American Dreams
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Alex’s POV
I was sat in one of the music rooms which was so Say soundproof and had a piano in and I pressed a key in the piano and smiled sadly to myself as dad taught all of us how to play the piano and then a instrument of our choice.
“Never thought I’d see you in here.” A voice said and I looked and saw Nala.
“I didn’t either, just wanted to have some space that’s all.” I said quietly.
Nala came in and shut the door behind her and sat next to me.
“What’s up Lex?” Nala asked quietly.
“Nothing, just having a shit day that’s all.” I said and Nala smiled at me.
“Haven’t sat by one of these bad boys for a while.” Nala said as she ran her hands over the piano.
“Not since dad left us.” I whispered and Nala smiled sadly at me.
“Let’s see how rusty we both are then.” Nala said as she started to play and I smiled as I followed her lead and I started to sing until we both got bored and by which point it was lunch and me and Nala went in our own way.
I was sat away from everyone because I just wanted some space and everyone accepts that and would give me space.
“I heard you singing in the music room. You have a amazing voice.” A voice said which made me look up and I saw Jack.
“Can I sit down?” Jack asked and I nodded and Jack sat down and helped himself to a cigarette which made me look at him.
“You have a good voice for a complete ass.” Jack said and I smiled slightly.
We stayed quiet for a couple of seconds until Jack spoke again.
“Jesus, never thought I would see the day that Alex Gaskarth is actually silent.” Jack said and I shook my head.
“Have you seen my sisters around?” I asked as I got myself a cigarette.
“I don’t even know what your sisters look like so I can’t help I’m afraid.” Jack said and I sighed as I messed with my lighter.
“Jesus Alex are you trying to get yourself kicked out.” I heard Rowe say seriously.
“And as if on cue one of you shows up.” I said and looked up and saw both Nala and Rowe looking at me.
“You, piss off.” Nala said seriously and Jack frowned at them.
“Ignore my sisters, Jack can finish his cigarette and then he was going to go.” I said and looked at Jack who smiled at me.
“Well we will join you two then.” Rowe said and they both joined us.
“Don’t say I recognize your face.” Rowe said to Jack.
“I started here when the new school year started.” Jack said and both Nala and Rowe looked at me.
“You’ve lived in England for a while.” Rowe said and Jack looked at me confused.
“I’ve already told you me and these two are actually British and not Americans.” I said and Jack nodded.
“I went to boarding school in England but I’m not actually English, both my parents are from Lebanon.” Jack said and we all frowned at Jack as we had no clue where this was.
“It’s in the Middle East somewhere.” Jack chuckled as he flicked his cigarette away and stood up.
“I’ll see you around Alex.” Jack said and he walked off and I watched him and I could see Justin watching our every move.
“Jesus that Justin kid will get a slap soon.” Nala said as she lead down and her top raising which showed of some of her tattoos she had.
“He probably gets turns on by it.” Rowe said and I chuckled quietly as I stood up.
“We need to talk Lex.” Nala said and I shook my head.
“Talk when we get home, right now I want to go home.” I said and Rowe smiled at me.
“Did you take your meds?” Rowe asked and I shook my head.
“It hasn’t been this bad for a while so haven’t been taken them.” I said and they both frowned at me.
“I’m not going to go batshit if that’s what your both worried about.” I said and I picked my bag up and I went home.
I walked through the front door and mum was home.
“Which one of you is it?” Mum said from the kitchen and I walked into the kitchen.
“It’s your boy.” I said and mum looked round and smiled at me.
“What you doing home? School doesn’t finish for another 4 hours.” Mum said sounding concerned.
“I’m having a bad day.” I said as I made myself a drink.
“What you thinking about?” Mum asked and I sighed.
“About dad, everyone back in the UK. Do you ever think they think about us?” I said and looked at mum.
“Alex you know that everyone in England thought we are all lying about what your father was doing to us. We are better off without them, I have you and your sisters at the end of all of this we are the better people. We are closer as a family and all we need is each other. We shouldn’t even think about everyone in England we are dead to them so we shouldn’t even think about them either.” Mum said and I sighed.
“Sweetheart I know you miss your father and your brothers but this life we have now is something I don’t ever want to let go off. We are all free from that monster and we no longer are in fear of living our lives.” Mum said and I nodded.
“I know, but I miss them.” I said quietly and mum walked over and pulled me into a hug which I returned.
“I miss them too sweetie.” Mum whispered and I pulled back and smiled at her.
“I’m going to go for a walk. Don’t worry I’m not going to do something stupid, I’m over that phase now.” I said and mum smiled as I walked off and went to the docks.
I was miles away watching this ship being unloaded when someone sat next to me and I looked and saw Jack with Rowe.
“Mum has been tearing her fucking hair out Alex.” Rowe said seriously.
“I haven’t even been out for long.” I said as I sat forward and looked down.
“Alex you’ve been gone for nearly 5 hours.” Rowe said and I looked at her and Jack.
“Mum is just freaking out, I’m fine.” I said and Rowe looked at Jack.
“You can get through his thick skull, you deal with him.” Rowe said and I rolled my eyes at the both of them.
Jack sat down next to me.
“What So you think that because I won’t talk to you, you are going to see if I’ll talk to someone I barely know then that is low. Even for you Rowe.” I said seriously and I stood up and walked off.
“Alex.” I heard Rowe say after me.
“Alex don’t run off.” Rowe said loudly but I just put my hood up and carried on walking.
I managed to get myself lost and I was sat on a bench in some cemetery.
“Well if you want to give your family a heart attack and worry sick about you then you are really heading in the right direction.” A voice said and I looked saw Jack.
“Can’t I have a mid life crisis in peace?” I asked.
“Not when your family are worried sick about you. Your mum is going fucking crazy and is going to phone the police if you don’t come back in less an a hour.” Jack said and I rolled my eyes.
“Come on, what’s the problem? Family issues, daddy issues? I could go on but I’m not going to.” Jack said and I looked at him.
“Why would I tell you? I barely know you.” I scoffed.
“I dunno. I don’t see any of your friends sat here with you making sure you are okay. Funny how your friends aren’t sat here with you making sure that you are okay.” Jack said and I looked down.
“My friends don’t understand or know half the stuff I’ve been through.” I said quietly.
“I understand that Okay I really do and you don’t have to tell me your story. But right now I just want to get you home to your family. Your mum and both your sisters are worried about you and just want you home.” Jack said and I looked at him.
“Will you let me take you home?” Jack asked and I sighed and nodded as I stood up and Jack followed my lead.
We got to mine and Nala was just coming back after probably out looking for me.
“Alex!” Nala said as she ran over and pulled me into a huge hug and she kissed the side of my head and I knew that none of the affection my family gave me wasn’t false so I just returned her hug and hid my face in her neck.
“Thank you Jack.” Nala said as I felt another lot of arms wrapping round me.
“I’m going to leave you guys too it, if you want my number Alex then Rowe has it.” Jack said and I looked at him and nodded as Nala and Rowe let me go and left me alone with Jack.
“You wanted to know what issues I have.” I said and Jack frowned at me.
“You don’t have to tell me.” Jack said and I smiled at him.
“I have family and daddy issues along with other issues.” I said which made Jack look at me shocked.
“I would of never off guessed.” Jack said and I shrugged my shoulders at him.
“It’s amazing what someone can hide, anyway I’m going inside so you can go home so I will be seeing you at school Jack.” I said as I turned round and walked off and I could feel Jack watching me.
I got inside and mum walked over to me and where I was expecting a slap and was flinching away from her I was welcomed with a hug.
“Sweetie I’m never going to lay a hand on you okay. But don’t fucking do that to us again! We all thought you was fucking dead!” Mum said seriously and I pulled away and looked down.
“I’m sorry mum.” I sniffed and mum pulled me into a hug which I returned and hid my face in her neck.
“Nala could you make Lex a cuppa?” Mum asked and I heard someone walk over and put their hand on my shoulder and kissing the back of my head and then the kettle being put on.
“Lex, I’ve rolled you a pretty shit joint.” Rowe said and I pulled back and looked at Rowe and smiled at her.
“Rowe your not meant to be encouraging him to smoke that stuff.” Mum said and I moved away from her as Nala joined us.
“It’s not going to hurt him.” Nala said and I smiled at her.
“Come in trouble.” Rowe said and I sighed as I looked down and followed her out to the garden where we sat in the old Wendy house which the last owners had in the garden.
“What’s going on Lex?” Rowe asked and I looked down and sighed.
“Me and mum was talking about everyone in England and i was wondering if they missed us. I don’t even know why they came into my head and the next thing I found myself at the docks and then at the cemetery.” I said as I started to smoke my joint.
“Lex you know they hate us over there. Christ they even managed to get into Zack’s and Kyle’s heads and made sure that they hated us. They aren’t family to us Lex, you should forget about everyone in England because I’m pretty sure they’ve forgotten about us.” Rowe said and I nodded.
“Zack is married now and he has a kid.” I said quietly and Rowe sighed.
“I know Lex. I miss the boys too.” Rowe said quietly and I handed her the joint when someone else joined us and we both looked up and saw Nala.
“You two really need to find a bigger place to have you joints at. 3 people can barely fit in this thing.” Nala said and I chuckled.
“Well it wasn’t designed for 3 teenagers to get in.” I said and Nala smiled at me.
“What was today about? Come on brother to sister.” Rowe said as Nala squeezed in and sat on Rowe’s lap.
“I was just thinking about Zack and Kyle.” I said quietly as I looked down.
“Lex you do know what they did?” Nala said and I nodded trying not to remember.
“Yeah I remember what they did.” I whispered.
“We moved here because of what they did and the fact we needed to get away from them and dad.” Rowe said and handed Nala the joint but she past it straight to me.
“Anyway, we don’t need though assholes. We’ve got each other and we are stronger now than we have ever been.” Rowe said.
“That Jack kid doesn’t seem that bad.” Nala said and I shrugged my shoulders as someone knocked on the roof of the Wendy house and we all looked and saw mum looking through the door.
“Aren’t you 3 a little big to play in the Wendy house?” Mum chuckled.
“Yeah it is just a little.” Nala said.
“Come on troubles, it’s late and you all have school tomorrow.” Mum said and we all looked at each other.
“How the fuck are we meant to get out of here?” I asked and Nala chuckled and we all just piled out the best we could.
It was safe to say me and Rowe was pretty fucked.
“Nala take Rowe to bed and stay with her for me please?” Mum said and Nala smiled and took Rowe inside as Rowe was laughing about something.
I looked at mum and she smiled at me.
