Don't Make This Easy (Chapter 14)
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.
Searching for a job wasn’t too difficult. There were many homes willing to hire a male tutor for their son. Alex, however, was reluctant to leave. Yes, it would be easier to physically move, but would it really be that easy to move mentally? He knew, deep down, leaving Jack would be the hardest thing he had ever done.
The next few weeks were fairly quiet. Jack tried multiple times to strike up a conversation with Alex, but multiple times he had refused. It wasn’t that he disliked Jack, it was the opposite. He loved him so much that he had to leave him. If you love something, let it go, as the saying goes. He was trying to make it easier on himself for when the time comes for him to depart, possibly, forever.
He wasn’t avoiding Jack purely on selfish reasons, either. Maybe if Jack got used to not having him around now, it wouldn’t be so difficult for him to finally say farewell.
But Jack wasn’t letting Alex elude him. Countless times he’d invite him for a drink or a walk, and countless times he had denied them. Jack may be his master, but they were also friends. He knew that Jack would respect his decisions, even if he was against them.
Alex hadn’t told anyone about his plan to leave either. He would do so when the time called for it. It was just fine to stay quiet about it for now.
And as for Jack’s plan to marry Holly and rid himself of any sins he had done in the past, he didn’t speak much about it. In fact, he still treated Alex the same way he did when they first met; like best friends. Nothing, not even a woman, could change the fact that they were friends.
But lovers? Forget about it.
One day, Jack wanted to meet with Alex, and no, he couldn’t get out of it. It was just past noon when Alex finally went out to meet him in the garden. It was a cloudy and damp day in late spring, a little unusual, but Alex didn’t mind. Jack was standing with his back to Alex, staring at something he couldn’t see. He hurried towards his master quickly, shoving his hands into his coat pocket.
“Jack? You wanted to see me?” He asked timidly.
“Yes, Alex. I wanted to talk to you about something.” He turned and Alex caught his breath. Even after months of being at Thornfield and knowing Jack, he was still stunned by his beauty.
“What is it?”
“You’re aware of my plan to marry Holly aren’t you?” Alex nodded. “Well, I’ve finally made a decision, and I will marry her. We’re getting married next week.”
Alex’s heart sank and a lump formed in his throat. This was what Jack wanted to talk to him about? Shit, he should have stayed inside. It would have saved him a lot of crying later. “W-what?”
“You seem fairly surprised. I thought you were at least expecting this.” He paused. “Yes, we are getting married. She’s gone to Millcote for now to prepare. Unfortunately, her family lives in London and couldn’t make it.”
“I didn’t think it would be this soon,” he lied. He had been anticipating this for a long time, but he realized he had no idea what his reaction would be when Jack actually told him. But this…this was much too sudden.
“It’s happening pretty soon,” he gave him a small, half smile. “I’m going to marry her...and I’ve never been happier or more excited.”
He didn’t want to admit it, but deep down in his heart, he did want Jack to feel the same way about him. He wanted to hear the words “I love you” spill from his perfect lips more than anything else. He wanted to love him and be loved by him. He wanted to feel wanted and not useless. But no, he would end up feeling unwanted and dispensable, easily replaced, possibly for the rest of his life. For as long as he lived, he would always remember how Jack wanted Holly instead of him.
Why would he prefer Alex anyways? It wasn’t like he was so special. What was he? Just a kid who had no idea what he was doing. Basically, a lost boy, trying to find his way, and failing. Holly, on the other hand, was beautiful, rich, and confident. Of course, by comparison, Holly was much more desirable. Poor, stupid, idiot.
“Alex? Is something wrong?” Jack asked.
“No, ah, I mean yes. I’m fine. Nothing is wrong.” How many times would he have to say that, knowing that he wasn’t?
“You can tell me. We’re friends, remember?” Yeah, friends.
Would this be it? The last time he can really tell him to truth? It was now or never. “I’m leaving.”
“What?”
Alex looked up at him, taken back by the sudden hurt in his voice. “Y-yeah. I found a new tutoring job in Ireland. Another family needs someone to teach their son until he’s old enough for college. That’s where I’m headed after you get married. I figured that your new wife would get rid of both Wendy and me, so I guess I’ll go before she has to.”
“B-but, Alex. Ireland? That-that’s pretty far.”
“Far from where?” He retorted, feelings getting the better of him. “I have no home. My family is dead, or at least, dead to me. And here? What use am I here?”
“Far from Thornfield,” he murmured. “Far from me.”
“You? Don’t make me laugh. When have you once cared for me?”
“When have I cared for you? Alex, when have I not cared for you? We’ve been close friends since we met and I’ve never tended to anyone else as much as I have you. I know you’re very sensitive and emotional, and I respect that. It just makes me want to protect you more. Alex, I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but I’ve been keeping an eye out for you for a long time. Even when it looks like I’ve neglected you, I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then maybe you should have thought twice about bringing Holly here!”
“What does Holly have to do with this?”
“Jack! Are you really that oblivious? Even Cassadee knows!” Here it goes.
“Knows what? Alex, tell me!”
“That I fucking love you, you asshole!” There, he said it. He didn’t know what difference this would make, but dammit it felt good to have the weight off his chest.
“You…love me?” He whispered.
“Yes, Jack. I love you so much. I've been in love for do fucking long, and I've had to hide it because I was afraid. I was so afraid; afraid you wouldn't love me back, and afraid you'd be furious with me. Now run away, be disgusted with me. I don’t even care anymore. What’s done is done, and we couldn’t have been together anyways. Watching you with Holly, it hurt. It hurt so damn much. If it hurt so much to see you guys together, imagine the constant pain I would be in if you two got married. I know I wouldn't be able to stand that, so I'm leaving. It’ll be so much easier to say farewell to me now. Maybe,” he took a deep breath and a tear slid down his cheek. “Maybe if I was a woman, a beautiful and rich woman, it would be as hard for you to leave me to me as it is for me to leave you.”
Another tear slipped down his cheek, and another, and another. Now they wouldn't stop, and he was crying in front of Jack. God dammit, he’s never been so embarrassed in his life.
Without warning, Jack pulled Alex towards him in an embrace. “Shhh…Alex, it’s okay. Please don’t cry.”
Alex tried to yank himself out of Jack’s grasp, but it was in vain; he showed no sign of letting go. “W-why aren’t you laughing at me? I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid. Shhh…” he murmured soothingly rubbing his back.
“W-why…what…” he couldn’t even form words anymore. He just cried and cried into Jack’s chest, exhausting himself. After about ten minutes, he pulled back, still in Jack’s arms. “I don’t understand.”
“What don’t you understand?”
“You. What you’re thinking. Why aren’t you laughing? Why aren’t you running away? Why aren’t you repulsed?”
“Why would I be repulsed?”'
“In case you haven’t realized, I’m a man. You’re a man. I love you. Why don’t you see what’s wrong with that picture?”
“Because I love you too.”
Alex’s heart leapt to his throat. He was left speechless for a moment before he said, dumbfounded. “You're lying.”
“You doubt me?”
“Entirely.”
“So it’s easy for you to admit your feelings to me, but not for you to accept that I feel the same way? You’re hilarious,” he laughed.
“Don’t fuck with me. Do I look like I’m a joking mood?”
“Why is this so hard for you to comprehend?”
“Because I’m me. Why, why would you love me? There are so many other people you can love, Holly included, why me?” His voice trembled. “I’m just some idiot who’s in way over his head, who can’t even express his feelings without crying like a child. I’m broken. I’ve been stepped on and abused. I’m emotionally unstable and constantly beat myself up. Don’t you want a calm, stable, and confident person…not me?”
“You are you, and that’s enough for me. Your problems…we’ll get through them together. You are unlike anybody I have ever met. You’re smart, funny, handsome, and kind. I am constantly fascinated by the things you say, and every moment I spend with you feels like a surprise. I never know what’s going to happen when we’re together. You’re so eager and full of life, I love it. I love the positive outlook you have on life, and being with you truly gets my spirits up. When we first met, I thought you were the most peculiar little thing. You were bold and unafraid, unlike the other servants. Honestly, you’ve entranced me from the start, and every day I just fall more and more in love with you.”
Just when he thought he was done crying, another tear fell. “S-stop it. Stop teasing me.”
“Why won’t you believe me?”
“Because you’re going to marry Holly. You love her, not me. You’re just fucking with my emotions and I don’t appreciate it. A simple, ‘I don’t feel the same way, sorry,’ would be just fine. But no, you go out of your way to hurt me more.”
“I lied about Holly. I’m not going to marry her. I broke up with her earlier, that’s why she left. I was such a fool for not seeing what she was doing to you. I was oblivious to how she treated you, and how much of a toll it was having on your self-esteem, knowing it wasn’t high to begin with. It was love at first sight, for me, the first time we talked. That night, when you indirectly caused an injury to me, is one of the best nights of my life. Why? Because I met an angel. An angel in the form of a boy, who I was so fascinated by. When I first started to realize that I loved you, I was afraid you wouldn’t feel the same way, and I was right to have some doubt, being that both of us are the same gender. I ran away from here to get someone. I wanted to make you jealous, to secure your love for me. I regret that. I regret hurting you in any way. If I could take it back, I would a thousand times over. I’m so sorry.”
“I...I don’t understand.”
“Haven’t you realized?” He smiled and touched noses with him. “I love you.”
Alex’s head was spinning. Had he heard him correctly? Was he only hearing what he wanted to hear? Was he telling the truth, or was he lying? Was Jack messing with his feelings? At least he thought that Jack was his friend, and he wouldn’t do something so cruel. But the look in Jack’s eyes, the sincere brown eyes swimming with things that he had not yet told Alex, those tell him otherwise. Jack was telling the truth.
“You…love me?” His voice was barely above a whisper, another tear sliding down his cheek.
“I thought we established that. I love you so much. Please, believe me. I know what I did was wrong, please forgive me. Can…can we be together? Pretty please?”
“Yes,” he breathed, closing his eyes.
“Did I hear you correctly?”
“Yes,” he said a little louder.
“Hm?” Jack teased, moving their heads closer together. “What was that, love?”
“You’re an ass. I love you so much,” he, reaching up to peck his cheek.
“You’re the ass! Who the fuck confesses his love to someone without kissing them on the lips? You tell me, Gaskarth.”
“Me, then,” he huffed. “You’re not getting a kiss this easily, Barakat!”
“Awww…come on!” Jack complained. He grabbed his face and pulled him in for a kiss. A real, fucking kiss, not like they had when they were drunk. Alex softly moved his lips, and Jack did the same. There was no tongue and no opening of mouths. It was just…love.
Alex was the first to break the kiss, pulling away. “You can’t just steal kisses like that. It’s mean.”
“I think I can,” he giggled, embracing him. “You’re so perfect. It sucks that I have to let go of you some time.”
“Ewww, I never thought you’d be a cheesy romantic.”
He nosed some strands of the shorter man’s hair. “But I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“In all seriousness, I’ve never been so fucking happy in my whole life. You’re like a sun ray in my dim life. Have I lived before I met you?”
“You probably have. I…you know my life was shit. WAS shit. Being at Thornfield has truly changed me. You have changed me. I-” He stopped when he felt a raindrop splat on his nose. “Is it raining?”
Jack looked up only to flinch when a drop nearly landed in his eye. “I believe it is. Let’s go inside, love.” He took Alex’s hand and dashed towards the front door with the younger trailing behind.
It started to rain harder and harder with each passing moment. By the time they had reached the front door, and Jack was fumbling in his pockets looking for the keys, it became a downpour. Despite Alex being soaking wet, he was laughing. He was just so elated right now, he didn’t even care.
Jack managed to find the keys, unlock the door, and push Alex inside. He followed him, shutting out the cold and rain. “You’re drenched!” He exclaimed, water dripping from his own black hair. He began to help him take off his water-logged jacket, all while pushing him towards the spiral staircase.
“You’re not too dry yourself,” he giggled. He wrapped his arms around Jack’s neck and pulled him in for another sweet kiss.
Alex thought he heard a hushed gasp and abruptly broke the kiss. He looked up to see the sickened face of Zack staring down at them.
When Zack saw that Alex had noticed him, he quickly vanished. He heard footsteps followed by a door slam. ‘Shit, oh shit,’ he thought. “Jack, did you see that?”
“See what? Is something wrong?”
“N-nothing,” he said, shaking his head. So Jack didn’t see. It wasn’t his problem. He would have to deal with Zack by himself; Jack didn’t need to get involved. He was probably already a little cautious about letting them be together, he didn’t need the disapproval of one of his servants. “I need to change into some drier clothes,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“There’s no need,” he hummed, pressing his lips to Alex’s damp hair. “Come to my room. Those clothes are going to come off anyways.”
A/N: WELL THAT WAS A LONG CHAPTER! It's nearly Valentine's Day, SO HAVE SOME FEELS. It was really fun to write haha, mostly because I've been procrastinating the Valentine's Day fic by writing this. Obviously, things will get sexual in the next chapter, ;). I meant to have this up earlier, but ya know, I’m a little lazy and I always apparently want to post stuff when it’s late where I am, so I end up posting it early the next day. I’m a terrible person.
Remember when I said I was getting better? I lied. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE. Some days everything pisses me off and I won’t speak at all. God dammit. Bad vibes are the worst. I've had to take a few personal days as well. Meh.
Also, some days, I’m just not in the mood to write. And New England is being hit with blizzard Nemo, and there's two feet of snow outside, AND GUESS WHO HAD TO SHOVEL IT ALL? But at least I get a snow day :D
I'm terrified the power's going to go out, and I will have no internet, so HOPEFULLY this will be up this weekend gahhh.
I'm rambling again. These notes are always boring haha, I have no idea why you guys read these.
Thank you so much for the comments. They make my entire day, you don’t understand. I’m never really praised for anything, so it does make me really happy :D
Also, this is like a 2000 word update, SO PLEASE COMMENT FOR MY EFFORTS.
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.
Searching for a job wasn’t too difficult. There were many homes willing to hire a male tutor for their son. Alex, however, was reluctant to leave. Yes, it would be easier to physically move, but would it really be that easy to move mentally? He knew, deep down, leaving Jack would be the hardest thing he had ever done.
The next few weeks were fairly quiet. Jack tried multiple times to strike up a conversation with Alex, but multiple times he had refused. It wasn’t that he disliked Jack, it was the opposite. He loved him so much that he had to leave him. If you love something, let it go, as the saying goes. He was trying to make it easier on himself for when the time comes for him to depart, possibly, forever.
He wasn’t avoiding Jack purely on selfish reasons, either. Maybe if Jack got used to not having him around now, it wouldn’t be so difficult for him to finally say farewell.
But Jack wasn’t letting Alex elude him. Countless times he’d invite him for a drink or a walk, and countless times he had denied them. Jack may be his master, but they were also friends. He knew that Jack would respect his decisions, even if he was against them.
Alex hadn’t told anyone about his plan to leave either. He would do so when the time called for it. It was just fine to stay quiet about it for now.
And as for Jack’s plan to marry Holly and rid himself of any sins he had done in the past, he didn’t speak much about it. In fact, he still treated Alex the same way he did when they first met; like best friends. Nothing, not even a woman, could change the fact that they were friends.
But lovers? Forget about it.
One day, Jack wanted to meet with Alex, and no, he couldn’t get out of it. It was just past noon when Alex finally went out to meet him in the garden. It was a cloudy and damp day in late spring, a little unusual, but Alex didn’t mind. Jack was standing with his back to Alex, staring at something he couldn’t see. He hurried towards his master quickly, shoving his hands into his coat pocket.
“Jack? You wanted to see me?” He asked timidly.
“Yes, Alex. I wanted to talk to you about something.” He turned and Alex caught his breath. Even after months of being at Thornfield and knowing Jack, he was still stunned by his beauty.
“What is it?”
“You’re aware of my plan to marry Holly aren’t you?” Alex nodded. “Well, I’ve finally made a decision, and I will marry her. We’re getting married next week.”
Alex’s heart sank and a lump formed in his throat. This was what Jack wanted to talk to him about? Shit, he should have stayed inside. It would have saved him a lot of crying later. “W-what?”
“You seem fairly surprised. I thought you were at least expecting this.” He paused. “Yes, we are getting married. She’s gone to Millcote for now to prepare. Unfortunately, her family lives in London and couldn’t make it.”
“I didn’t think it would be this soon,” he lied. He had been anticipating this for a long time, but he realized he had no idea what his reaction would be when Jack actually told him. But this…this was much too sudden.
“It’s happening pretty soon,” he gave him a small, half smile. “I’m going to marry her...and I’ve never been happier or more excited.”
He didn’t want to admit it, but deep down in his heart, he did want Jack to feel the same way about him. He wanted to hear the words “I love you” spill from his perfect lips more than anything else. He wanted to love him and be loved by him. He wanted to feel wanted and not useless. But no, he would end up feeling unwanted and dispensable, easily replaced, possibly for the rest of his life. For as long as he lived, he would always remember how Jack wanted Holly instead of him.
Why would he prefer Alex anyways? It wasn’t like he was so special. What was he? Just a kid who had no idea what he was doing. Basically, a lost boy, trying to find his way, and failing. Holly, on the other hand, was beautiful, rich, and confident. Of course, by comparison, Holly was much more desirable. Poor, stupid, idiot.
“Alex? Is something wrong?” Jack asked.
“No, ah, I mean yes. I’m fine. Nothing is wrong.” How many times would he have to say that, knowing that he wasn’t?
“You can tell me. We’re friends, remember?” Yeah, friends.
Would this be it? The last time he can really tell him to truth? It was now or never. “I’m leaving.”
“What?”
Alex looked up at him, taken back by the sudden hurt in his voice. “Y-yeah. I found a new tutoring job in Ireland. Another family needs someone to teach their son until he’s old enough for college. That’s where I’m headed after you get married. I figured that your new wife would get rid of both Wendy and me, so I guess I’ll go before she has to.”
“B-but, Alex. Ireland? That-that’s pretty far.”
“Far from where?” He retorted, feelings getting the better of him. “I have no home. My family is dead, or at least, dead to me. And here? What use am I here?”
“Far from Thornfield,” he murmured. “Far from me.”
“You? Don’t make me laugh. When have you once cared for me?”
“When have I cared for you? Alex, when have I not cared for you? We’ve been close friends since we met and I’ve never tended to anyone else as much as I have you. I know you’re very sensitive and emotional, and I respect that. It just makes me want to protect you more. Alex, I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but I’ve been keeping an eye out for you for a long time. Even when it looks like I’ve neglected you, I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then maybe you should have thought twice about bringing Holly here!”
“What does Holly have to do with this?”
“Jack! Are you really that oblivious? Even Cassadee knows!” Here it goes.
“Knows what? Alex, tell me!”
“That I fucking love you, you asshole!” There, he said it. He didn’t know what difference this would make, but dammit it felt good to have the weight off his chest.
“You…love me?” He whispered.
“Yes, Jack. I love you so much. I've been in love for do fucking long, and I've had to hide it because I was afraid. I was so afraid; afraid you wouldn't love me back, and afraid you'd be furious with me. Now run away, be disgusted with me. I don’t even care anymore. What’s done is done, and we couldn’t have been together anyways. Watching you with Holly, it hurt. It hurt so damn much. If it hurt so much to see you guys together, imagine the constant pain I would be in if you two got married. I know I wouldn't be able to stand that, so I'm leaving. It’ll be so much easier to say farewell to me now. Maybe,” he took a deep breath and a tear slid down his cheek. “Maybe if I was a woman, a beautiful and rich woman, it would be as hard for you to leave me to me as it is for me to leave you.”
Another tear slipped down his cheek, and another, and another. Now they wouldn't stop, and he was crying in front of Jack. God dammit, he’s never been so embarrassed in his life.
Without warning, Jack pulled Alex towards him in an embrace. “Shhh…Alex, it’s okay. Please don’t cry.”
Alex tried to yank himself out of Jack’s grasp, but it was in vain; he showed no sign of letting go. “W-why aren’t you laughing at me? I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid. Shhh…” he murmured soothingly rubbing his back.
“W-why…what…” he couldn’t even form words anymore. He just cried and cried into Jack’s chest, exhausting himself. After about ten minutes, he pulled back, still in Jack’s arms. “I don’t understand.”
“What don’t you understand?”
“You. What you’re thinking. Why aren’t you laughing? Why aren’t you running away? Why aren’t you repulsed?”
“Why would I be repulsed?”'
“In case you haven’t realized, I’m a man. You’re a man. I love you. Why don’t you see what’s wrong with that picture?”
“Because I love you too.”
Alex’s heart leapt to his throat. He was left speechless for a moment before he said, dumbfounded. “You're lying.”
“You doubt me?”
“Entirely.”
“So it’s easy for you to admit your feelings to me, but not for you to accept that I feel the same way? You’re hilarious,” he laughed.
“Don’t fuck with me. Do I look like I’m a joking mood?”
“Why is this so hard for you to comprehend?”
“Because I’m me. Why, why would you love me? There are so many other people you can love, Holly included, why me?” His voice trembled. “I’m just some idiot who’s in way over his head, who can’t even express his feelings without crying like a child. I’m broken. I’ve been stepped on and abused. I’m emotionally unstable and constantly beat myself up. Don’t you want a calm, stable, and confident person…not me?”
“You are you, and that’s enough for me. Your problems…we’ll get through them together. You are unlike anybody I have ever met. You’re smart, funny, handsome, and kind. I am constantly fascinated by the things you say, and every moment I spend with you feels like a surprise. I never know what’s going to happen when we’re together. You’re so eager and full of life, I love it. I love the positive outlook you have on life, and being with you truly gets my spirits up. When we first met, I thought you were the most peculiar little thing. You were bold and unafraid, unlike the other servants. Honestly, you’ve entranced me from the start, and every day I just fall more and more in love with you.”
Just when he thought he was done crying, another tear fell. “S-stop it. Stop teasing me.”
“Why won’t you believe me?”
“Because you’re going to marry Holly. You love her, not me. You’re just fucking with my emotions and I don’t appreciate it. A simple, ‘I don’t feel the same way, sorry,’ would be just fine. But no, you go out of your way to hurt me more.”
“I lied about Holly. I’m not going to marry her. I broke up with her earlier, that’s why she left. I was such a fool for not seeing what she was doing to you. I was oblivious to how she treated you, and how much of a toll it was having on your self-esteem, knowing it wasn’t high to begin with. It was love at first sight, for me, the first time we talked. That night, when you indirectly caused an injury to me, is one of the best nights of my life. Why? Because I met an angel. An angel in the form of a boy, who I was so fascinated by. When I first started to realize that I loved you, I was afraid you wouldn’t feel the same way, and I was right to have some doubt, being that both of us are the same gender. I ran away from here to get someone. I wanted to make you jealous, to secure your love for me. I regret that. I regret hurting you in any way. If I could take it back, I would a thousand times over. I’m so sorry.”
“I...I don’t understand.”
“Haven’t you realized?” He smiled and touched noses with him. “I love you.”
Alex’s head was spinning. Had he heard him correctly? Was he only hearing what he wanted to hear? Was he telling the truth, or was he lying? Was Jack messing with his feelings? At least he thought that Jack was his friend, and he wouldn’t do something so cruel. But the look in Jack’s eyes, the sincere brown eyes swimming with things that he had not yet told Alex, those tell him otherwise. Jack was telling the truth.
“You…love me?” His voice was barely above a whisper, another tear sliding down his cheek.
“I thought we established that. I love you so much. Please, believe me. I know what I did was wrong, please forgive me. Can…can we be together? Pretty please?”
“Yes,” he breathed, closing his eyes.
“Did I hear you correctly?”
“Yes,” he said a little louder.
“Hm?” Jack teased, moving their heads closer together. “What was that, love?”
“You’re an ass. I love you so much,” he, reaching up to peck his cheek.
“You’re the ass! Who the fuck confesses his love to someone without kissing them on the lips? You tell me, Gaskarth.”
“Me, then,” he huffed. “You’re not getting a kiss this easily, Barakat!”
“Awww…come on!” Jack complained. He grabbed his face and pulled him in for a kiss. A real, fucking kiss, not like they had when they were drunk. Alex softly moved his lips, and Jack did the same. There was no tongue and no opening of mouths. It was just…love.
Alex was the first to break the kiss, pulling away. “You can’t just steal kisses like that. It’s mean.”
“I think I can,” he giggled, embracing him. “You’re so perfect. It sucks that I have to let go of you some time.”
“Ewww, I never thought you’d be a cheesy romantic.”
He nosed some strands of the shorter man’s hair. “But I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“In all seriousness, I’ve never been so fucking happy in my whole life. You’re like a sun ray in my dim life. Have I lived before I met you?”
“You probably have. I…you know my life was shit. WAS shit. Being at Thornfield has truly changed me. You have changed me. I-” He stopped when he felt a raindrop splat on his nose. “Is it raining?”
Jack looked up only to flinch when a drop nearly landed in his eye. “I believe it is. Let’s go inside, love.” He took Alex’s hand and dashed towards the front door with the younger trailing behind.
It started to rain harder and harder with each passing moment. By the time they had reached the front door, and Jack was fumbling in his pockets looking for the keys, it became a downpour. Despite Alex being soaking wet, he was laughing. He was just so elated right now, he didn’t even care.
Jack managed to find the keys, unlock the door, and push Alex inside. He followed him, shutting out the cold and rain. “You’re drenched!” He exclaimed, water dripping from his own black hair. He began to help him take off his water-logged jacket, all while pushing him towards the spiral staircase.
“You’re not too dry yourself,” he giggled. He wrapped his arms around Jack’s neck and pulled him in for another sweet kiss.
Alex thought he heard a hushed gasp and abruptly broke the kiss. He looked up to see the sickened face of Zack staring down at them.
When Zack saw that Alex had noticed him, he quickly vanished. He heard footsteps followed by a door slam. ‘Shit, oh shit,’ he thought. “Jack, did you see that?”
“See what? Is something wrong?”
“N-nothing,” he said, shaking his head. So Jack didn’t see. It wasn’t his problem. He would have to deal with Zack by himself; Jack didn’t need to get involved. He was probably already a little cautious about letting them be together, he didn’t need the disapproval of one of his servants. “I need to change into some drier clothes,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“There’s no need,” he hummed, pressing his lips to Alex’s damp hair. “Come to my room. Those clothes are going to come off anyways.”
A/N: WELL THAT WAS A LONG CHAPTER! It's nearly Valentine's Day, SO HAVE SOME FEELS. It was really fun to write haha, mostly because I've been procrastinating the Valentine's Day fic by writing this. Obviously, things will get sexual in the next chapter, ;). I meant to have this up earlier, but ya know, I’m a little lazy and I always apparently want to post stuff when it’s late where I am, so I end up posting it early the next day. I’m a terrible person.
Remember when I said I was getting better? I lied. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE. Some days everything pisses me off and I won’t speak at all. God dammit. Bad vibes are the worst. I've had to take a few personal days as well. Meh.
Also, some days, I’m just not in the mood to write. And New England is being hit with blizzard Nemo, and there's two feet of snow outside, AND GUESS WHO HAD TO SHOVEL IT ALL? But at least I get a snow day :D
I'm terrified the power's going to go out, and I will have no internet, so HOPEFULLY this will be up this weekend gahhh.
I'm rambling again. These notes are always boring haha, I have no idea why you guys read these.
Thank you so much for the comments. They make my entire day, you don’t understand. I’m never really praised for anything, so it does make me really happy :D
Also, this is like a 2000 word update, SO PLEASE COMMENT FOR MY EFFORTS.