Born to Kill

Chapter 29

Alexis walked through the hallways of school with the events of last night playing on repeat in her mind. There was Jacks and Steele's fight, the brawl that broke out, the guys immediately coming to her rescue – not that she needed it – and then Aaron dragging her away only to have them aimlessly walk around for hours talking. She had begun to notice how he was a lot more willing to talk when it was just the two of them. She never heard him speak longer than two sentences whenever they were around the guys. Usually, Aaron was just telling Axel to shut up.

Unknowingly, Alexis found herself walking in the abandoned east wing. Her hands trailed against the walls gathering dust. Not too long ago, she discovered the abandoned wing and it had become a place for her to be alone. A few feet away from her, she spotted Beckett sitting by a window.

"Lost in thought?" she said once she got close enough.

"Alexis. When did you get here?" He smiled tiredly. She was surprised he didn't mention their encounter at the diner the day before.

She shrugged, "I was just doing some thinking."

"Me too," he said turning his head back to the window.

Alexis took a seat beside him. "How are you doing?"

"Oh you know, things have been pretty exhausting lately," he sighed.

"Tell me about it," she agreed. She glanced at what Beckett had been so intently looking at out the window. There, out front of the building in the football field, was Vance and Brittany shamelessly making out. "You miss her."

"More than she deserves really," he looked away, turning to Alexis. She noticed the bags under his eyes forming; how each bag only seemed to carry a weight heavier than she could've guessed. "I know I'm better off without her but I can't seem to shake off this feeling that now I'm without her, what else do I have left?" He shook his head. "It's silly, never mind."

"Hey, it's not. She was a big part of your life and despite how it ended, you can't forget about it." Alexis assured him. "You have so much going on for you; you'll find your path, I'm sure."

"I hope so," he said genuinely feeling lost.

"You know you really shouldn't bring yourself down like that. We might not have known each other for long but I've seen enough to know that you're a good person and I don't say that about just anyone," she smiled, honestly telling him her thoughts.

"Thank you, Alexis." He chuckled softly at the thought that here was Alexis, so mysterious and so bold, giving him her own sentiments on his life. "That means a lot." After a moment, he continued, "Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

"When I first met you, you were this normal girl in the mall; you had your nose buried in a book and you totally put me in my place. The next day, you show up in this school all anew and I find out you've been going here for the longest time. You don't let anyone affect you; you don't care about bullies or what other people think; you beat up varsity players and embarrass cheerleaders. I don't think anyone can get close enough to you to really know you," he paused.

"What are you trying to say?" Alexis's brows furrowed.

"I guess I'm just wondering why you make it out to be that you're this tough, fearless, bold girl who doesn't need anyone yet here I am with you and I can't help but think otherwise," he tried to say.

Alexis didn't reply immediately. She thought about what Beckett was saying, her thoughts eventually returning to Kaden's voice calling her soft. So, maybe she was turning soft; she didn't mind, she kind of liked it. Being an almost normal teenager was becoming too real, she was getting too deep and too invested into this lie of a life she was building– and still, she wouldn't dare chose to leave it.