Summary: Jack cheated on Alex six months ago, and now he shows back up. PLEASE READ PART 1 BEFORE READING THIS.

(Title from Pretty Venom by All Time Low)

(Alex)

"ALEX, JACK IS ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF." 

His words ring in my ears as I pound on Jack's front door. "JACK. OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR," I scream. I look around and lift the welcome mat. I pull out the spare key and throw the door open. I run straight to the bathroom. Nothing. I run through the apartment before stopping at the closed door.

I try the doorknob. Locked. "Jack, I know you're in there." I knock on the door. "Please open the door. I just want to help." 

I wait. Nothing. "Please. I swear to god if you do this, I'll- I don't know. I just- please don't do this. There's so much for you here. I'm here because I do care, Jack." 

"No you don't. I know Kevin called you. I'm fine." His voice comes out. It's muffled by the door, but I assume he's also talking softly.

"You're not fine, Jack. Yes, Kevin called me. He said you were going to kill yourself." 

"Why would you care? It isn't like you would lose anything. You hate me."

"Goddamnit, Jack. When are you going to realize that I don't fucking hate you. I want you alive. You don't deserve to die. Not like this." 

"I ruined your life. I ruined everything. I l-lost everything and everyone. But I never thought it would hurt this bad." 

I press my hand against the door and lean against it. "I'm sorry you lost everyone. I know it was a mistake. But come out. We'll make it right. We'll fix it." 

"It's beyond repair." 

"Then destroy it and restart. Don't end it like this, Jack," I snap. "Open the door, or else I'll snap my arm trying to break it down." 

"Just leave." 

"Never." 

There's a pause. "Jack?" 

"I'm still here." 

"Talk to me. What's been going on?" 

Another pause. "I'm alone. You know my parents passed years ago. My brother never liked me, and my sister lives across the world. Then I lost you. And I lost my friends. Kevin became the only person around, and then he stopped caring." 

He takes a shaky breath. 

"And it felt like the world was telling me it isn't worth it. I know I made a mistake. I don't know what came over me. I don't know why I threw the best thing that ever happened to me... Away. I don't know why. And I regret it every day. I haven't even tried to date again. I'm just a waste of space at this point."

"Jack. I don't care about what you did. Not anymore, okay? You're not a waste of space. You're just going through a rough patch. But you're going to get through this. And you're not going to be alone anymore. I'm going to be here." 

"Why?" 

"Because I don't want you to die. I don't want you to go thinking no one cared." 

"I'm sorry I did this to you, Alex. I never wanted to hurt you." 

"I know." I bite my lower lip. "Can you open the door?" 

I hear a soft click. 

I throw the door open and rush over to him. I kneel beside him. He's sitting on the floor with his back against the wall. I glance up and see a noose hanging. It swings back and forth like he was just touching it before he unlocked the door. 

"Oh god," I let out. He closes his eyes. "Promise me you'll ever do this again," I whisper. He opens his eyes again. They're red, obviously from crying. His face is stained with tears. 

"I don't know." 

"No, promise me, Jack." I cup both sides of his face with my hands. He finally looks me in the eyes. 

"I- I promise." 

I wrap my arms around him, and feel him bury his face into the crook of my neck. 

"You can leave... I know this is hard for you and-" 

"Jack, stop it." I pull away. "Look, I didn't- I never hated you. I- I just couldn't face you because I'm still in love with you." 

He blinks in confusion. "What?" 

"Damnit Jack, I still love you. I never stopped and I don't think I ever will." I press my lips together. "I thought I could convince myself to move on, but I couldn't. No matter who I meant or where I went, I couldn't get you out of my head." 

"Do you think you could ever give me a second chance?" He murmurs. 

I pause. Could I? "Yeah." I nod. "I could."