The Boy Behind a Mask
I
A lot of people say change is good.
Yet many say change is bad.
Alex says change is terrifying.
But it's something he has to get through.
Alexander Gaskarth has just moved from Baltimore to Essex after something personal happened in America. He can only hope his secret stays hidden this time.
'Hey, are you alright? You look lost.' A chirpy noise says behind Alex and he turns around quickly,
'Um, yeah, I am. I just moved here, I don't know what I'm doing.' He laughs,
'Oh my god you're American! Where abouts?!' The girl asks happily,
'Baltimore.' Alex smiles,
'Awesome! I'm originally from Florida. I moved here about 12 year ago now. I'm Cassadee by the way, what's your name? Why are you in shitty old Essex?' She grins,
'Thats cool. I'm Alex. I used to live here but I moved when I was 1. Me and my mum hated Baltimore so we decided to come back.' Alex lies with a smile, pushing his fringe out of his eyes,
'Fair enough. So, want me to show you around and stuff?' Cassadee asks and Alex smiles again,
'That'd be really great, thank you.' He says,
'Awesome. If you like, you can come sit with me and my friends at lunch. You seem like you'd fit in well with us.' Cassadee says happily.
---
Alex powered through the first 2 lessons, ignoring the stupid comments about his accent and the rudeness of the teachers. But now he has PE... Not good.
'Excuse me Miss,' Alex says nervously as he walks into the PE office, 'my name is Alex Gaskarth... I don't know if my records were given to you, but I'm in your 3rd period PE class. I was told I would be able to change in the PE office by Miss McDougall...' He says quietly, playing with the sleeves of his hoodie,
'Ah, yes. Of course. Nice to meet you Alex, I'm coach Williams. You'll be able to change and shower in the private room, just there. I hope that will make you feel more comfortable. How's your day been?' The red haired teacher asks and Alex smiles,
'Not great. You're the nicest teacher I've met today. My English teacher didn't even realise I was new and my history teacher said something along the lines of 'oh, we've been warned about you, Alex. Children these days.' So yeah, not great to be honest.' Alex sighs,
'Let me guess, you had Mr Way and Mr Delonge.' She smirks,
'Yeah...' Alex says, raising an eyebrow,
'They are the grumpiest old bastards in this entire school. The other teachers are nicer, I promise.' She smiles.
---
'Hi Cassadee.' Alex says quietly and the excitable girl turns round and grins at him,
'Hey, come sit. How were your first lessons?' She asks,
'Alright.' Alex shrugs and she nods,
'Right, guys, this is my... No, our new friend, Alex. Alex, this is my boyfriend Rian.' Cassadee smiles, motioning to the guy next to her,
'Nice to meet you mate.' He smiles,
'You too.' Alex nods,
'That's Zack and his girlfriend, Taylor.' Cassadee continues, pointing to a big built, muscly guy and a small, brunette haired girl with purple tints in her hair, Zack smiles shyly and Taylor beams at Alex,
'Its just Tay. Lovely to meet you.' She says happily and Alex can't help but notice the contrast between her and her seemingly shy boyfriend,
'You too. Your hairs really cool.' Alex smiles and she grins at him,
'And that's Jack.' Cassadee says before Tay can thank Alex, nodding her head towards the boy who seems completely uninterested,
'Jack dude.' Rian sighs,
'What?' Jack asks,
'Say hello.' Zack says before Rian can get angry at him,
'Hi.' Jack mutters and Alex chews on his lip nervously, 'See you later.' The black and white haired boy says quickly before standing up and storming off,
'Did I do something wrong?' Alex whispers and Cassadee rubs his back,
'No. Of course not Alex. Jack's just strange when it comes to new people. He'll warm up to you.' Rian says, looking sadly at Alex,
'He's been through some rough friendships. It took him a while to get used to us.' Tay explains and Alex nods, running a hand through his hair.
Yet many say change is bad.
Alex says change is terrifying.
But it's something he has to get through.
Alexander Gaskarth has just moved from Baltimore to Essex after something personal happened in America. He can only hope his secret stays hidden this time.
'Hey, are you alright? You look lost.' A chirpy noise says behind Alex and he turns around quickly,
'Um, yeah, I am. I just moved here, I don't know what I'm doing.' He laughs,
'Oh my god you're American! Where abouts?!' The girl asks happily,
'Baltimore.' Alex smiles,
'Awesome! I'm originally from Florida. I moved here about 12 year ago now. I'm Cassadee by the way, what's your name? Why are you in shitty old Essex?' She grins,
'Thats cool. I'm Alex. I used to live here but I moved when I was 1. Me and my mum hated Baltimore so we decided to come back.' Alex lies with a smile, pushing his fringe out of his eyes,
'Fair enough. So, want me to show you around and stuff?' Cassadee asks and Alex smiles again,
'That'd be really great, thank you.' He says,
'Awesome. If you like, you can come sit with me and my friends at lunch. You seem like you'd fit in well with us.' Cassadee says happily.
---
Alex powered through the first 2 lessons, ignoring the stupid comments about his accent and the rudeness of the teachers. But now he has PE... Not good.
'Excuse me Miss,' Alex says nervously as he walks into the PE office, 'my name is Alex Gaskarth... I don't know if my records were given to you, but I'm in your 3rd period PE class. I was told I would be able to change in the PE office by Miss McDougall...' He says quietly, playing with the sleeves of his hoodie,
'Ah, yes. Of course. Nice to meet you Alex, I'm coach Williams. You'll be able to change and shower in the private room, just there. I hope that will make you feel more comfortable. How's your day been?' The red haired teacher asks and Alex smiles,
'Not great. You're the nicest teacher I've met today. My English teacher didn't even realise I was new and my history teacher said something along the lines of 'oh, we've been warned about you, Alex. Children these days.' So yeah, not great to be honest.' Alex sighs,
'Let me guess, you had Mr Way and Mr Delonge.' She smirks,
'Yeah...' Alex says, raising an eyebrow,
'They are the grumpiest old bastards in this entire school. The other teachers are nicer, I promise.' She smiles.
---
'Hi Cassadee.' Alex says quietly and the excitable girl turns round and grins at him,
'Hey, come sit. How were your first lessons?' She asks,
'Alright.' Alex shrugs and she nods,
'Right, guys, this is my... No, our new friend, Alex. Alex, this is my boyfriend Rian.' Cassadee smiles, motioning to the guy next to her,
'Nice to meet you mate.' He smiles,
'You too.' Alex nods,
'That's Zack and his girlfriend, Taylor.' Cassadee continues, pointing to a big built, muscly guy and a small, brunette haired girl with purple tints in her hair, Zack smiles shyly and Taylor beams at Alex,
'Its just Tay. Lovely to meet you.' She says happily and Alex can't help but notice the contrast between her and her seemingly shy boyfriend,
'You too. Your hairs really cool.' Alex smiles and she grins at him,
'And that's Jack.' Cassadee says before Tay can thank Alex, nodding her head towards the boy who seems completely uninterested,
'Jack dude.' Rian sighs,
'What?' Jack asks,
'Say hello.' Zack says before Rian can get angry at him,
'Hi.' Jack mutters and Alex chews on his lip nervously, 'See you later.' The black and white haired boy says quickly before standing up and storming off,
'Did I do something wrong?' Alex whispers and Cassadee rubs his back,
'No. Of course not Alex. Jack's just strange when it comes to new people. He'll warm up to you.' Rian says, looking sadly at Alex,
'He's been through some rough friendships. It took him a while to get used to us.' Tay explains and Alex nods, running a hand through his hair.