Aye another recap of the previous chapter
We stare for a moment at each other, daring the other to strike first. Alex waits a second to long and I can't help pushing down on the nozzles , spraying his clothes with the paint as he launches the next paint bomb at my chest. He's soon only inches away, prying the can out of my hand as we both run out of ammunition and burst into fits of laughter. I feel like I look like a dying walrus, but I didn't care. I gasped in between the laughs and Alex did the same, I look up to him, seeing him look so beautiful yet so messy and then, before I gave myself time to think, I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to his.
~~~
Alex's eyes widen in surprise when our lips collide, but after a short moment, they calmly close and to my relief, he doesn't reject the kiss. It's sweet and not too passionate. His soft lips taste of cherries with a hint of smoke, which oddly enough I didn't mind.
I'm suddenly aware of voices approaching quickly and the kiss ends short just as our friends appear around the corner. It seems our kiss was unspotted. I great the guys and give my mouth the lightest touch.
My eyes linger on Alex, who's caught off guard, slightly red in the face and rubbing at the back of his neck - something he often does when nervous.
"Dude Foreman is going to freak!" Kyle claps his hands together laughing, obviously happy with our prank.
Alex and I just grin, chuckling and making slight conversation with the others. Is this the first time I've ever seen the cocky-know-it-all-jerk lost for words?
The boys seem to only just then take in our appearance. Grayson crossed his arms, examining us then shaking his head. "No I Think you're good. I don't think he will suspect the two of you at all" the sarcasm rolls of his tongue confidently in which Alex and I both roll our eyes at.
"We're going to ditch the last lessons I think...we need to clean up" Alex grins
"Oh you don't say" It was Jace who answered, clicking his tongue and sighing.
"Are you mad we did a better job than you would've done?" Alex uses his baby voice, mocking Jace who chuckles and swats at Alex.
"I'm not ditching my last classes" I say. "No I have grades to maintain"
Alex turns to me, seemingly recovered for the events of which occurred moments ago "So what? You'll walk in covered in paint and hope they don't suspect a thing?"
"I-" I sigh and narrow my eyes "I hate it when your right"
"I'm always right"
"shut up, Parker"
~~~
As always, obnoxious jerk Alex doesn't believe in ladies first, resulting in him showering first. What a gentleman.
After showering, we have an hour before school would usually end so I decide it is time I probably do some homework, starting with my English assignment. I'm only half way through when Casey calls wondering where the hell I was today.
"I didn't feel good" IÂ lie and pray to god she doesn't catch on; I'm a terrible liar. I feel awful lying to my best friend, but telling Casey would risk the chance of Alex and I getting caught, not that I think she'd blab.
"Really what's wrong?" She asks.
"Nothing much, a headache. I thought it would be best to stay home in case it got worse" my lie flows off my tongue without a stutter insight which I mentally applaud myself for.
"Okay..well when is your mom going to be home? Ever since she left I feel like I haven't seen you! It's been all summer and now even at school you're with those...what's the word you'd have used last month? Ah, boneheads" her voice comes down the line irritated, upset almost. I can understand I guess, during summer we had planned to have tons of sleepovers, but I've been rather occupied.
"She's flying home tomorrow night actually." My heart sinks slightly, i'm glad my mother will be home, but when I no longer need to stay here, Alex doesn't have to put up with me anymore. Will things go back to how they've been the majority of our lives? "I know we haven't seen each other. I miss you tons, but the guys aren't so bad, they're my friends"
"Duh, I've only being telling you this since the day you and Alex moved here!" I can tell she is unhappy with me. Is it because I'm friends with the boys and she isn't after she's moped for their attention the past few years? Are they my friends?
"MAX GET YOUR CUTE ASS DOWN HERE!" I recognise Grayson's deep voice, then the rowdiness of the others.
"Gotta go, the gangs here" I speak quickly, packing away my assignment.
"The gang?" She Echos my words just as I hang up and head downstairs.
As I head into the kitchen the eyes are on me, the smirk on each of the boys face matches Tara's.
"We're going to a party" Tara claps her hands a few times and I groan excessively.
"Another one?!" They don't give me the option of staying home, Tara is pulling me up the stairs and the others are following us to my room.
Here comes another night of no good.
~~~
Alex's POV:
We pull up to one of the guys on the lacrosse teams house, the music is booming, the garden is toilet papered, the usual.
It's going to be a good night, I can feel it.
Then, my eyes land on a familiar dark haired, dark eyed jackass stood on the porch, lighting up a cigarette. Before I can say anything, it seems Max is rushing over to him.
"Is he at every god damn party?!" I yell and the boys mumble incoherent words behind me.
~~~
Max's POV:
"O'Donnell!" I yell, grinning as I rush up the porch stairs. His head snaps up and a toothy smile forms when he spots me.
"Hey! I was wondering when I'd hear back from you! I tried to call" I hug him and pull away as he takes a drag of his cigarette. The gang are now standing a few feet away from us waiting.
"You must have the wrong number? I didn't get any call" I frown and pull out my phone on cue.
"No, I don't have the wrong number. Your boyfriend answered once" he tells me, dabbing his cig on the wall and dropping it to the floor.
"I don't have a boyf-...you mean Alex..." I trail off, glancing at Alex who's eyes are wide and looks as though he's in the shit.
"Why didn't you tell me he called?" I ask Alex, but I don't give him time to answer. "What did he say?" I ask Ethan.
"He threatened me. He thinks it's my fault you drank that punch" I glance at Alex who is staring, jaw clenched. "I tried to call a few times after too"
I check my recent call history, but there's no trace of Ethan's contact. "You deleted the calls didn't you" I don't bother asking him, I already know he did it.
"Max-" Alex starts.
"No. you threatened Ethan, you didn't tell me he called and then you deleted the calls. It's not his fault I drank the punch, I don't need a babysitter!"
"Like I said" Ethan chimes in.
Alex's eyes are angry. "Well you clearly do max since you got drugged at a party! He knew what would happen!" He raises his voice, defending himself. I know the boys would usually defend him, but oddly, they stay quiet.
"Like you haven't gotten me into shit before?! My whole life you've played pranks, you've broken my assignments the day they're due, you've dropped things in my bag in stores making me look like a thief! Must I go on? There's more. You didn't have the right to keep an old friend from contacting me." I'm feeling way more angrier than I should, but I've had enough of Alex doing whatever he wants.
"But he's not just an old friend is he?! He's your ex-boyfriend and he's not good for you" Alex pulls on the front of his hair in frustration, making it messy.
"I think you should leave me alone, go to your party" I dismiss him.
"No." he answers.
"Man, you heard what she said" Ethan clenches his jaw.
"Come on dude, give her a bit of space" Grayson is wrapping an arm around Alex's neck and guiding him inside, he hesitates before sighing and going into the party.
Kyle hangs back momentarily, a joint hanging loose between his perfect teeth. "Give me a shout if you need anything Maxy" I nod and he follows the others inside.
"I'm sorry about Alex" I hang my head.
"It's cool. Dance with me?" He takes me hand, not waiting for my answer and we head into the party. The music booms so loud I can feel it through my body. Remind me why people like coming to these things?
"So how's your mum?" I ask while swaying my hips and moving my arms in a sadistic attempt at a dance move. Ethan doesn't mind though, he never did mind my hideous dancing.
"She's great now we're home, she always loved West Vale" I nod and he locks our hands twirling me once back and forth to the fast, loud music.
" she said she would like to see you, if that's okay. She..-we missed you a lot" it's hard to hear him over the music, but it feels good to see him again.
"I'd love to see her, it's been so long." I can't stop grinning. Ethan was apart of my life for a long time, of course, Alex never payed enough attention to me to realism that. Oh Alex, such a jerk.
After dancing for a solid half hour, we decide to sit at the pool, dangling our legs in to cool off.
"Remember the time when we bought all those fireworks and-" he holds his stomach laughing and I join in.
"Yes! We were in your garden and lit one and oh my god! You dropped it in the box" I laugh harder remembering the dangerous chaos.
"The whole garden was the New York lights!" We lean in close, laughing hard
"And you dived on me and squashed me to the floor" I giggle loudly.
"Hey I saved you! You we're just staring at the box about to blow" I remember the day as though it was yesterday and find myself yearning for our old moments.
"Well you were the dork that set it off in the first place" I grin. He runs a hand through his soft dark hair and I remember how It was my favourite thing to do when watching movies in joggers.
"Okay okay remember the time when we were in my room and we thought nobody was home, it was the most heated our sessions had ever gotten and-"Â a smirk is plastered on his plump pink lips.
"OH MY GOD DON'T TALK ABOUT IT!" My cheeks are heated as I slap my hand to cover his mouth before dropping it and bursting into laughter.
"You were wearing that cute little pink bra" he remembers what bra I was wearing "it was going to be the night"
"And then your little brother runs in before anything could get too serious shouts 'mom Max is-is.."I can't get my words out as I pant laughing as he laughs just as hard.
"Max is going to get her 'nunga nungas' out" he laughs hysterically "that kid watched way to much Angus thongs and perfect snogging"
"I died of embarrassment" my cheeks turn red as I remember that nights events.
"Eh it was bound to happen at some point, we were together almost two years"
"But I'd just turned sixteen..I'm surprised you mother didn't hate me after that"
"My family loves you" his hand is placed over mine to which when he doesn't notice, I pull away.
"I love your family too" I smile, a part of me wishes to reverse time and sit with Ethan, his mother and brother at the dinner table talking about how we hated their neighbours and school. However, what about now?
I look up at Ethan, who's face is inches from mine. I now remember the familiar freckles in his hazel eyes and before I can stop myself, I'm reaching and running a hand through his soft fluffy hair, letting it trail and linger on his cheek. Seconds later, Ethan's soft lips are pressed to mine and are moving in sync, like my lips remember his and have craved it since the day he left.
I pull away abruptly. "This can't happen right now" I shake my head, fumbling to grab my phone from beside me and grab my shoes.
"Max, it can be like old times again" I stand up and he mirrors my action. Can it? I love Ethan, but am I still in love with him? What about Alex?
"I-I have to go" I rush out of the garden and into the crowd in search for my friends, they wouldn't have left without me right?
I search for what feels like ages, head spinning and the loud music not helping. That's when I see it, I stand shocked, sucking in a harsh breath and dropping my shoes to the floor. Half way across the room Alex's back to me, his lips smashing fiercely against the brunette bitch Jessica from school. He has her legs wrapped around his waist as he shoves her up against the wall harshly, there lips not breaking apart even once. Has Alex never heard of privacy?! My heart physically hurts at the sight, yet I can't admit to myself why.
I rush up the stairs, knowing where exactly I can find Kyle McCall. I'm in luck when the first door I open, Kyle is still dressed as though they were only just starting. I bust it open, it slams into the back wall and his head snaps up from the blonde girls neck to see me. My eyes are blurred with tears and the lump is rising in my throat. Don't cry. Why would you cry over a boy? You don't like Alex Parker, he is a jerk. I tell myself.
"Take me home" I croak.
Kyle nods and instantly rushes to my side, taking my hand and pulling me through the crowd and outside.
"Should I get Alex?" He asks when we're at his car, I shake my head no.
"He's a little busy right now"
Kyle takes off down the road, speeding slightly. "What happened?" I ignore him. How can I explain that I'm upset over this? It is not my place. I don't have the right, and the boys don't even know we kissed again.
When we pull up at the Parker's household, he kills the engine.
I break the silence "my mum is flying home tomorrow night"
"Okay..?" He sounds puzzled.
"So I won't be staying here much longer, so I guess this is goodbye" I whisper, I swallow multiple times but the lump in my throat hurts and refuses to budge.
"Goodbye? Max what are you talking about?"
"Things will go back to how they were before summer. I'll most likely never see Tara again, You, Grayson and Jace will eventually act like we were never friends and Alex will continue to ruin my life..that's just how it is" I tell him and his jaw locks and unlocks.
"You're being dramatic Maxy, you're one of us now. That won't happen." He tried to comfort me although he isn't all that good at it.
"Alex doesn't have to put up with me anymore" I say.
"Okay Listen Alex is an ass, we all know that, but there's something between the two of you, we all know it"
I shake my head no "we all read too far into it" I unbuckle my belt and get out the car. Thanking him for the ride before heading for the door despite him trying to talk to me.
I close the door behind me and pack my bag, ready to move home tomorrow before heading to sleep. Do I want to go home? I didn't before the party, now I don't think I want anything more.
~~~
It's ten thirty AM by the time I'm able to drag myself out of bed and down into the living room, surprisingly, Alex is already there and flicking through the channels. I didn't even drink last night, how is he up before me?
"Morning cupcake" he barely glances at me, I sit on the other side of the sofa and pull out my phone looking through my facebook.
"You don't care to say good morning?" He plays, but I'm in no mood to deal with him.
He sighs as shakes his head "you're still mad at me for the Ethan thing"
If I'm honest, I'd momentarily forgotten about that incident, but now I can add that to the list of why I don't have time for Alexander Parker.
When I don't answer, don't even look up from my phone he speaks again "fine Max be mad, but I was trying to protect you from him okay, he's bad news" I can't tell if he is angry or he doesn't care, he is way too good at hiding emotions.
"What and you're not bad news?" I snap, although I'm relatively sure that whatever hurtful things are about to come out of my mouth, I deep down will not mean, I can't help myself.
"All you do is pull pranks, ruin people's days and do anything possible to annoy Foreman. You're close to getting expelled, you're scum. you cannot say that Ethan is bad news, that would be hypocritical" I dig for anything I could possibly say to hurt him, but his emotionless expression remains the same.
"So quick to defend your precious all-good-boyfriend" he rolls his eyes.
"Excuse me?!" What has gotten into him?!
Ding dong
"No, excuse me. I have company" he goes to open the door and I expect to hear one of the boys voices.
"Nice to see you Aimee" I watch as he leans against the door frame a smirk on his lips.
"Amanda" she tells him.
"Whatever..come in" I scoff. He forgot her name and she still came in?
He leads the girl with wavy strawberry blonde hair into the living room and they sit beside me, taking up the rest of the sofa and completely ignoring me.
Then, as though she had only come over so they could make out, they're making disgusting wet noises that seem to be coming from her tongue.
I cringe in disgust and stand up "I'm going out" I tell them, not that I have to tell them.
Alex breaks away and looks at me, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Oh to see Ethan?" His voice is lathered with venom and I can tell he is angry with me.
"Probably!" I yell and slam the door behind me. That was a lie, I couldn't see Ethan yet.
~~~
Two hours later, Ireturn to Alex's from Casey's house, who had loved hearing Ethan was back and all the drama that followed.
When I close the door behind me, the house is silent so I head up the stairs. I'm relieved that Alex's toy has left and head for my room. I stop in the doorway when Alex is sat in my room.
"Why is your stuff packed?" He asks, glancing at my bags.
"Tonight's my last night here" I tell him.
"You didn't tell me" he states.
"I didn't think you'd care"
"I don't, I just thought you'd have mentioned it" why is he being such an ass again?
"So I guess I'll probably only see you the next time our parents force us into the same house huh?" I try to make light, like I don't care things are going to change again.
"I'll see you at school"
"Please at least go easy on me with the pranks" I smile a little.
"No promises" he smiles back.
I don't understand this, it's always screaming at each other one
Minute and playing nice the next.
~~~
"I'll see you soon Elaine, thank you for having me all this time" I hug her tightly.
"It was a pleasure Max, you and Alex got along so well this summer...I can hardly believe it" she laughs a little.
"We got along at some point though I'm sorry you had to put up with our bickering" I apologize grinning.
"The two of you argue like brother and sister" she rolls her eyes and grins.
"Is Alex awake?" She shakes her head no.
"Well then I better get home" she waves me goodbye while I set off for home.
It takes forever to walk, but my mother is most likely tired from the long flight so it would have been unfair to ask her to collect me.
The moment I walk through the door she tackled me into a suffocating hug and I hug her back as tight as I can.
"I missed you!" She tells me.
"I missed you too!" I grin.
I sit at the table and she continues making lunch. "So tell me, how did you make it out alive?"
I groan "Alex is an aggravating douche, but we got along at times"
"So I've heard. Elaine said you guys were barely in the house, you made common friends?" She asks.
"Alex's friends, the ones I always tell you about that help Alex ruin my day, they're not so bad at all. I like them and Jace's girlfriend is lovely, she's like my best friend" I grin and my mother turns to grin at me.
"What about Casey?" She asks
"Of course I love Casey, but I've seen her maybe twice all summer. I've been busy"
My mum then tells me all about her trip to Milan and the best parts of her trip over lunch.
By the time it hits six, I'm flicking through the TV channels secretly bored out of my mind...usually I'd be fighting with Alex over what to watch right now.
~~~
Aye so this is a long chapter! I have great things planned and I hope you like it! Comment what you thought below;
do you guys like Ethan?
What has gotten into Alex?
Will things go back to how they were before summer?
Enjoy! Please vote and comment your thoughts, I really love feed back on where you think this book is going. Xoxo