Don't You Go and Carry On With Your Life

Alex

I woke up to find that I was still outside. I slept outside in a lounge chair with Jack last night. He was still asleep next to me with his head pressed to my chest. I didn't want to move ever again. This was the best night of sleep I’ve gotten in a long time.

"Alex." Jack mumbled in his sleep and snuggled into my chest some more. I smiled and tightened my grip on his waist.

"I'm not going anywhere." I told him.

I closed my eyes so I could fall back asleep with him. The sun was barely just coming up so Kellin wouldn't be up anytime soon to catch us. I was hoping we could make plans today to meet the counselor sometime soon. There was a nice marriage counselor that I one of my co-workers recommended. I had emailed her last week to ask her basic information about her sessions. I also watched a few videos she had on her website and she seemed to be really effective. Hopefully she could help me better myself so I could be better for Jack.

I awoke a few hours later when I heard someone talking. I thought it was Kellin, but I quickly noticed the voice began shouting.

"What the hell is going on?!" I heard the voice yell from the door way.

Jack and I both quickly sat up away from each other. I looked over to see Austin storming our way with Kellin walking behind him.

"Austin wait, I can explain." Jack said, barely awake.

"Explain what? How you're a piece of shit cheater like him!” He steamed, pointing at me.

"What the fuck did you just call him?" I hissed. I stood up ready to walk over to him but Jack grabbed my wrist.

"Sit down before I knock your ass down." Austin threatened.

I pulled my wrist away from Jack and walked closer to Austin. "Come on, I'm right here! Do it!" I said intimidatingly. I wasn't going to hit him first, but I wanted him to hit me so I’d have an excuse to. I didn't want Kellin to see it happen but I was too angry to stop.

Austin raised an eyebrow at me and began walking towards me ready to fight. Adrenaline raced through my veins as I thought about what was about to happen. Before Austin could come in contact with me, Jack ran in the middle of us. He tried to keep both of us away from each other.

"Both of you stop it!" Jack yelled at us.

"Jack got out of the way." I told him. If Austin accidentally hit him I was going to kill him.

"No, Alex stop! And Austin move back! I'm not gonna let you two beat the shit out of each other!"

"So you're allowed to fuck him while you're dating me and I can't do anything about it?" Austin questioned Jack.

"I didn't cheat on you! Alex and I didn't do anything. We just fell asleep together that's it." Jack stressed.

"Like I'm supposed to believe that." Austin rolled his eyes and stepped away from Jack.

"Yeah you're supposed to believe it because it's the truth."

"Then why the fuck were you wrapped up in his arms? You're lying to me!"

"He's not lying." I told him.

"I wasn't talking to you." He snapped at me and I took a deep breath.

"Austin, I'm not lying." Jack sighed.

"Then prove it. Right now choose, me or him." He said.

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked.

"I want you to choose. Either you're with me and you can't talk to him anymore or you're with him and I'm going to kick his ass and go." He said and I shook my head.

Anxiety filled me as thought about what Jack might choose. He said he wanted to go to counseling with me last night but that didn't mean he was giving me a second chance. He and Austin were dating so there wasn't really a reason to not choose him. If by some miracle Jack says me, I going to have to fight Austin.

"I choose no one." Jack shrugged.

"That's not an option." Austin said.

"Yeah it is. I'm not with Alex and I'm not with you anymore. I'm done." Jack said, catching me off guard.

"What do you mean you're done? You're not breaking up with me." Austin told him.

"Yes I am. I can't put up with this. Plus we were drifting apart anyways so it's over."

"It's funny how you decide to break up with me right after I find you with him. This is all his fault." He said sounding angrier, while pointing to me.

"Austin, go before I call the police." Jack threatened.

"Fine I'll go." He glared at Jack and looked back at me. I stared back at him until he left the backyard through the fence gate.

Jack sat down on a chair and took a deep breath. He was probably relieved that Austin and I didn't start fighting. I was really relieved too. That guy is a personal trainer, he’d beat my ass.

"I-I didn't know that Dad was here. I would have never let him in-" Kellin trembled, but Jack stopped him.

"It's okay, Kells. It's not your fault. Just go back in so your dad and I can talk." Jack told him and he nodded. He went back inside and I took a seat in the chair next to Jack.

"I'm sorry I let my anger get the best of me." I apologized and he shook his head.

"No I should be apologizing for dragging you into this mess. Had I just broken up with Austin instead of ‘taking a break’ this would have never have happened."

"It's cool, you didn't know he was an asshole. I mean I knew and I warned you plenty of times but still." I joked and Jack chuckled.

"Shut up. I'm just happy that's over with."

"Yeah hopefully I never have to see him again." I said and he nodded.

"Don't do anything if you do see him, Lex. Just ignore him, okay?"

"Yeah sure." I sighed.

"Thanks." He said and I began to smile to myself. "What?" He asked as he saw my smile grow.

"You called me 'Lex.'" I said. It's been so long since I heard him call me that.

"It just slipped out." He chuckled.

"Mhmm...so should we talk about last night?" I asked and he playfully rolled his eyes.

"What about last night?"

"How we fell asleep cuddled together." I teased.

"That's because I was cold. It didn't mean anything."

"Are you sure, because you mumbled my name in your sleep and-"

"-you're so full of shit." He laughed, and got up. "Come on, we should go make sure Kellin's okay."

I followed him back inside and to the kitchen where Kellin was. He was making breakfast while Kylie colored at the table.

"Kells, you don't have to cook. Here go sit and I'll finish up." Jack told him and he nodded. He sat down next to Kylie and me and played with his fingers.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I just hated the way he was talking to Jack." I told Kellin.

"No it's okay. I understand, I didn't like it either." He told me. ". . . Was he right though? Did you guys...?"

"No." Jack answered before I could.

"Yeah we didn't do anything but fall asleep together." I assured him.

"Oh well why were you here?"

"We were just talking and we accidentally fell asleep."

"Talking about what?" He asked and I chuckled.

"Stuff you wouldn't understand." I said and he rolled his eyes.

He looked over at Jack to make sure his back was to us. "Did you guys kiss?" He mouthed to me so Jack wouldn't hear. I nodded in return and a huge smile grew on his face. I chuckled to myself and watched Jack finish breakfast for all of us. He put the food into a plates and sat them down at the table for us. Kellin and I thanked him and we began to eat. I couldn't help but realize how familiar this was. It felt like all the other Sundays we are break as a family, before Jack and I had any problems.

"Are you okay after everything that happened outside?" Jack asked Kellin while we were eating.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just caught off guard, but everything's okay now." He assured him.

"Okay." Jack nodded.

Once we were finished eating, Kellin went to the living room to do his homework he had to turn in tomorrow. Kylie stayed at the table playing with my phone. I got up and walked over to help Jack with the dishes.

"Here let me help you." I said and he nodded.

"I'll wash and you rinse." He told me. He picked up a plate, washed it, and then handed it to me. We repeated this process silently for a few minutes.

"Soooo one of the guys at the law firm recommended a good marriage counselor. Her name is Dr. Cassadee Pope and she has a lot of good reviews." I told Jack.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I've actually been emailing her telling her about our situation and she says she's sure she can help. I was thinking we could set up an appointment with her maybe this week." I said nervously.

"Hmm... I'm supposed to go out to eat with May, Joe, and my mom on Wednesday. Maybe we can go on Thursday. I get off at four so I'm fine any time after that."

"Okay, I'll see if we can meet with her Thursday at five."

"Is it expensive?" He asked and I chuckled.

"It's not cheap, but nothing I wouldn't pay for a chance to help us." I said and he smiled.

"That's really sweet of you Alex." He told me.

"I just want to try everything I can to get us back to how we were before I fucked everything up."

"Well I really appreciate the effort. It's kind of flattering now to see you try so hard to get me back." He said.

"Good! I'm happy it's not annoying to you anymore." I said and we finished the last dish. "But I should go, I have to prepare for work tomorrow.” I didn't want to leave yet, but I needed to go over a case for a client.

I walked over to Kylie and picked her up to tell her bye. She giggled and kicked her legs while I kissed her all over her face. I sat her back down and went to the living room to tell Kellin bye.

"Okay, Kells I'm leaving." I told him.

"Wait! So I wasn't listening to your conversation on purpose, but you guys are going to counseling together??" Kellin asked excitedly.

"Yeah just to try it out." Jack told him.

"So maybe it'll help you two get back together?"

"Yep maybe." I said and walked over to hug him. He hugged me tightly mumbling about how happy he was in my chest. I smiled and reluctantly let him go so I could leave.

"Jack can you walk me to the door?" I asked.

"You know where the door is." He answered.

"Please?"

He rolled his eyes and began walking towards the front door. I followed behind him until he stopped and opened the door for me.

"There. Happy?" He asked.

I leaned down to kiss him on the lips. The kiss only lasted a few seconds but it was still perfect. Jack smiled against my lips and we pulled apart.

"Now I am." I chuckled and walked out of the door.

Notes

They are so close to being Jalex again! Hopefully the therapist can help them!!