Alex
The sky was soft and blue, scattered clouds fading into thin dusty freckles.
An evening in Summersville was everything compared to Orlando, this town was the definition of calm and peace. I wish I could talk the same about the people here.
The door to the house behind me closes as an old man enters after watering his plants. I have been observing him for about fifteen minutes now. That could be me, old, alone, and only source of companion as trees.
The street was lonely once again.
Leaning my shoulder against the pole I shuffled through the packet of cigarettes. Shoving one in my mouth, I cupped my hands in front of it while my left-clicks on the lighter.
The ascending train horns blare somewhere from afar, and the chirping of the birds circulated me. But my train of thoughts confused me like an asymmetrical illusion in a kaleidoscope. Not nature but a puff of smoke did put an end to it.
My chest felt light and before I knew it I was on third.
They say anger ruins everything, and it does. People see the person with extreme anger as a monster who is not in control of himself. Like a wild beast out of cage.
That's what I am. Every single day the guilt eats me, how my single action taken in anger changed so many lives.
Yet I did it again.
I tried to stop, but nobody listened. Maybe sometimes action does speak louder than words.
She was scared of me, I could see the fright in those grey eyes. I think I lost a friend.
The moment I saw the commotion in the canteen and her a target of it, everything in me snapped. I had to do it.
Do I regret?
Yes, I do regret not burning that place down.
"Is there a reason why you are hanging out around a trashcan?" startled I turn around to face a distraught looking Elaine, her hair in a messy pony, loose strands danced around her forehead in course of open wind. On her side was a garbage bag.
"I-I was- "her eyes diverted to my almost dying bud in between my fingers. Her lips drew thin. Disapproval and frown confirmed anger.
She took heavy strides, walks past me. Dumping the bag into the trash with a loud thud. The amusing part was she did all of this with her eyes sternly focused on mine. I bet she imagined the trash to be me as well. While admiring nature I did fail to realize that the street dumpster was just a few steps away from me.
That explains the muddled look of the old man a while back.
Elaine wiped her palms across jeans and stood facing me. Craned her face due to her height, but still tried to look intimidating.
"You just have to admit that you are embarrassed because of me and can stop being weird while attempting to avoid me" her glare wavered as she folded her hands across her chest.
Initially, I blinking, the intensity of her ideology settling in as perplexed I frowned.
"I wasn't avoiding you, why would I even be embar-"I insinuated but she cut me off.
"Oh spare me the excuses, I saw you in school today. But you skipped the exact two classes we shared. Is that not enough confirmation?" irritation oozed out of her words. "I know you don't want to be friends with a sorry excuse of a girl who gets bullied, nobody does"
This was not what I expected, Is that what she believed?
"Is that what you think? So low of me? Does degrading yourself makes you feel good, is that how your mind works? Now listen to this, i just happened to realize that my way of dealing things is just going to make things worse for you, I avoided you because I thought that's what you wanted. After that day atleast"
All the voices vacuumed around us, except for the trace left by my heavy breathing.
Elaine blinked and cleared her throat. She tried to meet me in the eyes but failed. A sign of guilt. But there was no conception for her to feel anything near that. If I was in her shoes I would've reacted the same.
I was so stupid to do something like that in the first place. I must mean something In her life for her to return the impulse in such a way. The thought brought a smile to my face.
"Why are you smiling?" her frown deepened.
"You missed me" declaring proudly I grinned.
"ofcourse I did, we still have our English assignment to be done, remember? And trust me, any disruption towards education has never been tolerated by me" she said slightly shifting from one leg to the other.
I shook my head smiling still, it was tricky not to when she was blushing such a lovely shade of red.
"Okay Elaine, we both know we are messed up. But what is a human without imperfections?" I say, easing the rigid atmosphere.
The old devil in me would've scoffed in disgust, Alexander White never accepted his weakness, he was embossed with the aura to make others feel weak on their knees.
But the current, logical part nonchalantly added his opinion.
You don't want to do this, she's better with out you.
Gritting my teeth I keep up my smile, I am selfish, I was brought up to be like one. And for now, I want to use it for exceptional purpose of doing something that was good.
"I know we both need time to learn more about each other too, but till that we can still be friends right?" her voice was just an octave above a whisper, like reassuring herself more than me.
"Let's start this over." I offered, ignoring the jab of coiling thoughts.
"Hello, my name is Alex White and I want to be your friend"
For the first time since we met, her face brightened with a smile, and it was all it took to relax me further over my decision.
"Nice to meet you too Alex and I would love to be your friend" she went as far as to extend a handshake as if enclosing a deal. But instead to both of our surprise, I delicately grabbed her small wrist and pulled her towards me.
Her small frame was engulfed into a big hug, but she stood stiff. And for me, it became kind of hard to breathe. Maybe this was not a good idea, but there was a sense of possessiveness overpowering my queries as I felt the need to stay like this for a while.
A small hand awkwardly patted my shoulder and soon after releasing we both exchanged a higher level of an awkward smile.
"See you later?"
"Yeah, sure" she tried to hold her snort, but it erupted in laughter. Soon I joined in. her laugh was contagious.
"Let's not do that again" she purposed as I nodded a hefty agreement, but inside me, a flicker of something stirred awake, as if begging it to be unleashed.
I know it'll result in disaster if I let it carry me away.
"So this is it" I lick my dry lips as her twitched into a soft parting smile.
But suddenly as an afterthought I add "I got my first ever paycheck today, let's hang out or something" I was excited over money earned by my own efforts, and I can't see a more beneficial way to spend it on other than her.
Her face contorted into confusion, and then a look of contemplation washed over it. But as if gathering her thoughts she smiled back.
"I got mine as well, thanks to you. Your job left me a vacancy to fill in babysitter for Ashley. She said she likes me more than you now" squaring her shoulder she stood straight, I arched my brow at her competitive nature.
"Oh, we'll see about that, now where do you think we should go?" I ask again, getting impatient.
Her suggestion came after a sluggish contemplation and infinity of thoughts later. "How about we go ice skating it's been ages since I've been there" her orbs sparkled with enthusiasm and there was no way I could've said no to it.
"Skating rink it is and yeah you can bring Noah along too, can't have him blaming me for stealing her sister can we?" she rolled her eyes but assented.
And for the first time I wanted nothing but for the night to be in our favor, and the smile to always grace those lips.
***
It was getting dark. The once pale sky was now almost black.
The ride to the rink was in progress as Noah sat beside me, shotgun and Elaine at the back.
Both had gloomy looks shadowing them. It irked me. A lot.
I watched Elaine from the rearview as she played with her pendant. She was attached to it.
Elaine did make an extra effort dressing up, she supported a black beaning white shirt and black skinny jeans. Her hair was open, framing her face. Though she sparsely wore any make up her cuteness was at its zenith.
She was the kind of a girl you can never hit on, you just have one chance and you need to grab it. A kind of girl who on losing will leave an empty space in you. I know I only want her to be my friend. But I also knew that I was just one step away from losing my cool.
So the ice prince is capable of melting, and that too beacause of a girl?
I internally smirk at my conscience. I know I am winning the game.
"Why are you guys in so deep aspect of melancholy?" my utterance rang inside the indisposed state of vehicle.
"Melancholy? Seriously d-dude?"Noah answered.
"He almost lost my dog today" The frustrated Elaine's voice made its appearance from behind.
"I told you it w-was not my fault, it just-Â ran away?" he justified groaning.
"And you waited in the park thinking it'll come back to you?" she gestured her annoyance with both of her hands-on air then slapping it on the seat. I kept my focus on the road as they fought back and forth.
Almost losing your dog, a terrible thing to happen. I tried to feel.
"I-I am sorry okay, I may have been ir-r-responssible. I promise i'll behave" Noah sighed as he accepted his gruesome mistake.
"You better keep this promise of yours" Elaine's glare subsided a little but still directed towards Noah.
I took this as a good sign and interjected. "You never told me you had a dog?"
"Yes I do, it's a teacup poodle. His name is br-"
"Bra" Noah interrupted "His n-name is bra" he shifted on his seat so he could see Elaine and wiggle his brows.
"That's a really creative name" I chuckled my teeth grazing the end of my gums, for a second contemplating if people actually name their pet as such. But when a growl resounded. Feminine and annoyed, i know i don't have to act accepting any more.
"It's brave, his name is Brave" she said with a tired strangled tone. I assumed that this happened many a times. Noah is an active boy to have around. But he seems to scan me once in a while, like trying to decipher something.
He needs to learn to be discreet. Unless it contradicts with the rule of Shaun Lee's checking out theory.
"It was one time, when I texted him his name initially. I accidentally pressed send before adding a -ve and till this date, he calls him bra. Even in public" I could only imagine the struggle. A twinge of smile on my face as I see the rink nearing.
I've traveled the world, live life that millions dream of. But this happiness was something else entirely. Pure, innocent, and genuine as I see Elaine's face. It's worth it.
It was times worth than what I left behind. Selflessness was beautiful.
When we come to a halt, Noah is the one to hop out first. I undo my seat belt and turn behind to see a horrified Elaine staring out of the window. I follow her trail of look to see Tyler and his group of jocks on the other side of the street.
"I-I think we should go back somewhere else" she says staring out still, her words weak and laced with defeat already.
I could only wonder what they could've done to break such a strong girl as Elaine, but now she was not alone.
"Do you trust me?" I ask her, her eyes slowly meet mine.
"Yes" she answers. Her reply doesn't waver. Good.
"I won't let them lay a finger on you anymore" for the fact I knew about myself is I stand up to my words. if I hated somebody I do it with all my might.
And if I wanted to protect anyone, I can go to any lengths to do it. Even if it means going back to my old methods.
A wrong initiative to do something right, that will make it a fair play.
***
Welcome the cutest character in the book. Brave the teacup poodle. Even my user name is inspired by him.
Once again thank you so much for all the love. We hit *drumrolls* 1k votes. This is real. Wow.
Dedication to ThatBrokenGirl18 her comments yesterday made my lazy assness travel to faraway land. I finally wrote the chapter after a week. The updates will be frequent from now on, so stay tuned stay healthy.
-viviana