Chapter 23: No offence, Mr Piggles

"Really Mum?" I groan, shoving the duffel bag of clothes back into her outstretched hands. We move into our house this weekend, and we've been packing like maniacs to leave in time. "The sooner the better," Mum said when she announced that we'd start packing on Sunday.  She's handed me a bag of the clothes in the 'restricted section' of my closet that she's picked out for me to wear until Saturday, when I unpack. It contains all the - and I quote - essentials a 17 year old girl needs, such as: Make-up, mini skirts, jewelry, moisturizer, dresses, hairbrushes, high heels (ok, I'll stop there, you get the point) and that's enough for me to give it back to my mum. "I'll stick with my converse and jumpers."

"Well, that's the thing, honey," Mum bites her lip. This is not going to be good... "I've already packed all your clothes."

I drag my fingers down my face and groan.

"Mum! Why? I could've done my room!"

"I just thought it would be easier if I did it because then you'd be able to help your father moving the boxes and packing up," she says guilty. I decide to just sigh and move on.

I've had a look at this new place and boy, its gigantic. Its got a large pool and a humongous yard, complete with a huge old oak tree and a tree house. The house itself was built on a big block of land and makes it really a very expanded home. Its got amazing bedrooms and a marble kitchen with tiled floors downstairs and timber ones upstairs. There is a whole basement for the boys and my parents told me I could decorate the tree house to make it a "teenage retreat space," as my parents said.  It'll most likely be my new reading nook. Its a really shady and cool spot. On the left side of the house there is a vast area of land with a tennis court and on the other is the neighbor's house. Why could they not have added a large expanse of land there too, then my bedroom wouldn't be opposite to Alex's.

Eugh. Alex.

I tell Mum thanks, that I'll deal with the stuff I have its only for a couple of days anyway.

That boy seriously confuses me. One second he's fighting some stranger, the next he's sweetly saying good night and then he's frickin annoying me? How does he work?

Ever since Saturday I've been trying to forget the bonfire, how he punched someone up to protect me, when he said goodnight, his laugh and when he asked me to stay. I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts and walk downstairs. I begin packing up the dining room place mats and coasters because apparently (Lucas and Paul were very happy to hear this) we'll be eating out a lot this week. Last night it was sushi and tonight we just ordered McDonald's.

I'm almost done and feel like my arms could fall off so I stand up quickly, stretching my back. I throw the tape-thingo onto the table - carefully - and walk into the boy's playroom place. I re-tie my hair as I walk up the stairs. Lucas and Paul are doing absolutely nothing to help. I know its a Tuesday and they've got school tomorrow, but seriously? They could do something!

Rolling my eyes, not wanting to cause another fight for my parents to deal with, I walk into Dad's study. I start tidying it immediately and have it done within 2 hours.

Mum and Dad told me they'd been searching for houses for quite a while and found one suitable. They put in an offer and the owners were given five days to sell it to them. It was a really quick process. This time a few days ago I had no idea we would be moving house in less than a week. Exams start tomorrow. I've had a hard time cramming in packing and studying, but its the only thing I can do to get my mind off... Him.

I shake the thought of Alex out of my head again and keep packing.

Christmas break is at the end of the week, and Alex and I are supposed to perform our music assignment in two days (which we haven't even started practicing,or got lyrics to, by the way). I sigh and heave the boxes out onto the lawn. Even though the atmosphere is cool, Dad and I still have sweat on our faces from carrying heavy boxes.

I try and re-lift an extremely heavy box from the grass and into the van but my arms seem to have died. Don't go die on me now, arms! I try again to lift it up. It comes easily. I'm so surprised that I lifted it so effortlessly that I spring back. The box stays where it is. Oh my God! The box is floating! How is this possible? I hear a chuckle and look up.

"Oh," I brush a strand of hair away from my face. "Hey Noah."

"Hey Nat," he says, smiling and gives me a quick kiss on the lips, oh, gross. Slober. "You're moving?"

"Yeah, I only found out on Saturday," I say. He walks over to the truck and places the box on the floor. He spots my dad and walks over to him.

"Hi Mr Bennett," he holds out a hand and Dad - after wiping his hands on his pants - shakes it. "I'm Noah."

"Oh, yes. Natalie's boyfriend?" his eyes harden, going into full on interrogation mode. "How old are you?"

"Um. Eighteen," Noah says.

"Do you smoke?" Dad says, his eyes narrowing.

Noah chuckles awkwardly. "I'm not a smoker..."

"But you have?" Dad says with a frown. I see Noah's face and can tell that he has. Oh.

"Dad! Noah plays football," I say, laughing awkwardly, changing the subject.

"Oh, you do?" Dad says. I expect his expression will change but he doesn't.

"Yeah, quarterback and team captain," he says.

"Ok then, maybe you should go and meet Natalie's Mum," he says. Angry with Dad's rudeness I take Noah's hand and drag him out of the truck quickly.

"Sorry. He's just in a bad mood," I lie. Noah nods. He doesn't seem to know that dad hates him. Thank God. "And, my mum might be too," I say, biting my lip.

"Oh, that's alright," he says and we walk into the kitchen, I immediately let go of his hand.

"Mum. This is Noah," I say.

"Hi Noah. You must be Nat's boyfriend?" Mum stand up and gives him a quick hug and kiss.

"That's right," he says.

"And you both go to the same school?" she asks.

"Yes," he says.

"Hmmm, that's nice," she says, turning back to the plates she's packing. I can tell she doesn't like him with only couple of words exchanged. I sigh and lead him upstairs to my room. Mum, being her, calls up the stairs. "Oh, honey, I'd just like to let you know that you're bedroom is next to Alex's!"

I twist on my heel and glare at her, she smiles smugly at me. I turn back around and pull Noah up behind me. "Don't mind her. She's got a few too many issues."

He sits down on my bed. I sit next to him and cross my legs. He turns to me and shuffles closer. Oh no. I know what's coming.

He kisses me. He tries to do it softly but his lips are too cracked and his mouth to gross for me to actually kiss him back. He doesn't notice this and threads his hands into my hair. He continues to kiss me for what feels like ten excruciating hours but is only ten minutes. When he finally pulls away he says, "See you at school," and walks off, giving me one last kiss. I want to say I enjoyed that, that I'm glad I'm his girlfriend, but I can't. Even after that make-out-session (ew. gross. disgusting. don't ever let that happen to me again) I still can't get my mind off another boy.

Alex.

***

"OOOOOOOOOOOOhhh Natalie!" someone jumps on me and I let out a loud, "omph."

"Get off me!" I yell, pushing them aside. I open my eyes and rub them, focusing on the person on top of me,"What, Lucas?"

"Mum wants you downstairs in ten minutes, hurry up," he shoves me and runs out. I groan and get up, having a quick shower and throwing my hair into a messy ponytail  I look in the duffel bag and sigh, reaching in and pulling out a strange, short maroon skirt and a tight, grey jumper that I have to tuck into the skirt. To draw attention away from the shortness of the skirt, I add an owl necklace and some silver, half-dangling earings, before re-doing my hair and adjusting it into a messy bun, pulling out a few strands and chucking on a pair of black flatz. I look at myself in the mirror. Ok, I must admit, I look actually alright. That doesn't stop me, though, from pulling on the mid-thigh length skirt, the longest one in the bag. I brush my teeth and then go down to breakfast.

A/N: This is messed up, don't ever eat breakfast AFTER you've brushed your teeth.

"Yeah Mum?" I ask tiredly, remembering she wanted to talk to me.

"I don't like your boyfriend," Mum states openly. The boys sit eating their cheerios, wide eyed and listening intently. "He's too.... jock-y."

"Sorry Mum, but I couldn't really say no. That's just rude," I say, pouring my cereal into a bowl.

"So you're dating him out of kindness?" Mum raises her eyebrows.

"Um.... Well, I do like him."

Lie.

"Really?" Mum says, surprised.

"Yeah. He's cute."

Lie.

"Does he drink?" she asks.

"No."

Lie

"And he's the captain of the football team?" she asks. I nod. "And he's a jock?"

"Not really..."

Lie.

"Ok Nat," Mum sighs. "Do what you want with him."

Good Lord, it sounds like she's talking about a stuffed toy. No offence, Mr Piggles (my stuffed pet piggy).

I eat my breakfast as quickly as I can and dash out of the house, not even calling goodbye, to avoid awkwardness. I jump into my car and drive off like a lunatic, because you know... I am.

When I get to school I meet Bubbles and Chloe at their lockers. "Ma BOI!" she hugs me. "Ship Natalex is halfway through the Atlantic! Did you see what he did for you at that party? BA BOOM BA BOOM! POW POW! CATCHOW! POW! Oh, you look nice today! Your next stop'll be the Pacific, with you in that outfit!"

"Um... Bubbles, may I remind you that I have an actual boyfriend," I say when she stops squeezing me to death.

"Meh, no one cares about him, let alone you," she says, pulling away.

"No one cares about me?  Excuse me Claudia?" I say, raising my eyebrows.

"I mean you don't care - as in, lovingly - about him," she rolls her eyes.

"Woah, Bubbles, harsh," I say and we start walking to class. Chloe looks over her shoulder and grins.

"There's someone here for you Nat, we'll leave you to it," and with that she pulls Bubbles away to their french class. Someone hooks an arm around my waist and grins at me, eyes sparkling under their ray bans.

"Hey babe,"  I grin.

"Hi dude," he says, pulling his arm off my waist and hooking it around my shoulders, tussling me hair in the process. I try to scowl at him but look away, smiling. I try and forget the way he looks at me up and down before looking away. I gulp and try to forget. We walk down the corridor for a few moments before I turn back to look at him.

"You can take them off now you know, we're inside," I say, looking to his ray bans. I reach up with the hand that isn't  holding books and I pull off his sunglasses, handing them to him. He stops and leans against a locker, eyes downcast, me standing opposite him. I see the black eye that has formed around his right eye. When he does finally look up I'm surveying him for more damage. The cut on his lip is still there and so are the bruises on his hands. I look away. We stand there in the middle of the hallway avoiding each others eye as people walk past us. Alex looks up finally, scratching the back of his neck.

"We better get to cla- " he's interrupted when a head of dyed brown is flying through the air towards him. Amanda is wearing a short mini skirt and a tied blouse like Brittany Spears from the 'hit me baby one more time' video. Like, get a life, Amanda. She starts kissing his face off. I stand there before turning around, disgusted. Alex, from under Amanda, grabs my hand and turns me back around I look at him as he tries to shove Amanda off him, reluctantly, she stops, but doesn't move from her position in front of him, locking him against the locker.

"Um, Nat," he says when Amanda, slings her arm around his neck and buries her face in his neck. He opens his mouth as if to say something but changes his mind. "See you in class."

Amanda continues to kiss him and he turns into her, closing his eyes and kisses her back. Ew, gross. I turn quickly and walk away. I feel a sharp pain in my chest as I look back and see them locking lips. I shake my head and get rid of the thoughts. I re-adjust my books on my hip and walk into the classroom.

"Miss Bennett," my teacher says when I walk into class.

"Bonjour Madam," I say, walking over to her desk nervously, thinking I'm in trouble.

"Alex isn't with you?" she bends over her desk to have a look out the door.

"No, Madam," I say, thankful that I'm not in trouble for some random thing that would give me anxiety.

"Oh. Well, this is another review lesson, you and Alex should continue the tutoring," she says before looking back down at her notebooks.

"Yeah, yeah sure," I say and walk over to my desk. I take a seat and pull out my books. I look up when I see Alex walk into the room and goes over to talk to the teacher. I look back down when he comes over and sits down next to me. I doodle in my book and I see him running a hand through his hair out of the corner of my eye.

Dammit. Well, this is awkward.

I sit there, perfecting my treble clefs, until he pokes me in the side and I squirm, banging the desk with my knees so that all my stuff falls off I turn and glare at him. "Dumb jerk," I growl. Oh, great, now I sound like a dying polar bear.

"Excuse me?" he says and scoots his chair closer. I turn and face him, glaring.

"Get away from me, idiot," I say, growling, shoving him, I turn away, trying not to sound like a strangled goat this time. I think it works.

"Nah," he says, my shove does nothing. "I believe you're supposed to tutor me."

I ignore him and continue doodling. He pokes me in the side and I wriggle again but start drawing a unicorn.

He pokes me again and when I keep drawing, but when I ignore him yet again he keeps poking me and I start smiling, trying not to laugh and interrupt the teacher's lesson. I look at him, narrowing my eyes in warning when he pokes me in the side and I let out a shout of laughter, the class looks back at us and I sit up from where I lie, slouching in my seat. Alex is smirking and I poke out my tongue, doodling again. He goes back and gets his stuff out.

I'm in the middle of drawing Annabeth Chase from Percy Jackson when Alex runs a hand through his hair and speaks.

"I shouldn't have done that."

Thinking he's talking about poking me I say, "Damn right you should't have."

There are a few moments of awkward silence, complete with only the sound of the teacher's talking. I'm looking at him in the eyes and then I realize what he's talking about. He must know I realize this too because he widens his eyes under his Ray Bans and opens his mouth.

"Amanda kisses like a dying toad," he blurts, as though he didn't mean too and I burst out laughing when I finish giggling, I turn back to him.

"You would know," I say.

"Yeah, that was a jerk move," he looks down and scratches the back of his neck. I grin.

"Well, no duh. You're a big one," I say and he looks up. I smile. His uncomfortable expression changes into his trademark smirk and he grabs my head and puts it under his arm and smashes his knuckle into the top of my head, rubbing it into my head.  I let out a giggle of laughter before I scold him, "Alex! Get off me!"

He lets go and grins. I pat my hair down and glare at him. He's still grinning when I hook my arm around his neck and shove my fist into his head, mushing up his hair. I don't worry too much about pushing too hard, he already has brain damage.

He pushes me off him. I grin at him and he scowls, patting down his hair. I re-tie mine into another messy bun and open my book. His chair squeaks a minute later and I look up at him bringing his desk over to mine.

"What're you doing?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Asking you for tutoring," he says, opening his french book.

I sigh. This is what my teacher asked me to do...  "Fine."

***

"I heard that you and Alex were having some fun in french today," Bubbles plonks her lunch down beside me.

"What?" I say and bite into my apple.

"Michella told me that you and Alex sat at the back of the room flirting," she winks. Michella is in my French class and probably noticed the whispering I did explaining French to him.

"Well you can tell Michella that I have a boyfriend and that Alex has a girlfriend," I say, munching on my apple.

"Oh, the whole school knows about your secret relationship and how you're meant to be," she sighs dreamily, chewing on some bubble gum. I roll my eyes.

"Noah and I are going on a date to the movies this weekend actually," I say.

"Really?" Bubbles draws out the word.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, me and my boyfriend are going out this weekend," I say again and she raises her eyebrows blowing a bubble.

"Meh,"she says once it's popped. "They say that your first boyfriend will not be your last."

"Oh really? Who says I haven't had a boyfriend before?" I ask, taking another bite of my apple.

"Well, I dunno," she props her head on her hand and looks at me. "I guess you reacted to it well and know what to do. I think you read quite a few romance novels and adjusted quickly.But its not your first kiss, I know that for sure."

Wow. I didn't notice Bubbles was so observant.

"Oh," I say. "Well, I might end up marrying Noah, thank you very much."

"I doubt it," Bubbles snorts, chocking on her bubblegum in the process. She tries to cough it up but has to swallow it. She groans, "This is gonna take seven years to digest!"

I laugh. "Yup," I say and take another bite of my apple. My phone dings in my pocket and I take it out. Its a message notification from Instagram. I slide the phone out of my pocket and click my thumb to the home button, scanning my touch ID.  Its a follow request.

Alex_Collins101 want to follow you.

I roll my eyes but before I can shut off my phone and toss it into my bag, Bubbles grabs the phone off me and her eyes light up, clearly over her indigestion problems. She click something and hands it back to me. I log back on quickly but I don't know what she did. I groan.

"Bubbles, did you accept?" I look over at her exasperatedly.

"No..." she smiles sheepishly. I shove my phone in my bag and sling it onto my shoulder. Bubbles does the same. "Ready for calculus? You know who you'll see there?"

"Chloe?"

She rolls her eyes. "Dumb bum, no. Alex! Your babe."

"Yaaah he's such a babe," I say, drawing out the sentence like James Charles (Love you, Boo).

"C'mon sister, otherwise you're gonna be sister snatched," Bubbles pulls my hands and I roll my eyes as she fast walks to our classroom. We get there just as the bell rings. I plonk down my stuff and doodle in my drawing book (yes, I have a reserved book just for doodling, who wouldn't?).

"Hey dude," Alex swings a hand over the back of my chair. I roll my eyes.

"Babe, your girlfriend is waiting for you," I nod my head in Amanda's direction, where she stands glaring at us. Alex frowns for a moment before turning back to me.

"Then why're you the one calling me babe?" he asks cockily.

"Because you're a girl. Boop!"I bop him on the nose and shove him away from the desk. "Chloe is sitting there."

He frowns but stands up, ruffling my hair like I'm his sister and walking over to Amanda, who kisses like a dying toad.

The lesson droans on and on. Most of it was just studying. But the majority of it was Chloe and Bubbles arguing over who Zac Efron belongs to. They weren't happy when I said Bubbles could take 17 year old Zac and Chloe can get 30 year old Mr Efron.

I leave class and feel my phone ding as I part ways with Bubbles and Chloe. I pull it out and lean against the wall, reading it. Its from Amanda, who surprisingly follows me. I must've accepted her... I never thought I'd do that. Was that seriously me?

Stay away from Alex, fatty.

I bite my lip and go onto her profile. I scroll through her photos, of her at the beach, her with her friends, her and Alex, her and Alex, her and Alex. She's even invented a ship name. Amandex. Gross.

I block her and turn my phone off, thinking nothing of it.

_____________________________________________________________

Hey everyone!

Sorry about the sorta short chapter and slow update.

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