Chapter 14
When he and the other guys look to confront him, they
ry all freeze up
- up.
Alex looks irritated again, his large hand starting to curl into his shoulder. The bully goes pale and starts to sweat, reaching up to try and dislodge it But the instant his fingers touch Alex’s, the hockey player clenches further.
He whimpers. Honestly, fully, whimpers, and loses his balance, his right elbow supporting his weight on the table. Alex leans down, easily looking over everyone with his eyes narrowed.
“It really takes six guys to bully a single person? What a pathetic pack.” He sighs, seeming genuinely disappointed. “Fuck off, will you?”
The five guys he isn’t physically holding in place give each other looks before they decide to back off, none of them brave enough to try him. The one he’s clenching on tries to leave, but Ales shoves him down onto the bench attached to the table.
“Before you leave, clean up that mess you made. Aight”
“Y–Yeab
“Cool” Alex hands him some paper towels, that unkind smile back on his face. “Here”
He only lets go of him once the guy collects some of the towels. After that, he doesn’t pay any more attention to him, taking a seat across from me..
“Ah, sorry about your lunch. Uh.I can use my lunch credits to get you another one if you don’t have enough”
It would be so easy for me to thank him for this yet again. He just always seems to save me when I’m in situations like this. Popping up out of nowhere like he has some kind of bully radar.
And yet, I can’t help but think of the things I’d said to him not long ago. The way we parted, frustrated and angry at each other. I was not the nicest person at that time, even if I don’t completely regret what I said.
1 feel a bit tired. Not even hungry anymore either. And I know my voice isn’t going to work.
So, I just shake my head and look down at the table,
phone. I guess he just
Alex doesn’t seem disturbed by this, so he settles in his seat. From the upper corner of my eye. I even see him take out his p wants to stick around.
Or maybe he’s looking for the ‘thank you” that’s honestly due to
him.
Before I can continue wondering, my phone vibrates with a text message. I reach into my pocket and pull it out, seeing it’s something from Alex.
He sent a stick figure picture of something that looks like a deer, Only, it’s standing on its hind legs and looks to be very upset. There are even flames sprouting from its head, its front hooves on its hips as it hurts.
It looks like one of my early drawings, but I know it’s not my art style… Did Alex draw this? –
My smile squirms into existence unconsciously, and that seems to lift Alex’s spirit, relief plain on his face. Though, when I look up, that relief turns
into remon
* I thought about what you said when we last spoke. And I think
d1 think you’re right.” He
He starts scrolling through his phone, still speaking. “Thaven’t really been acting like someone who’d be dating someone else. And I see what you mean about Charlie misunderstanding. You don’t hang around a bunch of guys or anything, so I shouldn’t do the same with girls.”
He then turns his phone toward me. It’s a bunch of threads in his direct inessages on Instapost. In most of them, I see that he’s made the last
comment to them
“Srry, can’t keep talkin w you like this. Got a girlfriend”
some followed up with complaints, others with a simple “OK” or other one–word responses. Some don’t have any replies at all. I’m simply surprisest. by the sheer amount of prople he’s had to reply to at all.
I’m going to take this thing seriously, like you have been. I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be focusing on the upcoming games anyway, so fung it up from here on
Chapter is
Sex posing and
of pictures be’s p
100 zened into the an I’m making for Drama C
r photos I’d kept in my locker before I cleaned it ou
he is beates and wearing the round
pecture, so how does he hume a copy of in” Where did he get it from!” W7
hed my lockertt
1 quarkly scroll over to the “Dee” option, but Alex the phone back, raining I’m about to do. He holds away
↑ the hell Alex” [1–Delen
ne picture. To
“Ophelia’s a m–ag–part Different From crow but that’s not the p–point”
I jeet up and rush over to the other side of the table as he stands. I try to snatch his phone again, but be extends his arm into the air. He’s already
so even when I stand on the tips of my toes, his phone is far from my reach
My eyes scrunch shut as I keep reaching
150
He laughs, which only makes me more embarrassed.
But it’s the way he laughs that calms me down a bit. There’s no mocking tone in it, just that mischievousness he’s always had since I first met him.
Agh dammit. I can’t stay mad at him, especially since he’s apologized.
Ever since he’s realized that we’re cool again, he’s returned to obnoxiously hovering around me whenever he has the time. Although, this time much more comfortable since he’s doing better at setting boundaries with the curious girls who come around him.
- Cynch What’s that?”
I look up from where I’m taping a
ga notice to the wall. Despite the words being right there, he still looks at
Looking for a uhm, Irad a–actor”
at me eagerly, waiting for me to answer.
“The Dead actor For what?” He finally looks at the ad and tilts his head. Somehow, it’s somewhat puppy–like. Though his brows scrunch with dupleasure. “Oh, for that werewolf play Charlie was talking about.”
“Yeah” I start heading over to where some other club members are putting up signs and he follows
As we approach, he waves at them in greeting. A few guys and girls come closer, though he sticks closer to me when the girl approach.
I’m not addresung the satisfaction that setides in my chest at that. Nope.
“Looking for lead actors, I see But why” Don’t y you guys have a few folks who could play n?”
“Ah, sure. I suppose,” Jonathan replies, “But none of us fit the, er, aesthetic.”
I nudge him, and he looks down at me
Hot–weerwoll guy. T–Tall and handsome Club members could f–bit, but m–might be better to get outside p–participation.
inda dissing your cre
“Jonathan shrugs. “Tknow I’m not a Hollywood diraiboat. It’s just that finding someone who is has been a chore and a half Hing to participate in the play. Someone who knows us pretty well. Someone who could mesh with the team.
Chapter 11
Jonathan trails off, his eyes locking onto Alex
Ah
Catheatre
I’ve been in this and other drama clubs long enough to know what that look means. However, Alex is unaware of the true fearsomeness of a fanatic who finds the perfect face they’re looking for.
Alex blinks, confused. Then he looks around, feeling the others looking at him.
All of the nearby club members have stopped putting up posters, staring up at him with eyes that practically sparkle. It makes me of hamsters looking at someone holding
of a bunch
Except, Alex is, like, made of millet and they want to eat him alive instead.
Ө
