~A week later~

Alexander called earlier today and asked if we could meet up today. 

Apparently, there's some essay he needs my help on, and I'm more than happy to assist. After we met up two day ago (without sex, once again!), I didn't hear a thing from him. Until his message popped in this morning, telling me to wait for him after practice. 

I felt (and still do) kind of weird, waiting for something, some kind of sign of life, after Sunday. We had been texting all week, and suddenly, the line went dead. It may be a bit clingy, but I just like to know how he's doing and how his day is going. 

He told me his parents were okay with him going to a therapist, so he's going tomorrow for the first time. Aside of that, there wasn't really anything else to tell me about his week, but he always found a way to talk to me until I fell asleep with my phone in my hand, listening to the rasp in his voice. 

Arabella is waiting beside me. I've tried starting a conversation with her, but she pointedly ignores me. That's okay, maybe she's having a rough day and just wants some peace. I don't mind. 

Elias is the first familiar one to walk out of the locker room. I lift my hand to wave at him, but freeze in my movements when I see the disgusted face he makes towards me. Oh-kay. Got it. 

Perhaps they just don't like me. I tell myself that's okay, because as long as they don't convince Alex to go along with their feelings (he wouldn't), their dislike is not important to me. Dante likes me enough to cover for both of them. 

Two guys walk out a few minutes later, faces flushed in anger. They're whispering about something, someone, that made them furious, but I can't listen due to the low volume. Well, Alex will update me. 

I've been having the feeling that something's off with Alex, though. He's been. . . tense, this week. He tries to hide it, and I thought it was just stress for the therapist appointment, but that doesn't seem to be it. I'm giving him space, but it's becoming a little hard because he's also distracted an awful amount of time. 

An older man walks towards me. He's slow, walking with his back bent and hands on his lower back. I give him the room to pass, but he stops in front of me, looking at me with narrowed eyes. "Are you waiting for my grandson?"

Perhaps? "Well, who is your grandson?"

"Ah, I thought Allie was famous around here. Or are you a supporter of that pretentious dick?" His eyes narrow even more, something I didn't think was possible. I raise my hands in surrender. "I'm guessing Allie is Alexander, and if so, yes I'm waiting for him."

"Are you his boyfriend?" the old man asks. I almost choke in my own spit. "Sorry?"

He sighs, a sadness taking over his face. "Ah. My apologies. I understand if you don't want to come out of the dresser yet. Don't tell Allie I was here, okay?"

Dresser?

He heads to move on, but when I speak, he stops and looks over his shoulder at me. "Are you not waiting to talk to him?"

The same sadness increases. "He won't be willing too. My wife is very religious, you see, and Allie being attracted to all genders is a touchy subject for her. He's refused to speak to us for a few months now."

Oh. I didn't know that. 

He walks away, and shortly after he's turned around the corner, three guys leave through the door. Alex is taking his sweet time, so I tap one's shoulder. Recoiling fast, he takes a step back. "What?"

Startled at his curtness, I take a step back too. "Oh, sorry. I was just wondering if Alexander is still inside?"

He scoffs. "I couldn't care less. That asshole can slip in the shower and snap his neck, for all I care." 

His friend chuckles. "Or die from pneumonia. Hopefully that happens, now he has the broken shower."

If I was a cartoon character, question marks would be all around my head. Why is he talking about Alex like that? Why does he call him an asshole? And why do they want him to die?

"Did something happen? Or is this like some joke I don't understand?" My questions reaches deaf ears, as they've already turned around and are walking away. I'm frowning now, waiting for Alex with more impatience than before. 

Another ten minutes pass, and now I'm worried. With the way his teammates were talking about him, and the way Elias and Arabella didn't seem too enthusiastic either, I'm beginning to feel like something big is going on. Maybe this is why he was so tense all week, too. How blind am I?

I'm a nervous wreck as I await Alex' return. He does take very long, and I think I've been standing here for more than thirty minutes now. Just when I am about to knock on the door and go in, another dude leaves the room and locks the door. He's that pretentious dick I've heard much about. I believe his name is Jaxon?

"Hey! Jaxon!" I call, wanting to speak to him. He turns around with an annoyed look on his face. "My name is Justin."

I nod, not caring in the least. "Right. Of course. Where is Alexander? He told me to wait here, but he didn't come out of the locker room."

A look of sympathy crosses over his face. Somehow, I get the feeling it's fake. "Oh, so that explains. I'm sorry, dude, but he left in a hurry right after practice. Told us he was being stalked by some guy that kept sticking to him. I take it that hurts, hm?"

What? 

No. Alexander wouldn't do that. No way. 

My phone vibrates with a text message. It's from Alex. See?

Jaxon watches with me as I open it. Had an emergency, sorry, it reads. My shoulders slump. So was Jaxon right?

Said teammate shrugs, pats my shoulder. Harshly. "Sorry, man. If I was for twinks, I would never do that, but we can't all have what we want, right?" He turns around and leaves with a fast pace. I shudder, trying to get the feel of his touch gone. 

I text Alex back as I walk to my car, Everything ok?, but he doesn't respond anymore. The whole drive home, I can't shake off the disappointment. Maybe I had hoped we would spend some time together tonight, and maybe do some things. 

By the time I get home, he still hasn't answered. A knot ties in my stomach, so I text Dante with the same question. He does answer. Wdym? He txted me he'd be with you tn?

What the fuck? How late was that?

Fifteen mins ago. At the same time as me. So either he lied to me, or something's really, really wrong. 

Dante calls me, and explains the message wasn't Alex' style. "I can't quite explain it, but Alex texts differently. And he never uses emojis. It just doesn't feel right."

Deciding to turn back around, I tell him to come to the rink too. Something happened with Alex after practice, and I have a bad feeling about it. 

Dante hangs up, so I call Alex' phone. No answer. 

The whole drive back, scenarios of all kinds play in my mind. What if he actually fell in the shower and is lying unconscious on the floor? What if his teammates did something to him? Or perhaps he ran into his grandpa and went somewhere to talk? That'd be something good, but it's also the least likely. 

My heart stops for a few seconds when I notice Alex' car in the parking lot. How did I not see it earlier? He's still here. (Unless he went with his grandpa!)

The moment I get out of the car and am walking back inside, the sound of wheels turning over the gravel hits my ears. There's Dante, not even parking properly before sprinting towards me. "Come on! Coach's keys are in his office, I'll go get them!"

While he does that, I already go to the locker room. Not wanting to wait for keys, I throw my weight against the door. The lock clicks open, surprising me. 

Cautious about this, I push the door further open. All I see are the outlines of lockers in the dark. I switch on the light, and it immediately triggers a sound. A panicked sound, but muffled. 

I walk past the row of lockers blocking my view of the other side of the room. What I see gives me a heart attack. 

Alexander is tied to the lockers on this side of the room with duct tape all around his hands. There's tape over his mouth too, but the bewildered look in his eyes tells me enough. Anger takes over my mind. His feet aren't even touching the ground!

"What the fuck!" I run to him, quickly making work of untying him. By the time I'm done with his left hand, Dante has walked in the room, too. His eyes widen in shock. "The fuck?"

With his left hand, Alex frees his mouth. Tears are now leaving his eyes, his ragged breathing another indicator he's going to have a panic attack. Or is having a panic attack. He pulls his right hand loose, ignoring my attempts to do it gently. 

Then he's sliding down the wall, grabbing his hand as he starts to cry. I don't know what to do or what to think. Should I give him space or comfort? He just went through a traumatic experience, and maybe he doesn't want me to touch him while having a panic attack. 

"I-I never thought he would go this far," he gasps, never looking us in the eye. I'm about to sit down right next to him when two people walk in. Dante turns around first, and is already sending Arabella and Elias away before I can open my mouth. Alex doesn't notice.

Oh, but now they are interested in Alex, yep. Arabella fights her way around Dante and kneels next to Alex, who flinches away. A look of hurt shows her feelings. I think it's deserved. 

"N-no, you're as bad as them," Alex cries, hiding his face as he turns to me. He's choking on his breath, but I suppose he feels like hiding from his fake friends is more important than breathing properly now. 

He hides his face in my chest, bawling his eyes out. I grab his hands to try and make him feel reassured, to communicate with him that he doesn't need to feel pressured; I'm here and I'll wait. 

"Was it Jaxon?" I whisper, kissing his temple. His tears are wetting my shirt and the skin beneath it, but I can't care about it. What's a shirt in comparison with Alex? 

"J-Justin and his f-friends. Right a-after practice, and everyone laughed. Even you did, Elias." He looks so heartbroken I want to kill every soul that has hurt him, even if it was unintentional. But in this case, Elias was purposely laughing at his former best friend while he was being humiliated, mistreated, while he could've done something about it. 

My glare is so harsh he takes a step back. "Hey, hey, I thought they were going to untie him after everyone left! It was never supposed to be like this!"

Was he born this stupid, or did he go to a special school just to learn how to be it?

I turn my body, ready to cuss him out, but Alex pushes me back into my position with his hands. Immediately, my anger cools. Elias isn't worth it. Alex is. Focus on Alex. 

"B-be my friend," Alex whimpers, closing his eyes. I wrap my arms around him, hugging him until he'll feel better. Maybe I won't stop then. Maybe I'll just hug him until eternity. 

"I-I don't have any." His stutters are the aftermaths of his shock and mental breakdown, though most of his panic attack has subsided. I think it was mainly the first shock causing him to hyperventilate. 

"Alex, my man, I know you're having a rough time, but that one hurt." Dante pouts, staying on a distance. I notice he has successfully kicked those two others out of the room, which I'm very thankful for. 

"I'm sorry," Alex whispers. He untangles from me, resting against the lockers again. "I didn't mean it like that."

Dante walks closer and kneels in front of him, resting a hand on his shoulder. I'm so happy Alex has at least one good friend left, aside from me and my friends. "I know you didn't. It was a joke, but maybe it was a little misplaced."

My sweet Alex shakes his head, wanting to reassure his best friend while being the poor soul himself. "No, it's okay. I think I'm just a little confused."

So am I. I keep my thoughts by myself and just tuck the messy strands of his hair back in place. "Let's go home, okay?"

Desperate eyes meet mine. "Stay. Tonight. Forever. I-I don't care, but please, stay."

I force my body to lessen the visible tension in it and take his hand, kiss the back of it. "I'll stay."

"Promise?"

"I promise, darling."

A/N: As for the explanation of the messages, Justin "Jaxon" planned them to be sent after he left the locker room