Lost Connections

Chapter 7

~Alex~

"Yep." I walked out of Loel's room and said bye to her parents on the way out of the house. I hate how quick he can kill my mood. I hate him. My thoughts swarm over my head and get the best of me.

She's going to choose him again. He's going to tell her everything and twist up the story. She's not gonna be comfortable around me and completely cut me off. Everything was so great, we were talking and studying and he just. UGH. I felt a few raindrops on my arm. Perfect. I roll my eyes and walk faster. Me and Loel live in the same neighborhood, her house is like a second home to me.

Once I'm finally home, I take a deep breath and get prepared to act like everything is ok. I love my mother and I know I can talk to her; I just can't handle completely breaking down in tears every night about the same situation.

I ended up calling Braydon and telling him how the study session went, and other things and went to bed right after.

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"Good morning students and staff, please excuse the disruption, but we ask that all teachers check your email. Again, teachers check your emails. Thank you." The intercom announced.

"Wonder what that's about?" Loel turns to me. "Oh, probably a school trip. We do one every year around this time." I say, still focused on my paper. "Hey... Did I do something to upset you?" She asks, and not long after puts her hand on mine to stop me from writing, due to me not responding.

Heat rushed over my cheeks and I was desperate to keep my eyes on my paper at this point. She can't know that she makes me blush. I then looked at her hand and saw her face slowly get closer to the desk as she looked at me. Fuck. Why does she do this. "I uh- I'm just kinda tired. I didn't get any sleep last night from all the rain." I lied. I sleep like a baby when it rains, I just had to make up an excuse for acting distant. It's stupid to be mad, right? It's not like she even knows I like her. I wonder what she's feeling right now. If she's also talking to herself. Her eyes seem unsure, I can sense that she knows I'm lying. Which is weird because she lost all memory of me, so anyone who'd just met me would believe me when I say I'm scared of something, unless there's evidence that proves otherwise.

"What?" I pause. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask, still not making eye contact. "Better question. Why aren't you looking at me at all?" She raises her eyebrow. She already knows the answer, her cocky look says it all. So why is she torturing me?

Usually, I'd have something sly to say... like "take a picture, it lasts longer" and we'd laugh about it. But this is different. "Because-"

"Alright class, thank you for waiting patiently while I read my email, cut the chit chat, I have an announcement." Mr. Bradly interrupted. That might be the first nicest thing he's ever done for me, I mean, of course he doesn't know it, but what does that matter?

"We are having yet another field trip this year." He spoke. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if someone played a bunch of cricket noises, because no one said a word. "Well, let's not all scream of joy at once." He said after the dead silence. He sighed and proceeded to get into more detail. "This trip will be a three-day trip at a camp, the bus will leave as soon as morning announcements end on Monday the 14th. As usual, you will have to bring back a signed permission slip to go on this trip, I advise bringing pocket money as well. Are we all clear?"

"Um, how will cabins be separated?" A random student asks.

"5 a cabin, boys on one side of camp and girls on the other. As for non-binary people, there are 3 cabins beside the cafeteria."

"Sounds fun. I've never been camping before." Loel smiles. Except she has.

"I can't believe you got me into this!" Loel pointed her finger aggressively at me. "Oh, come on, It's fun. We do this every year, and I thought I'd be fun if you tagged along this time." I smirked getting the tent ready. "You gonna help?" I asked her, she was sitting on a tree stump with her arms crossed.

"God, did my brother rub off on you?" I said, jokingly horrified. We laughed and I helped her off the stump, but she tripped on a rock and made us fall right on top of the tent that I was almost finished with.

"Fuck! Loel!" I laid on the ground, rubbing my forehead. Of course, I didn't realize she was on top of me until I ignored the pain and opened my eyes to see her straddling me while touching on my forehead. "I didn't mean to, does it hurt? Actually, serves you right, I hope it leaves a mark!" She laughs, getting off of me.

You would have thought I was paralyzed by a spider or something, but I wasn't. I was laying there, my eyes were wide open, and my face was probably redder than my bruise. "You gonna get up or do you want me to play along with your acting?" She said, holding her hand out for me to take it.

By the time I was done daydreaming, she was working on an assignment that Mr. Bradly had passed out. It's so weird that she doesn't remember. It's like she's here, but she's not here. Apart of me needed this, and a part of me didn't. The best friend was the part that didn't need this. She's lost every memory of us together as best friends. And I'm left to deal with how we basically don't have that connection anymore because of some crash. But the part of me that wants to be her girlfriend is semi grateful. I get to start over, not make that dumb mistake I made the night of the crash. Not get too close to her so she won't only see me as her best friend, but more. It's selfish, yes, but I can't control what's happened. I can only control how she will view me now.

My phone rung in my pocket. "Miss Brookes! Your phone should be off."

"Yeah, sorry." I pulled my phone out and turned it off after reading my message.

Braydon: We need to talk. After school, the park beside your house.