Break Your Little Heart

Across town on a large couch seated in front of an even larger television, Alex Gaskarth sat with the wrong blonde snuggled in his arms. His jaw was clenched, his eyes alight with anger exactly the way they had been ever since he left that God forsaken photoshoot Jack had dragged him to this morning. If Lisa had noticed she hadn’t mentioned it. She was however being quieter than usual, but that was just fine with Alex and though he had absolutely no desire to sit with her and watch whatever shitty romantic comedy she had put on, it was easier to just go along with it than sulk in his room and cause yet another fight with the girl he claimed to love. Lisa let out a little happy sigh at some romantic gesture from the male character in the movie and Alex tried to focus his attention on the screen, but all he could think about was Chloe.

She looked so different than she had at 17. Her skin had darkened by a couple shades and freckles that used to be practically nonexistent were now obvious on her nose and cheeks. Her hair had taken on a bit more of a sunkissed glow and there was a new aura of self-confidence about her. She had gained weight as well though she was still thinner than any of the other girls he knew. But her lips were still painted a vibrant red, her body still clothed in leggings and an oversized sweater. And her eyes, so clearly laced with panic, had still cut right through him. For all of her obvious changes, deep down inside she was still the same Chloe that had stolen his heart all those years ago. She was still his Chloe.

The knowledge shocked and angered him. He wanted to hate her. He had been so ready to hate her. Whenever Alex suffered a moment of weakness and allowed himself to imagine what a reunion between them might be like, he hated her. He would scream and confront her and stand his ground. He would force her to own up to every single hurt she had caused him and he wouldn’t stop to consider her feelings or reasons at all. He was never able to properly imagine Chloe’s reaction, but then again he had never been able to properly read Chloe in the first place. But in reality, when she had looked at him with those clear blue eyes, the same exact clear blue eyes that he had fallen so deeply in love with five years ago, he couldn’t hate her. In fact, he couldn’t do anything but love her with the same amount of ferocity he had at the tender age of 18.

Alex felt the tell-tale pinpricks of oncoming tears gather at the corner of his eyes. His fists balled and Lisa turned her head to look up at him questioningly.

“You okay, babe?”

Alex stared down into her green eyes, so open and adoring. Then his gaze traced over every inch of her face and slowly down her body, stretched out and pressed so closely against his own. Lisa was beautiful, she always had been. And she was sweet and supportive and had never once let him down or treated him badly, even after their break-up in high school. But as his eyes finally made it back to hers, the green now laced with slight concern, he could only think of one thing. She’s not Chloe.

“I have to go.” Alex grumbled, pushing Lisa away none too gently and climbing off the couch.

“What?” Lisa sat up, confusion marring her delicate features.

“I have to go!” Lisa flinched at the anger in Alex’s voice, but he made no apologies.

Without another word Alex turned on his heel and stalked out the door, slamming it so hard the door frame shook. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, unlocking the car door and climbing inside. The call connected as he was pulling out of the driveway.

“Hey, Alex, what’s up?”

“I need you to book us a show.”

“What?”

“A show, Flyzik, something local.”

“Why? You guys just got back.”

“God damn it, Matt, just do it!” Alex screeched.

He didn’t wait for his manager to respond before hanging up the phone. The wheels in his head were spinning faster than ever before, rage filled thoughts concerning Chloe bouncing everywhere. He had spent long enough pining over Chloe. It was time to make her pay.