Just for a Moment

Alex enjoyed walking with Jack, he didn't really know why since he had barely uttered a word to the younger boy. He just felt that walking along with their hands clasped together was right, everything about it felt right and there was no other way to describe it. It was great for Alex since it seemed like they were both enjoying each other’s company without actually talking, and Alex was grateful for that.

They arrived to Jacks in what felt liked no time and this was when Alex started to get a little more nervous, he couldn’t just sit in someone's house and not say anything to them, he was going to have to talk to Jack sooner or later. The thought of talking and possibly embarrassing himself made Alex feel sick, what if he said something so embarrassing that Jack would just laugh in his face and go to tell his friends? If that happened he would never live it down and he was pretty sure that he would just get stopped in the hallway more often by the group of tormentors.

He stood awkwardly in the hallway of Jacks house and waited for Jack to come in, he watched as Jack kicked his shoes off and dropped his bag to the floor before copying his actions and scurrying after him into the kitchen. "Do you want anything to eat or drink Alex?" He heard Jack speak; in reply he shook his head and kept his eyes trained to the floor. Although he still wouldn't say anything, Alex was starting to feel a lot more confident around Jack but he still wasn't sure how much he could actually trust him. He felt Jacks hand in his own again and he couldn't help but smile at the tingles he felt, he had never felt like this before but he was sure that it was a positive thing.

He walked upstairs with Jack and bit his lip as Jack opened the door to his room, as soon as he took a glance into his room Alex was sure that he felt all of the worry disappear. He took a step closer into the room and smiled as he let his eyes flick between the posters on Jack wall and the guitar in the corner of his room. Not for a moment did he have Jack down as the type of person who liked music, let alone the music he listens to, and he certainty never thought that Jack played an instrument. There was a small flutter of excitement in his chest and he felt a lot more confident around Jack. Maybe now he could start talking, what harm could it really do?

He let Jack lead him over to his bed and sat down; their hands were still laced together as they were sitting. "I think we need to talk" Those six words made Alex tense slightly but he was ready to speak, he was about to say something when Jack started to ramble slightly. Its okay, it's nothing bad. I just want to make sure that you're okay and I just want to know why you ran off earlier. You don't have to say anything if you don't want too-." Alex cut him off and closed his eyes.

"O-okay" He bit his lip and waited for a few seconds before opening his eyes to what looked like a very shocked Jack, he knew he owed it to the younger boy to talk to him; after all, Jack had saved him from his friends and cleared up his bloodied face.

"Okay, um" He looked at Jack, he could tell he threw him off, he guessed that Jack wasn't expecting him to say anything. "It sounds like a really stupid question, but are you okay? Not like the type of general okay, are you really okay?"

"I-um...” Alex didn't know how he was supposed to answer his question, of course he wasn't really okay, but right now was the best he had felt in a long time. He was going to say yeah, he was perfectly fine, but instead he sighed and shook his head, not breaking eye contact with Jack. "N-no, not really." He sighed and shook his head "I haven't been okay, in a really long time." He chuckled almost humourlessly. He looked at Jack, who looked sad and Alex really hoped that Jack wouldn't pity him. Alex didn't need pity; he needed comfort and someone to talk to.

He heard Jack sigh before the younger started to talk again "Why did you run off earlier? I wasn't going to hurt you, I just wanted to make sure that you were okay and that you weren't hurt too badly. I could never hurt you, ever." Alex couldn't help but to chuckle softly at Jacks rambling, it was cute that he worried so much about what Alex thought about him.

"I knew you wouldn't hurt me" he smiled softly up to Jack. "I just panicked and ran. You've probably guessed that I'm not the most social person ever and I very rarely talk to people" He sighed slightly "I was just scared that I would say something to embarrass myself." He looked up to Jack whose eyes were pleading him to go on. "I'm just so used to being by myself I don't know how to talk to people. And I'm so used to getting beating by myself, and clearing myself up alone, I was a little thrown back by someone helping me." He nodded to himself. "I'm not used to having people care for me." He looked down and awkwardly played with the sleeve on his hoodie. "I'm really sorry if I offended you, I-I didn't mean to. Honest."

He glanced up to Jack again and he could have kicked himself when he saw the tears glistening in Jacks eyes, great, he had made the boy cry. He knew it was a bad idea to talk. "Oh Alex" He heard Jack say "You don't have to worry about embarrassing yourself in front of me. I wouldn't go off and tell someone" The smile on Jacks face made Alex a little better "And you're not alone Alex, well you won’t be again. I want to help you feel better and I want to be your friend." Alex smiled at Jacks words and lightly squeezed his hand. "I know you're not used to having people around you and caring for you but you’ll be used to it soon" He grinned as Jack grinned and nodded.

Alex smiled at Jack and couldn't help but to wrap his arms around Jacks neck and hug him close, this was the type of comfort that he wanted "Thank you" He spoke into Jacks neck and closed his eyes. A bigger smile spread across Alex's face as he felt Jacks arms curl around him.

"Oh and Alex?" Alex pulled away to look at Jack "I know how it feels to get bullied and not have any friends, it really sucks. But trust me when I say letting people in makes things a little easier." Alex smiled and didn't say a word; instead he leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to Jacks cheek before hiding his face in his neck with a bright blush. It was a great feeling to know that he was no longer alone.