don't delete the kisses

Confidence is Comical

Alexander has grown pretty close to the group over the month, understanding not to ask about Nova's home life, that Gianna speaks portugese when mad and that Alice actually doesn't know anything about soccer. She just comes to the matches because of Kyle.

Nova is sitting in her room plucking the strings on her guitar. She plays a couple songs practicing different music styles, when she hears her mom yell her name. Thinking she is in a mood again, Nova proceeds to ignore her continuing to play the instrument. She hears steps on the stairs so she quickly pushes her guitar into the closet taking out a book. As she lays down on her bed pretending to read it when she hears a knock on her door she is very surprised to see non other than Alex Dawson.

"What are you doing here?" Nova says in shock starting to clean her room. No boys have ever entered it, not even Kyle so she feels incredibly embarrassed by all the clothes laying around. She starts picking up sweatshirts placing them on other places around her room.

"You," Alexander grabs her shoulders and pushes her to sit back down, "haven't answered anyone since 5pm yesterday. So i thought, why not pay you a visit." He sits down next to her, grabbing the book Nova was pretending to read. Nova just glares at him.

"Yeah my phone died and I forgot to charge it," she makes a fake excuse and grabs the book out of his hand, "give me that. What do you want anyway?" She lays down taking the stress ball on her bed, starting to throw it towards the ceiling.

Alexander stands up taking Novas hand and pulls her up mumbling "cmon" and pulling her out of the room.

"Alex what the fuck!" he pulls her down the stairs and out of her own house opening his car door. It is a black range rover velar. Nova isn't even surprised someone like him has a car like that. He probably got it for his 16th birthday. He walks over to the driver side and gets in. Nova gets in after standing by the car but just because she got cold. It is October and she is in just a hoodie and shorts, thankfully Alex allowed her to put on shoes before dragging her out. After she got in he pulls the car out of park and drives out of her street.

They sit in silence in the car until Alex pulls over to a ihop a couple minutes later. He walks out, opening the car door for his new friend urging her to get out. Nova looks at him confused but gets out of the car. Walking into the restaurant, it's empty, it is 10pm on a Saturday anyway. The place smells like syrup, the leather seats slightly cracking and peeling. Alex walks over to a booth, Nova behind him and sits down. A waiter walks over and before Nova even has time to check the menu Alex orders for the both of them.

"So two original buttermilk, one black coffee and one cappuccino with soy milk." Alex says handing the waiter their menus. After he left Nova speaks up.

"Why did you take me here?" she questions.
"Well you've been really quiet these past weeks. Thought you needed a break from homework." he says, leaning onto the table, smiling softly.
"You remembered my coffee order..." she says with a lowered voice.
"Yes I did." he nods, "Nova, I know we haven't been friends for long but what is going on?"

She just sighs, looking around, no ones there except them, and a trucker in the far right corner devouring his food. As she analyses Alexanders face, seeing the sincerity behind his eyes, she takes a breath to start speaking, the waiter comes over with their pancakes and coffees. She uses it to her advantage and starts eating, not saying a word. Nova hadn't eaten dinner so she is actually thankful Alex pulled her out of her room. Even if she is upset because she is outside her house in pyjama shorts and a stained hoodie.

They eat their pancakes as they speak about different topics, everything except her current state. Nova really tried to avoid the topic of her home. She is aware that after the night at Kyles, she got distant. It isn't anyones fault, everyone in the gang has been kind and helpful after it but she still feels off in some way. After they are done, Alex pays the bill, which suprised her, they have known eachother for a month and he pays for her? Nova offered to pay him back, but he just denied the request.