The Boy Next Door

Mom comes home a couple of hours later. I feel really sick all of a sudden, and when mom checks my temperature, she decides to put our dinner plan on delay and she lets me sleep instead.
I don't go to school the next day either, even though I'm not feeling sick. So after my mom leaves for work, I make myself a cup of coffee and head back to my room. I take a look out the window, at Alex's house. His car is not there, he must've gone to school.
I try to replay the things that happened yesterday in my mind. It was all so bizzare, I mean what's there to explain. First of all he was being so nice, and then we got into a fight, and the next thing I know his lips were on mine.
I must say that I was shocked of the kiss. Truth is, the only time I kissed someone was from playing spin the bottle and we were 13 at that time and I didn't even open my mouth even though Bryan, my classmate at that time, literally tried to shove his tongue down my throat.
And with Alex yesterday, I don't even know I could say if it was a kiss. His lips touched mine, but that was it.
I finish my coffee and decide to go out for a walk, maybe sit at the park and draw or read. The weather is so nice outside, so I grab my army jacket and wrap a scarf around my neck. I put on my brown boots and head outside. The park is located not far from our house, only a 10 min walk. There aren't many people since the others are either working or at school right now. But I take my spot anyways and watch the leaves falling from the trees. I open my sketchbook and start drawing. I get so inspired by the beautiful view I have. When I draw, I feel like there's this wall that separates me from the real world because I get so drawn in to it.
"Gail? Hey, are you there?"
I look up from my book to see Zack. Despite the chilly weather, he's wearing a muscle tank and gym shorts, making his toned figure show up more. He looks like he's been exercising,
"Oh, hey Zack! I'm sorry, did it take you a while to get me?" I greet him
"Yeah, ahaha. Took me a few tries but you're here now. Why aren't in school?" He asks
"I wasn't feeling very well so my mom let me stay at home. Well, not exactly, I'm here now." I respond, "And shouldn't you be in school too?"
"I don't have class until 10:30, I was just on my morning run when I saw you here." He gestures at the spot next to me, "May I?"
I clear up a space for him, "Of course!"
"Thanks."
"Wait.. Morning run? Did you run all the way here from your house? Don't you live like 5 miles away from here?" I realize
He laughs, "Yeah, it's actually not that far."
"Well, I can say I'm not surprised. I mean look at you!" I say, pointing at his athletic body
"I'll take that as a compliment, thank you." Zack smiles
I've always liked Zack, since the first time I knew him at the party when he accidentally bumped into me. He's really kind and friendly, we don't really talk to each other that much since he doesn't go to Dulaney High. I see him often at Alex's, since he's in the band also.
"So, do you come here a lot?" He casually asks, starting a conversation
"Not really, but the weather's nice today so I decided to go get some fresh air." I explain
He leans back to the seat, "Yeah, me too. I come here a lot to clear up my mind sometimes."
I stare at him for a while. "Zack?"
"Yeah?"
"How'd you get to know Alex?" I ask
"Alex? Well, Alex and the others. Through a mutual friend of ours, we met at a local punk show a couple of years ago. I wasn't that close to him until when I heard someone saying that they needed a bass player for their band. I'd always wanted to be in a band, so I came to his house on my skateboard and my bass in one hand. I remember exactly Jack approved of me straight away because I play with my fingers instead of using a pick, which he thought was cool. Good times." Zack tells
"And since then you all became inseparable, I suppose?" I chuckle
He grins, "You could say that."
I smile and focus back on my journal, Zack shuffles on his iPod for a while before he calls my name once again.
"I hope you're not mad at me for getting in your business.. But I know something happened between you and Alex." He asks
I close my journal, "Did he say anything?"
"Not much. He didn't tell me anything, but I do know my best friend." Zack confesses
"Well sorry to say but you don't know him well enough because you're wrong! I have nothing to do with him!" I yell, harsher that I intended it to be. I didn't mean to, but I was mad
"I'm sorry, Abigail." He says slowly, I can hear the guilt in his voice
I take a deep breath, "No, I'm sorry. That was rude, I didn't mean that..."
"Nah, it's okay. I shouldn't have asked in the first place. It's your own business." Zack says
I haven't talked to anyone about this, not even my bestfriends. Zack is a really nice guy, and I think I trust him enough. He's gonna know anyways, I'm pretty sure Alex will tell him sooner or later. Maybe he can help me out
"You know what? Maybe I can use your help..." I sigh
"I'd be more than happy to help." He scoots closer to me, "I've been told I'm a good listener."
And then I tell him everything. From the day Alex stepped into our house, my night out with Jack, and even the kiss. Everything, but maybe except that one night after homecoming. I don't know what's gotten into me, but damn Zack really is a good listener. I feel comfortable telling him everything. And when I'm done, he doesn't say anything.
"Say something, please.. I know I've done some pretty stupid shit but I didn't know what else to do. I feel guilty, confused and scared at the same time." I confess. I finally let go of my burden I've been keeping these past few days.
"Gail, I know this is all very hard and new to you. I don't blame you for feeling scared and all. I'm here, alright?" He snakes his arm around my shoulder
"I didn't move here to get involved in some kind of high school drama shit like this. I just want to finish my senior year. I have the best friends I could ever ask for, I'm doing great at school but why?"
"Listen to me, Gail. I've known Alex and Jack for a long time. They're my brothers. But there's something I need you to know. Even if it makes me a bad friend to them, but I feel like you have to know this because you have the right to. For everyone's sake, to make things better."
"What is it?"
"Jack and Alex... They had a fight over you." Zack confesses
What?
"But how? And wh-when?" I stutter, shocked
"It all started after Homecoming. They all decided to ditch it and we stayed at my house instead. After they got back home, I thought everything was fine until Alex's parents called all of us asking if he'd gone to any of our houses. The next morning, Alex came knocking on my door and begged to tell the others that he'd spent the night at my house. He wouldn't tell me where he'd spent the night, but I decided to just go along with his story for his sake. When Jack came over after that and we all hung out as usual, Alex mentioned about you wanting a guitar lesson and asked Jack to teach you." He explains
I nod. I know exactly where he'd been that night.
Zack continues, "And when you and Jack got closer, Alex started to act a little bit.. different? We all could see it but he kept denying it. After your date with Jack, he lost it. He had a fight with Jack."
"But why? I thought he didn't like me."
"You see, Gail. Alex has a rather rough past. He's been through a lot, he's one of the strongest person I know. But it's not my story to share. Alex doesn't hate you, he's just really hard to read. And if you thought he didn't like you, it's the complete opposite. He just.. has a different way of expressing it." He strokes my back
"And what about Jack? I don't wanna lose him too. He's a good friend."
He nods, "Jack likes you, Gail. I don't see how anyone would not not like you. You're not losing him either."
"I still don't get Alex.." I say
"No one gets him, not even me. But we all can see it on his face. He's head over heels for you, when you don't even realize it. But Jack didn't realize until he saw it for himself." Zack explains again
I stay silent. I'm trying to process what Zack's just said. But is it true though? Or is he just saying that to make me feel better?
"And now what do I do, Zack?" I ask
He shrugs, "It's your choice to make, Gail."
"I think I need time to think." I say slowly
"Take all the time you need."
Zack keeps consoling me, until he finally has to go back an get ready for school. After he leaves, I head back to my house also. Taking Zack's advice to take all the time I need to think.

Notes

Y'all my cat bit my laptop charger I'm writing this from my phone sorry for the filler but until I get my charger shipped I can't do much :(