Give 'Em Hell, Kid

I had tried to get past my mother without being noticed when I got home, but it wasn’t to be. The minute I stepped foot in the house I heard her call out to me. The next half hour was spent under torture, or as she liked to call it ‘having a catch up.’ She was certain that Alexia and I were secretly dating, something I strenuously denied. She saw through me though, she knew my feelings for Alexia went beyond friendship. She just warned me ‘not to ruin her life’, which was code for ‘don’t knock her up’. As much as she loved Alexia, I knew she wasn’t happy about the development. Maybe she was afraid things would move too fast between us. Maybe she was right, but Alexi and I had years of friendship behind us. We didn’t have to do the whole awkward get to know each other phase. We knew everything there was to know about each other. I knew I wanted to marry her one day, and my mother’s words of warning wouldn’t stop that.

​​​I heard my Dad arrive in the door about an hour later. I didn’t bother going down to greet him, instead giving them their own time so my mother could fawn all over him while he enjoyed her fussing over him. I continued sketching my newest character, my shaking hands making it hard to do justice to the image in my head. Right now all I wanted to do was talk to Alexia, question her about the kiss and what it meant but I knew she would be spending time with her Dad right now. I sighed as I gave up on the drawing, carelessly throwing my sketchpad aside as I stretched before getting off my bed and putting my pyjamas on. I wore the batman pair that Alexia had bought me last Christmas. It was one of our things; she would buy me something batman related while I bought her Disney stuff. I was pretty sure I had bought her almost all the Disney teddies that existed so pretty soon I was going to have to start buying her something else. I turned my stereo on, putting on some Misfits before getting into bed and closing my eyes. I was suddenly tired as the events of the day went through my mind, replaying scene by scene as I tried to analyse everything in hopes of gaining more perspective on what was happening. Eventually I fell asleep without gaining any more knowledge.

​​​************************************************************

​​​‘Collins and Way if you don’t stop it I will separate the two of you for the rest of the year!’

​​​It was second period English. We had been playing a game of tic tac toe quite peacefully before Alexia started sulking and kicking me under the table because I was winning. She was the sorest loser I had ever met, and that included Mikey. She had let out a surprised gasp when I eventually kicked her back, causing everyone to look at us and thus drawing Mr. Hudson’s attention towards us.

​​​‘Sorry Sir’ Alexia’s voice rang out, her lips twitching as she resisted her urge to smile.

​​​‘Sorry’ I replied, knowing he would carry through his threat if he annoyed him too much.

​​​The minute he turned his back she kicked me again, her smile wide knowing that I wouldn’t retaliate while we were in class.

​​​‘Keep it up Lexi. You know I’ll get you back later’ I whispered.

​​​‘No you won’t.’

​​​I raised an eyebrow at her.

​​​‘What makes you so sure?’

​​​‘Because you know I’ll tell Mikey if you do.’

​​​‘Tattle tale.’

​​​‘Momma’s boy.’

​​​‘Whatever.’ I muttered as she kicked me yet again. The bell rang, filling the classroom with the sound of scraping chairs as Alexia sprang from her chair and raced out of the classroom before I could get her. I saw her stick her tongue out at me before she disappeared.

​​​I gathered up my things before making my way to Art, my stomach rumbling as it reminded me I had missed breakfast this morning due to my alarm not going off. I had barely made it on time after picking everyone up, meaning I had no time to talk to Alexia about what had happened yesterday. So far we were acting like normal, which made me feel equal amounts of relief and worry. I was relieved that things weren’t obviously awkward but I was unsure if this was because it meant nothing to Alexia or if she was just trying to act normal until we were able to get some alone time to talk about what was going on. I took my normal seat in art, barely looking up when I saw someone come up to my desk while I doodled on a spare bit of paper.

​​​‘Hey Gerard’

​​​The high pitched, breathy voice grated on my nerves, causing me to look up in annoyance and glare. It was Brittany, the girl I met outside the bathroom yesterday. I was certain my face showed my confusion as she beamed at me. She had never acknowledged my existence before yesterday making me highly suspicious as to her motives for talking to me now. She wasn’t one of the cheerleaders but she was part of the ‘In’ crowd who controlled the school.

​​​‘Hey’ I muttered before ignoring her, giving the scrap of paper in front of me all my attention again in hopes she would just sit down and ignore my existence. She sat in the seat just in front of my desk before she pulled out her sketchpad and faced the front of class. Mr. Lambert came in just then, getting straight into the lesson without any greetings.

​​​The bell had barely rung when she turned to face me again, blushing slightly as she bit her lip for a second, looking nervous.

​​​‘So, are you going to Evan’s party on Friday?’ She asked, her blush deepening.

​​​‘Eh…no.’

​​​‘You should go. It’ll be a good party, there’ll be plenty of drink and stuff.’

​​​‘It’s not really my scene’ I replied shortly, my annoyance at her over riding any flattery I should feel at her sudden interest in me.

​​​‘Oh, ok…well you’re more that welcome to come if you change your mind, you can bring Alexia too.’ With that she walked out of the class, leaving me utterly confused.

​​​When I finally got out to the courtyard for lunch I was surprised to see Alexia and Frank sitting on the steps we normally occupied with Brittany who was actually talking to Alexia. I could just about make out Alexia’s face, noticing how it was too void of any expression. She was trying her best to be polite but I tell be the way her lips were set that she was as puzzled by Brittany’s sudden interest in her as I was. Brittany walked away before she noticed me to my relief.

​​​‘What did she want?’ I asked when I approached them, sitting down beside Alexia.

​​​‘Something about a party on Friday, apparently she would be delighted if I went…I didn’t know she even knew I existed.’ Alexia shrugged, not too concerned as she stole some of Frank’s fries.
​​
​​​‘She even asked if I wanted to come.’ Frank added, sounding a little pleased.

​​​‘Why would you want to go Frank? The idiots who go do nothing but drink and fuck around.’

​​​Frank shrugged.

​​​‘You never know, maybe they’re more fun than we give them credit for.’ Alexia chimed in thoughtfully, before shrugging again.

​​​‘Do you want to go?’ I asked, surprised.

​​​‘I don’t know, I’m just saying…I suppose it would be fun to crash and see what exactly they get up to at those parties.’

​​​‘We can go if you want.’

​​​Frank looked up happily at my words.

​​​‘Nice’ was all he said before shovelling more fries into his mouth.

​​​‘Don’t blame me if it turns out to be a bad idea though’ I muttered darkly, dread filling my stomach telling me that the party would be a big mistake.