That Girl

"I can't believe she said yes!" Alex exclaimed, running up to his best friends with a huge grin and panting heavily.

"Who?" Matt asked, quizzically raising an eyebrow. The excited boy pointed to the most popular girl in the school, Meg. She was beautiful, tall, funny and she had a rock band. Of course Alex was interested, it was just a wonder she said yes to him.

"Nice dude, she's really hot," Rian congratulated and patted Alex on the back, before mumbling something about sushi with Cassadee.

"You got her to go to prom with you?" Jack questioned incredulously. Alex nodded, his smile only widening at the surprise on his face. "Smooth, man!" Jack complimented as Matt nodded in agreement.

"I know right! What's for lunch?" The eldest asked, turning around to face the menu board. He hummed as he browsed the choices and got lost in his own world. He was really lucky that she agreed, otherwise he'd be lonely.

By the time he snapped back into reality, his friends were already eating at their table, chatting contently. He walked up, ordered a small bowl of ramen noodles and sat with them.

He could've sworn he sensed jealousy through the tension as he sat beside Jack. He nudged the boy in the side with an elbow.
"What's going on?" He muttered through the side of his mouth, teeth clenched. Jack shot back a look that told him he was overreacting, that nothing was wrong. Alex shrugged and ate the unhealthy noodles while Matt had a cheeseburger, and Jack had a few crackers.

"Where's your food?" Alex asked worriedly and made a move to get up and buy him something if the taller had forgotten money.
"Not hungry," Jack mumbled almost inaudibly. His friend saw that he didn't want to make a scene or talk about it, so it probably wasn't a big deal and went back to eating and daydreaming about Meg.

_______
"What about this one?"

It was the day before prom, and Jack and Vinny were doing last minute tuxedo shopping. Of course, nothing was left. Though both boys had wanted to go in a traditional black suit, but by the looks of the store, they wouldn't be getting out so lucky.

Vinny was holding a gray pinstripe suit up to his chest, matching for size. Jack shrugged; it didn't look bad compared to other suits.
The only one that fit Jack's tall, lanky figure was white. White! How was he supposed to catch a quick prom date in white?

But it was all they had.

"Just this, sir?" The cashier questioned, holding in a laugh at the teal blue Jack had picked to go with the awful jacket.

"Yeah," Jack grumbled, rolling his eyes. The suits were downright awful, but he had no other choice, so he walked away dreadfully.

_______
It was finally prom night.

Each boy and their dates were meeting at a restaurant downtown. Matt and Jack didn't have a girl, so they planned to just show up at prom and skip the dinner before for pizza at the guitarist's house.

There, they ate as much as they wanted without worrying about what they were wearing or if their manners were polite. Jack was on his third slice of pepperoni when his phone buzzed.

Picking it up with one hand, he unlocked the phone to see a text from his best friend at the restaurant.

Gaskarth <3: she stood me up.

His jaw dropped as Matt stared at him curiously. He took the phone from his friend's hands and read the sentence, mirroring the expression. They exchanged glances before Jack asked his mom if she could drive them. Joyce asked questions, but her son showed her the text and she understood.

I'm really sorry, Lex. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Breathe, okay? :)

Awful. Jack felt completely awful for his best friend. He knew how excited he was to hang out with this chick, and she had just stood him up. The more he thought, the more angry he became. Meg had completely blown him off, not knowing how this would affect him.

Gaskarth <3: hurry please.

Jack understood Alex, and he knew the boy would take this personally. He knew he would lose all confidence and his self esteem would drop because he thought he wasn't good enough.

In all honesty, Jack thought the best about the elder, and he would never be able to comprehend his insecurity.

Yet it still persisted.
______

Jack hurried as quickly as he possibly could in his horrendous suit toward the doors of the gym. Matt followed close behind him, yet lagged a little, not understanding Alex like Jack could.

They opened the door and headed straight to the back, where their table was. Jack scanned quickly over once. Alex was missing.

"Guys, where is he?" He questioned. Most of them gave shrugs, but Vinny pointed to the bathroom. Jack didn't even bother waiting around, be sprinted down to hallway, unashamed in the fancy restaurant.

Jack burst through the door and saw Alex immediately. He was sitting in one of the stalls, leaving the door wide open. No one else was in there, which left them alone.

Alex sat with his back against the wall, knees pulled to his chest. His arms wrapped around his legs and his head was rested there, blocking his face.

"Alex?" The younger questioned and walked closer to his best friend. The brunette picked up his head and looked at Jack intently for about a whole minute before saying anything.

"Thank you for coming," he whispered finally, a ghost of smile present on his lips. Jack was surprised he wasn't panicking or breaking down or anything, but he wasn't. "Guess we're both alone tonight then," Alex sighed. Yet he still looked sad, disappointed.

"No," Jack replied sternly. "Me and you will go together! You're gonna have fun, and so am I. This is prom, Lex, we have to go!" His best friend laughed at that, agreeing wholeheartedly. Jack felt a little satisfaction burning the back of his throat for making his best friend happy, but it didn't last long before Alex was standing up and hugging him tight.

"Thanks for being you," Alex murmured into his neck, so muffled by his clothing that Jack almost didn't catch it. "Nice suit, by the way."

Jack pulled away to playfully slap the boy's arm, who laughed loudly. The harmonious sound bounced off the walls of the echoing bathroom and rang in Jack's ears. The taller savored the noise in case Alex got down later when he saw all the couples dancing together.

"Ready, sir?"

"Ready, babe." Alex joked back, linking their arms and exiting the restroom.
_________

"You think they're okay in there?" Matt asked hesitantly to the rest of the table. Vinny looked uneasy too; the pair had been gone for twenty minutes.

Twenty minutes ago Jack had gone in after his best friend.

Cassadee laughed out loud at a joke no one else seemed to hear. They all looked toward her on confusion but she just looked back. All eyes were trained her way.

"What? You guys don't see it?" She questioned, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow. They all either shook their heads or mumbled 'see what?' The girl sighed. "I couldn't have been the only one who noticed the way they look at each other."

"What do you mean?" Zack asked, furrowing his eyebrows together in attempt to see what Cass was saying. She started to explain, but Zack's girlfriend, Sarah spoke up for the first time throughout the entire dinner.

"They aren't dating?" She questioned and set her fork down on the napkin. Cassadee smirked a ridiculously wide grin. Her face screamed 'told you so!'

"Nope. See, I'm not the only person who saw the way they act. When Jack hears Alex's name, he's listening closely even if he was world's away seconds ago. If you do so much as harm a hair on Jack's head, Alex is on you like a tiger. And vise versa. Whenever they talk about each other, their eyes light up and they smile like idoits. They constantly touch and hug and I even saw Jack kiss Alex's cheek once. They're always together like they can't separate."

All the boys at the table looked incredulously at Rian's girlfriend, then at Zack's.

"You're kidding, right?" Vinny laughed, but there was no joke.
"Not at all. I wouldn't be surprised if they were in they being all cuddly and kissin' each other," she declared and Sarah nodded.

"I can't believe-"

But before Rian could finish his sentence, the pair entered the dining room, holding hands. Cassadee's satisfactory smile brightened and they all looked at her, then to the pure evidence of what she interpreted.

"She's right," Zack whispered. The whole table nodded again while Alex and Jack sat down.

"What did we miss?"
_________

The first hour went fine. The group picked a corner and talked with people they were acquainted with, or some they hadn't known. Alex seemed okay, and Jack was glad. But then a slow song came on.

Jack watched as his best friend tensed all over, knuckles whitening on the black fabric. He visibly cringed and shook his head. The others continued to talk around them, but Jack got sucked into Alex's world. Thoughts whirled around his head, the younger knew he was thinking.

When their group realized the song, they all abandoned the corner, leaving Alex and Jack alone. Though Matt hadn't came with a date, he picked one up at the restaurant. Alex was uncomfortable, his eyes squinted and he shifted on his feet. The two boys stared at each other for a moment before Jack made a quick, mindless decision. He grabbed Alex's wrist, pulling him a little to get him on the dance floor.

"Jack? What are you doing?" He questioned frantically, pulling back and fighting to resist the change of direction.

"You promised you would have fun. Dance with me, Gaskarth!" Jack laughed and tugged a bit harder. It was pointless, though, because Alex was already agreeing. He promised.

They paused when they got to the very edge of the dance floor. Both boys were pretty anxious around other people from school, especially because they weren't popular. The outlines were good enough for them.

Jack took a second to scan his eyes over Alex, practically drinking in his appearance. His black suit was wrinkled from being in the corner of the bathroom during his breakdown, but it looked good on him regardless. On his left wrist was a silver watch, a watch he got from his brother. Everyone knew not to touch it. His messy clothes were paired with wild hair, sticking up in random directions. Yet it kept its traditional sweep to the side. His cheeks were as red as his tie and his-

Jack blushed when he realized he'd been staring. Alex was standing awkwardly, glancing around and hoping Jack stopped.

"Sorry," the taller mumbled and stepped forward. He wrapped his arms around his best friend and held him close. They didn't really know how to dance, but they were calm, and that was all that mattered.

Alex sighed in content as he assumed the female roll since he was shorter. He rested his head on Jack's shoulder and got as close to him as possible. He couldn't possibly feel any more safe. This was his haven, Jack. His best friend was always there for him.

They swayed slightly to the beat of Go Radio's Goodnight Moon.

As Alex remained tight in his arms, Jack couldn't help but think about the coincidence.

He could definitely feel them falling. Jack was happy to share the burden of their heavy hearts together.
__________

"Aw, look at them!" Cassadee whispered when she picked her head off Rian's shoulder. The song was nearing an end, and she just happened to look around. She was worried at first when she didn't see Alex and Jack in their old spot, but as she searched, she was happy with what she found.

Rian looked around to see who his girlfriend was talking about, and he spotted the boys nearly immediately.

From an outsider's point of view, they looked like they were dating or in love or something. Alex was completely leaning on and supported by Jack, who was immersed in the boy he was wrapped up in. They looked whipped.

The elder pulled away to look at his best friend, and whispered something. Rian cussed quietly, wishing he could read lips. Cassadee spoke up.

"He said 'thank you, Jay.'"

"How do you know?" Rian looked up in surprise. She just shrugged and mumbled something about second grade. Rian couldn't help but grin in admiration at his girlfriend. Then he looked back at the pair.

What he saw shocked him. He nudged Cass and gestured to the boys.

Alex was looking straight at Jack, who was leaning down, their lips inching closer. Jack was about to kiss him.

And he did.

It was short and sweet, only a quick press of the lips, but it was enough to have both of them blushing profusely. Alex whispered something that Rian couldn't decipher, but Cass was quick to translate.

"I'm glad she didn't come."

The whole world seemed to pass insignificantly around Alex and Jack, but more people were looking than they thought. Oh well, they'd survive.

Their eyes shut and blocked out everything. Completely immersed in each other, they kissed happily. They were as tall as heaven.
_______

That night, Jack and Alex headed to a hotel.

The elder had booked a beautiful suite for him and Meg, but now he didn't have a date, so they could go together. Alex promised Jack chicken nuggets; he needed to talk to the younger.

They got there, ate, but eventually when they were about to go to sleep, they realized there was one bed.

"I'll sleep on the floor," Alex volunteered, pulling off his shirt and setting up.

"No, its okay. You're paying for the room, I will."

"No, you helped me through the night. Get in the bed, Barakat."

"How about we share it? Its king sized," Jack suggested. Alex shrugged to agree and slipped into one side. He didn't want to get too close to Jack, but he needed warmth.

"We need to talk," Alex blurted out. Jack turned to face him and nodded as he pulled the blankets over himself. "Why'd you kiss me?"

"Why'd you kiss back?" He snapped. The elder cringed at his tone, but breathed deeply to maintain his patience.

"I liked it, it was different," Alex replied simply. Jack sighed heavily, knowing he shouldn't have got upset. He inched toward Alex and laid directly beside him.

"So did I. Y'know, it was just weird. I couldn't control it," he admitted. Jack smiled and wrapped an arm around his best friend, slowly drifting off to sleep. But before he did, he heard Alex sing to him.

"Our hearts are heavy burdens we shouldn’t have to bear alone."
_______