Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

"Jack!" Alex bounded down the hall toward his boyfriend, sneakers clapping against the floor loudly as other students glared at him for racing past, "Did you know we don't have school tomorrow?"

"I did," Jack laughed, as Alex basically crashed into him, knocking the books in Jack's arms onto the floor as he replaced them with himself, instead. "I'm guessing you didn't."

"Nope!" Alex grinned, looking up at Jack, "This is great, we should do something tomorrow!"

"I was going to talk to you about that," Jack said, securing his arms around Alex's waist as he explained, "Zack and Rian had this idea to go up to the mountains, where there's still snow and stuff."

"That sounds fun," Alex nodded, "How're we getting there, though?"

"My brother can drive us," Jack told Alex, "I already checked with him. He has a day off tomorrow, too."

"Cool," Alex hummed, slipping out of Jack's grasp to pick up his books and hand them back to him, "Marissa asked me to go shopping with her now, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"See you," Jack repeated. Eyes flicking around the hallway quickly, Alex waited for the perfect moment when nobody was looking to lean up and kiss Jack on the cheek. He turned around made his way back down the hallway, and Jack could not help but to smile as he split off in the other direction. Alex rarely was the one to kiss him at school, and it felt nice knowing that the blond actually wanted to do it. Sometimes, it got kind of boring being the only one to ever lean in. On the other hand, it was not like it was all the time, though. Alex definitely made an initiative when they were alone. There was no argument there, not at all. Jack ran into Zack a few moments later, just as he was about to exit the building. "Why're you in such a hurry?"

"I have a date with Marissa tomorrow," Zack explained quickly, chest heaving as he pulled Jack into a jog with him as they made their way down the street, "The flower shop I'm going to is going to close in ten minutes."

"Mind if I come?" Jack asked, and Zack shook his head.

"Not at all, as long as we get there before it closes," Zack answered, and Jack rolled his eyes fondly as Zack continued to drag him along.

"Wait," Jack said, "When did you ask her? Alex is going shopping with her right now."

"At lunch," Zack responded, "It was really sudden."

"Oh," Jack hummed, "I'm happy for you, man. I wonder if Alex knows." Just as Jack was about to pull his phone out of his pocket, Zack shoved it back in.

"Text your boyfriend when we get there, we're going to be late!" Zack huffed, and Jack just shrugged. A few seconds later, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, and he grinned to himself.

When they made it to the mall five minutes later, Jack slowed down as Zack ran into the shop. Pulling out his phone, he tried not to smile at the object in his hand as he read a text from Alex. It said exactly what he had expected it to, and he replied with his own side of the story, before deciding he should probably head into the building and help out his friend.

"What the fuck am I supposed to get?" Zack asked Jack frantically, "Don't they have special meanings, or something?"

"Calm down," Jack laughed, "What makes you think I know anything?"

"Shut up," Zack rolled his eyes, "I know you've gotten Alex flowers. Whether you knew what you were doing or not, you made a decision somehow."

"Okay, okay." Jack smiled empathetically. "Roses are probably fine, because I think that implies that you probably like her, but maybe not red."

"What about pink?" Zack asked, and Jack shrugged.

"Sure," he answered, keeping himself busy texting Alex as his friend paid for the gift.

On the other side of the mall, Alex was slumped in a chair, staring at his phone as Marissa looked around at shirts in front of him.

"How about this one?" Marissa asked, holding up a black blouse, similar to the last one she had picked up, just a different neutral shade.

"It's fine," Alex nodded, "As were all of the others."

"You have to have more of an opinion than that," Marissa argued, and Alex chuckled.

"I don't really know what to say," Alex offered, "I don't do this that often. You look great all the time. He's going to love whatever you wear."

"This isn't about him liking it," Marissa eyed Alex, "I just need some new shirts."

"Understandable," Alex nodded, "Not that it would be wrong if it were."

"Valid point," Marissa hummed, tacking on with a smirk, "Why, do you like to look good for your man?"

"Stop it," Alex whined, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his nose between them.

"I'm just kidding," Marissa giggled, "Don't worry. I think I'm going to get these ones, we can go now."

"I'm texting Marissa right now," Alex said into his phone later that night, "She just got back and messaged me."

"I'm going to text Zack," Jack replied on the other end, "I'm curious how it went."

"Me too," Alex sighed, "So far, she's saying good things. I really hope it works out. What do you think?"

"I don't know, babe. It seems to be going pretty good. I mean, besides Sam and I a couple years ago, none of us have really ever talked to them that much, so I don't really have anything to base it off of. They're both really good people, though, so I think they've got a good chance." Jack explained, smiling as he heard Alex grumble.

"Don't say her name," Alex flopped back onto his pillow, "I don't like it."

"Alright, drama queen," Jack laughed in response, "Take it easy."

"I'm tired, Jack," Alex replied, yawning into the receiver, which only proved his point further.

"Sleep, sweetheart," Jack hummed, and Alex nodded to himself.

"'Night, love," he said, before sliding beneath his covers.

The next morning, Alex woke up later than he expected. He had to rush to get ready, as Jack was already on his way over. Completing everything he needed to in a mere five minutes, Alex was shutting the door just as Jack's brother pulled up in front of his house. Climbing into the backseat, everyone greeted Alex.

"Hey guys," Alex nodded at Zack and Rian, "Hi, Joe."

"No 'hi' for me?" Jack turned around, pouting at Alex.

"I was texting you, like, two minutes ago," Alex argued, "But, hello."

"Have you two ever gone more than an hour without talking to each other since you've met?" Joe asked with a roll of his eyes, and Jack glared at him.

"Fuck you, yes we have." Jack knew his brother was joking, as it was not rare for Joe to poke fun at how attached his little brother was to the English boy.

"Defensive today, are we?" Joe countered, and Jack tried not to fight back with him during the rest of the ride there. When they finally reach the top of the mountain an hour or so later, they were submerged in a winter wonderland, and we glad when Joe left them alone, splitting off to meet up with his girlfriend.

Deciding to take a walk through the trails, the four boys looked around at the snowy environment as they strolled slowly through the trees. A few minutes into their walk, Jack stopped, and walked up to a specific tree. He pulled off some of the pine needles, sticking a couple in his mouth, before offering some to his friends.

"Try some," he said, "I remember this tree from when we came here in primary school. It's edible."

"No way," Rian waved him off, and Jack shrugged turning to Alex. The blond boy shook his head, and Jack faked a sigh.

"Alright, I guess," he said, as he pulled Alex toward him. "That's too bad." Pouting, he went in for a kiss, instead shoving the pine needles he was still saving from his own mouth into Alex's.

Spitting onto the ground, Alex gawked at Jack. "You're so gross!"

"Agreed," Rian shook his head, "I've been seeing way too much of Jack's tongue lately."

Laughing at his friends, Jack turned to Zack lastly. "Come on, Zack, don't you trust me?"

"Fine, Jack," Zack chuckled, "I'll eat one of you promise to shut up about these stupid leaves."

"And if he stops attacking me," Alex added, and Zack nodded in his direction.

"And if you stop attacking him." Zack repeated, looking back at Jack.

"Cool," Jack grinned, excited when Zack did not actually hate the rather unusual snack, even opting to take another piece for himself. It certainly was not amazing, but Jack had been right, it was rather fun.

Notes

hey! late update today because I'M SO TIRED!!! how's your guys' week going?

ok so since this is the biggest story i have, i want to talk about this here for a second. it's the 2 year anniversary of the first day i ever wrote and posted anything. i'd been reading jalex for at least 2 years before that, but it's mind blowing to think about how long it's been, and how much it's changed my life. really! the fact that people like this shit that i post is actually kid of crazy. it's great that i get to do something i love, and then other people get to do it, too. i've also met so many great people on this journey, and idk how much longer i'll be around, but this has definitely been a highlight of my teen years. also, i promise if i ever do decide it's over, i won't leave anything unfinished. it sounds kind of lame, but posting is always the best day of the week, because all of your comments always make me feel so so so nice. i love you guys!!!! don't forget to let me know what you thought, and WAIT FUCK I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO MENTION, THERE WAS A PURPOSE TO THAT RANT. TOMORROW (technically later today, since its just past 12) I'M GOING TO BE A POSTING A REWRITE OF MY FIRST FIC EVER (When the Day Met the Night) IT'LL BE A NEW CHAPTER ON THAT SAME STORY SO LOOK OUR FOR THAT I'LL PROBABLY CRY TBH OK BYE LOL

***edit! there's a new chapter of Ocean Avenue up, so please go check that out!