the art of

twelve » rebellion

"P-Project a-as-aside, how am I-I g-going to st-stay at y-your house?" Alex asked as he swirled the boba in his milk tea drink. He was sitting at the edge of her bed, watching her rummage her closet for blankets and pillows.

"Well, my parents own a couple of real estate abroad and due to a recent change in laws, they have to sign some documents there. The estate manager that they hired can't sign the documents on their behalf, so they have to take the trip over. They said it will take three weeks until they finish up. And because they will be in the company of other people, they are going to be on their best behavior and not go for each other's throats. You know, the facade that parents portray with guests." Alice finally found a dark blue blanket to match the pillow and bed sheets. "So, with that said, this is yours for the next 3 weeks. We have an extra inflatable bed that you can sleep on. The only thing that changes is that we have to wake up a bit earlier to drop off my brother to his school and that we have to pick him up after class. Well.. not we, technically. You don't have to, if you don't want to."

"N-No, it's ok-okay. I w-would be h-happy to." Alex smiled at her but then realization took over his mind. "Wait, t-three weeks? I t-thought I was o-only staying f-for one week?"

"Oh... right." Alice stopped moving around. "Do you want to stay for 3 weeks then?"

"H-How do I e-explain that t-to my parents?"

"Tell them the teacher extended the assignment or something. We have the assignment's instructions right here. We can just take out the deadline from one week and add two more weeks. Do they know any other teachers or parents who go to our school?"

"No."

"Then it's settled. Here," Alice opened up Photoshop on her laptop, quickly erased the deadline date, added in the new one, and printed the assignment. "For your parents. Oh, and..." She signed the area where Alice's parents are supposed to sign. "Now, they know that my parents are on board too."

"Wow. Y-You're..." Alex was stumped. He had never seen someone go beyond their way to help him like this.

"I gave my brother a gift card to keep quiet, so every base is covered. How's that?" Alice plopped down next to Alex and took a sip of her drink.

"You d-did all this f-for just three w-weeks... f-for me?"

"Of course, what are friends for? Especially when a friend needs some serious help. Plus, these three weeks aren't just for you," Alice teased, "I can finally get a mental break, you know?"

"Still, I-I really a-appreciate you, Alice." Alex pulled Alice in for a warm hug.

Alice stilled in his arms briefly, feeling the blush tingling on her cheekbones. "Of-Of course. I'm always here for you."

Pulling away, Alex tilted his head leftwards. His eyes peered on Alice's cheekbones. "You-You're blushing."

"No, I'm not. It's just hot in here because the window is closed. I've been running around," Alice mumbled as she got up and started opening up the windows.

"Sure," Alex chuckled. "W-Whatever y-you say, Thumbelina."

"T-Thumbelina?!" Alice turned around from the window. "That's new."

"I don't know," Alex laughed and closed his eyes as he fell back onto her bed. "I j-just feel r-really h-happy all of th-the s-sudden."

Alice rested against the windowsill, peering at the boy whose legs were dangling off of her bed. She knew that she was, indirectly, using him. For his friendship, for his company, and the concept of him. And, in a way, he was using her as his getaway from the chaos that runs wild at home. She was offering him a speck of solitude—an island of peace. He was offering her the attention that she desperately craved. For someone to listen to her speak, someone who would stand by her side, and show others that here! I have someone who enjoys being with me. She felt rebellious, as silly as that sounds. It felt as if she was going against the predetermined fate of suffering that was following her. She felt rebellious as she cherished the moments of serotonin that synapses in her mind all due to his company. It was during the times where they laughed, grabbed food together, walked to class, completed homework, or listened to music.

Now, in her bedroom, she was plotting a rebellion with an army of two.