Six Feet Under The Stars

This weekend would be one of some best weekends I ever had. I was on the airport waiting for Claire to pick her up with Alex and Jack. We’re going to let her have a rest for a while in my house before bringing her to a special welcome party for her at Alex’s crib. The day after that, I’d be hanging with John and his band mates all day long. Their show would be held the day after tomorrow so I’d be hanging with The Maine at the venue. I had asked Alex and Jack to come with me but they didn’t seem so excited about that. Alex really did refuse my invitation to The Maine’s concert and so did Jack; I guessed he didn’t want to leave his best friend alone. I didn’t want to be the only girl there too, so by that, I was planning to ask Claire to come with me to the concert once she’s arrived.

`Is that her?` Jack’s voice brought me back to where I was as he pointed to a young lady walking with two big suitcases and bags in her trolley.

I knew that girl; she’s now working on the same publisher with me. She was Claire, my best friend back in Baltimore. I stood up quickly and ran away to Claire, leaving Alex and Jack behind.

`I missed you!`

`Oh, you really had to!` Claire joked as she hugged me tightly. Not so long after that, we felt someone—actually two men—covering us with their arms, making a group hug in the middle of this airport.

`Claire! Claire! Claire! Claire! I missed you more!` Jack exclaimed again and again just like a kid wanted some attention from his mom. He hugged Claire again once Alex and I released our hugs with Claire.

`You weren’t this tall the last time I met you, Jack!`

`Yeah, it was about a year and half ago! I’m still growing up.`

`I thought you never grew up!`

`Nah, I’m physically growing up. But my maturity level is as same as a teenage boy!` Jack proudly told Claire. `Let me help you with your trolley. You have a lot of stuffs here. Do you bring everything in your apartment to Baltimore?`

Alex and I let Jack kept blabbing around Claire as he nicely pulled the trolley for Claire. We ourselves walked slowly behind them, making our way to the car. Alex got the key with him so it’s just fine if Jack and Claire left us behind. They couldn’t get inside the car and left us alone here.

`Are you sure you don’t wanna come with me tomorrow?` I started a conversation with Alex.

`I thought I told you I don’t wanna talk about it, didn’t I?`

`Come on, Alex, I don’t understand why you’re being like this. What has John ever done to you?` I groaned. Until that day, neither Alex nor John wanted to tell me what happened between them. Even Jack didn’t want to help me at all. Somehow, it started to make me pissed but I always tried to not show it in front of people. You know, I almost never showed it to people when I was upset.

`I’m not going to tell you, okay? Don’t ask about it again, Carl. Just live your happy life with that guy without thinking what he has done to me,` Alex started to be upset too. He kept his eyes straight to where he was walking when he was talking to me.

`Fine,` I crossed my hand in front of my chest. `But promise me to not show this Alex again. I hate upset Alex.`

I didn’t look at Alex when I was talking, but I knew he kept his eyes on me that time. He suddenly rounded his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to his body as we kept walking to the parking lot.

`I’m so sorry, Carly,` he apologized. `I want you to live a happy life, and if it supposed to be with him, I’ll be happy for you. No more upset Alex when you’re talking about your Baby John-oh.`

I glanced at Alex annoyingly as he mocked John’s name. He showed his pinky finger to me which made me giggled at him. `What’s that?`

`Pinky promise!`

I couldn’t help but laugh at Alex. `How old are you, huh? Pinky promise is only for kiddos!`

Alex pouted to my words. He groaned and kept showing his pinky finger, asking me to show mine and make the promise. I was really kind to him that I finally took his finger in mine even though I couldn’t stop giggling at the boy. Alex cheered happily as he embraced me and led me to his car. Jack and Claire were looking at us, waiting for Alex to unlock the car.

`Kiddos,` Jack mocked us as he knocked at the car waiting for Alex to unlock it. He quickly opened the trunk and moved Claire’s stuffs into there. He seemed really excited about Claire’s coming as he just more hyper than the usual Jack we knew.

`Do you guys still remember my parents’ house?` Asked Claire once we all sat in the car and Alex was ready to ride home.

`Yep,` Alex answered, `but your parent called me earlier, telling me that they won’t be home tonight so you’re gonna stay at Caroline’s house ‘til they’re home.`

`Huh? I have the front door’s key, don’t worry.` Claire said. I could say she might know that we’re planning on something as she glanced to the hyper Jackie and asked what we’re gonna do tonight. She kind of had that innocent look in her face and sweet voice when she asked Jack about our plan.

`We’re going to have a party! It’s a welcome party for you, Claire!` Jack happily—and stupidly answered. Alex and I gave him glares which made him swallowed. `Uh oh, it supposed to be a secret-`

Claire laughed at Jack’s guilty face. `Don’t worry, I’ll pretend to be surprised if you guys still want it to be a surprise,` she giggled. `Don’t throw your hatred to Jackie, guys, it’s fine.`

`Uh, I love you, Claire! That’s right, guys, don’t throw hatred to me. I forgot that it had to be a surprise!` Jack tried to defend himself which made me shouted a ‘boo’ to him.

`Okay, okay, now you better shut your mouth unless you want to be not allowed to enter the party,` Alex said in annoyance.

`How can Alex Gaskarth not allow Jack Barakat to not enter a party, huh?`

`Because it’ll be held in Alex’s house—dammit!` Jack got a hit by a crumpled paper Alex found near him as Jack once again being stupid for spilling out about our surprise party. I could only roll my eyes at the boys, while deep inside my heart, I was so glad that I had all my best friends back together.