Take a Sad Song and Make It Better

Jade's POV

As Alex and I ran hand in hand down the sidewalk, I was giggling uncontrollably. I mean, you would be too if you saw what looked like an escaped criminal being pulled down the pavement by the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. It had to have been quite a spectacle.

As we made our way down the street, I couldn't help but think of the group of people still in search of candy, going door to door; my sister among them. Things with her and Jack had not been cleared up and I wasn't sure if it would be extremely awkward...Fuck, yeah it would be awkward. But at the moment, all I really had going through my head was where this party was located and how much fun I was gonna have. (meaning, how much alcohol I could consume)

When we finally made it to the party house, the first thing I noticed was that we weren't the only ones dressed up for the holiday. There were people scattered around the grounds, the cliché red plastic cups in their hands, but instead of extremely tight jeans and low cut shirts, they all wore costumes; most girls wearing...well, barely anything. I felt almost over dressed around them in my tank top and prison pants. It was as if Alex could feel all my insecurities and squeezed my hand lightly in his and walked the rest of the way into the house.

“Oh shit,” Alex said, immediately turning to face me, Kara and Rian ramming into my back at the sudden stop, “I forgot to ask if you even drink, Jay Bird.” I laughed at Alex's face of forgetfulness and sudden awkwardness for how I would react to a house full of drunken people.

“Alex, just because Bailey looks like she would barely touch alcohol in her life, doesn't mean that I wouldn't,” I smirked at Alex's raised eyebrow, “We are different after all.” I winked and walked towards the kitchen, the rest following behind as I made my way to where it seemed where the alcohol would be supplied.

Alex pulled out two beers from a cooler and handed one to me, both of us popping open the can and taking a long gulp. Rian and Kara walked out of the kitchen then, their drinks in hand, Melanie following them out as they all went to socialize with friends; that left Alex and I alone in the kitchen.

“So, Halloween? Best holiday or what?” Alex asked, looking over the brim of his can as he smiled and took a drink. I laughed and shook my head, following his actions.

“Fuck yeah. Best holiday ever. I love the mystery of it.” Alex nodded and a large smile fell upon his face.

“Most definitely. I love how you can be whatever you want. Its almost like you dress up so you can depict that other part of yourself that everyone might not see.” I turned my head to the side and furrowed my eyebrows together. “Do you not understand?” Alex asked, putting down his drink on the counter top and leaned against it, holding himself up by his hands.

“No, I do,” I said, taking another drink before placing it next to Alex and standing next to him in the same fashion, “What does my costume say about me?” I asked, a smirk on my face before turning to Alex who was looking at the ground, a small smile on his face.

“I think...” He trailed off, looking into my eyes as my breath caught in my throat. I had no idea why, “I think that your costume says that you have something to hide. You're behind a wall and you keep your emotions locked up behind it, but occasionally,” Alex grabbed both of my hands in his before looking deep into my eyes, “you let it out. Like they escaped.” My stomach was doing flips and my hands became clammy and cold in Alex's grip. It was the scariest and best feeling all rapped into one. We stood there, searching the others eyes before some random half drunken guy pushed his way into the kitchen to grab another can of beer. We broke apart then and looked around the room, as if searching for a way to break the awkwardness that had settled.

“So, um, what does your costume say about you, Mr. Scarecrow?” I asked, smirking over at Alex. He chuckled and messed up his hair some more. It was funny how I could predict when he was nervous about something by the little movements he made: messing up his hair, playing with the strings of his hoodies, biting his lip, rubbing the back of his neck, etc..

“Well, you know how in the Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow spends most of his time stumbling around and falling all over everything?” I nodded, watching as Alex rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lip. I couldn't help but smile at how cute and predictable it was, “ Well, sometimes, I feel like that. I feel like, I stumble over everything: words, choices...” My eyebrows collected together in confusion.

“What do you have to choose? And since when do you stumble over words?” I asked, watching as Alex rubbed the back of his neck. Why the hell was he nervous?

There was a long pause filled with me just staring as Alex rubbed the back of his neck and messed up his hair some more before he replied with, “I-I don't know.” Alex excused himself, mumbling something about meeting up with some of his friends before I was left alone in the kitchen with my half empty can of beer.

But I wasn't alone for long.

“Hey,” I turned around to see a pair of girls, one blond, the other red head. I vaguely remember seeing them walking through the halls with Lisa, always laughing and giggling. I always pinpointed them to be the airhead type. The blond, the one who had adressed me, stood standing next to the red head, both of them had their arms crossed over their chests and a scowl on both of their faces.

“Um, hey?” I was very confused as to why they were talking to me. I mean, I had never talked to them in my life and I don't think we have any classes together. Before I could question them any further, the red head spoke up.

“You need to lay off Gaskarth.” My eyes widened in pure shock. And the bluntness award goes to the read head on the right.

“What are you talking about? Alex and I are just friends.” I said, looking in between the two as they looked at the other and then scowled once more in my direction.

“Yeah. Right.” The blond said, rolling her perfectly outlined eyes. She placed a hand on her hip before continuing, “We see the way you act around him. You two are way closer than friends. Obviously you don't know, but we'll tell you,” The blond looked over at the red head who nodded as if urging her to continue, “leave Alex alone. He's Lisa's.”

“For some reason, she hasn't said anything about it, but we're not afraid to-”

“Do you always talk as if you two are the same person? Its slightly obnoxious.” I said, a small smile on my face. I couldn't help but laugh softly under my breath as the two looked taken aback.

“Just stay away from Alex, Bates.” The blond sneered as the two walked out of the kitchen as quickly as they came. As soon as they had left, there was stillness that filled the kitchen, letting me alone in my thoughts. Later, Alex made his way back into the kitchen, grabbing another drink from the cooler.

“You okay, Jay Bird?” Alex asked, lightly touching my upper arm which sent me back into reality. I had never been threatened before in my life. Was I really that close with Alex? So close that I would be willing to be threatened for it?

“Um, yeah. Everything's fine.” I tried my best to put on the most convincing smile I could muster up, but Alex could see right through it. Being the good friend he is, he didn't say anything, merely nodded and led me into the living room where everyone was dancing drunkenly or partly sober.

“I'm gonna go finish talking to my friend, Tom. I just wanted to make sure you didn't look like a total loser so Zack's in the corner and needs someone to talk to,” Alex said, leading me by the hand towards a couch where I saw the blond in question sitting, a cup in hand which he periodically took sips from, “Keep him company?” I nodded and watched as Alex's face brightened in a smile before he kissed my cheek and walked in the direction of where I'm assuming his friend Tom was located.

I turned back around to meet Zack's questioning gaze before I smiled and sat down next to him.

“Hey, Merrick,” I said, accepting Zack's side hug.

“Hey, Bates,” Zack said halfheartedly, looking into the cup at the contents of his drink.

“Why the long face, Zack? You sad about something?” I asked, nudging his side with my elbow. Zack merely sighed and continued to stare at the drink contents. When he didn't respond, I guessed that I was right about my assumption. “So you are upset about something. Is it school related?-”

“Give up, Jay. You wouldn't be able to guess it,” Zack mumbled, finally taking a drink from his red cup. I furrowed my eyebrows at Zack questionably. Never had he spoken so forwardly to me; I had always assumed him to be soft spoken and shy, but never this way; almost with an edge to his voice.

“What's really up with you, Zacky?” I said, trying my best to make my tone sincere enough for him to be able to open up to me, because, in truth, I wanted Zack to open up to me. He had been the only one I hadn't really gotten to know, mostly because he was always spending time with my sister.

Zack sighed, “It's nothing. Don't worry about it.”

“I'm going to worry about it. You're always so happy and open with Bailey, why can't we be like that-”

“How does it feel when you see Alex and Lisa together?” Zack asked, looking up to meet my eyes, a hurt look hidden there. I was taken aback by his question.

“I-I don't know what you're talking abou-”

“Yes, you do, Jay. I see the way you two are with each other, and its obvious that both of your feelings are anything further than platonic. I'm pretty sure Lisa has even figured it out by now.” I looked down at my drink then.

“Is it really that obvious?” I asked, looking up to meet his eyes.

“Well, I'm pretty sure I can figure it out for myself. I'm not too sure about the others, but its obvious to me at least. Well, you, yes. Alex, I think he's torn.” I nodded and took another drink from my can.

“I don't wanna like him,” I whispered, looking down at my hands in my lap, “I mean, he has Lisa,” I could feel Zack wrap his arm around my shoulders, “but at the same time, Alex and I have become so close, and I've told him things I've never told anyone before, and we connect so well-”

“It was hard for you not to feel like this?” Zack asked, finishing my thoughts for me. I nodded and let Zack squeeze my shoulder reassuringly. “If...If I tell you something...will you promise not to tell anyone?” Zack asked, causing me to look up into his pleading eyes; it was hard to say no.

Zack swallowed hard and looked down into his lap. “I-I like Bailey.” A huge grin formed on my face before I punched Zack's rather large biceps. “Ow! What the fuck, Jay?!”

I shook my head, “Okay, one; that so did not hurt you as much as it did me because, hot damn, boy, you have HUGE fucking muscles and two,” I punched him once more in the same spot, causing the boy to laugh and rub his bicep, “why the fuck haven't you told Bailey, you shit bastard!”

Zack burst out laughing, “You and Alex can not swear to save your lives. Shit bastard? Really?”

“Stop changing the subject, you dick fucker!” Zack muffled his laughs some more knowing very well that he would most likely be receiving another punch to the arm for it. “Answer the god damn question!”

Zack rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled softly, “I guess...I'm just worried that she'll say no.”

“You're so stupid if you think Bailey wouldn't like you. So. Stupid.” Zack looked over at me then.

“You really think she likes me?” I rolled my eyes.

“I swear, boys can be stupider than flies some times.” Zack raised an eyebrow at my analogy, “You know how they have those lights that attract flies and when they try to land on them they get zapped? Yeah, boys can be stupid like that some times.” Zack burst out laughing, causing me to smile. “But seriously. You have to be the dumbest boy alive if you can't see it.”

The blond boy sighed, taking another sip of his drink, “I guess...I mean, I want to be something with her, but I don't know. Maybe being friends right now would be for the best. I mean, I only just met her-”

“A few weeks ago.” Zack sighed again, only causing me to smile, “but if you think strengthening your friendship with my sister is what's best for right now, I won't deny you that. But let me tell you this,” Zack looked up to meet my eyes, “if you fuck with my sister, I'll fuck with your face. Kapish?” I outstretched my hand as if to sign the deal. Zack grabbed my hand in his and smiled.

“Kapish.”