Stand Up And Scream (Jack Barakat)

The Family I chose

I didn't know what to say. He'd caught me completely defenseless, and I couldn't help but blush once more. I stuttered for a moment before I could even begin to think about what I was going to say. And yet he just sat there, staring in his usual expectant gaze which I couldn't help but give in to each time he used it.

"I don't want you to think I'm a bad person because of Josh... But I've kinda fallen for someone who I know will never in my wildest dreams accept me -"

"Lace, I'm not going to think you're a bad person because you moved on. I'm happy for you," He reassured me. "I'm just glad that he's gone now and that he's out of your life."

"You really can't take a hint can you?" I laugh, figuring that it would be a more light hearted way to break it to him.

"You- I... Really?" He asked, genuinely surprised. I nodded slowly, standing up. "How the hell did I not get that." He muttered under his breath, laughing a little.

"You are a bit of an ass, that might count for something." I informed him sarcastically. He lightly hit me in the arm.

"I'll take that as a compliment," He laughed. "I honestly didn't know that you-"

"Jack, practice. Ten minutes." Alex shouted from outside the room. He sighed and stood up, and walked toward the door.

"I guess if we don't tell Alex, we'd be in a better position than most," I joked. Jack smiled.

"Yeah," He laughed again. "I'd better get my shit together," And then he was gone. It wasn't like Jack to walk out without a goodbye. I watched him as he walked down the stairs, and when he looked back I realised why.

He was blushing.

Later on, I sat in practice in the basement with the guys. I tried to pretend that my conversation with Jack hadn't happened around Alex, and at first, I was convinced that he'd fallen for it. Despite the awkward looks from Alex and Zach, I felt as though I had done the impossible of fooling my brother. That was, at least, until about half an hour later.

I'd been sat on one of the beanbags in the basement, just writing and drawing in a small leather bound journal that I'd had since we lived in England. I always held it close to my heart, after all, it had come from home. Jack slouched down next to me after placing his guitar back on its stand, causing Alex's gaze to fall onto us. I put my head down and started to colour the corner of a page before he began approaching. Lets just say that he didn't exactly look happy.

"So, you ready for tour, Lacey?" He asked as casually as possible. Although he seemed a little mad, I played it cool and nodded, continuing to colour the corner of the page.

"I finished packing earlier. I figured that we're only going to be gone for a few months so I only packed a case," I told him. He looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "You and Jack have 2 each, Lex."

"Where else are we going to put the hairspray?" Jack joked. I laughed a little, and Alex's glare returned.

"What's going on here?" He pointed between me and Jack. I stopped writing.

"You're so paranoid, we haven't murdered anyone," I told him, slapping his hand away with my journal. "Get on with your practice," I looked him in the eye.

"I asked you what's going on, not what you haven't done." He growled at me. Jack shuffled away. "Don't even think about running, Jack. I know that's what you're used to but-"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jack yelled, clearly offended.

"I'm just saying that you hop from one girl to another in the hope that you'll find someone who doesn't have a scary dad." Alex replied.