Don't Make This Easy (Chapter 6)
Title: Don't Make This Easy
Author: sherrycookies
Pairing: Alex Gaskarth/ Jack Barakat
Rating: R
Summary: Alex is the new tutor at a new job in a new place far from home in Victorian England. What happens when he starts to get unwanted feelings toward his new master?
Disclaimer: I don't own All Time Low, blah blah blah.
Jack and Alex spent most of the evening just talking. Talking about whatever, Alex couldn’t remember what when he woke up the following morning with a stupid grin on his face. There was something about just being with Jack that made him all giddy.
Alex had long ago stopped thinking about their relationship together. Overthinking, in his experience, had only brought him sleepless nights and broken feelings. No, he was definitely not going to overthink this. Relationships shouldn’t be complicated; they should just be simple and easy. Not something he should tear out his hair in frustration over.
Over the course of the next month or so, for Alex had lost track of time, Alex and Jack had become very good friends. They spent nearly every evening together talking about basically anything. From their pasts and current lives to the world and society and even things as random as what kind of food they liked.
“I see that Mr. Barakat has a preference to you,” Zack had said one morning as they were preparing for the day. It was no secret that Alex and Jack were spending every damn night together. All the servants and even little Wendy knew how much time they dedicated to one another. Some people were even rumoring that Jack had a little crush on Alex.
“Oh, hush, you, Zack. We’re just friends,” Alex said blushing.
“Honestly! I haven’t seen Mr. Barakat this happy in ages!”
Alex and Jack. Jack and Alex. Friends, but even more? Alex would swat that idea away like a cat batting away a troublesome fly. He wasn’t even sure what he felt for the older man, but it wasn’t love. It couldn’t be love. Two men couldn’t love each other, that was forbidden. He would be mocked and shunned if anybody found out. No, they should just remain friends, no matter how much it pained Alex to be more. If there was a place between being friends and being a married couple, that was where Alex and Jack were.
“I know I’ve said this before, but I like you. You’re unlike anybody else I’ve ever met. And unlike the other servants,” he waved his hand dismissively, “you can maintain an intelligent conversation,” Jack had said one evening.
Alex had been silent, trying to control his irregular breathing and heartbeat. This wasn’t the first time Jack had open expressed his affection to him, but it still got his heart pounding. Anything Jack did got his heart pounding.
Outside of their nighttime conversations, Jack barely acknowledged Alex’s existence. What Jack did every day, Alex would never know. He hardly ever saw his master outside of his study. On the rare occasions when he did, he only gave him a small nod to show that he at least recognized the boy. Other than that, they acted like total strangers. It’s just their little get-togethers that they talked like they had known each other for years.
Not that Alex minded Jack’s coldness outside of his little study. To him, all that mattered was what happened inside that room. Honestly, all he looked forward to every day was to talk to his master. Jack was like his best friend in the whole world. They shared the same sense of humor and enjoyed the same things. Despite Jack’s hard exterior, he acted like a child when he was with Alex. He cracked bad puns and terrible dick jokes, but they never failed to make Alex giggle like a school girl and return with a joke so dirty that would make Cassadee rinse out his mouth with soap.
In short, they were best friends. Two peas in a pod, as some would say. They just naturally got along, and every argument they had (which was rare) was made up quickly. Alex was immediately in a good mood whenever he talked to Jack. He probably learned more about his master in three months than anybody else has in their whole lifetime. If Alex had been a girl, a pretty; rich, high class girl, then rumors would be flying that they would soon be married. But he was not, in fact, he was the exact opposite. He was an average, poor, low class boy. There wasn’t even the slightest rumor that Jack was gay for Alex. Maybe as a joke, but not seriously gay. No, everyone would completely lose respect for Mr. Barakat if he was gay. He would be shunned and laughed at. Someone of his class to be openly gay? No way.
“It’s a mystery to me, as to why you’re still single. A charming, good looking, rich man like you should have a wife,” Alex said casually one night.
“You’re not the only one to have made that observation,” Jack replied, leaning forward. “But yes, I am single. I’m twenty-four years old, and without a wife. I’m not entirely sure I want a wife, though. You see, I have never really liked women like that. I was never good with women either. Do you know Ms. Pope? It took me months to finally agree to let her work here, mostly on Wendy’s behalf. Anyways, I was never interested in taking a wife.”
Alex nodded, trying to understand, but he couldn’t. He had always assumed that high-class men would stop and nothing to find a perfect wife, and that women would be falling head over heels for Jack. Alex, being middle class, never thought he’d ever take one himself. Then again, Rian and Cassadee were very happy together, working under the same person.
“What about you, Alex? A cute boy like you should have a wife as well.”
He had turned his head to hide his reddening cheeks. “Finding a wife is the farthest thing from my mind right now.”
“Then you understand how I feel about marrying a woman?”
Alex shook his head. “Not really.”
Jack leaned back. “Okay, picture this,” he held up his hands in demonstration, looking at Alex. “Pretend you’re in my position: wealthy, powerful, high-class,” he looked at Alex and he nodded. “Pretend you are looked up to and respected. Pretend that you’re an adult now, ready to be married, but all the girls that surround you are annoying, self-centered, snobby, and unintelligent. Lower-class people have it lucky when they find love. They can marry whoever they want, and all for love. Just look at Mr. Dawson and Ms. Pope. People like me,” he paused, “only marry for either money or social status. Then we have to stick to that choice for as long as we live,” he stopped. “I’m sorry for making it seem like I have it so tough. ‘Rich people problems,’ as you would call them,” he laughed humorlessly.
As much as Jack joked about his situation, he did have a point. Mr. Barakat was well respected in this region. Marrying the wrong person would cause a loss in regard for him. Lower class people, such as Alex, could marry whoever they wanted, without being scorned by their peers. Really, sometimes it was better to be unknown and out of the spotlight.
All this time, Jack was watching Alex. “What are you thinking about?”
“You do have a point. But I do know you can’t run from marrying someone forever.”
“I’d rather marry later than sooner. When I do, it’s going to be with the right person. I don’t want to change my life right now, though.” Jack was then silent, a sign that their conversation was done for the night.
Alex rose from his seat and nodded to Jack. “I guess I’ll be going now, then. Good night, Jack.”
“Good night, Alex. I like talking to you, I really do.”
It had snowed overnight. The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow when Alex awoke. He looked out the window to see Mr. Barakat, on a horse and accompanied by a dog, galloping away. Hastily, Alex dressed himself and fixed his hair in the mirror. He ran downstairs to where he knew Zack would be.
He found the caretaker in the kitchen talking with Rian. “Hey, Zack, where is Mr. Barakat going?”
The older man turned to Alex. “Well, good morning to you too. Mr. Barakat is going to Millcote, the next town over to attend a party.”
“How long will he be gone?” Alex asked, ignoring Zack's remark.
“It’s hard to tell with Mr. Barakat. Days, weeks, months, years, you can never be sure. Honestly, I don’t know.”
Alex frowned, disappointed. The least Jack could have done was told him he was leaving.
“Don’t be too sad, Alex. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. There’s no way a party can keep him from you,” Zack said cheerfully.
Alex faked a smile. No, he would never let Zack know how disappointed he was right now. No, he was beyond disappointed. He was crestfallen. Now how was he supposed to spend his nights? What was he going to look forward to everyday? Who was he going to talk to?
He sat down at the table and allowed Maria to shower him with food. He always ate when he was upset. It was unhealthy, but health was far from his conscience right now. Now he needed to figure out how he was going to get through the next few months.
A/N: Sorry I haven’t been updating in a while. I’ve been wicked busy with family over these past few days, and I’m on a break from school so I’m enjoying that as well. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday and have a Happy New Year. Just have a good day in general, because you’re beautiful and you deserve it. Leave a comment, please; they make me a happy person. <3
Author: sherrycookies
Pairing: Alex Gaskarth/ Jack Barakat
Rating: R
Summary: Alex is the new tutor at a new job in a new place far from home in Victorian England. What happens when he starts to get unwanted feelings toward his new master?
Disclaimer: I don't own All Time Low, blah blah blah.
Jack and Alex spent most of the evening just talking. Talking about whatever, Alex couldn’t remember what when he woke up the following morning with a stupid grin on his face. There was something about just being with Jack that made him all giddy.
Alex had long ago stopped thinking about their relationship together. Overthinking, in his experience, had only brought him sleepless nights and broken feelings. No, he was definitely not going to overthink this. Relationships shouldn’t be complicated; they should just be simple and easy. Not something he should tear out his hair in frustration over.
Over the course of the next month or so, for Alex had lost track of time, Alex and Jack had become very good friends. They spent nearly every evening together talking about basically anything. From their pasts and current lives to the world and society and even things as random as what kind of food they liked.
“I see that Mr. Barakat has a preference to you,” Zack had said one morning as they were preparing for the day. It was no secret that Alex and Jack were spending every damn night together. All the servants and even little Wendy knew how much time they dedicated to one another. Some people were even rumoring that Jack had a little crush on Alex.
“Oh, hush, you, Zack. We’re just friends,” Alex said blushing.
“Honestly! I haven’t seen Mr. Barakat this happy in ages!”
Alex and Jack. Jack and Alex. Friends, but even more? Alex would swat that idea away like a cat batting away a troublesome fly. He wasn’t even sure what he felt for the older man, but it wasn’t love. It couldn’t be love. Two men couldn’t love each other, that was forbidden. He would be mocked and shunned if anybody found out. No, they should just remain friends, no matter how much it pained Alex to be more. If there was a place between being friends and being a married couple, that was where Alex and Jack were.
“I know I’ve said this before, but I like you. You’re unlike anybody else I’ve ever met. And unlike the other servants,” he waved his hand dismissively, “you can maintain an intelligent conversation,” Jack had said one evening.
Alex had been silent, trying to control his irregular breathing and heartbeat. This wasn’t the first time Jack had open expressed his affection to him, but it still got his heart pounding. Anything Jack did got his heart pounding.
Outside of their nighttime conversations, Jack barely acknowledged Alex’s existence. What Jack did every day, Alex would never know. He hardly ever saw his master outside of his study. On the rare occasions when he did, he only gave him a small nod to show that he at least recognized the boy. Other than that, they acted like total strangers. It’s just their little get-togethers that they talked like they had known each other for years.
Not that Alex minded Jack’s coldness outside of his little study. To him, all that mattered was what happened inside that room. Honestly, all he looked forward to every day was to talk to his master. Jack was like his best friend in the whole world. They shared the same sense of humor and enjoyed the same things. Despite Jack’s hard exterior, he acted like a child when he was with Alex. He cracked bad puns and terrible dick jokes, but they never failed to make Alex giggle like a school girl and return with a joke so dirty that would make Cassadee rinse out his mouth with soap.
In short, they were best friends. Two peas in a pod, as some would say. They just naturally got along, and every argument they had (which was rare) was made up quickly. Alex was immediately in a good mood whenever he talked to Jack. He probably learned more about his master in three months than anybody else has in their whole lifetime. If Alex had been a girl, a pretty; rich, high class girl, then rumors would be flying that they would soon be married. But he was not, in fact, he was the exact opposite. He was an average, poor, low class boy. There wasn’t even the slightest rumor that Jack was gay for Alex. Maybe as a joke, but not seriously gay. No, everyone would completely lose respect for Mr. Barakat if he was gay. He would be shunned and laughed at. Someone of his class to be openly gay? No way.
“It’s a mystery to me, as to why you’re still single. A charming, good looking, rich man like you should have a wife,” Alex said casually one night.
“You’re not the only one to have made that observation,” Jack replied, leaning forward. “But yes, I am single. I’m twenty-four years old, and without a wife. I’m not entirely sure I want a wife, though. You see, I have never really liked women like that. I was never good with women either. Do you know Ms. Pope? It took me months to finally agree to let her work here, mostly on Wendy’s behalf. Anyways, I was never interested in taking a wife.”
Alex nodded, trying to understand, but he couldn’t. He had always assumed that high-class men would stop and nothing to find a perfect wife, and that women would be falling head over heels for Jack. Alex, being middle class, never thought he’d ever take one himself. Then again, Rian and Cassadee were very happy together, working under the same person.
“What about you, Alex? A cute boy like you should have a wife as well.”
He had turned his head to hide his reddening cheeks. “Finding a wife is the farthest thing from my mind right now.”
“Then you understand how I feel about marrying a woman?”
Alex shook his head. “Not really.”
Jack leaned back. “Okay, picture this,” he held up his hands in demonstration, looking at Alex. “Pretend you’re in my position: wealthy, powerful, high-class,” he looked at Alex and he nodded. “Pretend you are looked up to and respected. Pretend that you’re an adult now, ready to be married, but all the girls that surround you are annoying, self-centered, snobby, and unintelligent. Lower-class people have it lucky when they find love. They can marry whoever they want, and all for love. Just look at Mr. Dawson and Ms. Pope. People like me,” he paused, “only marry for either money or social status. Then we have to stick to that choice for as long as we live,” he stopped. “I’m sorry for making it seem like I have it so tough. ‘Rich people problems,’ as you would call them,” he laughed humorlessly.
As much as Jack joked about his situation, he did have a point. Mr. Barakat was well respected in this region. Marrying the wrong person would cause a loss in regard for him. Lower class people, such as Alex, could marry whoever they wanted, without being scorned by their peers. Really, sometimes it was better to be unknown and out of the spotlight.
All this time, Jack was watching Alex. “What are you thinking about?”
“You do have a point. But I do know you can’t run from marrying someone forever.”
“I’d rather marry later than sooner. When I do, it’s going to be with the right person. I don’t want to change my life right now, though.” Jack was then silent, a sign that their conversation was done for the night.
Alex rose from his seat and nodded to Jack. “I guess I’ll be going now, then. Good night, Jack.”
“Good night, Alex. I like talking to you, I really do.”
It had snowed overnight. The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow when Alex awoke. He looked out the window to see Mr. Barakat, on a horse and accompanied by a dog, galloping away. Hastily, Alex dressed himself and fixed his hair in the mirror. He ran downstairs to where he knew Zack would be.
He found the caretaker in the kitchen talking with Rian. “Hey, Zack, where is Mr. Barakat going?”
The older man turned to Alex. “Well, good morning to you too. Mr. Barakat is going to Millcote, the next town over to attend a party.”
“How long will he be gone?” Alex asked, ignoring Zack's remark.
“It’s hard to tell with Mr. Barakat. Days, weeks, months, years, you can never be sure. Honestly, I don’t know.”
Alex frowned, disappointed. The least Jack could have done was told him he was leaving.
“Don’t be too sad, Alex. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. There’s no way a party can keep him from you,” Zack said cheerfully.
Alex faked a smile. No, he would never let Zack know how disappointed he was right now. No, he was beyond disappointed. He was crestfallen. Now how was he supposed to spend his nights? What was he going to look forward to everyday? Who was he going to talk to?
He sat down at the table and allowed Maria to shower him with food. He always ate when he was upset. It was unhealthy, but health was far from his conscience right now. Now he needed to figure out how he was going to get through the next few months.
A/N: Sorry I haven’t been updating in a while. I’ve been wicked busy with family over these past few days, and I’m on a break from school so I’m enjoying that as well. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday and have a Happy New Year. Just have a good day in general, because you’re beautiful and you deserve it. Leave a comment, please; they make me a happy person. <3