All Figured Out

Alex would be lying if he were to tell his band mates he wasn't jealous.

At the moment they were on the plane out of Japan and headed to Greece and Zack had gotten the 'Loner Ticket' as they had referred to it as, meaning he wasn't sitting with a band mate or a crew member.

Instead, Zack was next to a young college student on his way home. They were in deep conversation, Alex noticed, and every so often Zack would nod his head in laughter. He was sitting in the section of seats directly across from the two boys, and he was thankful to have Rian sitting in the aisle seat, otherwise he would have jumped out of his seat to beat the shit out of the cute, Greek boy.

He'll admit it, this boy was definitely the artsy type Zack would normally be attracted to, but Jack's words kept echoing in his mind, "He fucking loves you, Alex." And he would continue to believe that until it was proven to be false.

"Alex stop glaring at him. He's allowed to talk to other guys. You don't own him." Rian shoved Alex on the shoulder, hard enough to make the singer direct his glare towards him instead.

"So," he snapped, "That doesn't mean I don't want to."

Rian sighed, not letting down his calm demeanor.
"Seriously Alex, get over yourself. It's not like Zack will end up making out with him the whole way there."

Alex frowned, "I hope not." He whispered, leaning his head against the back of his seat.

Rian placed a comforting hand on his friends shoulder, "He really really likes you dude. I doubt he will."

~~~~~
Zack couldn't help but feel guilty as he flirted back with Adrian; A boy only slightly younger then Zack, who was on his way home to Greece.

"So why are you headed to Greece?" Adrian asked him, sending him a flirtatious smile, his accent thick.

"We have a few days off before tour starts up again." Zack told him, hoping he'd soon stop asking questions.

"Aah. And what instrument do you play?"

Zack smiled at his interest, "Bass."

"I have heard from my brother that the American musicians are quite good looking. I can see where he's coming from." Adrian looked Zack up and down, biting his lip in a seductive manner.

Zack laughed awkwardly, feeling a light blush across his face. He got the feeling he shouldn't be doing this. Alex was sitting right across from him next to Rian, and he knew Alex could hear him; He just wished the other boy could read his mind so that he'd know Zack didn't like where this was going.

"Are you staying anywhere near Athens?" Adrian asked, suddenly breaking Zack from his thoughts.

"Uhm, I'm not too sure. I don't t-think so." Zack stuttered, the blush re-appearing due to his embarrassment.

"You are cute when you blush." The Greek boy pointed out, poking Zack in the cheek.

Zack flinched away, and quickly turned to his new acquaintance to mutter a quiet 'Thank you'.

"Do you, uh, have a boyfriend?" Adrian asked him, playing with the hat on his head. He looked up at Zack hopeful, biting his lip once again.

Zack didn't know how to respond, was Alex his boyfriend? Considering neither boy had asked the other, he just assumed that they were friends with benefits, but no benefits other then a kiss here and there.

"Uhm, I don't really know." Zack looked to his left to see Rian with his headphones on, and Alex with his head against the window, looking rather grumpy. He wished he could be sitting next to him right now.

"You don't know?" Adrian asked, a frown settling itself on his face.

"Y-yeah. It's complicated." Zack said, playing with his fingers.
Glancing back at Alex, he caught him staring back, the singers brown eyes gazing at his hazel ones.
Zack noticed a blush work its way on to his friends gorgeous features and couldn't help but giggle slightly.

Adrian laughed, "Oh, him. Okay. I could switch with him if you want."

Zack looked at Adrian wide eyed, "W-what?"

Adrian laughed again, placing a soft hand on Zack's shoulder, "It's obvious you like him," he explained, "I'll switch with him. If that is okay with your other friend." He nodded towards Rian, who was nodding off into a soft sleep.

Zack slapped Rian in the arm, jolting him awake, "What?" He asked Zack, rather loud, causing the flight attendant to glare at him.

"Uhm, would you switch with me?" Zack pleaded, putting on the best sad face he could muster.

Rian smiled, "Sure thing man."

Turning back to Adrian, Zack smiled and said thank you, and waited for Rian to get out of his seat to switch.

Once seated, he looked at Alex, who was looking out the window again, a sad look on his face.
Zack tapped him on the shoulder once and got no response.

Frowning, Zack watched as Alex sighed, his shoulders moving up and back down again.

Following his heart, he lifted up the arm rest between them and wrapped his arms around Alex's waist, lying his head on his friends shoulder.
He felt Alex tense up, and instantly relax as he picked his head up off the window.
He moved his arm up slowly and swung it over Zack's shoulder, cuddling him to his side.

Alex smiled as Zack nuzzled his face into his neck.

"Hi," Zack whispered, picking his head up and smiling cutely up at Alex, his chin on his chest.

Alex ran the fingers of his free hand through Zack's hair and smiled at him. Alex couldn't help but think he looked nothing short of adorable at that moment.

"You're too cute." Alex whispered back, continuing to brush his fingers through the bassists hair.
He laughed when Zack blushed, digging his face into Alex's hoodie-clad chest. Alex sighed in content, wrapping both arms around his friend.

Alex frowned at the thought of that; He and Zack were just friends. And Alex couldn't make the first move because Jack had specifically told him not to, and from what Rian had told him earlier, he had Zack convinced it was his job to make the first move.
Zack was normally quiet and shy, and it took him weeks to ask girls out in high school, let alone ask them to actually be his girlfriend, and now that he had come out about being gay, how was he supposed to know if Zack had luck with guys before him?

"Hey Zee?" He asked, earning a 'Hmm?' in response.

"Have you uhm, had a boyfriend before?"

Zack tensed in Alex's arms, his fingers playing with Alex's shirt. "Uhm, not exactly."

Alex furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean 'not exactly'?"

"We just acted like we were together."

"But you weren't?" Alex clarified.

"Right."

Alex sighed, resting his cheek on top of Zack's head. He tightened his arms around his friend, enjoying the close contact while it lasted. He smiled as he felt the younger boys heart beat against him, and his breathing even out. He knew Zack was close to sleep.

Looking to his right, he caught Rian looking at him with a look he couldn't quite place. Happiness maybe? Rian smiled at him, which Alex gladly returned, giving him a thumbs up as well.

"I felt that." Zack chimed in, grinning.

Alex laughed, snuggling Zack closer to his chest, deciding he might as well enjoy the 5 hour flight just as he was.

"Can I ask you something Lexi?"

"Sure Zee."

Zack straightened himself out, keeping one arm around Alex as he spoke. "Uhm so I talked with Rian the other day."

Alex nodded, telling him to continue.

"And he said I should ask you first."

Alex tilted his head, and Zack thought he looked insanely adorable, "Ask me what?"

"Uhm d-do you maybe. Want to, uhm." Zack trailed off, looking down at his hand and laughing awkwardly.

Alex picked his head up, gripping his chin in his hand "Just ask me Zack. Don't be nervous." He gave him a toothy grin, pressing his lips to Zack's in a soft kiss.

Zack blushed and pulled away, locking his eyes with the singer. "Do you wanna, go out? Like on a date?" He swallowed the lump in his throat as he waited for Alex to reply.

Alex smiled, moving his hand to cup Zack's cheek, rubbing his cheek bone with his thumb, "I'd absolutely love to Zack."

Zack leaned up, pushing his lips against Alex's, smiling as he did so.

Sitting on the plane, his lips molded to Alex so perfectly that it was like they were made for each other, Zack realized it may have been a good thing that his friends had forced him and Alex together in the first place.