Behind The Scenes

Second

WARNING: May be mentions of abuse, panic attacks, trauma, blood, etc. If you are sensitive to these topics, please don't read.

Lia POV:

He lifted his head, revealing beautiful eyes. He had a well-cleaned bruise on his right cheek. I wonder how he got it.

"Are you okay? I was running in the hallway when I bumped into you. Did I hit you hard? I'm sorry if I did. I'm clumsy," I said as I helped him up.

He stared at me for a moment, then nodded. I looked at his outfit. It was adorable. I would've kept staring, but the boy looked uncomfortable, so I broke eye contact.

"My name is Dahlia Wolfe, but you can call me Lia. What's yours?"

I spoke calmly so I wouldn't scare him. He tensed, then showed me his schedule.

"Alexander Fox?"

He shook his head. He drew in the air with his fingers. ALEX.

"Alex Fox?"

He nodded.

"Can you speak?"

He looked down.

"I'll take that as a no. That's fine. Well, I'm guessing you're new since I've never seen you. Do you know where your first class is?"

He shook his head.

"We have the same classes. Grab your backpack and follow me."

He flinched at the order and obliged. We speed-walked and made it just as the bell rang. I spotted Bryce.

"Where have you been? I went to Jane's class to meet up with you guys, but she said you left to find me. Where have . . . who's the kid behind you?" Bryce whisper-yelled.

He looked Alex up and down, making my new friend uncomfortable.

"Stop that. Alex, meet Bryce, who knows almost everything about everyone in school except you. Bryce, this is the new kid you texted me about at, like, 4:20 in the morning. Say hi."

"You're the new kid? You're cool," Bryce said, nodding in approval.

Alex smiled, probably relieved that Bryce wasn't crazy. We relaxed as the teacher came in to start the class.

~~Time Skip to Lunch~~

As we walked into the cafeteria, I was engulfed in a massive hug by Jane. After quick introductions, the three of us followed Jane to buy lunch and followed her to the table where Mindy was sitting. Alex froze.

"It's okay. She's a friend of Jane's," I told him, but he didn't seem to hear me.

He walked up to Mindy and flicked her cheek.

"Sit down, Alex. I didn't mean to ditch you this morning. I honestly forgot you were coming to school with me today."

Sitting down, he looked at her, a question in his eyes, and she responded: "Class was fine. Stop being so worried and eat. You weigh as much as a sack of potatoes."

"I take it you two know each other," I said, sitting down.

"Of course, we know each other. Remember I told you my brother doesn't speak?"

"Yes, why?" I asked. Mindy pointed to Alex, who was smiling. "He's your brother?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just surprised. Your parents finally let him out of the house?" She suddenly quieted. "I'm sorry. I forgot."

Mindy doesn't like talking about her parents. She said they were so strict. They only let her go to public school because her brother begged them. Whenever we asked to meet them, Mindy played deaf until we changed the topic.

"It's okay. No harm done." She said, smiling.

Something was off with her smile. It was forced and looked like it hurt. The bell shrieked, signaling the end of lunch.

"Class," I said as Bryce, Alex, Jane, Mindy, and I got up from our table and walked into the hallway.

~~Time Skip to After School~~

We waited in the parking lot. Bianca would be picking Jane, Bryce, and me up. We spotted an approaching limo.

"Is a celebrity in it?" Bryce wondered out loud.

"Oh, no. I thought we would walk home today," Mindy whispered as she grabbed Alex's arm.

He looked pale. The limo stopped before us, and the passenger window rolled down. A cold-looking man stared at each of us.

"Girl, boy, get in," he said.

In a flash, Alex and Mindy were fastening their seat belts.

"You know, they have names. Who do you think you are?" Jane said indignantly.

The man eyed her before stepping out of the vehicle. We backed up. He would have spoken, but Alex got out of the car and grabbed his arm.

He glared at the man, who replied: "Fine. I'll spare them . . . today."

Alex looked at us with a don't-mess-with-him-because-he-will-kill-you-and-I'm-not-joking look. They both got into the limo.

"And for your information," the man said, "I'm their father, so who are you to tell me how to talk to my kids?" And with that, they drove off.

"I hope they're safe," I said out loud.