Tension That's Pulling Us In

Jazz opening up to him about not being able to handle the worry again was enough for Alex.

He knew he had to get passed her defenses again.

Get her to admit what he knew to be true… At least he hoped it to be true.

Even in the midst of the big trouble that was rising to the surface, Alex had time to think and worry and stress about his and Jazz’s relationship. He wanted a ring on her finger, he wanted them to start a family, he wanted it to be real. He feared them not being the last one most of all.

He decided he had to have her all or nothing. He was determined. In the midst of all the chaos he took the time to think up a way.

Jasmine Noel Summers had a few things figured out, but the one thing she never did understand was the way Alexander William Gaskarth would stop at nothing to get what he wants.

“Hello?” Jazz called out to the empty apartment. “Anybody home?”

No answer was returned to her until she heard the soft sounds of guitar strumming from upstairs coming closer.

Until she looked to the top of the stairs where the sound now filled the room from.

There stood Alex with an acoustic guitar hanging ‘round his neck.

She didn’t even have the chance to ask him what he was doing before he started singing.

“Hey there it’s good to see you again,”

His perfect voice rang confidently as he started his way down the stairs.

“It never felt right calling this ‘just friends’,
I’m happy if you’re happy with yourself,”

Her hands were on her hips watching him in amusement.

“Take off your shirt your shoes,”

“Oh you are very cute Alex.” She couldn’t help but roll her eyes and interject there.

He didn’t even miss a beat.

“Those skinny jeans I bought for you,”

“I bought these thank you.” She moved herself to the bottom of the stairs to meet him.

“We’re diving in,
There’s nothing left to lose,
I’m gonna break down these walls,
I’ve built around myself,”

Here she realized it wasn’t funny anymore.

Him standing face to face with her singing these words was going to be more than just a joke.

“I wanna fall so in love,
With you,
And no one else could ever mean half as much to me as you do now,
Together we’ll move on,”

Jazz started to turn as she felt herself tearing up. Hating herself for the pain she caused him. He grabbed her and spun her back to him releasing his grip on the guitar to sing the last two lines softly and unaccompanied.

“Just don’t turn around,
Let the walls break down”

Then her tears did fall. He knew her well enough to know exactly what she’d do and loved her enough for his walls that used to be taller than the tallest skyscraper and deeper than the deepest ocean to crumble for her.

Yet hers -which were less obvious upon first inspection- didn’t budge.

Guilt unsurpassed until this point filled her and forced the sodium rich liquid through the ducts to spill down her cheeks.

He pulled her to him -after pushing his guitar to lay against his back- to let her tears fall on his shirt.

After her arms wrapped around him he moved his hands to lift her face to look him in the eyes.

“What are you afraid of Jasmine?” He asked softly staring into her eyes searching for the answer.

With trembling lips and a shaking head she managed to gasp out, “I can’t.”

“Can’t what Jazz?” He asked softly as he lightly caressed her face in hopes of soothing her.

Her sobs were harder as she said this, gasps rougher, “I can’t go through it again.” This was a breakthrough, this was a crack in the wall.

“What again? Jasmine talk to me.” He felt it and the urgency in him swelled and sounded in his voice.

“I can’t be happy again just for it to end. I can’t lose anyone else.” She sobbed almost angrily, “I never wanted anyone to mean the world to me again and in you waltz and demand for me to put it all out there for me to lose it all over again.”

“Jazz, baby, is this about you parents?” He whispered pushing some of her dark hair from her face.

“It’s about the only time I was ever truly happy, everyone I held dear died. Alex, I can’t handle that again.”

“Honey I’m not dying anytime soon.” He said starting to crack a smile.

“You can’t promise that. I can promise you that I’m not dying anytime soon but baby you can’t. Imagine being me if you and I were happily married with 2.5 children and a dog and you all died. Imagine suffering with no hope of a way out. Staring at old photographs, still counting the children’s birthdays, telling people in line at the grocery store, ‘Mine would be 16 tomorrow.’ It won’t be me that dies in some tragic accident that you’re left pining over.”

He pulled her tight to his chest and just let her cry.

He didn’t want to admit how much that’d kill him inside.

He kissed the top of her head.

“It’s not illegal for you to be happy love.” He whispered with his lips still remained against her hair. “Jack and Sally are happy. We can do that too, just drop your fear.”

But she didn’t respond just silently cried on Alex’s chest.

***

Jenny and Zack drove around having some much needed alone time.

They loved everyone and all but they needed their space. They couldn’t take the lack of privacy that comes from living with an intrusive jackass like Jack still was. He simply didn’t care what he walked in on and seeing as he could unlock the door without any warning he walked in on a lot.

“We should at least start looking at apartments.” Jenny was so passionately hoping for some freedom.

Zack’s face fell. He hadn’t told her about the trouble brewing hoping it would die before it being necessary but he knew now that he had to tell her.

He heaved a heavy sigh before beginning. “We should wait before getting our hopes up.”

She knew there was more then the fact it had only been two weeks since their agreement. “What’s going on Zack?” She was worried about more than just the fact she’d be further denied her privacy.

“It seems as though there’s going to be a resurgence of crime in the city.” He danced around the rough truth with fancy words, not something typical of him.

***

As planned they were all gathered again in that basement waiting for the woman to return. Waiting for the rest of the plan that was supposed to free them.

The doors came open dramatically, like the theatrics really mattered.

“Health Tech Industries, boys.” The woman started with the light pouring in behind her into the mostly dark room making her nothing more than a silhouette. “They have what we’re looking for in lab number 17 on the fifth floor. It’ll be in safe box number 7843.”

“Aren’t you going to fill us in a little more than that?” A gruff heavy set fellow bark out.

“Get your Small Pox Vaccinations.” The cruel tone in her voice was chilling.

Some of the faces fell they knew what small pox did and they knew how few people really had the vaccine these days, infecting this one girl could kill thousands.

“Why small pox? Couldn’t you have chosen something less contagious?” One of those faces asked.

“I have my small pox vaccination. So, does Alex.” Then with a dramatic spin she turned to leave. “The code for the box is 8675*39. Don‘t for get the star!” Then she was gone again.
After she left many of the people in that room really wondered if it was worth it.