The Boy Behind a Mask

It'd been four months now. Alex and Jack were pretty happy together. Or so Alex thought.

'Wheres Jack?' Tay asks, looking at Alex with wide eyes,
'Don't know. He's here but he hasn't spoken to me all day.' Alex sighs,
'Have you fallen out?' Cassadee asks,
'I don't know. He just won't talk to me. I snuck up behind him this morning and grabbed his hand but he pulled away and rushed off.' The caramel haired boy says softly,
'I just text him. He said he went home sick.' Rian sighs and Alex nods, resting his elbows on the lunch table before putting his head in his hands,
'I knew this would happen. I shouldn't have ever started seeing him. I knew he would hate me again.' Alex whispers,
'He doesn't hate you Lex, of course he doesn't hate you. You know Jack's strange.' Zack sighs,
'I know. But he also knows I'm a sensitive person.' Alex mutters, leaning into Cassadee when she wraps an arm around his back.

(4 days later)

4 days. 4 days Jack hasn't been at school nor spoken to Alex. It's driving him insane. He needs Jack.

'You and Jack still arguing?' Alex's mum sighs when the teenage boy sits down next to her, sighing heavily,
'It's not an argument if he's not talking to me, mum.' He whispers,
'Has he not said a word? Not even text?' She asks,
'Nothing. I've text him a few times asking if he's okay but he doesn't reply.' Alex mumbles,
'He'll come around.' She sighs.

--

Alex jumps when his phone starts ringing and Jack's face lights up his phone, he answers it quickly,
'Jacky, babe, I'm so sorry. Whatever I've done, please tell me.' He begs,
'Oh, baby, baby, you haven't done anything. Fuck sweetheart, have you been thinking this is your fault? Oh babe, I'm sorry.' Jack chokes out and Alex can tell he's crying,
'Jack, what's wrong?' Alex whispers,
'C-Can you come round baby? I really fucking need you.' Jack whimpers,
'Okay. I'm on my way. Stay put, okay?' Alex says quickly.

Alex runs to Jack.
Runs the whole way.
By the time he gets to Jack's he's panting and sweating.
He takes note of the lack of Jack's parents cars in the drive way before he knocks on the door quickly and his boyfriend opens it, tears streaming down his face,
'Oh, my darling.' Alex whispers, throwing his arms around Jack's neck and nuzzling into the space between his neck and shoulder, Jack rests a hand on Alex's lower back and pulls him into the house so he can shut the door before he starts sobbing into the elders hair, 'I've got you. I've got you sweetheart.' Alex murmurs, playing with the hair at the nape of his boyfriends neck,
'I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry Lex. I fucked up. I hurt you. Fuck, I'm so sorry.' Jack sobs, clutching at the back of Alex's tshirt,
'Baby, calm down. You need to talk to me sweetheart. Come on, shall we go sit down? Where are your mum and dad?' Alex whispers,
'They've been away on a work trip for a week now.' Jack sighs, letting Alex guide him into the lounge,
'Okay babe. Come on, sit down.' Alex sighs, sitting down and pulling the younger down next to him,
'Do you hate me?' Jack whimpers and Alex squeezes his hand,
'No baby, no, of course I don't.' The elder whispers,
'I'm just fucked up Alex. You shouldn't be with me. I'm gonna hurt you so fucking much.' Jack cries and Alex leans forward and buries his face into Jack's neck,
'Stop it. Please just stop it.' He whimpers, 'I love you. Jack, I love you. Please stop. You're not any more fucked up than I am, okay? I love you.' He continues, tears escaping his eyes,
'I almost died.' Jack whispers and Alex pulls back and looks at him,
'You what?' He gasps,
'I... Nearly died. I... I fucked up.' Jack whimpers,
'Baby, what happened?' Alex mumbles, wiping Jack's tears away,
'I c-cut myself really badly. I thought I was going to bleed out.' Jack whispers,
'Show me.' Alex sobs, clutching at Jack's tshirt, who sighs and pulls his sleeve up,
'Oh my god.' Alex chokes out, looking at the scars and cuts in Jacks arm. There's a deep cut that's beginning to scab over going vertically down his wrist,
'Jack, you need to stop this. Fuck, how did I not notice.' Alex cries,
'I always wear long sleeves.' Jack mumbles and Alex nods, pulling back slowly and looking away from Jack, taking a deep breath as he tried to calm himself down,
'Will you... Will you excuse me a second?' He whispers and Jack looks at Alex with worry in his eyes,
'Babe, are you...' He trails off when Alex gets up and rushes off, 'Fuck.' He whispers.

Alex sits against the bathroom floor, trying to stop himself from having a full blown panic attack,
'Babe? Baby, please come out.' Jack begs,
'Just give me a minute.' Alex sobs, running a hand through his hair,
'Lex, I'm sorry.' Jack cries, dropping to his knees outside the bathroom door and sobbing into his hands.
It takes Alex a few minutes to calm down, and when he does, he opens the door and sits in front of his crying boyfriend,
'Look at me, stop crying, please. I love you, you hear me Jack? I am so in love with you. We are gonna get through this. You are gonna get better. I'm gonna help you.' Alex whispers,
'I love you Lex. I'm so sorry.' Jack sobs, 'I shouldn't have ever started talking to you. I'm no good for you. I don't want to hurt you anymore Alex.' He says, his voice shaking,
'Are you breaking up with me?' Alex whimpers,
'I don't know. I don't think I'm good for you.' Jack sighs,
'Jack Bassam Barakat, please, please shut up. I adore you. I am hopelessly in love with you. You are perfect for me. You've brought out the best in me. Please, please don't doubt that.' The elder whispers,
'I love you.' Jack breathes and leans forward, kissing Alex softly,
'I'm gonna help you.' The golden haired boy mumbles.