You're like the sunshine in the lazy days of June (Jalex one-shot)
Description: Pure self-indulgent fluff because I'm feeling a bit lonely. Jack and Alex are lounging around on the tour bus on a chilly day in June.
Also available here on Wattpad.
Alex's POV
It's June, the start of Summer, which means one day you're outside having a BBQ with your friends, and the next you're wrapped up in a jumper trying to remember what the sun looked like. Today, unfortunately, is the latter.
Yesterday was much the former- we all set up deck chairs outside the bus and had a couple drinks, and thinking it would stay that warm I went to sleep in just my boxers with the covers thrown out into the walkway. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans, and I woke up absolutely freezing, rolling over and pulling the curtain open I found out someone had nicked my covers in the night- I can't really blame them, I definitely would've done the same.
Blowing out a sharp breath to psych myself up I quickly push myself out of the mild warmth of my bunk and tip-toe jog over to the wardrobe, trying not to wake anyone up. Reaching in I grab the first pair of joggers and hoodie I can find, immediately putting them on, relishing the new found warmth.
I tip-toe back to my bunk to grab my phone, unlocking the screen to check the time- 7:00 A.M. I guess it serves me right for being so cocky with my sleeping attire, I decide there's no point going back to bed- I may as well make use of the extra time I have now with something productive. Heading into the front of the bus I make sure the door to the bunks is closed before putting the kettle on and getting out a mug and the stuff for a coffee. I lean against the counter as I wait for the water to boil, looking down I realise it's Jack's hoodie I'm wearing- I pull the neckline up over my nose and breath in his smell, wrapping my arms around myself.
"You're up early" Jack startles me from the doorway, making me jump a foot in the air. He chuckles as I take a couple deep breaths, walking over to me.
"I didn't hear you come in"
"Some of us are a bit quieter when we know people are still sleeping"
"Sorry" I sheepishly mumble, looking up at him and wrapping my arms around his waist.
"I'm only joking 'Lex, I was already half awake anyway, it's too damn cold to sleep" he wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pressing his cold nose to my neck.
I giggle and pull away "Coffee?" I ask. He makes an affirmative noise and goes to sit down on the sofa, clearly still groggy from the lack of sleep.
I pull out a second mug as the kettle boils, making us both coffee and bringing it over to where Jack is sitting; I curl up at his side and he wraps one arm around me, the other holding the mug. We sit in silence for a while, drinking the coffee and adjusting to being awake.
"I didn't ask, why are you up so early?" Jack asks, braking the silence.
"Same as you, too cold" I look up at him, flashing him a smile, then looking back at the half empty mug "I was too hot last night so I threw off my covers, someone must've picked them up because they weren't there this morning." Jack chuckles, pulling me a bit closer into his side and rubbing my arm.
Finishing his coffee Jack sets his mug down on the small table in front of us, I follow suit, taking his now free hand in both of mine. I run my fingers over the callouses on his fingertips, built up over years of playing guitar, tracing every line and contour, completely losing myself in the motions. Jack nuzzles his nose into my hair, resting his cheek on my head, watching me, occasionally kissing the top of my head or closing his fingers around my hand.
It's not long before the rest of the guys start filtering into the kitchen, and then the lounge, flopping down on the couches, and when those are full, grabbing some cushions to sit on on the floor. I scoot over so I'm sat over Jack's lap, body on one side, feet on the other, so there's more room for other people on the couch, but there just isn't enough room for everyone to get a place.
It seems to have been unanimously and silently decided that today will be a non-day, with half the guys nursing a hangover from the night before and the other half feeling lazy we set about what movie to put on first. We take a vote and it only barely wins in favour of a new thriller that just came out- I'm not particularly fussed about what we watch but Jack seemed excited for it so I voted what he chose. Rian, Matt, and a couple of the crew guys groan and start making their way back to the bunks, heads far too pounding from last night to be watching it; the rest of us have a bit of a giggle about it, having taken it easy last night, and rearrange on the sofa so now everyone has a spot.
Jack's POV
A few movies in I started to tune out, I think everyone did- movie days are great in theory but I just don't have the attention span for it. I've been idly playing with Alex's hair instead for the last half hour or so, cherishing how he leans back into me when I scratch in just the right places, kinda like a dog I think to myself, letting out a giggle. Alex gives me a puzzled look, I just shake my head and kiss his forehead, looking back up at the TV to see if I can get back into the film, luckily Zach saves me.
"Right guys, this has been great but I can't watch any more films for like, a week" he says getting up from his spot on the couch, joints popping as he stretches. We all groan at the sound but follow suit, stretching out of the positions we've been sat in for the last who-knows-how-many hours.
My stomach rumbles loudly as I remember I haven't eaten anything yet, and neither has Alex, or, I assume, most of the guys "Who wants pizza?" I ask "I'm thinking about ordering some." At the mention of pizza the few remaining guys who hadn't joined us from the bunks came out, and I grab the laptop from the table while we all start deciding what to get.
One ridiculously large order later we all divvy up the respective pizzas and retreat to our own areas of the bus, having well and truly timed out our social timers for the day. Me and Alex settle into my bunk, sat cross legged on either end, heads slightly ducked to fit in, with the open pizza box set in between us.
We eat the first couple slices in silence, much like the coffee this morning, and then Alex starts off on a story he'd completely forgotten about Rian last night. He sets his pizza slice down, fully engrossed in telling the story, scooting over to my side of the bunk to lie down next to me; I pull the box up onto our laps, one arm around him, the other still going to town on the pizza, laughing along as he finishes up telling me about how Rian shot gun three beers in a row because he just couldn't do it right, spilling most of it down himself.
Uncomfortably full from the greasy pizza, I stand up and take the empty box to the kitchen so we can properly lie down in bed, when I get back Alex has ditched the hoodie and gotten under the covers instead. I take mine off too and scoot in next to him, wrapping him up in my arms.
"Wanna listen to some music?" he half-yawns, half-asks, shifting around to get his phone out of his pocket. I reach up to the little shelf in my bunk and grab my earphones, handing them to Alex.
"Anything specific?" I ask as he plugs them in.
"I didn't have anything in mind, do you?" I shake my head, pressing a kiss to his forehead. He hands me one of the earphones as he puts the other one in his ear. We lie back a bit more and get comfy, becoming a tangle of arms and legs while he hits shuffle on a playlist. I can feel the vibrations of him humming along against my chest, I lie my head back and look at the top of the bunk, encompassed in a shell of warm happiness.
I slowly trail my hand up and down his back as I feel him getting more and more relaxed against me, it's 11:00 P.M now, which is normally still relatively early for us, but having been awake since 7:00 A.M it felt much later, and warranted feeling so tired.
"'S okay if I sleep here tonight?" Alex mumbled, in a way that made me think even if I said no he'd already be asleep by the time I answered "Still dunno where my covers are."
I smiled and peppered the top of his head with kisses "Of course 'Lex."
"Night Jack."
I took the phone out of his pocket and paused the music, trying to put it on charge with the hand that wasn't under his head but giving up and placing it on the shelf instead. Kissing his forehead once more for good measure I settled back and shut my eyes "Night Alex."
Summary: Jack is excited to get home from vacation to see his boyfriend; only to then find out that Alex is unwell.
Warning: boyxboy? If that's still a warning then there is something wrong with the world.
Disclaimer: I do not own All Time Low or any of the band members. I make no profit from writing or posting this.
Authors notes: Please enjoy. ;)
Jack hustled the front door open, excitedly slamming it behind him. It'd been nice to visit his family back in Lebanon for a few weeks but honestly all it did was make him miss Alex more and more with each passing day.
Now he could come home.
Now he could see Alex.
Now he and Alex could go out and spend a long belated date together.
He threw his hoodie to the couch, frowning when he noticed the odd emptiness of the lounge. Normally his boyfriend would be watching television or sat lifelessly browsing the Internet on his laptop. Alex was nowhere to be seen.
Jack was about to start calling out Alex's name but he heard a strange sound coming from the bathroom. A loud coughing noise followed a dry heave. Fuck, was Alex okay?
When he finally reached the bathroom door, he tugged it open with his hand gently, not wanting to startle Alex. He'd known the horrors of vomiting all too well, fucking anaemia.
"You okay, Lex?" Jack spoke softly, gently padding into the room and frowning at how Alex was bent over the edge of the bath, his hands clasping the edge of the porcelain tub as he retched again and emptied his stomach.
"Great," Alex muttered sarcastically between coughs, wincing as his throat felt like it was on fire, burning from the harsh acid building up his oesophagus, "Ow.."
Jack smiled weakly, shifting down onto his knees behind Alex and hesitantly sliding his arms around his boyfriend's waist, holding him back against his chest, "It's okay...I'm home now,"
"I guess," Alex groaned, his face paling as he began to feel a little heavy headed, like his head could just fall off any second and land in the bathtub and into his pool of vomit, "But we can't go out now.."
"No," Jack whispered, leaning forward to rest his chin on Alex's shoulder before pressing a kiss to his neck, "But I can look after you til' you get better."
"Oh god, I'm a dead man," Alex joked, finding it funny how serious Jack was taking the situation. He gathered that the guitarist did have some responsibility, but only in serious situations.
"Fuck off," Jack laughed a little, squeezing Alex in his arms and tracing patterns to his shoulder with the tip of his nose, "I know how to deal with people...my dad's a doctor,"
"Yeah, but you aren't a doctor," Alex claimed, groaning as he felt yet another tickle at the back of his throat. Why the fuck wouldn't this just end?
Just as predicted, he hurled again, sputtering for breath and coughing after he'd emptied another portion of his stomach lining.
"Why are you even sick?" Jack asked quietly, lifting his hand to push Alex's hair out of his eyes and prevent it from getting soaked with sick, "Did you eat something?"
"I have no fucking clue," Alex whined, knocking his head to the brim of the bathtub, groaning as he felt his ears begin to ring, "I just feel so fucking out of it,"
Jack sighed, fluttering eyes to a close as he rubbed gentle circles against Alex's clothed stomach, "Then you should sleep for a while...sleep helps,"
"Sleeps always helps...shame I can't because I kept waking up and vomiting everywhere," Alex complained, beginning to get a little aggravated. He hadn't seen Jack in a weeks and he was looking forward to hanging out with him and having 'fun' with him, but no... He just had to get fucking sick.
"Calm down," Jack soothed, softly squeezing Alex's waist again in his arms, trailing several kisses along his shoulder and up to the side of his jaw, "I'll get you a glass of water and some Benadryl...and a bucket,"
Once Jack had wiped Alex's mouth, coaxed Alex into taking the tablets with his drink, and placed a bucket beside their shared bed; he began to gently guide Alex towards the bedroom, holding an arm around his waist the whole time.
"You okay?" Jack asked again, watching as Alex stumbled towards his half of the bed, sliding free of the younger male's arms when he reached the end of the mattress, "Do you still feel like you're gonna throw up?"
"No," Alex sighed, reaching a shaky hand down to pull the cover back, continuing to reply as he slowly slid into bed and sat up against the headboard, "Just tired...tired and a little dizzy,"
"That'll go away soon," Jack yawned, tugging a hand through his hair as he effortlessly climbed into the other side of the bed. He felt tired himself, after the long drive home and all the little things he had to put in place for Alex's wellbeing. He was used to having things done for him, "Just...go to sleep,"
Alex nodded, heedlessly moving his fingers to his hair and twirling a strand between his fingertips. He could already feel his eyelids gently gliding shut, his breathing evening out. Diphenhydramine always made him sleepy.
"Come here," Jack mumbled, tucking himself warmly under the bed covers and turning to his side to face Alex, "Please..."
"Sure..." Alex yawned, dropping his hand away from his head and sliding down under the duvet, also turning on his side to face his boyfriend. Their faces inches apart, "Hey.."
"Hey," Jack whispered in reply, a gentle whispered laugh escaping his lips as he felt Alex raise a tired tattooed hand to his cheek, "I missed you,"
Alex leant forward, brushing the side of his nose against Jack's, "I missed you too...and I'm sorry I fucked everything up,"
"S'not your fault," Jack mumbled, sliding his arm round Alex's waist at the same his boyfriend slid his stronger arms around his own waist, "You probably just missed me too much that you got sick,"
"Yeah, definitely heart ache that caused it," Alex murmured, his words barely coherent at as he shut his eyes. He could pass out any second, he was sure of it.
But he wouldn't let himself, because there was always something he had to do before he fell asleep.
"I love you," He whispered, dropping his head to rest in the crook of Jack's neck beneath the covers. He always meant it when he said it, and everytime he would repeat those three words, it'd be like saying for the first time all over again.
"I love you too," Jack smiled, pressing his cheek to the side of Alex's head as he also shut his eyes, just wanting to fall asleep against his boyfriend. Then they could awaken and finally spend the time together that they'd missed out on, the time that they'd both missed more than anything.
Well, they would of...if Jack hadn't of gotten sick the next day.
