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Chapter 15: Xander

After a while, Jonathan came back from work, and we ate dinner, which was some bread. Then, we went to sleep.

It was a lonely night.

The next day, Jonathan left again, feeling down, and Al and I walked to the bathroom so we could brush our teeth.

"Xander?" she asked.

I gave her a glare. "What?"

"I'm... I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing to me all of a sudden?" I looked at her.

"Well, I thought we might need to escape..." Al said, then gave a bittersweet smile. "We should work together..."

"Well... I'll forgive you for now..."

"Thanks," Al smiled.

I grunted in response.

"Xander? I have a question," Al said. "Why did you become enemies with Clara and Sylvia? Josh told me that he asked you. But.. He never told me what you said."

"Well..."

And that was when I realized. I was feeling heavy. Like a burden was put on my shoulders. I had been feeling it all the time, ever since Grade Two... Maybe If I reconciled with Al, It would be okay...

So I opened my mouth,

And I broke down.

All in the little time that we got in the washroom.

I told her everything. How mad I felt, how confused I was, just, how everything changed. We were such good friends. We could have been everything. I was jealous of Clara and Sylvia, and I hated them with all my heart. And I let out all my anger and attacked Al. I was sorry. I was so sorry. But I was always worried that she wouldn't have forgiven me.

"Xander..." Al frowned. "I didn't know that you felt that way..."

"I know. I kept it from you all this time. I'm sorry, Al..." tears started to spill out of my eyes.

"Xander... Don't cry."

"I-I, just feel lost..." I stuttered.

"It's okay," I felt two arms around me and realized that Al was hugging me. I started to cry even harder than I had before, and Al hugged me tighter.

After a bit, I gulped. "I don't know what you'll say, but after we escape... Can you be... my Rafael?"

Al made an unreadable expression. "Hm?"

"Like, after Rafael disappeared, I felt lonely, even with Juem. Can you be with me?"

"Hmmm... Sure," Al smiled gently.

"Really...?"

"Yeah," Al laughed. "I can be your Rafael..."

"Thanks."

"Yeah, no worries. I love you."

"...Platonically, right?"

"..."

"Al?"

Al shook her head, then turned to me. "Of course," Al laughed.

And so, that day, Alyx and I just lay on the bed, and held each other. We needed each other at that moment. We cried a bit, maybe cuddled, and I fell asleep. I don't know what happened after that, but Al stayed awake, and kept me close. She probably needed the comfort. And let's be real, I needed comfort as well.

After a bit, I woke up, and Al was gone. I heard some yelling in the washroom, and I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "Huh...?"

I went over, and peeked through the door. There, I saw Al grabbing onto Jonathan's arms, which were covered in...