The Trouble We Could Get Into (Jack Barakat 08)

By the time the boys were done rehearsing, Riley had fully sunk into the couch.
"This thing must be filled with quicksand or something," Riley quietly said to herself as she tried to pry herself out of it.
"Nope," Zack held out his hand to her. "It's just old." Riley reluctantly grabbed his hand, and he pulled her out of the couch with a surprisingly strong force.
"We're going to lunch," Rian said. He gave Riley a gentle smile. "You wanna come?"
Riley looked around at the guys. Rian and Zack were smiling at her encouragingly, Jack was giving Alex a dirty look, and Alex was staring angrily at her.
Riley figured she had nothing better to do. Besides, she hadn't eaten hardly anything since she'd arrived in Lutherville. Her stomach growled impatiently.
"I guess," She shrugged. Jack looked over at her, his hard glare turning to a soft smile.
"Great! Come on, then. The car's this way." Jack, Zack, and Rian started up the stairs. Riley followed them. Alex slowly followed Riley up the stairs. She could feel his eyes burning holes in her back.
The five of them congregated in the kitchen, and after deciding that Rian would drive, they left the house to get into the dusty, slightly beat-up van the boys had affectionately named Nina.
"This doubles as our tour van," Jack said proudly, showing Riley the car. Riley gave him a half-nod, one eye watching Alex as he came from behind her to get in the car. His eyes never left her. Jack noticed. His brow furrowed, and he gave Riley a "What the hell?" face. Riley shrugged confusedly.
Jack and Riley finally got in the van, with Riley sandwiched between Alex and Jack. They shot glares across Riley at each other.
Brilliant. She thought. She was, however, relieved that Alex had stopped glaring at her.

Zack and Rian filled the car with happy chatter, and Riley tried her best to keep up with their conversations as Nina barreled down the road. Alex and Jack were stricken angrily silent.
Finally, Zack looked over at Alex. "Alex, man, why so quiet? You're normally the loudest one of us all."
Alex crossed his arms across his chest. He jerked his head in Riley's direction.
"What the hell does she have to do with it?!" Jack yelled, leaning over Riley.
"She knows perfectly well what she has to do with it." Alex locked angry eyes with Riley.
"Riley didn't do anything, man. You've got a fucking problem." Jack fell back into his seat, crossing his arms.
Alex's eyes stayed locked with Riley's. She looked deep into them, wondering if she could find the answer to why he was mad at her in his eyes. She furrowed her brow confusedly.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of something shocking.
A hint of devilish cunning shot through Alex's eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched. He was fighting back a smile. Zack's words from earlier echoed through her mind.
You've just got to know what he wants, and never give it to him.
Alex was playing with her head. He was messing with her, trying to see what she'd do. He wanted her to be frustrated with him. He wanted her to be angry.
What Zack and Rian had told her finally became real to her. Alex was testing her. This was how he dealt with people- he put on extreme fronts and saw how people reacted. If they didn't crack under his pressure, he was friendly to them. If they did, he took advantage of that, and used it to rip them apart.
Alex Gaskarth had a truly destructive personality.
Riley exchanged glances with Zack. She wasn't going to let him destroy her. She smiled at Alex, and giggled a little.
"Rian, when are we gonna be there?" She asked. Rian grinned.
"Just a few more minutes," He said. He turned Nina left onto a little street.
"Wow," Riley breathed, taking in the sights. She looked over at Zack through the corner of her eye, and he gave her a nod and a "Keep it up" smile. "I don't really even remember this place."
She saw a worried glance flash across Alex's face. He quickly covered it with an angry scowl. "I hate you," He hissed.
"Leave her alone!" Jack shrieked. "You are such a bastard!"
Riley quickly shot Jack a mean look. That idiot was going to ruin the whole thing. She turned back to Alex, and gave him a warm smile. "You're so sweet." She said.
She saw the frustration begin to build up in Alex. He opened his mouth to say something else, but then fell silent. He looked out the window, obviously trying to think up a new game plan to drive Riley insane.

Picture in results.

I don't care if Jack's not in that. I adore it. <33
rate/message/cbox/banner me?