Breakout

Chapter 11.

"Why doesn't Alex tell me anything?" I asked Rian at lunch. Rian furrowed his eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"He never tells me anything!"

"What doesn't he tell you?"

"Something happened between Jasey and him but I can't figure out what," I said. "And also what Lullabies is about..."

Rian looked down at his food. "Like I said before, Alex has been through a lot and when he tells you, he'll tell you. You just have to be patient."

"We'll he's taking too damn long," I crossed my arms over chest.

"Like Rian said, you have to wait. But yet, you hate waiting," Samantha said. She munched on a carrot.

"Do you know what Alex is going through?" I asked Samantha. Samantha awkwardly looked down at her try and I instantly knew the answer. I groaned and got up from my seat and started walking down the hall.

"Where are you going?" Samantha yelled after me.

"Study hall," I yelled back. "I need to talk to Alex."

---

"Pss," I whispered. Alex's head turned around and tried looking for the noise he just heard. I rolled my eyes. "Over here." Alex's eyes traveled to the door and his eyes widened.

"What are you doing here?" He whispered at me.

"I need to talk to you."

Alex glanced at the teacher's desk. Thankfully, he was sound asleep. Alex quietly got out of his seat and walked to the door to meet me. We started walking down the hallway.

"What are you doing?" Alex repeated. I ignored his question and took his hand and guided him down the hallway to an empty classroom. I kept the lights off as I looked at Alex. A surprised expression on his face.

"Your flower's falling," he reached for the flower and adjusted it. I couldn't help but blush. "Why do you blush everytime I'm around you? I'm too irresistible?"

"No," I snapped. Yes. I ignored the voice inside my head. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Promise me if I tell you my story, you'll tell me yours?"

Alex hesitated before answering. "Deal."

I softly smiled. "Well, as you know, my brother died four weeks ago. And you also know that I have nightmares because of it. But those aren't the only nightmares I've gotten," I looked down at my hands before continuing. "You probably noticed I never talk about my dad. My dad was the best dad ever. He used to take me shopping when I was fourteen, I could talk to him about anything, he was literally the best ever. Then one day my mom and dad started getting into fights. And when I mean fights, I mean physical fights. He used to abuse her." I paused a wiped a tear that leaked out of my eye. "But then he started abusing me." I lifted up my shirt to reveal my stomach. There were cuts and bruises from the punches he has thrown at me. "He used to abuse me everyday after school. I couldn't tell anyone. Not even Samantha. Samantha even doesn't know about this." I pulled my shirt back down. "A year ago, the abuse stopped and my dad moved out. Andrew never got abused. That's when I started getting nightmares that he would sometimes sneak into my window and beat me up. I still get those nightmares today. Now that Andrew's gone, I feel like he'll come back and beat me again." Tears started pouring from my eyes. Alex took a step forward and embraced me in a tight hug. He rested his chin on my head since he was freakishly taller than me. I wrapped my arms around his waist as I cried onto his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," Alex whispered. "You shouldn't have had to go through that."

I stayed silent as Alex held me. Alex leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "I'll always be here for you. Always."

"Alex! Our study hall teacher woke up and," Jack burst through the door but suddenly stopped as he saw us. "What happened?"

I gently broke apart of Alex and faced Jack. "Nothing. Uh, I'm feeling a little sick right now. I'm going to head to the nurse." And with that, I walked out the door.

---

I got sent home since I had a slight fever. I texted Alex during school and told him I was going home. I still couldn't believe I told Alex my story. Those nightmares have been haunting me forever and since I finally told somebody, I actually felt a little relieved. Like their gone now. Suddenly, my bedroom door creaked open. It was my mom. She gave me a smile and walked toward me. She sat on the end of my bed and started stroking my hair.

"Hey, the school just called and told me you were sick. You feeling alright?"

I nodded. "A little bit."

She kissed my forehead. "Feel better, honey. I'll make you soup."

"Thanks, mom."

She smiled at me and got up from the bed. Before she walked out the door into the hallway, I said, "I love you, Mom. Don't forget that."

"Love you too, Marie." Then she closed the door and left the room. I got up from my bed and walked up to my bedroom mirror. I took out Alex's flower out of my hair and tucked hair behind my ear. I took off my glasses. I was near sighted. I couldn't see anything far away from me. So right now, I barely could see my bed through the mirror. My phone dinged on my bed. I put back on my glasses and took the phone off of me bed. It was a text from Alex.

Alex: is it okay if i come over?

I thumbed back a reply.

Marie: sure. :)

I put my phone down back on my bed and switched on the TV in my room. I changed the channel to Fuse.

"Alright, we're back with the band, Paramore. And here is their music video for Emergency," the announcer said. I furrowed my eyebrows. Who was Paramore? Their music video for Emergency showed up on my little television. I watched it and listened to their song. It was pretty good. The music video was done and it switched back to the band members. A girl and 4 guys. The girl was named Hayley and the four guys was Josh, Jeremy, Hunter and Zac. The interviewer interviewed them. I found out about where they come from and stuff. They have an album out called "All We Know Is Falling". I made a mental note in my mind to buy their CD. Suddenly, my bedroom swung open. Alex entered the room and sat on my bed with me.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," I replied.

"Your mom told me you were sick."

"A little bit."

Alex glanced toward the TV. "Is that Paramore?"

I nodded. "Yeah. They're really good."

"We're touring with them, this spring break."

"Really? No way!"

Alex chuckled. "Yeah, I haven't met them yet but they are really good."

I smiled.

"And about our spring break tour, will you come with us?" Alex's eyes flickered over to mine.

"I really wish I could but I can't."

"Why?"

"I have a chess competition during all of spring break."

Alex rolled his eyes. "You're such a nerd. You can skip one game can't you?"

"No, I need to be there for every game."

"Please Marie!"

"Sorry, Alex."

Alex leaned toward me until his hands were touching my waist.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my cheeks beginning to burn.

"I'm going to tickle you until you say yes to come to join us on tour."

"No."

Alex's fingers began tickling my sides and I can't help my let a giggle escape through my lips. "Alex stop." He ignored me and continued tickling me.

"Stop!" I laughed. I jumped up from the bed and Alex began chasing me around the room. "Stop Alex!" I ran toward the bathroom and he ran after me. Alex laughed as me pinned me to the bathroom wall. His hands on my waist as began tracing circles on it. His eyes were glued onto mine as his eyes flickered down to my lips. Alex began leaning in. I literally could not breathe. Our noses were barely touching when a shriek came from my bedroom. Alex and I's heads turned to the noise and we both found my mom in the doorway of the bathroom with my soup in her hands. A small smile forming upon her lips. Alex quickly took his hands off my waist and stepped back away from me a little bit.

"Sorry! Was I interuppting anything?" Mom teased. I felt my cheeks burn a bit.

"No! We were just playing a game. Right Alex?"

"Right," Alex nervously chuckled. My mom's eyes flickered to the both of us, clearly not believing us.

"Well, Mom thanks for the soup!" Alex and I stepped out of the bathroom and she handed me my soup. Mom winked at me before leaving the room. It was slightly awkward between Alex and I now. Our eyes both glued to the tv. They were showing a clip of Fall Out Boy's new music video. When it cut to commercial break, Alex cleared his throat.

"Marie can I ask you something?"

I turned to face him, setting my soup on my bedside table.

"What is it?"

Alex licked his lips. "Do you like me? As in more than a friend?"

I froze. A million little thoughts began circling my brain. I couldn't help but answer without thinking, "No."

"What?" Alex's expression was slightly hurt but confused.

"No, I mean I like you. But as a friend only."

What the? WHAT AM I SAYING? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?

"Oh okay," Alex said and he glanced back toward the TV. I mentally face palmed myself. What did I just do?