.

"Oh Gail, come here." Jaz pulls me into a hug when she sees my puffy eyes. She doesn't even know why I'm crying but she consoles me anyway

"When does the make-the-new-kid-cry season ends?" I bury my head on her shoulder

"Usually October. But it usually ends later when you're a pretty, heart stealing, funny and smart ginger." She pats my back

"I can't go out there. I don't want to see him." I say

"Your house or mine?"

"You can't skip school because of me, Jaz!" I squeal

"I was gonna anyway. I haven't studied for the calculus test today, might as well skip it. Besides, it's emergency we're talking about here!"

About half an hour later, we end up going back to my house. And I thought making Jaz skips school was bad enough, 15 minutes later the others show up at my house. By the others, I'm talking about everyone. Even the boys.

"I don't know what's the All Time Low gang are doing to you, but that's just plain mean. First Alex, now Jack. Who's next, Rian?" Travis comments after I tell the others what happened

"I shouldn't have ever opened up to him. To anyone. I thought I was ready for.. Well, dating and stuff. This just reminds me of why I don't do romance in the first place." I say slowly

"First heartbreak's always the worst, but know that we're here for you." Lillia squeezes my hand
I shake my head, "I... I don't want to talk about it. I'm sorry I've only been a huge pain in the ass to you guys, always dragging you down to my matters."

"If we were bothered then why would we all be here for you now? You're one of us." Jaz says

Another reason why I love them all to death.

"Hey, why don't we all go to Rick's party this Friday? You know, Gail, have fun. Meet boys and... You decide the rest." Chris grins at me

"No thanks, our definition of 'fun' doesn't seem to be the same anymore." I sigh

"Come on, Gail! We're all going. Rick Montesby throws the best party every year. We wouldn't miss it for the world. You know, to get your mind off it." Holly pleas

I hesitate, "I don't want to see them... Are they going?"

Travis nods, "Most likely... But who cares? Show that they've done nothing to break you, it'll be like a huge slap in the face to them."

Yeah, I probably should go.

"We've got your back." He reassures

-----

And it's true. I did have a good time at Rick Montesby's party.

I saw Jack, Alex, Rian and Zack there. I could feel their eyes on me as I was grabbing another round of shot.

I raised my glass and shot them a death glare, showing how much I was doing fine on my on. I must've been really drunk then.

The next morning, I woke up with a killer headache. I'd never been this hungover before. But it was all worth it.

By the end of the week, I'd almost completely forgotten about it all.

Notes

Hey! Sorry for being M.I.A for some time! I was in Italy for a week and I didn't have my laptop with me. To make it up, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!