Elaine
Weird.
The only word to illustrate the events of this week.
You might assume that after Alex's confession everything would've changed. If then, you are absolutely, unquestionably, and positively can't be anymore correct.
He is a teaser, a spirited man in the field who knows what he does to make me feel things that I thought only existed in books, simply by looking at me.
Show me who he is. That's what he said when he told me that he liked me.
Shit, he likes me. He confessed.
How can I wrap my mind around this when it's all over the place? And in every place, there seems to exist a bit of Alex. Everywhere.
His sly glances were now full-blown stares, even when I catch him doing it during classes he smirks it off.
And boy can he smirk.
On a good note, He did start hanging out with Aiden, April, and I in the cafeteria, though his snarky remarks about them never, like never ever seems to irk them. As if they get paid to be nice to him they subtly brush his criticism with a laugh.
See, weird.
"Are you sure y-y-you want a third w-w-wheel between you both" Noah wiggled his brows poking me on the side ribs with his index, as I rang the bell to Alex's house.
Noah knows how Alex feels about me. And you expect him to not remind me about it every second of my existence? He's Noah for god sake. What was I thinking?
"For the umpteenth time, no. even if you are a wheel you'd be the fifth wheel, two of my other friends are here too. Remember?" I retorted, combing my fingers through my hair.
Alex reminded us of the movie night as it was Friday today and suggested we could do it at his house as Mrs. Bryson and Ashley were out of town for the night. Since Noah was the regular among us allies, the offer was promoted to the twins who said they don't have a shit to do either.
Though we know what happened after he left, we never actually talked about it. Jace was a sinful name to be mentioned, like a silent agreement he was never brought up.
But it sparsely changed the relationship we had, it just became stronger and bolder.
"There b-better not be m-m-more guys, I haven't p-p-permitted you to d-date a-Alex ei-" his sentence fell short when the rattling of the knob was heard, and soon among the unlatched door stood April.
"Took you long enough" she dragged me in a little as she frowned at the man behind me.
"You must be the infamous Noah" her confusion soon dissolved into a friendly smile.
I flexed my neck to peer at my buddy, still by the door frame. Eyes wide open as he swallowed.
Oh God, was he nervous to talk?
Should I've thought once more before inviting him? I began my paranoid scale.
My doubts were soon thrown out of the window when something that I never expected him to dare of came out of his mouth.
"Y-you a-are gorgeous" he breathed.
An amused April bit her lips as she looked at me, and then at Noah.
"And I am his gorgeousness" a gruff voice behind us made his debut. I don't have to see to know that it belongs to. Aiden with big brother stance of try hitting on my sister, you won't have an eye to hit within future kind.
"Are there any more reunion moments to collect by the entrance or can we get to the movie already?" suddenly an arm was circled around my shoulder as Alex stood by my side casually.
Did I ever mention that he doesn't see it fit to require gentlemanly permission to play with my hairs or hug me anytime a day he wants?
Later we scattered, I to get some popcorn, while Aiden and April shifted the couches and blankets in front of the large flat-screen TV. Alex and Noah seem to be in between some heated argument, it was about how much he loathes horror movies. It was added with some big dashes of swear words that would be offensive to be mentioned in a pG 13 context.
We all settled finally with Aiden between Noah and April, poor Noah, I sympathized in his favor as he appeared equivalent to a drowned puppy next to the golden retriever that Aiden was.
Well, about me?
As if I had a choice when Alex literally dragged me into the love seat and sat beside me spreading the blanket over us. And before he could dig his hands under the bowl of snacks.
He reached under his jacket to grab a vial of sanitizer, much indifference towards the absurd look Aiden threw at him.
We both watch him as he spreads them with his dense concentration across his skin and wrist.
I shrug at Aiden as he rose a brow at me. As if questioning me of his actions.
Halfway through Martian, in which I wasn't focusing at all if Matt Damon died or survived.
"Stop staring at me" I whispered with gritted teeth as he shifted more closer to me as if we had space between us. My arms were already buzzing with excited blood dancing through the veins because of his touch. I blame hormones.
"You expect me to watch an astronaut grow potatoes while you look so beautiful? so close by my side" his words were the mere trigger for the already partying butterflies. They intensified as if the DJ played their favorite track.
He was about to say more when the bell rang, groaning he got up mumbling a "I'll be right back"
After five minutes of talking with somebody confused he signed upon the papers, though the living room was dark, I could make out his expressions because of the dimly lit entrance.
He slowly made his way out into the room with a life-sized package in his hand.
"what's that?" Aiden questioned pausing the movie.
"Don't know, he said I ordered it a week back" he said resting the object on a spare couch.
"You don't remember?" I ask surprised.
He shrugged.
"L-l-lets open and s-see what's inside" rubbing his hands Noah got on his feet and April followed.
Lots of tearing, scraping, and twisting of the package later I couldn't control my mirth, my laughter was too strong to contain and so were others. Alex glowered at the stuffed content probably recalling how and when.
"Seriously dude? A life sized penguin wearing a neon green bikini?" tears evident in Aidens eyes as he took the penguin and threw it at Alex. He caught it with ease, with a small smile.
"I think I remember, this is the result of drunken purchase" his eyes diverted towards me as if recalling that day.
"At least it's better than calling 911 and asking if they had tampons" and it was a fair possibility that Aiden could have died that night if it wasn't for Noah catching hold of April as she lurched upon him.
***
Since the movie was long forgotten but the hunger was intact, I made my way towards the kitchen to bring in more popcorns, unknown to my senses my chain seem to have stuck on the loose screw of the cabinet, when I tried to force it out it took out the rear cap which was attached to my mom's pendant.
"Shit" with the pieces and a chain on my palm I sat on the chair, placing them on the kitchen island.
"Anything wrong?" I look up to see Aiden at the entrance with his hand folded across his chest leaning against the wall breathing heavy.
There was no doubt he was trying to hide from his angry sister. He should be, she looked lethal.
"Oh no, it's my pendant just broke, ill probably take it to the jeweler to set it right" I shrugged with a small defeated sigh. It's the third time in three months had the holder came loose from its rectangle shaped slot, I mean how hard is it to hold in?
"Let me check" he plopped beside me, and stretched the focus light. For a while, he seem to be simply trying to put it back on but the next thing Is when he started acting weird.
"Oh my goodness" he mumbled.
"What is it?" I asked worried.
He didn't reply, instead kept scrutinizing over its logo, a knight with its sword high up In the air, it was so tiny that you'd only know if you gave keen attention to it.
He grabbed a thin kitchen knife from the side and began pressing at a spot. On closer inspection, I could see a tiny hole, just the side of a sharpened pencils tip.
"What are you doing?" he was making me uncomfortable, for all I know it could damage the stone and scar it for lifetime.
But before I could protest a faint click echoed, he shook the stone as a rectangle shaped but really sleek, similar to the pendant but metallic in appearance fell out.
The pendant was just a hollow shell that had held another thing which I never expected to be hidden inside it for the past four years.
"A drive" I took the block of metal and bought it closer as if not believing what happened a while back.
"Not just a drive, a highly secured one which may take lots of brains to open up if it's not by the user himself" Aiden added.
"You see the logo? It's the black knights, they ace at making accessories which can camouflage things into certain aspects that can fool the greatest of minds, like your pendant for example." He continued as I directed my whole attention towards him.
"How do you know so much about it," I ask as he smirked pulling his glasses up.
"Doubting my identity huh?" I rolled my eyes, but yeah I may pretend to agree on the stories about grandma with Alzheimer's and their cousinship with Alex, but it's not like I believe in it either.
"You guys are terrible at lying, you said your grandmother helps you at home, and the next thing I know is she has Alzheimer's, and she can't remember Alex" this time it was my turn to smirk.
He smiled shaking his head looking off somewhere, "Let's pretend none of this happened and I won't question you on how you own such highly classified piece by black knights that only few people in the world are fortunate to have"
Suddenly I could feel a bile rising up, the urge to throw up. There could be anything. The tiny piece of metal could answer all my questions or put me in a more complex state.
I look down at it, my smile faltering.
A while back, it was the most precious thing I had.
Now I could feel its weight pulling me down.
Burning my palms, with curiosity, with expectations.
But mostly with dread.
***
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