To Stay} Alex Gaskarth

Day Before It Starts

" You know, normal people don't clean out their lockers out until the end of the school year. Not in September. 

Izzie jumped, folders flying across the old tile floors. " Alexander Gaskarth, could you give me a freaking warning before you just randomly appear?" 

The brunette laughed,  crouching down to help her pick up the ragtag school supplies that had been scattered around.   

" I'm going on vacation. " She lied, feeling guilt settle in the bottom of her stomach. Lying to Alex was something she never enjoyed.  Something about it just tore her apart and it didn't help he had a built in lie detector.  That boy could figure if someone was lying in seconds, it seemed. 

" A vacation? Iz, I've spent every day of the last month with you. Not once have you or any of your family members mentioned a vacation." He caught on, forcing her to meet his eyes

" It was a last-minute thing. Something about travel agencies being cheap right now and Canada seeming like a nice place to visit.

" Oh cool, 'didn't know vacations required you to pack up every single thing in your locker. I've been doing this wrong for my entire life." Alex retorted, raising an eyebrow at her. 

She gulped, gazing intently at her hands. Caught red-handed in her own lie, what could be more embarrassing? 

" Izzie, something's wrong. I can see it in your eyes . Please tell me, you know I know how to handle this stuff first hand. What's going on?" He grabbed her hand, giving it a small squeeze  " I'll beat up anyone you want me too.  Your worth getting suspended for." 

A bitter laugh escaped her mouth  " Will you beat myself up then? I'm afraid I'm my worst enemy."

Alex froze, eyes wide as the words sunk in. Izzie tried to portray to him that she was broken. Not even his best efforts would save her.  The secrets behind her bracelets were too much for anyone to handle.  She was a lost cause. 

Izzie picked up her backpack , looking around the hallway with mixed feelings. So many different things had happened her.  Name calling and complete tear downs of her self-esteem.  Multiple crushes and rosy cheeks.  All she felt was numb, neither happy or sad. 

Turning around, she began her final steps in the school.  No longer would she have to endure the neverending days of rambling teachers. 

" Wait, Izzie!" Alex seemed to come out of his shock, rushing towards her " ah I'm cramping up, cramping up."

She looked back to see Alex bent over, muttering something to himself. She laughed, this always happened to him. The P.E teacher would always have a fit when he did this during the middle of them running a mile.  Izzie would miss him, he had been  one of the sources of happiness in her life for a while.  

" Look, before you doing anything that you regret. Please take this." Alex pulled a box out of his bag, stuffing into his arms  " Promise me that you'll read one of these every day. Don't cheat and read them all at one time, I know how you are. "

" 'Lex...." She sighed, opening up the box. Multiple envelopes sat on top of each other, all numbered.  " what is this?"

" Ten Reasons. All of them different but all reasons why you need to stay."

a/n

rock out

growupgaskarth