seventeen

Tyler Anderson

It broke my heart that Chris didn't pass his exams. Daniel and Noah passed with ease and now Noah really wanted to face his dad and visit him. He won't attend prom.

I wanted to ask Alice to go to prom with me but I asked myself if she's even worth it. She apologized when I was at her house for ignoring her but she did the same the days after.

What did I do to deserve this. I wanna show her how much I like her. How I care for her but how should I tell her when she walks past me every single time.

I knew we weren't just friends. There's something more but she won't give into me. Not even a single bit and it makes my heart ache.

She wizzed passed me earlier once again. She's been avoiding school all week and today was the first day I saw her again.

"You should look for her. She's crying." Noah mutters. His eyes worried as mine widened. Alice. Crying. What happened?

My feet started moving on their own, not really caring that I actually should ignore her too. I just followed the way she went earlier, opening the door to the staircase.

My eyes immediately landed on her, sitting on the stairs, crying. No one usually used these staircases that's why she's alone.

"Alice." I breathe out. I never saw her cry. She seemed so strong in front of everyone but since she stopped talking to me again she's been different. Not coming to school, missing out lessons and other stuff.

"What's wrong?" I gently sit down next to her, hearing her quiet sobbs. Oh how I wanted to take her into my arms and let her cry into my chest until my T-shirt is soaking wet.

Her head slowly moves up and she wipes her tears away with the back of her hand.

"Do you think I'm a slut?" She breathes out, voice shaky from crying. I shake my head hastily.

Her? A slut? Never. Not my girl.

"No, why would I?" She shruggs. Taking a deep breath to start talking again.

"I noticed how everyone started to talk bad about me since we started hooking up. Calling me a slut and other stuff." I know, I heard it too.

I wanted to smash their head but at the same time it felt like someone stabbed my heart, a pain growing in my chest. "Don't listen to them, they're just jealous, okay?" She looks at me, eyes swollen and red.

"It's not that easy. I tried but I can't ignore them forever." I finally pulled her into my embrace, her head disappearing into my chest.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. You know I'd never force you to do anything. We can end this anytime." Her sobbs are muffled as she continues crying into my chest.

If she only knew how much I love her. She never returned my feelings, never told me what she felt, never talked to me about it after we had sex.

It was like her heart was in chains unable to be opened by the love I'm giving her. It's like she doesn't want to give into my love. Like my key to her heart isn't fitting.

I knew that she knew, but still, nothing.

"It's not you. It's myself." Herself? No, never. "I mean," she sniffles. "I started acting stupid. Like a total bitch. Making you jealous was dumb. Maybe even us hooking up..."

I shake my head even though I was so upset about her and Chris but my body just did things itself when I was near her.

"Stop denying it, Tyler. I acted like a total bitch. Maybe they're jealous but I hurt you, this is about you." I knew this wasn't just about me. I heard what girls said about her.

"Since when do you care for me?" I chuckle, my hand grazing her chin and tilting it up. "We're friends. Of course I care." God, just shut up. Do you have to ruin out moment?

We're not friends. At least not "just" friends. "That's new." I lean back, my eyes scanning her. "You shouldn't listen to them. Their assholes. Really. And jealous too." She nods her head, looking at me with her tear stained face.

God, I want to kiss her so bad. Show her how much I care for her, how much I love her. "Thank you..." I chuckle as the words leave her mouth.

"For what?" She shrugs, her brown hair falling over her shoulders and back, her blue eyes staring at me, lips slightly parted and swollen from crying.

"Comforting me." She rubs her face with her hands. Trying to make it look less red and tear stained. "Should I bring you home?" I can see her hesitating for a moment.

"Yes, please." Oh baby, you don't have to say please. I'd do it anyway. I'd do anything for you. I get up and offer her my hand, her soft palm touches mine as I pull her to her feet.

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Alice's aunt greeted me with a warm smile when I brought her home. "Tyler! I haven't heard from you in so long. Come in you can have lunch with us."

I could hardly refuse her kind invitation. My gaze wandered briefly to Alice but her sea-built eyes were already staring at me.

"Only if you want to, of course." She said while a tiny smile graced her lips. "Gladly. I'm starving." A soft laugh left Susens lips as she pushed me towards the dining table.

"Anderson, didn't think I'd see you again." My eyes meet Brian's as he smiles at me. Seeing him often made me think of my brother.

My brother and I had always been close. When I didn't have anyone to play with as a little kid, he always played with me.

When he got his first motorcycle, he took me with him and rode the roads with me in the evenings.

I wanted to ride a motorcycle because of him. I always wanted to be like him. I wanted to be as smart as him for once. Just once.

My parents thought my grades at school were never bad, but they were. After they moved away, I lost contact with my brother.

I had no idea where he was, what he was doing, how he was feeling or if he missed me as much as I missed him.

"Did you pass your finals?" Susen's feminine voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She scooped some of the vegetables onto my plate while looking at me expectantly.

"Yes, thanks to Alice, I have a really good GPA." I put my hand on her thigh, her body heat burning through my skin.

Susen smiled, "She really is a smart girl. I'm glad she helped you." My hand moved a little further up, Alice hadn't moved a bit since my hand had landed on her thigh.

"You're making me blush. I'm not that clever." She snorted and waved her hand around nervously. "You're the best of the whole year. Stop lying." Brian pointed his fork at her while he chewed on his vegetables.

I had to stifle a smile as my hand moved a little higher and she choked on her water.

Susen stood up and looked at me rather worriedly, her dark eyes narrowing. I quickly removed my hand from her thigh while clearing my throat.

"I'm fine." She said as she took deep, heavy breaths, waving her hands in the air. Her chest rose and fell, she looked beautiful, it was just the way she breathed but she was still beautiful.

I stood up from the table, the six eyes followed my movement. "I'm afraid I have to go again. I have to pick up my new motorcycle." I smiled and turned to Susen.

"Thank you so much for the delicious food." I smiled politely. "You're always welcome here." She said with a wink. I gave her another smile and left the house.

Alice and I hadn't really talked but we didn't need to. At least not right now.

________________

"I did some stuff. I know you like your bike faster." Steve smiled. My new bike was so beautiful. Just the way I imagined it. "It's perfect. Thank you."

His eyes narrowed as he gave me a warm smile. I had known him for so long and he still treated me the same.

"Really, I love it. Thank you for everything." I pressed another twenty dollars into his hand. I felt like I'd sold my kidney for this bike, but it was worth the money.

Some people wouldn't enjoy a loud, fast machine but that's exactly what I enjoy.

My thoughts wandered back to Alice. Like so many times during the day. I still wondered if I seemed unkind when I had to leave so suddenly.

I wanted to make a good impression on her aunt, but I didn't know if I would be able to do that. Even though it seemed like she really liked me.

My thoughts took me back to Steve. He handed me the keys to my new motorcycle. "All yours." He says, grinning.

I put the key in and turned it, the engine screamed, loud and deep. "Perfect," I told him. "Do you think you can do something with my old one?" He nodded.

"Definitely." I swung onto my new bike and put on my helmet, opening my visor.  "Thanks again." I revved the engine and rode off.