Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus | Alex

Alex’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the magazine; his head canting to the side as he leaned in close to try and get a better look at the picture. Vera had been clearing out her boxes from their Oceanside house finally and had a whole bunch of these old issues said. Alex had found them ready for recycling and had grabbed a few. What was the harm in learning a little about the opposite sex, hmm? Especially with this new territory he was encroaching with Jazzy. Sure, he’d had actual girlfriends before but this was different. He was falling head over heels for the girl and he couldn’t slow the fall. Any tips he could get were well worth it.

Turning the magazine to the side, his eyes widened a bit at one of the graphics before he heard a familiar voice behind him.

Practically leaping out of the chair at his desk, Alex threw the magazine across the room and then leaned over on his desk; clearing his throat and lifting his hand in a overly nonchalant wave.

Yeah, dude. You just got busted.

”What? Huh? … Oh, I was just… proofreading that for Vera.”

Exhaling his breath, he licked his lips and decided to just stick with it.

”You know, kids are just getting so oversexualized these days, so… Trying to keep her ‘pure’” He finished with a little fist pump gesture before he gave his own hand a confused and betrayed look and dropped it quickly.

What in the actual fuck was he saying? Shut up now, Westman.

”Are you here early, or…?”

Her laugh absolutely stilled him. As she stood there and couldn’t help her amused reaction at his surprise and shame, Alex’s entire self just paused and he admired her; smiling at the burst of light in her eyes and music in her laugh. His heart swelled and he exhaled slowly to make room for the overflow in his lungs; shaking his head at her softly as she moved further into the room and closed the door behind her. He watched the way she moved as she set down her bag and then looked at it as if debating something critical. His eyebrows furrowed a little, noting the change in her demeanor as if she were nervous. He hoped he hadn’t done something to make her feel that way around him? It had been several glorious weeks and for the first time in his life he was excited about more. He wanted every week in the rest of his life to have Jazzy filling it.

He couldn’t breathe when he thought of any other outcome.

As she stumbled, his heart skipped and he lunged forward quickly; his hands catching her arms and easing her against his chest as concern flooded his senses.

”What’s wrong?!”

Her assurances felt thin, and Alex frowned as he guided her over to his bed to sit. As she moved, he moved with her; always remaining close enough to touch. He hovered nearby, still worried as she told him she would be fine, but he wasn’t convinced. So as she asked him to lay with her, he moved to lean back against the headboard and pulled her into his lap; leaning over her as he gently stroked her hair.

”Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked softly; his voice barely above a whisper as his fingertips traced the soft lines of her hairline before combing through the length of her brown hair. It was a soothing practice he used to do for Vera when she had nightmares as a baby and he couldn’t help the instinct to comfort Jasmine in the same manner.

”We don’t have to go to the masquerade,” He offered, thinking of the small jewelry box hidden under his bed. ”We can stay here all night. Camp out in the theater room and just relax. You and me.” His smirk betrayed himself, but then again Jazzy had known him long enough to understand that ‘relax’ often didn’t mean with Alex as it would anywhere else.