three

Alice Jones

"How do I look?" Brian walks into my room. I eye him up and down. His hair is slightly styled back, he's wearing a shirt which shows a bit of his chest and a blue jeans.

"You really look good." He smiles. "Approved? Can I go like this?" I nod and chuckle. "Approved."

He looked really nervous. I had this bad feeling that Madeline was going to dump him. I don't think she's going to show up.

"Have fun and just be yourself." Brian grinned slightly. "You're giving me tips like you've been in thousands of relationships." He put on his jacket and left the house.

I've never been in a relationship or had my first kiss and I'm still a virgin. I never really got attention from boys at my old school. But I never really had a problem with it either. I didn't necessarily have to lose my virginity to some guy.

It was a highlight that Kyle's friends were interested in me. Me and Cassie usually sit with them during the breaks and we all talk and laugh a lot.

I hadn't really spoken to Tyler again. He had often tried to talk to me but I gave him the cold shoulder after his stupid comment last week.

"Do you know where Brian went?" Aunt Susen walks into the living room. "He has a date." I smile and she looks at me in surprise.

"A date, huh?' She laughs. "That's new to me. My baby is getting big. He didn't went on a date for years."

Brian isn't ugly at all but he also isn't really the type to go out a lot which is also the reason why he doesn't meet new people that often.

He seems to really like Madeline and that's why he'll be sad if she doesn't show up.

"We have almost no food left at home. I'll go buy some groceries now. Would you like join me?" I shake my head. "No, I still have to finish my homework." She nods.

"You're so diligent. I'm proud of you, Ali." My heart stopped for a second. Ali. That's what my mother had always called me. It was my favorite nickname. "Oh, sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Guilt spreads over her face.

"It's okay." I give her a gentle smile. "I'm fine with you calling me Ali. It's my favorite nickname after all." She smiled one last time and then left the house as well.

I'd been working on my homework for two hours and was almost finished. Suddenly I heard the door bang loudly in the lock and someone stomped up the stairs. Shortly afterwards, Brian was standing in my room.

"You were right! Kyle was right!" he slurred. "Was the date so bad that you had to get drunk?" He shook his head hastily. "She didn't even show up." He rubbed his face in exasperation.

"I should have known!" He sighed. "How can I be so stupid?"

"Don't put the blame on yourself. You couldn't have known." I gently rub his back. He looked so desperate. "You'll find the right one." He scoffs. "Anyone's better than her."

I am glad that he has finally realized it. I hope he learns from his mistakes and maybe listens to his little cousin after all.

"Rest up and don't get too angry, Brian. She's not worth it." He gets up from my bed again and undoes the buttons on his shirt. "Thanks for his help." He leaves my room and I get ready for bed.

_______________________

"Good morning." Kyle says sighing and sits down next to me. "I pulled an all nighter. I hope this test goes well." He looks at me, his tired eyes piercing mine. He seems to be a person who has to study hard to get good result. "You ready?"

We'll write our first test today. Of course I'm ready. I didn't pull an all nighter but I studied well.

"Hell yeah." I smile. "You're so confident. I wish I had your confidence." I snort. "It's not about confidence, Kyle. When you know you've studied enough you shouldn't worry about the test."

He rubs his green eyes. "Ugh, yeah, you're right."

"You got this." I smile and he returns my smile.

____________________

"Fuck this test." Chris throws his phone onto the table. "Who even invented school? It's useless!!" I have to hide my little smirk while listening to him.

Kyle opens his mouth but gets interrupted. "Shut up, Adams. I don't wanna hear it." Daniel groans.

"But he's right." Daniel and Chris look at me. "What did you say? You're on his side!?Alice!" Chris groans in disappointment. "I'm here. What did I miss?" Tyler approaches us. I can't handle how handsome he looks.

His brown hair makes his beautiful green eyes stand out so much. He even got the perfect nose and his hair looks so fluffy and healthy. I wanted to run my hands through it and never stop.

"Alice and Kyle make a great team. Both nerds." Chris sighs and leans back. And that's when I finally stop staring at Tyler but of course he noticed and his lips part slightly into a smirk.

He sits down next to Noah. "I never would have thought you're a nerd, Alice." His hand running through his beautiful hair.

"Is there something wrong? You keep staring at me." He whispers only for me to hear.

I don't answer him and act like I didn't hear anything.

"Studying is important. School decides on your future. I'm rather a nerd than end homeless like you, Anderson." He scoffs at my comment and the boys have to bite back a smirk.

"You don't know how I'm doing in school." I nod.

"I know from the way you're judging me."

It's like I could read him easily. A boy who's not focusing on school but on his fucking motorcycle and going out.

Probably fucking some girls from time to time.

Every girl would fall for his handsome face.

I see Cassie walking into the cantine and get up.

"It was nice to talk to you boys. I'll see you later." I smile and wall up to Cassie.

"Let's go." She looks at me confused. "I can't go back. Come on." I whine and pull her out of the cantine.

"I may have been a bit mean to Tyler again. I can't go back there now. That would be weird." Cassie laughs softly. "Let's go outside." She pulls me outside with her.

"You will come too, right?" I look at Cassie, a little confused. "The party?" "A party?" I don't even know when the last time was that I was at a party. I've never really been invited or even gone to a party.

Studying has always been my first priority but it's about time I changed that. "If we're invited, I'll be there." I smile and Cassie squeals slightly. "We definitely need to go shopping together." She smiled.

In fact, I didn't think I'd ever meet a girl as nice as Cassie. She's really grown on me over the last few weeks.

"The boys are probably invited too." I have no problem with them. Absolutely not. There's just something about Tyler that bothers me. This little bit of arrogance in his character - he thinks he's entitled to everything just because he's so good-looking.

Maybe I'm just taking it a little too seriously? I don't know, but I don't let people play with me.

When I left the school building after class, I saw Madeline with a boy. He was tall but not as muscular as some of the others at the school. He has a short blond buzzcut and a petite feminine face.

The two of them made out as if they were eating each other. So she thinks she can make my cousin jealous like that? Brian deserves someone much better than that stupid bitch.

"Don't look at that anymore, let's go." Kyle said and pulled me with him.

We both always go to school together now because we live less than two streets away from each other.

"Have you been invited to the party too? The boys want to go but my mom probably won't let me go." It seems Mrs. Adams is stricter than I thought she was.

"You have to know... My mom really cares so much about my grades. I barely have any free time." He sighs and adjusts his glasses. "It sucks." I giggled softly. "I'm really sorry about that, Kyle. I wish I could help you." He shakes his head hastily. "Don't even try. Please." I can imagine Mrs. Adams showing a completely different face of herself at school. The perfect principal who does everything right. That's how I imagine her.

"You're mom is strict?" He nods. "She's no fun. I wish she'd be a little more chill." A really loud sigh escapes his lips. "Are you're parents more calm?" I know I can't hide it forever and never talk about it. "I live with my aunt and she's pretty chill. She supports me in everything I do and is proud of me."

I think it's time to let go of the pain and only remember the good memories with my mom. I don't want to be sad about it anymore. I think I'm finally able to move on. I want to live for my mother that's what she wished for.

"May I ask why you live with your aunt?" Kyle asks gently. "I mother died earlier this year and my father doesn't really give a fuck about me and my sister doesn't either." I shrug.

"I'm sorry. It's hard, isn't it?" Suddenly there's that lump in my throat again that makes it difficult to speak. "Yes, but I'm actually getting used to it." I breathe out in a shaky voice.

Sometimes I just can't get the images out of my head.

My mother lying there, pale and tired.

I wanted to save her and be there for her, but I couldn't do it. I visited her every day and hoped that my father would also show some compassion but he didn't visit her. She kept asking for him but he wouldn't come by.

"I'm sorry I asked." Kyle snapped me out of my thoughts and I hadn't even realized that a tear was running down my cheek. "It's okay." Then we arrived in front of my aunt's house. "Thanks for bringing me home." I winked and disappeared into the house.

"Hey Loser, you back?" Brian sits in the kitchen as I enter the house and close the door behind me.

"You won't believe what I saw today." I giggle as I sit down beside him. His eyes pierce me and his gaze seems interested in what I'm about to tell him.

"Madeline made out with a dude today because she thought you'd pick me up. They looked fucking disgusting." I snort and a small smile spreads over Brians lips.

"Let's see how long that's gonna last. This girl is so fucking disgusting." He sighs and stands up.

"I'll be out in an hour and mom comes home late. You think you'll be fine?" I nod.

"Great, love you." He ruffles his hand through my hair and disappears into his room. He can be mean but he's super sweet from time to time too. When he heard I'd move in he directly offered me his room because it's bigger than the guests room.

And I kinda know he'd do anything for me. It's like he's my big brother even though he can be a little stubborn sometimes.

I don't really have anything to do today so I'll just make me some dinner, make my homework and sleep early. Maybe read something.

_________________________

"Alice? Could I talk to you for a moment?" My teacher asks me after class. "Of course." I smile and walk towards her.

"I've seen you're a great student and on your new test you got full marks." My eyes light up.

"I discussed this with Mrs. Adams and I thought maybe you could give some tutoring for students in your year who struggle with their grades. Only if you want of course." I smile at her. Tutoring, huh?

I mean I'd love to help a little and it's not even a bad idea.

But I never got asked to help someone with their grades because my performance at school was never appreciated.

"I never did it before but I'd like to try it." I smile.

"Great! We will let you know the details soon." I nod and then leave the classroom.

"Hey." A boy my age approaches me as I leave the classroom. His blonde hair is slightly falling into his eyes as it's covering his forehead, his dark brown eyes eye me up and down.

His body is well build and he's wearing a baggy jeans with a grey hoodie. "Hey." I response and smile. "I'm Adam. Nice to meet you." He smirks.

"Alice Jones." "You're new, right?" I nod.

"Yeah, just moved here recently." He wanted to start talking again but I interrupted him.

"I have to get to my next class. Let's talk later? Lunch break?" He nods. "Lunch break date. Great. See you later." I playfully roll my eyes at him and walk away.

___________________

"So you moved here recently?" He ask, brushing his blonde hair out of his eyes as his dark mysterious eyes eye me once more.

"Why do you wanna talk to me? This feels weird." I say and cross my arms in front of my chest. Why would he just randomly start talking to me?

"Be honest with me. What do you want from me?" I look into his dark brown eyes. He leans back into the chair, brushing his hair back as a sigh escapes his cherry lips.

"I want to go on a date with you. I think you're really cute." I didn't really know what to say.

"I'll think about it, okay?" He nods. "Tell me as soon as you're sure." His lips curl into a small smile.

I get up. "I will. See you." I leave. He's not my type at all. I think I don't even know if I have a type.

The last time I had a crush was in primary school. A boy named Ben stole my heart.

He had cute freckles around his nose and pretty brown eyes and hair. His smile was so addicting I could've looked at it for hours.

To be honest he was my best friend but I never really told him how I really felt about him and could hide my feelings pretty well.

After I left school and we all went to different schools I never saw him again. Maybe sometimes in my old home town because we lived in the same town but Ben acted like he never knew me.

Same goes for my other best friend. Daniel reminds me of him sometimes. They almost look alike.

"What did he want?" I hear a familiar voice behind me. Tyler.

"None of your business. Why do you even care?" He smirks slightly, his pretty green eyes glowing.

"You're still salty? I'm sorry okay? I won't do it again." He crosses his muscular arms in front of his chest and sighs.

"It wasn't my intention to hurt you. I wanna be friends with you too." I grin.

"Are you jealous when I talk to everyone but you?"

He scoffs and his green emerald eyes roll back annoyed.

"What's jealousy? I don't know and I never was jealous." I laugh softly and bite my lower lip.

"Stop lying to me." "I'm not."

"Than you probably won't mind if I go now and don't tell you what Adam said. Good bye, Tyler. " I smile and leave.