I Want the One I Can't Have

A month had passed since Alex's birthday, Christmas had been and gone - Jack had 'gone for a walk' and climbed through Alex's window at 4am on Christmas Day so they could exchange gifts ect. But now the holidays were over and they were back at school.

Ever since he was young, Alex had always been popular, something about his personality just seemed to attract people and most people liked him. On the other hand, Jack had been forced to act the clown, making stupid jokes and smart comments, being generally disruptive in order to gain popularity. Alex knew there were people in their school who didn't like Jack, but he couldn't understand why. Sure, it got annoying when he disrupted a class I a person who was failing or enjoying it, but the only thing Alex could put it down to was something he had been told as a child 'it's easy to hate, but it takes guts to be kind'. When he was walking to lunch one Friday, he paused - just like he always did before he turned a corner.

"So we grab him and beat the shit out of him?" He heard one person say. Alex stopped to listen - curious now.

"I've been trying to find a way to finish Barakat since I met him a few years ago," one of them grinned. Another looked up and saw Alex, lunging and grabbing him "as if we're going to let you stop us," he smirked. They each punched him a few times, then eventually shoved him in a store cupboard and locked the door.

It was the end of the day before Zack found him, and let him out
"Where's Jack?" Alex asked frantically, he thought for a moment and told Zack to follow him as he ran to behind the bike sheds and found them, Jack was near unconscious as they kicked and punched him. Alex and Zack set about pulling them off and Alex crouched next to his boyfriend "Jack..Jack it's okay," he murmured, gently stroking his hair and kissing his temple "I'm gonna get you to hospital baby," he murmured. Zack joined him at Jack's side
"Zack, can you drive us to the hospital?" Alex asked, handing him the keys as he carefully lifted the lanky teen in his lap. Luckily Jack had never been very heavy, so Alex didn't have much trouble getting him to the car.

Joyce rushed into the room, stopping short when she saw the caramel haired boy holding hands tightly with her unconscious son. Bassam walked in and slammed the door when he saw Alex, making the poor boy jump and almost have a heart attack.
"Get out," Bassam growled. Alex raised one thick eyebrow and shook his head, only angering Bassam further. Alex sat down
"I have just saved your son's life, you could at least show me some respect and try to act civil?" He snapped. Joyce smiled sympathetically and thanked him
graciously. Bassam sat down, scowling at Alex as Joyce held Jack's hand
"What happened?" She asked quietly.
"Some guys jumped him, broke his jaw, and left hand," Alex told her "they said he's lucky they didn't get to his face anymore or it could've been brain damage," he added softly. Joyce gasped and gently stroked Jack's hair out of his face as Bassam stood up
"I'll wait in the car," he told Joyce rudely before he left
"I should get him home, tell Jack we were here," she told Alex softly, he nodded and smiled.

Jack woke up an hour later while Alex was playing with the younger boys hair
"I love when you do that," he murmured, gesturing for Alex to sit with him "how did you know where I'd be?" He asked quietly, laying his head on Alex's chest as the older male sat in the bed.
"I overheard them planning it but they saw me, locked me in a cupboard but my phone was dead," Alex answered quietly "Zack found me and let me out and I went looking for you. How do you feel?" He asked, wanting to change the subject to one less uncomfortable
"Sore but I've been worse," Jack murmured softly, nuzzling into Alex's chest "I love you," he murmured, looking up at Alex.

Alex shifted so that he was lay with Jack in his arms
"I love you too," he murmured, kissing his forehead and smiling.