Don't Waste Your Time on Me.

Jack

"Do we really have to?" I whined, pouting furiously at the brown-haired boy in front of me.

Ever since Alex left two weeks ago with the promise of keeping in touch that he - oh wonder - didn't keep, I hadn't really felt the need to go out and enjoy my life. I had spent most of my days at work, sometimes even doing double shifts just so that I didn't have to spend more time than necessary in my nowadays empty apartment. Everything in there reminded me of the caramel-haired boy that ran away with my heart.

"Yes, Jack." the nicely styled 22-year-old confirmed, dragging me out of his apartment and down the stairs "You haven’t left the house in two weeks other than to go work your ass off." the British boy scolded softly.

I sighed, but nodded nevertheless as I accepted defeat “Okay okay.” I eventually conceded, slipping in the passenger seat of my co-workers car and buckling up. "But don't expect me to enjoy myself." I grumbled which only earned me an eye-rolling from the male sitting next to me.

We drove off into the night in the comfortable silence the two of us had established in our eight years of friendship, Dan blasting some shitty pop music to which he was singing along quite awfully in hopes of lightening my sulky mood. I couldn't help but chuckle at the silliness of my best friend, appreciating the effort. After all, at the end of the day the brown-haired male always knew how to make me feel better.

Once we reached one of Manhattan's rather upscale clubs and got in without much fuss, I made a beeline for the bar, dragging a more than willing Dan with me. We ended up making fun of a drunk blonde in an overly slutty dress who was trying to seduce me even though I had repeated several times that I was in fact gay and not interested for a solid half an hour. Eventually her glossy pink lips jutted out into a pout and she sauntered off, muttering something about how pretentious guys were these days.

Just when I started genuinely enjoying my evening out with Dan, contrary to what I'd told the other before we drove off, I spotted a familiar face framed by long caramel-colored locks that should have been cut weeks ago. He was shamelessly grinding against a cheap whore - everyone grinding against my boy was a cheap whore in my book, thank you very much - oblivious to the fact that the guy he shared not only an apartment but also half a year of his life with was currently very obviously staring at them. And apparently Dan saw him as well because the next thing I knew was that a very determined-looking Dan had a tight grip on my wrist, leading me on the dance floor.

"Dan, what the fuck are you doing?" I inquired a little bewildered, feeling a pang in my chest when I saw Alex resting his hands on the girl's waist. They seemed well acquainted, and I couldn't help but wonder for a brief moment if they already had had something going when Alex was still with me.

"I'm giving you the permission to grind against me." the Englishman lividly staring at my ex-boyfriend stated dead serious, guiding my hips to his own crotch.

"Are you fucking insane?" I guffawed, stepping away a little from my best friend "Dan, you are aware that Alex knows you, aren't you? That he's even met your girlfriend?" I laugh, shaking my head.

Before Dan could muster an answer though, Alex - seemingly having spotted us by now - was making his way over. Not knowing what to do, I stammered something about having to pee, leaving a very confused Dan behind to cast off the boy who once was a big part of my life.

Much to my distaste, I entered the vile restroom with a rather shabby lightning, instantly bolting myself in one of the cubicles. I took a deep breath to calm myself, exhaling shakily.

The door opened and closed again, effectively drowning out the loud music along with the buzz of voices and the thumping bass. I held my breath, praying to god that it wasn't Alex who had just entered. But it seemed that someone up there was out to get me because seconds later I heard the voice that had not long ago lulled me to sleep almost every night say my name.

I felt my stomach flutter, felt it being flooded by butterflies at the mere tone of Alex's voice, and I almost caved in and answered. Almost being the key word. I kept quiet, thinking that that way I could trick him into thinking that the bathroom was obviously empty.

It didn't work.

"Jack, I know you're in here." Alex sighed, hurt evident in his voice. "Can you please come out so we can talk?" he pleaded.

"No." I mumbled, childishly crossing my arms over my chest even though he couldn't see me.

I could hear Alex giggle, the sound pulling at my heartstrings causing me to cave in and unlock the door. I stepped out of the cubicle shyly, stopping in front Alex, not meeting his eyes.

"Hey." I murmured, fiddling with my fingers.

"Hey." Alex smiled weakly, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me close.

I tensed in his arms, stepping out of his embrace. "Alex, no." I narrowed my eyes, shaking my head. "You can't just walk out on me, ignore me for two weeks even though you promised to keep in touch and then come back and pretend that nothing ever happened."

"Jack," Alex sighed again, resting his hands on my waist and rubbing my hips "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean for this to happen, but Mom got a hold of my phone and deleted your number." he reasoned, looking up at me with pleading eyes.

"What about the girl you came with?" I questioned "How did you even get in here in the first place? You're underage!"

"Fake ID." Alex laughed, a mischievous glint in his eyes "And Molly is just a friend."

"Just a friend?" I snapped "Alex, you were basically dry humping her on the dance floor! Do you see me walking around dry humping my friends?" I all but shriek, growing furious with the boy in front of me.

"I'm fucking sorry!" Alex yells frustrated "Mom set us up, okay? The only times I'm allowed to go out is when I'm with her because Mom gets paranoid that I'll go to your apartment!"

My heart sank, and all of a sudden I started feeling really bad. He hung his head in shame, nodding along. "I'm sorry, Alex." I began "I just.. I really miss you." I confessed, toying with the hem of his shirt.

Alex took my chin between his fingers, tilting it up so I could meet his eyes. "'s okay." he whispered with closed eyes, his face inching closer excruciatingly slow, giving me enough time to pull away.

I didn't.

Instead I pressed our lips together for the first time in two weeks in the horrendous restroom of a packed club, fireworks going off behind my lids. Alex's soft lips pressed back against mine ever so slow, the touch remaining gentle and innocent.

I hesitantly pulled away after a few minutes, re-opening my eyes. Alex's stared right into mine, a wide smile playing on his lips. "We'll make this work." he whispered "I promise. But for now I have to go." Alex said, kissing me one last time before leaving the restroom.

I stood there for a moment, just touching my lips until a worried-looking Dan came in.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Perfect."