Nothing Personal

Alex followed Zo outside into the chilly night with Jack behind them. She pulled out her keys and unlocked her car as Alex turned to Jack and made sure he was ok with distracting Flyzik and the others while he went with Zo. Jack assured him for the millionth time almost and told him to go spend some time with Zo before they had to get back to touring. He hugged him once more and then walked to the passenger side of Zo’s car and got in.

“Really?” Alex asked when Zo started the car up and their music came on again. Zo just laughed and turned the music down as she backed out of the parking spot. Alex waved to Jack as they headed toward the street and she pulled out.

Alex laughed as he picked up her cd case and started to go through it, “Hmm, any preferences?”

“I don’t really care, as long as it’s not All Time Low. I’ve had enough of those guys for a while now.” She teased as he just rolled his eyes as he picked out a cd and put it in the player.

He skipped the first song and then sat back and gave her a cheeky smile as he waited for her to freak out. When the first notes of the song started to play, Zo got a huge smile on her face and Alex couldn’t help but smile too. He had after all picked her favorite.

”I hate to break it to you but, you’re just a lonely star. I try to bring you down but, our level isn’t good enough. You always do as you please, so I'm going to follow suit and take a seat and watch you fall apart. 'Cause in the end what are you without me?”

“You Me At Six! You know me too well!” Zo said as she continued to sing along with the lead singer. “I really want to see them in concert again. They were amazing!”

Alex couldn’t help but agree, “Yeah they are. They’re really amazing guys too. Really funny.”

Alex noticed that Zooey nearly ran into someone as she turned to face him. But she quickly corrected herself before continuing. “You’ve met them?” Alex nodded. “I am beyond jealous right now.”

“I’m sorry, they’re really cool though. I’m sure they would love you. You should see Jack and Max together,” Alex shuddered. “It was a long night.”

“I can only imagine,” Zooey replied as Oli Sykes started to sing on the track. Zo started to mouth the words along with him and Alex smiled more. “What? Stop staring at me. You’re freaking me out.”

“I just think it’s funny that you won’t do the screamo parts.” Alex teased as she just rolled her eyes and continued to sing along when Josh came back.

”You keep me on the edge of my seat, I bite my tongue so you don’t hear me. I want to hate every part of you in me; I can’t hate the ones who made me!”

When the song ended, the next one came on and they both started to sing along. Zo reached over to turn the music up louder and Alex could feel the music making the doors shake and had no doubt that the words to the song were understandable to everyone outside the car. It was just that loud.

Alex saw that the town was coming closer and glanced at the time to see that they had only been driving for a half hour. Zo got off on one of the exits and began driving through town and Alex started to recognize a few different places. They passed Zo and Penny’s favorite Mexican restaurant, her work, and even her old high school. Zooey just rolled her eyes at him when he picked the different things out and started laughing at how funny he was acting.

But, Alex couldn’t help it. The more he saw the town that he had heard and seen so much about made the fact that Zooey was sitting next to him more real. At first when he saw her in front of him asking for a picture, he thought he was going nuts. He hadn’t actually thought that Zo would come to their concert. But when he said her name and she freaked out when he tired to tell her who he was, well, that was proof enough.

He was just glad that he could have a little time with her before they had to leave. The bus was scheduled to leave at midnight, and they had a little over an hour before then. Thank God for Jack. Seriously, if it wasn’t for him and his amazing distractions, Flyzik would have already killed him. Not like he wasn’t going to get a ear full when he got back to the bus that night. Him and Jack both.

But honestly, it was worth it to Alex. He had time with Zo. His best friend. The random, slightly annoying at times, voice in his head. The only person who really understood him besides Jack.

The music was suddenly turned down and Alex looked around to see that they were getting closer to where they needed to be. Zooey pulled into the parking lot and found a spot easily since it was so late at night. Zooey grabbed her bag and smiled weakly to Alex as he followed her into the building.

It was creepy seeing the place so empty and Alex figured Zo was thinking because she stayed close to him as she lead him through the hallways to the elevators and pressed the up button. When the elevator finally came, Alex couldn’t help but hum to the random music playing making Zo laugh as they continued to climb up to the right floor.

“Ok, so just wait here and I’ll call you when it’s time.” Zooey said as they stopped about halfway down the hall.

Alex nodded and she pulled him into a hug thanking him for the millionth time and he just laughed as she blushed and headed down the hallway alone. He took a seat on one of the random chairs close by and glanced at the tv to see it playing a local news station. He took no interest in it and instead pulled out his phone and opened a new text.

Has Flyzik had a cow yet? Alex typed into the keyboard and pressed send. He wondered if he was even going to be awake at this time and was surprised when his phone buzzed a few minutes later and he found he had a new text from Jack.

When does he not have a cow? But it’s fine, just come back soon. I don’t want to deal with him by myself anymore. Jack replied.

Alex sighed, Thanks dude, I really appreciate you doing this. I’ll try and be as fast as I can. I’ll text you when we’re on our way back.

Mkay,

What are you doing up anyway? I know you’re not at a party since you can type complete sentences and aren’t making dick jokes.

When Jack replied, he couldn’t help but laugh, Shut up. I’m watching Home Alone in the back lounge. He could just see Jack there now. Him sitting on the couch with his stupid snuggie and a glass of wine while watching his favorite movie of all time.

Nerd,

It only took a few seconds for the next text to come in, dork.

Alex just laughed as his phone started ringing and he glanced at the caller id. Zooey. He took a deep breath as he pressed talk and then put the phone up to his ear.

“Happy happy play time house, how may I help you?”

Zooey laughed, “You’re and idiot.”

“And that’s why you love me,” he replied as he heard someone talking in the background.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course, put him on.” He replied as she pulled the phone away from her ear and he heard more talking in the background followed by some shuffling around.

“H-hello?” A sleepy voice asked Alex smiled. He felt horrible for waking him up but he knew that it might cheer him up and this really was the only time they could do it, so it had to happen now.

“Hey Do, how are you buddy?” Alex asked as he heard a gasp of recognition in the boys tone and seemed to wake up more.

“Alex! Zo! It’s Alex!” The little boy all but yelled as Zo said something to him but the boy was already babbling about everything. Alex laughed as he tried to get the little boy to calm down so that he could get on with their plan.

“Ok Do, I have a surprise for you.” Alex said as the boy started to talk more and he had to spend another minute and a half to calm him down. “But you have to close your eyes first.”

Do whined, “but why?”

“Because it’s part of the surprise.”

There was a few second pause, “ok.”

“Ok are they closed.” Do told him that they were and he had Zo make sure that they actually were. Then he started walking down the hall. His heart was beating a mile a minute as he got closer and closer to the room while trying to keep up small talk with the little boy so he didn’t get bored and loose interest.

When he got to the right room, he took a deep breath and then pushed the door open. His eyes met Zo’s and she gave a weak smile. His attention then went to the bed that was in room with the small boy in it. The bed was nearly ten times as big as he was and the covers were all wrinkled and there were a few books and things around him to keep him occupied while he was stuck there.

Alex smiled as he saw the little boy sitting there with the phone wedged between his ear and shoulder and he covered his eyes with both hands. He took a few more steps into the room as quietly as he could and then shared a smile with Zo.

“Ok, you can open them now.” Alex said as he saw a flash of confusion on the boys features as he heard Alex’s voice through the phone and next to him.

Do uncovered his eyes and stared at Alex with wide eyes. Alex continued to smile widely as he pulled the phone from his ear and pressed end and it must have been enough proof for Do when he heard his own phone disconnect.

“ALEX!” He yelled as he started to bounce up and down with a huge smile on his face.

Alex grabbed a chair that was close by and sat down next to Do and Zo grabbed her own chair and sat next to him. She grabbed his hand as her little brother started to ramble about everything and anything he could think of and gave it a light squeeze. He glanced over to Zo when she did and smiled to her and she blushed and returned a shy smile back. She was so cute!

“Are you two dating?” The seven year old asked as Alex burst out laughing and Zo turned bright red.

“Dorian! Really?” Zo asked as Do just looked at her innocently.

“Well, you’re holding hands aren’t you.” He asked as Alex felt a small tug as Zo debated whether or not to take her hand from Alex’s but he held her hand a little tighter so she couldn’t.

“Do, I hold hands with Penny all the time,” Zo replied as Alex turned to her with a mischievous smile and wiggled his eyebrows. “Not like that you ass. Don’t you dare let your dirty thoughts infect my adorable baby brother!” Do was just looking at them with a curious look but shrugged it off and began to chat again.

Alex laughed as he shared a look with Zo and went back to listening to Do. He noticed that there were a lot a similarities between brother and sister, but the one that stood out most was the fact that they could both talk a person’s ear off…