Sequel: Convalescence ›
Status: ayeee
Hell Above
I
The line clicks through, and then Alex hears Jack clear his throat before reciting, “Jack Bassam Barakat speaking, the only good-looking heir to the Barakat’s fame and name. Is this my blonde bomb-shell, hm?”
Alex snorts in response, earning strange glances from the people around him. He just rolls his eyes at their glares, much too used to the disapproving looks. “Jacko, I’m coming over. You got pants on?”
“Do you really care if I have pants on, Alex?” Jack retorts, amusement clear in his voice. Alex scrunches his face up, earning more strange looks, and rolls his eyes again, picturing the smirk on Jack’s face right now.
Alex just hums in reply, stating “Don’t get too excited, I’ll be there soon.” before hanging up.
-
Alex swings open Jack’s door, not even bothering to knock, because he knows the younger man wouldn't bother coming to the door even if he did. He shuts the door behind him, using his foot to kick it closed before turning to see Jack sprawled out on the massive white couch that dominates the younger man’s living room. He’s got his long jean-clad legs laid out along the length of the cushions, dark hair falling around his face. Jack looks up at Alex’s entrance, having drawn his eyes from the dumb reality TV show he’d been focused on. His eyes light up when he sees the bag of takeout that Alex is holding in the air proudly.
Alex makes his way to the couch, as Jack maneuvers himself into a sitting position. Plopping down next to his best friend, Alex sets the bag on the coffee table and pulls out the Chinese food he’d brought. Handing a container to Jack, he meets the dark haired man’s eyes and grins. “I earned a little extra today, figured I’d treat us.” He states, before shoving a forkful of noodles into his mouth. Jack nods at that, taking in Alex’s words, but not commenting.
The pair eat in silence, the only noise being the sound of the TV as it plays out false tales. Alex sets down his takeout container on the coffee table once he’s full, looking up to Jack’s face across from him. Jack meets his eyes, raising a thick eyebrow to prompt the blonde. “I uh,” Alex coughs slightly, watching Jack’s face. “I made close to 3,000 today.” He lets a grin slip onto his face then, because honestly he can’t help but be proud of himself.
Jack doesn't respond for a few moments, which makes Alex shift uncomfortably on the couch. He looks down at his lap, fingers toying with the hem of his jeans, legs tucked up under him. Alex glances back up as Jack responds. “That’s great, Lex.” His voice is controlled, but there’s a tight undertone to the words that Alex doesn't miss. He watches Jack tug on a smile, and Alex can tell the smile isn't forced, but he knows it isn't entirely genuine either. He runs a hand through his hair, as Jack sets down his takeout box on the coffee table beside Alex’s.
Jack leans back against the couch arm, straightening his legs from underneath him and resting them on either side of the older man’s sides, before continuing, “I’m happy for you, I just – You know I’m not okay with it.” Alex nods, not meeting Jack’s eyes, and tugs with his teeth at his bottom lip.
He leans his head sideways against the back of the couch, still facing Jack, and he meets the other man’s dark eyes across the small space between them. Alex hopes that Jack won’t ask how he came into the money, but he knows the younger man better than himself, and so it doesn't surprise him when Jack asks “What’d you have to do?” a few minutes later.
Alex runs his jean hem through his fingers again, muttering out “It doesn't matter.”
Nothing more is said after that. The men spend the rest of the night on the couch, skipping around through dumb television stations before Jack finally tosses the remote down after landing on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. He feels, rather than hears, Alex chuckle at his movie choice, the older man having settled in between Jack’s legs, against his chest, a few shows back. Jack runs his fingers through the blonde’s hair, and mumbles out “You know I only bring it up because I care, Lex.” The man on his chest doesn't reply, but the hand that’s been resting on Jack’s hip tightens, just slightly, letting Jack know that he heard him.
Alex snorts in response, earning strange glances from the people around him. He just rolls his eyes at their glares, much too used to the disapproving looks. “Jacko, I’m coming over. You got pants on?”
“Do you really care if I have pants on, Alex?” Jack retorts, amusement clear in his voice. Alex scrunches his face up, earning more strange looks, and rolls his eyes again, picturing the smirk on Jack’s face right now.
Alex just hums in reply, stating “Don’t get too excited, I’ll be there soon.” before hanging up.
-
Alex swings open Jack’s door, not even bothering to knock, because he knows the younger man wouldn't bother coming to the door even if he did. He shuts the door behind him, using his foot to kick it closed before turning to see Jack sprawled out on the massive white couch that dominates the younger man’s living room. He’s got his long jean-clad legs laid out along the length of the cushions, dark hair falling around his face. Jack looks up at Alex’s entrance, having drawn his eyes from the dumb reality TV show he’d been focused on. His eyes light up when he sees the bag of takeout that Alex is holding in the air proudly.
Alex makes his way to the couch, as Jack maneuvers himself into a sitting position. Plopping down next to his best friend, Alex sets the bag on the coffee table and pulls out the Chinese food he’d brought. Handing a container to Jack, he meets the dark haired man’s eyes and grins. “I earned a little extra today, figured I’d treat us.” He states, before shoving a forkful of noodles into his mouth. Jack nods at that, taking in Alex’s words, but not commenting.
The pair eat in silence, the only noise being the sound of the TV as it plays out false tales. Alex sets down his takeout container on the coffee table once he’s full, looking up to Jack’s face across from him. Jack meets his eyes, raising a thick eyebrow to prompt the blonde. “I uh,” Alex coughs slightly, watching Jack’s face. “I made close to 3,000 today.” He lets a grin slip onto his face then, because honestly he can’t help but be proud of himself.
Jack doesn't respond for a few moments, which makes Alex shift uncomfortably on the couch. He looks down at his lap, fingers toying with the hem of his jeans, legs tucked up under him. Alex glances back up as Jack responds. “That’s great, Lex.” His voice is controlled, but there’s a tight undertone to the words that Alex doesn't miss. He watches Jack tug on a smile, and Alex can tell the smile isn't forced, but he knows it isn't entirely genuine either. He runs a hand through his hair, as Jack sets down his takeout box on the coffee table beside Alex’s.
Jack leans back against the couch arm, straightening his legs from underneath him and resting them on either side of the older man’s sides, before continuing, “I’m happy for you, I just – You know I’m not okay with it.” Alex nods, not meeting Jack’s eyes, and tugs with his teeth at his bottom lip.
He leans his head sideways against the back of the couch, still facing Jack, and he meets the other man’s dark eyes across the small space between them. Alex hopes that Jack won’t ask how he came into the money, but he knows the younger man better than himself, and so it doesn't surprise him when Jack asks “What’d you have to do?” a few minutes later.
Alex runs his jean hem through his fingers again, muttering out “It doesn't matter.”
Nothing more is said after that. The men spend the rest of the night on the couch, skipping around through dumb television stations before Jack finally tosses the remote down after landing on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. He feels, rather than hears, Alex chuckle at his movie choice, the older man having settled in between Jack’s legs, against his chest, a few shows back. Jack runs his fingers through the blonde’s hair, and mumbles out “You know I only bring it up because I care, Lex.” The man on his chest doesn't reply, but the hand that’s been resting on Jack’s hip tightens, just slightly, letting Jack know that he heard him.
♠ ♠ ♠
So, this is probably really short, but I wasn't sure how to split it up exactly so :cOn another note, I've been working on this for a while. I've got about 23 pages on MS Word, and probably about 8-9 chapters I'd say, I've just gotta figure out where I want the story to go, and find the motivation to write it! xx