**ON HIATUS** The People We Are Supposed To Be (Boyxboy)

Part 5

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TWs: deadnaming/misgendering

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"Hey sis, we're going to go check out the wood okay?" Alec said as we walked down the stairs.

"Oh you're bringing Rachel with you?" his sister said, smiling.

He raised his eyebrows slightly, glancing at me in confusion.

I nodded slightly, hoping he'd take the hint and not say anything. 

"Yeah," he nodded, turning back to his sister.

"Alright, be safe," she called as we walked out the door.

Alec rolled his eyes at her words but i could tell that he was smiling slightly.

"So, are we going to talk about that?" Ace asked after a couple minutes, glancing at me.

"Not right now okay?" I sighed, crossing my arms and not meting his eyes.

"Alright, but i'm here if you do want to talk okay?" He said, grabbing my arm.

I hated the concern that filled his voice. No one ever really cared about me. But now, there was Alec. He seemed to actually care. I didn't understand why. And I didn't understand how i felt about it.

"Thank you," i said, brushing his arm from mine. I tried to force a smile but it didn't really work, "now come on, i want to show you something."

I took his hand, pulling him into the woods. 

"Where are we going?" Alec laughed, following me. I bit my lip, noticing how he wasn't letting go of my hand. 

I didn't understand why the warmth of his hand made my heart beat like crazy. I shook my head slightly to myself, trying to ignore it.

"You'll see," I smiled.

"Okay then," he shook his head, still laughing.

We walked for a little longer in silence, the sound of Alec's breathing being the only thing i heard.

"Here, look," I brushed away some of the vines, revealing a river.

"Oh wow, that's cool,"

Alec stepped forward, letting his hand slip out of mine.

"Yeah it is isn't it?" I smiled

I stepped forward, my foot catching a root, sending me flying forward. I tried to catch myself, my hand catching Alec's arm.  I tried to stop myself from falling but i just ended up sending Alec down with me. My head fell forward, my lips briefly pressing against his skin, brushing against his lips.

The air was ripped from my lungs.

I sat up quickly, rushing back.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay???" I rushed, trying to calm my racing heart.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it," Alec said sitting up.

"You sure I-"

"Hey, it's okay," Alec whispered, pressing his finger to my lips, silencing me.

The little breath i had managed to gain back left my lungs. The warmth of his fingers on my lips made my heart go crazy again. 

I hated how much i cared about him. It had been so long since someone had actually cared about me. So long since i cared so much about someone else. 

"Come on,"  Alec stood up, brushing dirt off his jeans, extending his hand towards me.

I took it and let him pull me up.

Alec stepped forward, pulling me along with him.

"Do you know how to skip rocks?" he asked, bending down, letting go of my hand slowly.

"I- not really," I ran my fingers through my hair hoping he didn't notice how nervous i was. I don't know why, for whatever reason, i was on edge. Maybe it was because what had happened before.

Get over yourself Chris, Alec obviously doesn't care so you shouldn't either.

"I'm teaching you then," he said, standing up, handing me a rock.

He took my hand, showing me how to hold the rock properly. He put his hand on my waist, positioning me in the proper day.

"Now you're going to throw the rock okay? But don't chuck it,"

"Got it," I nodded, throwing the rock.

It bounced once then sunk into the water.

"Hey, not awful," he smiled, bending down again, picking up another rock, "here try again,"

I took the rock from him and threw it. It bounced once again and sunk back into the water.

I bit my lip, staring after it.

"You're not awful," he shrugged, standing up neck to me.

He threw his own rock and it bounced 5 times and then sunk into the water.

"How? I give up!" I threw my hands up in surrender, plopping down on the ground.

"Oh come on, you're not that bad!" he shook his head, smiling.

"uh huh," i rolled my eyes, leaning back.

Alec plopped down next to me, laying back, his arms crossed behind his head.

I smiled to myself, glancing at my watch.

5:43pm

I sighed, glancing out at the river again.

"What's wrong?" Alec asked, glancing at me.

'Nothing, we should probably leave soon,"

Alec glanced at his phone, seeing the time. 

"Oh yeah, come on," Alec stood up, extending his hand towards me.

I took his hand and let him pull me up.

I bit my lip as he pulled me through the woods, not letting go of my hand.

I tried to think of something, anything else then the warmth of his skin against mine.

My mind kept going to our accidental kiss. Could it even be counted as a kiss? Our lips barely touched.

I glanced back down at our hands, his warmth spreading up my arm.

I didn't understand why i cared. He had touched me before but the last couple days, it felt different. I felt different.

I whipped the blood off my lip, tasting it drip into my mouth.

"You okay?" Alec asked, glancing back at me.

"Yeah, i'm fine," i lied.

Damn it, I was anything but fine.

(word count: 882)