Aurora Borealis (All time low, Jalex)

VI: The Wise Proverb of Tonraq

As the two friends began their trek back to the Frobisher Inn, Zack turned to face Jack. He was smiling weirdly, and Jack couldn't tell if it was a smirk or a genuine smile.

"Is this what you came here for?" The more athletic of the two asked. "To hook up with boys, go on dates with them, and then once they hopelessly fall in love with you, you'll leave them to go on your next big adventure?" He was being sarcastic, of course, and Jack knew this. But for some reason, the handsome man couldn't help but be a little bit hurt. He was insulted that his friend would even think so little of him, let alone attempt to be humorous with the concept. But he didn't make this vocal. Instead, he rolled his eyes.

"You're a piece of shit, ya know?" He retorted.

Zack grinned stupidly. "I'm only asking." They were silent for a few moments after that, as they walked slowly back to their hotel. Jack didn't say anything for some time, not knowing what he should say. Finally, as they were just rounding the corner of Astro Hill, Jack spoke up once more.

"Do you think that this is a bad idea?" He asked, suddenly worried. Zack looked at him, his eyebrows raised.

"That what is a bad idea? This entire trip? Yes."

"No, no." Jack shook his head, a little perplexed with his friend's sarcasm. Usually, the raven-haired man would have found it amusing. But his anxiety inhibited him from appreciating any of Zack's whit or charm. "I mean do you think it's a bad idea that I go out this kid?"

"The Alex one?"

"Yeah."

"Do you really want to go on this date?"

"I mean... kind of."

"So, if you want to, then yeah, do it. But I'm just saying, it would suck for him to get attached to you, only for you to leave the territory on your next big adventure."

"Well, yeah, but..." The man thought about it, and he wondered whether or not he was even romantically attracted to Alex. There was definitely a sexual chemistry between them, and he wouldn't deny that he was curious about the artist. Despite this, Jack wasn't sure if curiosity was truly equivalent to romance. He had never had a serious relationship with somebody before. He was a complete novice to these new feelings, and he was at a loss as to how he should be processing these sentiments.

"But what?" Zack inquired, after a few long seconds of silence from his friend.

"I don't even know if I'm romantically attracted to him. I mean, he's kinda strange, and I like strange people, but that doesn't mean that we'll end up in something long term."

There was more silence, Zack letting his mind digest the words that Jack had spoken, and trying to come up with an appropriate response. He shrugged his shoulders eventually, not having any definitive opinions or helpful answers. "Do what you want, then." He said. They didn't speak any more about the issue afterwards. It seemed that that was the conclusion, no matter how anti-climactic it was.

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Alex had been sitting in a chair at Tim Hortons for the past 10 minutes, holding his warm cup of coffee, and letting the heat from the cup permeate through his hands. He was alone, at a small table for two by the window, waiting for Jack. He was surprised to have even found himself there; he nearly decided not to show. After he had returned home, he had debated with himself for hours, wondering if he should show to the coffee shop and meet with the handsome yet arrogant man. He thought about it as he walked his dog, as he began a new soapstone carving, as he watched TV, as he did anything. On the one hand, he had felt mainly disrespected by Jack ever since he met him, and the stranger vaguely reminded him of someone he once knew about a year ago. Alex couldn't explain why. Perhaps it was the dark hair, or the pierced ears, or maybe it was his crooked, cynical smile. Alex vowed to never get close to someone like that again after last year's series of events. He wasn't prepared to break that vow.