Time After Time

Chapter 3

Lexi

Over the next couple of weeks, Lexi keeps her eye out for Erik. His disinterest will not stand with her. Her thoughts are stormy and seem to be taking a slightly obsessive turn. I haven't seen him anywhere before school. I don't see him during lunch. The only time I lay eyes on him is during first period and study hall and he is to distracted by Jade fawning all over him during those times. I am distracted looking for him at every opportunity, she fumes to herself. By the end of the current week, she can detect Emma's frustration at her distraction and Cass, well Lexi is just getting amused vibes from her. Neither one is improving her mood, so she turns on them, pointing at Cass "First of all, it isn't funny!" Then to Emma " And you, stop getting annoyed at me!" They both just stare at her for a moment, then break into laughter. Well Emma does, Cass barely lets a giggle escape.
"It doesn't get less strange, the more often she does it, huh?" Emma giggles, elbowing Cass, who nods and smiles in agreement.

Lexi just sticks her tongue out at them and walks off to her first class. She takes the same seat she has since school started, and as she is rummaging around in her bag, she notices someone standing beside me. Looking up, she sees Erik, smiling politely down at her.
"Do you mind if I sit in this seat beside you?" He inquires.
She shakes her head and tells him " No I don't mind."
He sits down and turning to face her says "I am Erik, by the way, and you are Alexia?"
"Lexi" She corrects him.
"Lexi, then. Nice to meet you."
She stares at him, wondering what has changed. He didn't seem to know she existed for the past couple of weeks. Out of the corner of her eye, Lexi sees a flash of red, and turns to find Jade glaring daggers at me. She doesn't need to even try to sense her mood, it is clear. Jade actually wants to kill her.
"Nice to meet you too. If you don't mind me asking, where did you move here from?" She asks, ignoring Jade and focusing solely on Erik.
He hesitates for just a second, before he answers " Oh here and there, we move around alot. Last place was Vancouver."

Just then the bell rings, signaling the beginning of class, cutting off our conversation. We have a pop quiz, so the rest of the period is occupied taking that. When it is time to head to the next period, Erik walks beside her instead of in front of her like the first day, or with Jade, which Lexi has noticed he had taken to doing after that. When he turns left to head to his next class he says "See you at lunch."
She just stares after him, what does he mean see you at lunch, is he going to sit with her? She hasn't seen him at lunch since the first day. Come to think of it, she hasn't seem Jade either. She notices Emma and Cass waiting for her up ahead and start that way.
" Umm, excuse me, did I just see you talking to Erik?" Emma's time is overly excited, which is normal for her. Cass is just standing there, a small smile on her face.
Lexi nods " Yea, he sat beside me in first period and we talked, and right before he walked away just now, he said he would see me at lunch." She shrugs, still not exactly certain what that means.
Emma squeals and Cass shushes her.
"Sorry! That is just exciting! He is so cute!" She has lowered her voice, but only slightly.
Shaking her head at Emma, Lexi heads into class.

Later at lunchtime, she walks into the cafeteria and see Emma and Cass already sitting at the table with none other than Erik. So I guess he did mean he would sit with us at lunch, Lexi thinks. She slides into her seat, and all three of them turn their heads towards her and smile.
" What you all talking about?" She asks casually, but actually Lexi feels a little concerned. Emma has a huge mouth. She doesn't mean to, she just gets excited.
Cass looks at Lexi and makes an expression that can only be described as cringe.
" Oh! I was just telling Eric about how you can pick up on people's moods and stuff!" Emma beams at her. Lexis heart sinks. Of course she was. Because that is what she wants the new hot guy to know. That she is a total weirdo. Great.
Erik turns and smiles at her. "It sounds fascinating, Lexi."
She stops trying to burn a whole through Emma with her eyes and turns her attention to him. "Oh, it's nothing really. It is easy to read what people are feeling if you pay attention to their expressions and stuff, that's all."
Erik stares at her for a moment and nods in agreement, not saying anything more about it. Thank God.
It is obvious that Cass is uncomfortable, and soon she realizes why when she hears her speak " Lexi, I forgot my notes for class, do you have yours?"
Lexi stares at her, not understanding for a moment.Oh! Bless her heart! She actually spoke without reason, and on top of that, told a lie, just to change the subject. She could kiss her!
" I left the in my locker, I will get them for you after lunch." Lexi replies, squeezing her hand under the table. Cass nods, looking down at her food.
Emma prattles on about the upcoming homecoming dance this weekend, previous subject forgotten. Cass nods and even asked Emma a few questions. Lexi winks at Cass, grateful to her for keeping Emma occupied.
"So Erik, how do you like it here so far?" Emma asks.
He looks at Lexi and tilts his head " I think I might really like it here, after all."
She tries not to flush. The lunch bell rings and everyone starts to gather up their stuff, before we all walk out, Erik lightly touches her arm to stop her. Lexi hangs back with him for a moment and he asks "Would you like to hang out after school?"
She is surprised, but agrees. " I have cheer practice after school, but after it is over, we can."
He nods and says " Okay, let's head to study hall, then."
Erik walks with the three girls, Emma breaking off to head to her glass, making large eyes at Lexi and Cass behind Erik's back as she does.
As they enter study hall, Lexi sees Jade sitting at the table her and Erik normally share. Lexi hesitates for a moment, not sure what to do. Will Erik sit with her and Cass, or Jade.

Shooting her an apologetic look, Erik murmurs to her softly " I better take care of this."
Lexi nods, although it hurts her pride to watch him walk over to sit with Jade. Cass gently pulls on her arm, and they go sit at their normal table. They are trying to listen in to what Erik and Jade are saying, but they can't make it out. Jade does not look thrilled though.

The rest of the day passes in a blur. After cheerleading practice, which is filled with glares from Jade, more so that normal. Lexi lets Emma in on what she is doing this evening, Cass already knows, she told her in study hall. She is overly excited and Lexi has to promise to let her know all the details. Finally Cass drags Emma off and Lexi goes and rinses off quickly in the girls locker room, freshen up her makeup, and head outs to meet Erik. She shoots her mom a text, letting her know She is going to eat with some friends, that way her mom won't worry. When She approaches the school parking lot, Erik is waiting for her by her car. How does he know which car is mine? She wonders. He probably saw you get out of it before school, dummy. She tells herself.
" You ready?" He asks, smiling
" Sure, where are we off too?" Smiling back at him, she thinks once again how good looking he is.
" Well I thought you might be hungry, so I went and got food while you were practicing, you look very cute out there by the way, and thought we could have a picnic of sorts."
Internally, Lexi preens at his words, cute huh? Thrilled that he was watching her during practice, she gives him a flirtatious smile " I am starving actually, so that sounds perfect. I know just the spot." Gesturing for him to follow, they head out past the parking lot, over to the park next to the school. Weaving their way through the play ground and past the tennis , they head towards a short trail that leads to an open meadow that has a pond with a bridge over it. A few ducks are swimming in the pond, and there are a few picnic tables nearby.
"See?" Lexi says, spreading her arms wide and doing a slow circle. When she stops and turns to him, he isn't looking around, but staring directly at her.
" I do." He continues staring for a moment, before heading over to a picnic table and spreading out the food.
She joins him and they eat and talk, asking each other questions. Lexi tells him about her mom and Lizzie, and touches briefly on how her dad passed away last year. Erik doesn't share much about himself, he just keeps asking questions about her . Before either of them know it, the sun is starting to set.
Looking around, she reluctantly tells him "I should be getting back, my mom will eventually start to wonder where I am."
Erik nods and walks her back to her car. Before parting ways, he lightly touches her arm
"I really enjoyed this evening."
" Me too ." She smiles at him. On impulse, she asks him a question she has been wondering about. " Are you going to the homecoming dance?"
Erik looks uncomfortable, but replies " Yes, I am, with Jade."
Frustration and anger fills Lexi, what is he doing? Why even ask her to hang out after school if he is going to the dance with Jade?
She struggles to control her emotions, and simply stares " Oh, I see."
Erik rushes on to explain "She had already asked me two weeks ago, and we are just going as friends, it isn't a date. She was the first person to talk to me here and she really has been very nice to me. I know she can be a bit much though."
Understatement of the year, Lexi thinks to herself. Out loud she only says " Of course, I understand. Well, I will see you there then."
He nods slowly " Do you have a date?"
She tilts her head up proudly "Emma and Cass are my dates."
Erik hold back a smile at her pride and lightly touching her arm again says "Perhaps you will save me a dance?"
She smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes "Perhaps."
Turning to go, she gets into her car, not allowing him the satisfaction of seeing her look back.