The Turn of Truth

• day one •

Was that a dream?

The next morning, while Ray, Irina, Shane and I are going to our classes (Irina and I have Eco, Shane and Ray have Chem - both classes are on the same floor), we're talking about a movie the four of us are going to watch this weekend, when I bump into someone.

I've never seen him around in school.

"Crap, sorry," the brown-haired boy mutters before looking up. "My bad."

"Are you new?" I muse. "I've never seen you around."

"It's my second day today," he smiles at me.

"But I've seen you somewhere," says Irina.

"Hey, I know you too," says the new kid. "You're, uh - Matthews! Right? Something ... Izzy?"

"Irina," she corrects.

"He's a family friend," says Irina. "I'm Irina Matthews," she extends a hand towards the brunet. "These are my friends - Cassie, Ray, and Shane. And guys, this is, uh -"

"Alex," the new boy says. "Alex Richards."

"What class do you have?" Irina asks him.

"Eco," he answers.

"You were going the wrong way in that case," I observe. "Come with us, we'll lead the way."

When we enter, we're a tad late. Mr Russel gives us an impatient nod to enter, but as we do, he says, loud enough for the whole room to hear, "Is that Mr Richards? Do you mind coming here a bit, boy?"

"Oh, here we go," I think I hear Alex say before putting on a wide (and fake) smile and walking down the aisle to the teacher.

Irina and I rush to take our seats right at the back of the room.

"Boys and girls," says Mr Russel, "I'm delighted to tell you that we have a new student joining us from now on. Mr Alexander Richards. I hope all of you will help him feel at ease."

Why do teachers do that? Do they think they're helping? It's only intimidating, if anything.

---

"So, Alex," I say as we take our seats on the usual green table. "Tell us about you."

"My name is Alex Richards, I'm fifteen years old, and I'm into vagina."

"How nice," I laugh. "That's quite a description."

~

After coming back from school, I run to my room, plug my earplugs into my phone and wait for Kelly Clarkson to fill my ears with 'Stronger.' I reach out to the bedside desk to pick up my fresh copy of If I Stay by Gayle Forman. I stop only when my phone rings.

I read the caller ID before picking up.

"Ray!" I chirp. "What's up? Couldn't even survive seven hours without me?"

"My parents are fighting," says Ray, my best friend, in a dark tone. "Again."

"Oh, shit, I'm so sorry. Do you... do you want to come over?"

"Are you sure your mother won't mind?"

"Are you kidding, Ray? Just come over."

He barely takes five minutes to be here. He looks upset, and I don't like seeing him upset. The entire three hours that he's here for, he laughs a lot, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Did you know that Alex kid lives nearby?"

"Really? Nope, I didn't. Why don't you call him over?"