Step one, you say you need to talk.
Alex was glaring at me. I tried to hold my book higher. Paper Towns, anyone? We had to find Margot. It was important.
Alex smacked the book out of my hand. "Hey!" I stood quicker than I normally do, which involves the process of checking the fridge.
"Your page is 169. I've read this book and I can and will tell you how it ends if you disagree."
"Satan?" I looked them up and down.
"We need to talk."
He walks, you say sit down it's just a talk.
I turned away. "No."
"Well you see what happens to Margot is-"
"Okay I'll talk."
He smiles politely you back at you. You stare politely right on through.
And to really make them believe it, I gave Alex my personal favorite Chesire cat grin. They gave me a creepy ass smile.
Some sort of window to your right, as he goes left and you stay right.
Alex studied me like one studies a suicidal puppy. But there was a flicker of something in their eyes. Not pity... Understanding.
"You can't do this to yourself."
Between the lines of fear and blame,
"I'll do what I want." I liked Alex. Really liked them. But to try to explain everything to them? Fat chance.
And you begin to wonder why you came.
"Damien..." Alex ran their hands through their hair. "I'm worried about you. Like, really worried."
"Don't be."
I turned away, not really caring if Alex spoiled the ending. But then they grabbed my wrist. And I made the mistake of wincing.
"I think you misunderstood me." Alex's voice had a new power to it. "We're going to talk. Because I'm worried about you." She rolled my sleeve up. "And apparently I have good reason to be."
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend.
"You weren't supposed to find out."
"Well I did." Alex snapped.
Somewhere along in the bitterness.
I whipped around to face them. "I'm sorry you found my scars. Really, I am. But I'm not sure I can care."
And I would have stayed up with you all night.
