Secrets Don't Make Friends

Alex

A month later

"Ugh do you think I'm an idiot?" I asked Rian. He was sitting on my feet while I did sit-ups. I came over to his house to work out and clear my mind, but it wasn't working so well.

"Yeah." He shrugged.

"I'm being serious, Ri."

"So am I. I'm assuming that you're asking this because you’re jealous now that Jack's been hanging out with Zack a lot."

"Yeah." I huffed and stopped doing sit-ups. "I feel like I'm pushing him into Zack's arms.”

"You are. You literally are. If you aren't helping Jack but Zack is then Jack is just going to appreciate Zack more than you."

"Rian, you don't understand how frustrated I am. Jack is pregnant and I'm probably not the father. Can you imagine if Cass told you that?"

"Honestly I would still be there for Cass because I know that she would be scared. Plus I wouldn't want her to fall for the other guy."

"I don't know. I'm so conflicted. I miss him." I said honestly.

"Then go tell him that."

"It's not that simple." I felt weird talking to Jack now that he was two months pregnant. He probably was used to us being apart by now.

"It literally is, Alex. Go to Jack's house and apologize for acting the way you've been. Tell him you're scared but you're willing to give your relationship another shot if he is. What's so hard about that?"

"I don't know. . . You don't think they're dating now do you?" I asked.

"Who, Zack and Jack? I'm not sure, maybe Cass knows. Do you want me to ask her?"

"No." I quickly answered. I was afraid Cass would say yes. Jack being with Zack would crush me.

"Okay. Let's just workout. You said you wanted to clear your mind so stop thinking about Jack and finish doing sit-ups." He demanded and I nodded.

I laid back on the ground and lifted up. My mind wasn't clear but I didn't want to keep bothering Rian with all this talk about Jack.

"What are you doing for your birthday?" Rian asked.

"That's supposed to be Jack and my anniversary." I whined and laid flat on the ground.

"Alex." Rian shook his head at me.

"Sorry. I'm trying not to thinking about him." I sighed. "I guess we can just go out to eat."

"You don't want to throw a party?" He asked, sounding surprised.

"No, my parents will be home, so I can't. Plus I don't really feel like partying anymore. I don't even want to celebrate on that day."

"Alex, I can't stand to see you torture yourself anymore. Just go talk to Jack." He begged.

"Yeah I think I will."

"Thank you!" He exclaimed and I chuckled.

"I'm going to go so I can think about what exactly to stay to Jack. I'll see you at school tomorrow." I told him.

"Alright."

Rian walked me to his door and we said bye again before I left. I went to my car and drove myself home. I thought about stopping by Jack's house on my way home but I decided against it. The conversation I needed to have with Jack wasn't something I could wing. I needed to apologize for cheating and breaking up with him and for the way I reacted when he told me he was pregnant. I still wasn't comfortable with the idea of Zack possibly being the dad too and I would never be. I really wanted to be with Jack, but I didn't want him to have contact with Zack while we were together.

I parked my car in my driveway and went inside my house so I could go take a shower. I went into the kitchen, first, to get a bottle of water and my parents were in there.

"Hey son, did you have a nice workout?" My dad asked.

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be sore tomorrow." I said and he chuckled. "Hi Mom." I walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

"Ew! You smell like a boy. Go shower." She complained and I laughed.

"I am a boy and I just finished working out." I told her and she playfully rolled her eyes.

"Oh here, Bambi." She called out to me, using the embarrassing nickname she's been calling me since I was two. I ignored it, as always, and looked down at the paper she was handing me. "My job gave me a ten dollar off coupon for Editable Arrangements. Maybe you can go buy something for Jack." She told me and I began to panic.

I hadn't told my parents anything about Jack and I breaking up, nor about him being pregnant. Every time they asked about him I would just mumble that he was fine or make up a lie about Jack being grounded or having too much homework and not able to come over. If I told them the truth they would just meddle until they got me to go over and talk to him. They really liked Jack but I couldn't blame them; we were perfect for each other.

"Why? Why do you think I need to apologize to him?" I asked suspiciously.

"Well I didn't at first but now I do." She chuckled.

"Yeah we haven't seen Jack in a while or heard you talk about him. What's going on between you two?" My dad added.

"It's nothing." I mumbled, hoping that they would drop the subject.

"It doesn't seem like nothing. Come on, tell us." My mom said.

"I have to go take a shower." I said and tried to walk off.

"Alex." She stated, in a serious tone, making me stop.

"Ugh okay we broke up." I admitted. I couldn't think of another lie quick enough and the more I stalled the more suspicious I looked.

"Why?!" She asked.

"We just grew apart." I shrugged.

"I don't believe that one bit. You need to go to Jack and fix whatever is going on between you two. I'm sure it was just an insignificant argument as always." She said.

"I don't know if I would call it insignificant."

"I'm with your mother, you and Jack have gotten through a lot. Just buy him something from that place and go apologize to him." My dad said. They both weren't going to understand why it wasn't that easy without knowing the full truth so I just nodded and told them I would. I went upstairs to go take a shower and hope they would forget about it once I got out.

I took a twenty minute hot shower and then threw on some comfortable clothes. Then I went to lay in my bed and watch TV. It was only five pm but I could definitely use the extra rest. I laid my head on my pillow and yawned ready to take a nap, but my mom walked in my room.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Getting ready to take a nap." I answered.

"No, you're supposed to be going to make things right with Jack. I already ordered the "I'm sorry" package online at Editable Arrangements. All you have to do it pick it up and go take it to him." She said and I sighed.

"Mom, I really don't feel like doing that today." I whined. Reality set in and I was too afraid to approach Jack right now.

"Well if not today then when?" She asked and I shrugged. "Are you sure it was just an argument?" She asked and I nodded. I hated lying to my mom but there was no way I was telling her Jack was pregnant. "Well usually when you two have an argument you're always quick to apologize to Jack. Why is this time different?"

"Because this time it's his fault we're fighting." I answered.

"What'd he do?"

"He lied to me." I sighed.

"Aww Bambi, you should have told me. What did he lie about?"

"It's not important, mom." I told her.

"It is. There's a difference between lying just to deceive you and lying because he thinks he protecting you. Jack Isn't a bad kid. I'm sure he was trying to protect your feelings." She said. She was kind of right, Jack didn't tell me about him and Zack for the same reasons I didn't want to tell him I cheated.

I didn't say anything to that. If I told her that Jack cheated then I would have to tell her I cheated on him too which would lead to me having to tell her that Jack is pregnant.

"I'll just call Lily, she'll help me get you two back together." She suggested and my heart stopped.

"No!" I yelled out and she stared at me blankly. "I uh mean no you don't have to do that cause you're right. Jack was just lying to protect me and I'm just being too sensitive. I'll go get the gift basket and take it to him." I said quickly. If my mom called Lily then she would definitely tell my mom about Jack. I was surprised and thankful she hadn't called her already.

"Okay good! And make sure you change into something else so he'll take you seriously." She told me.

"Okay, I'll get dressed now." I promised.

My mom left my room and I took a deep breath. I got out of my basketball shorts and switched into my black skinny jeans. Then I put on a Blink-182 shirt and slipped my shoes on. I grabbed my car keys and went downstairs.

"I'm leaving." I announced loud enough for my parents to hear me. They both assured me everything would be fine before letting me leave. I wished I could believe them.

I went to my car and drove to the Editable Arrangements where my mom had placed the order. I probably could have got away with eating the fruit flowers in my car and telling my parents I gave it to Jack, but I already lied to them enough today. Plus I wanted to talk to Jack too. Apologizing to him was the least I could do.

Once I picked up the order I went to Jack's house and parked. I sat in my car for six minutes staring at his front door. I felt paralyzed, I couldn't bring myself to get out of the car. I looked down at the fruit basket my mom picked out for Jack. It was really cute, it had tiny "I'm sorry" balloons stuck in the basket and a tiny bear inside. There was no way Jack wouldn't be happy to see this thing. He loved sentimental crap like this. Plus he was pregnant so he was probably craving fruit dipped in chocolate.

I surprised myself by picking up the basket and opening my door. I got out of my car and walked to the front door. I knocked and rang the doorbell two times then stepped back, waiting on Jack to come open the door for me.

Seconds later the door opened, but it was Jack's mom. She skeptically looked down at the gift basket in my hands before raising an eyebrow at me.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Um hi, Lily, I was wondering if I could see Jack really quick. I um want. . . need to apologize to him." I said, politely.

"...No, you can't." She stated.

"B-but I'm here to apologize." I repeated. I wanted to finally do something right and she wasn't letting me.

"No you want to come in and fill my son's head with more lies so you can look like the "good guy" when the baby is born just in case it's yours." She accused and I scoffed.

"No you've got it all wrong! I love Jack and I made a dumb mistake. Please Lily, I have to apologize to him." I pleaded.

"Goodbye, Alexander." She said and tried to close the door.

"Wait wait, can you please give him this and tell him I'm sorry for everything." I begged.

Lily stuck her hands out for the basket and I quickly handed it to her. "Goodbye." She said again before closing the door.

I sighed and walked back to my car. Jack had to be really angry at me. He probably was with Zack and that's why he didn't want to see me. I was an idiot to wait for so long to apologize to him. I had no one to blame but myself.

*****

Jack

"Who was at the door?" I asked my mom as I walked from my room. I had just stepped out of the shower.

"No one important." She shrugged with a gift basket from Editable Arrangements in her hands. I knew she was lying.

"Who was it? And who is that from?" I questioned.

"Okay okay it was Alex." She said and I gasped.

"Where is he? Why did he leave?" I asked.

"Because I told him to go away."

"Why would you do that?!?!" I questioned. Alex finally came over to talk to me and my mom kicked him out.

"Because he wasn't just here to apologize. He was going to try to get back together with you and you need to figure it if that's something you really want. Especially after the ways he's been treating you." She said.

My mom was right. After seeing how easy Alex was able to ignore me and leave me alone when I needed him most I wasn't sure if I wanted to be with him again. I needed someone reliable and someone who would care for the baby no matter what. And as much as I hated to admit it, Zack was doing a pretty good job of that so far.

"Yeah, you're right mom. I don't think I need to be with Alex right now." I sighed as she nodded. She came over and kissed me on the cheek before handing me the gift basket.

"You can still enjoy this." She said and I lightly chuckled.

I took the plastic off and threw the teddy bear and tiny balloons to the side before eating the fruit. This was the only good thing Alex had done for me in my two months of being pregnant.

Notes

Don't worry this won't be Alex's only attempt to make things right

Title Credit: Take Cover by ATL