Disclaimer: I do not own All Time Low, any band or brand, or the lyrics I may mention in this story.

Chapter 8

"I know that your wounded. You know that I'm here to save you. You know I'm always here for you. I know that you'll thank me later."- Pain, Three Days Grace.

Hayley's P.O.V.

I woke up the next morning at around 11:00. I looked to the left of me only to find Alex laying on his stomach, his head on my shoulder, and his arm draped over my stomach. This dude slept heavy.

I slowly got up and quietly walked down the stairs into the kitchen. After finding a pan out of the cabinet, bacon and eggs from the fridge, and turning on the stove, I started to cook. When I was almost done, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Bacon and eggs?" Alex asked. I nodded.

"When did you wake up?" I asked.

"About five minutes ago. I smelled bacon so I came down."

"Oh." was all I said. I fixed him a plate and we ate in silence. I couldn't help but wonder if Alex was still in shock or if it finally settled in.

Alex set the plate in the sink, startling me and taking me out of my thoughts. He walked into the living room, leaving me there. I quickly finished my food and followed him shortly after. He was laying down on his couch, so I sat on the floor in front of him.

"Hey." he said, turning over so he was facing me.

"Hello." I said. He looked down at the ground.

"Forever's never seemed so long as when you're not around it's like a piece of me is missing." he said.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Lyrics to that song I showed you yesterday." he said.

"I like it." he didn't say anything in response. He closed his eyes and his breathing slowed.

I think falling asleep was his only way of coping. He didn't have to think about it that way, at least for a while anyway.

I turned on the TV, but nothing was on but infomercials. I kept the volume faint and let my mind wander.

About three hours later, Alex woke up screaming like he was being burned alive. He sighed when he saw me again.

"Why do you keep doing that?" I asked in almost a whisper. He shook his head and sat up. He rested his elbows on his knees and his face in his palms.

I glanced at the clock. It was 3:30. "Alex, I have to go." I said. That made him look up.

"Can I come with you? I don't want to be alone." he said.

"Yeah, I guess so." I got up to go get my stuff and so Alex could get some things.

"When are your parents coming back?" I asked.

"Three days." he said.

"So Monday?" he nodded.

"I'm sorry, Alex." I said.

"I can only hope it will be okay." he replied. With that, we left his house and walked to mine.

"Hey, Abby. Where's Mom?" I asked when I got in the door.

"She got called into work. Hi Alex." she said.

"Hey." he said. I sat our bags down on the stairs and walked into the living room, where Abby was watching music videos on MTV.

"Is Jack home?" asked Alex.

"He came over around 2:00. He was looking for you," she pointed to me, "but I told him she was at your house." she pointed to Alex.

"Can we go over there? Or can we see if he can come over here?" he said. I nodded and texted Jack.

"He'll be here in three, two,-" there was a knock on the door and I got up to answer it.

"Hey Hayley." he said.

"Hi Jack." I replied.

"Is Alex here?" he whispered. I nodded my head in his direction. He walked over to him and hugged him.

"I'm so sorry dude." he said. Alex nodded. They sat down in the recliners and I sat next to Abby on the couch.

"What happened?" she whispered. I sighed. Alex looked up. You could tell he heard, but he didn't say anything. I gave him a look that said "Can I tell her?" and he nodded. I pulled Abby into the kitchen.

"Alex's brother commuted suicide." I whispered. She gasped and her eyes grew wide.

"When?" she asked.

"I think Thursday night, but I could be wrong."

"Oh my God." she whispered. I nodded.

"So that's why you stayed with him last night?" I nodded again.

I left her standing in the kitchen so I could sit in the living room. Alex was just staring at the floor.

A few minutes later he actually started crying. Just a few tears though.

. . .

Alex's P.O.V.

"Daniel?" I called. There was no reply. That's odd. He's usually the first one I see when I come home from school.

"Hey Mom, Dad." I said, walking into the dining room.

"Hi Alex." my Mom said. I sat my bag down and walked upstairs.

I knocked on Daniel's door, but there was no answer. I knocked on his door again. No answer. I slowly turned his door knob and opened the door.

I let out a scream, the same scream when I found him. I sighed in relief when I saw Hayley. She grabbed my hand and looked directly into my eyes.

"Alex, you have to tell me why you keep doing that." she said.

"I fall asleep, and have a dream. It's a like a flashback of when I found Daniel." my voice cracked on his name. She hugged me.

"I'm so, so sorry Alex." she said. But I was tired of hearing that. I didn't say that though, because she was just trying to comfort me. I let the tears I had been holding back for two days fall. We sat there, with her holding me for about 30 minutes. But the tears dried so I laid back down.

After a moment she laid down too and kissed my cheek. "Goodnight." she said. I didn't reply. I just closed my eyes. I hate feeling this way. Feeling constant pain.

But I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all.