ARABELLA.“I told you, didn’t I? I told you there was something strange about Veronica and Sam. “ Those are the first words Dex says to me as he takes the seat beside me, angrily dropping his bag to the floor and I look around us to make sure he hasn’t attracted any attention before I turn back to him.“Wow. Calm down. And keep your voice down. “ I tell him and he sighs, taking too many deep breaths.“Not even a hello?” I smile and he shakes his head. “Sorry. I was just too pissed and needed to let that out. “After another exhale, he says, “Where were you last night? I tried reaching you, but you weren’t picking up. “ My cheeks immediately heat up at the remembrance of where I was last night. More like who I was with and what we did.“I wasn’t with my phone. Sorry. “ I clear my throat before Dex catches on and he gives me a weird look but doesn’t speak further about it.“So what were you saying about Veronica and Dex?” I bring up the previous topic as a means to distract him and it se
ARABELLA. “Lay back. “ I tell Alexander as I pull up a pillow behind and he shakes his head. “I can take care of myself, Arabella. ““Don’t be stubborn. You’ll shut your mouth and lie back. “ I say with a scowl, and he chuckles as he complies with my instruction for the first time. “That was rude. “ He utters when I remove my hand from the pillow and I shrug. “It was needed. “I bend down and squeeze the soaked towel, making sure I have every last drip of the water before I gently place the folded towel over Alex’s forehead. “Not too hot right?” I ask him, glancing at his face and he nods. “You’re treating me like a sick person. ““Aren’t you one?” I retort and he chuckles weakly. “I’m not. I’m just having a terrible day. ““Are you always in such denial?” I mutter as I remove my hand from his forehead but he doesn’t say a word. I sigh and take a seat beside him on the bed. “You’re getting sick, Alex. You’ll only get better if you treat it before it worsens. ““Hmm, “ He hums as hi
ARABELLA.I had no idea what we were going to do when Alex asked to sneak out of school but I definitely didn’t expect it to be us sitting on a bench in a quiet park he drove us to.A few children are running around and laughing with their parents not far away, along with some couples standing under the trees, doing couple things I guess.I turn to Alex and his arms are crossed against his chest, his head raised to the sky with his eyes closed.“What are we doing here? “ I ask and he opens his eyes. He turns his head to me. “Relaxing. ““Relaxing?” I repeat, and he chuckles as he closes his eyes again.“I think I wanted you around. “ He mutters and that makes my heart skip a beat.“You did?”“I might enjoy your company far more than you realize. “ He says, and it takes me by surprise. He enjoys my company? We rarely talk, though. When we’re together, our hands never leave each other. I guess that’s something to enjoy.“You’re being surprisingly nice today. “ I tell him and he opens one
DEX.Arabella said she’ll be back before school ended and it ended exactly thirty minutes ago but she’s still not here. I wonder if she’s okay. She has never missed school, and she didn’t reply to any of the texts I sent after the first one.“Dex! There you are. “ The yells of my name interrupt my thoughts and I turn my head to see Millie approaching me. She stops in front of me with a big smile, panting lightly. “Hey. ““Hey. You’re still around. “ I mumble and she nods. “Just checking out a few things before I leave. ““Oh, alright. “ I mutter, looking everywhere but her face.“Hey, “ she chuckles, reaching out to hit my arm gently. I drop my gaze on her and she says, “You never said anything about what I asked you earlier. “Knowing what she means, I clear my throat. “Right. That. “ I take a few minutes to access her face, wondering how she’d take my next words. Knowing however she reacts is better than me stringing her along, I open my mouth. “I can’t come. I’m sorry. “Her smile d
ARABELLA.Fear grips me and I lift my head to see Ashley standing before me with lifted brows and arms crossed against her chest.I straighten my back and smile. “Oh hey, Ashley. “She narrows her eyes. “Hey? That’s all you have to say? Hey?” Fuck. What’s happening? Did she see something? Heard something? Did Dex come here? My eyes move across the room in search of the boy, but he isn’t here.“My eyes are up here. “ Ashley snaps, bringing my attention back to her, and I put on a pleading look. “Sorry. I know I’m late…”“You came with Alex?” She says, interrupting my words and I open my mouth with no words slipping through.She saw.“That bag. “ She nods towards the bag I have the extra clothes in. “He took you somewhere?”“I—“ Shit. What do I say? “Yeah. Um. I just. Dex got busy and Alex, um… He was heading home anyway so he offered. Haha. And this… is for Dex. He forgot it. It’s for his sister, Maddy. “ I chuckle awkwardly and the blank look on Ashley’s face tells me she doesn’t belie
VERONICA. I walk down the hallway after leaving the last class I was sure Sam would be him but didn’t find him. I open my phone to see if he’s responded to my text but he hasn’t and I let out a sigh as I stare at the carefully wrapped sandwich in my other hand.I wanted to leave him this before I get busy with my classes but he’s nowhere to be found. I continue down the hallway and take the first corner I see then immediately step back, moving behind the wall when I see Sam leaning against a door with a girl before him. They seem pretty close as she slaps a hand on his arm, letting out a laugh and my stomach drops when Sam laughs along, pushing a strand of her hair away from her face. What the hell is going on? Who the hell is that girl and why’s she touching him that way? Why’s Sam touching her that way?They continue to talk and unable to stomach any more of it, I move out of my hiding spot. My first instinct is to walk away but deciding I don’t want to, I stride towards them and
ARABELLA.I haven’t seen Peter around since the last time and I had almost forgotten he once existed in my life until today. He told me he has something important to say and wants me to follow him to the school field. Knowing he can do nothing to me — and if he eventually tries, I’d not hesitate to use my defenses — I follow him there and I now stand before the guy who I once thought as good.“Alright. What is it that you have to say to me? I’m running late for class. “ I say impatiently and I watch as he brings out a necklace from his pocket. He waves it between us. "Remember this?"I scoff as I recognize the jewelry as the one I got him for his last birthday. I can still remember how excited I was to get it for him, but that’s all in the past now."Yeah. What about it?" I speak nonchalantly and he extends it to me. "I want you to have it back. Since we broke up and all. "I shouldn’t have found those words that funny, but I can’t hold back the laugh that drops from my mouth. "You’re
ARABELLA. "What do you think you’re doing?" He snaps as he walks in, dropping the cup he has in hand on his desk as he continues his stride towards me and I stutter when he stands before me. "I didn’t mean to… I was just…" Realizing I’ve got no good excuse for rummaging through his stuff, I shake my head. "I’m sorry." "Step back," He utters harshly without acknowledging my apology and I do as I’m told. I watch as Alex bends to grab the frame off the floor, where I had mistakenly dropped it, but thankfully it isn’t cracked. I hope. I can’t take a good look since it’s turned to him. He raises his head, and that irritation is still clear in his eyes. He doesn’t hide the anger in his words as he says, "I leave you for some minutes and you start going through my stuff? The hell?" "I’m sorry." I whisper gently and he shakes his head as he points to the door. "Leave." My eyes dilate in surprise and my mouth hangs in shock as only a word slips through my parted lips. "What?" "I said leav