Unexpectedly

Chapter 4

I waited outside in the parking lot for Lola to finish her soccer practice. I usually stay after school to wait for her for like 2 hours. Seems boring, I know, but that's usually when I get all deep and contemplate life. Nah, just kidding. Who the heck does that anymore? I just chill in Lola's car and listen to music. Music just takes me to a place where I lean on Max's shoulder, where we talk about anything, and where nothing else matters. Nothing. Not even the weird teen boy that is saw at the market, reading a book across the street. Everything is- oh no. Please not him. Not now. Not today. From the parking lot I could make out his figure in the shadow of a big oak tree. I paused "Chandelier" by Sia and rolled up the window. I ducked under the visibility of the window. I hoped and hoped in my mind that he would not notice me. After a couple of minutes, I put my head up and looked out the window. Thank goodness, he was still looking down at his book. I rolled down the window and sighed with relief.

"Phew." I said a little too loud. How in the world do I do that? He looked up from his book, right at me. I started swearing in my mind. At first he seemed confused, like he didn't know who I was. Then, completely out of the blue, his eyes widened and his mouth formed an "O". I'm pretty sure he remembers me. I held my breath. I prepared myself for a quick escape from the car just in case he wants to punk me. I REALLY hope he doesn't want to. My fingers grazed the unlock trigger on the car, so I can be fast about it. I acted like I wasn't spying on him with the corner of my eye and was just casually sitting there, thinking. He stared at me for a couple of seconds. He doesn't know that I see him there. Perfect. I looked down at my hands, but just enough so I could still see him without being obvious. I slowly turned my head in his direction (while it was still down) and watched his reaction. He thought I would see him, and panicked immediately. He dashed to the side of the road, chucked whatever he was reading into a bush, and straightened himself behind the tree. I waited a bit. I don't think this is the kind of guy who wants to beat me up. He's a softy. I like that. Soon, I saw him peer out the side of the tree to look at me.

I realized, it was time for a little experiment. A risk for my last day here. I casually got out of the car, locked it, and pretended like I was on my phone doing something as I walked towards him. By the lamp post on the other side of the street, like ten feet away from the tree, I pretended to dial someone and talk to them about homework.

When I was finished, I looked down at my phone again and walked towards the tree. I just went on Instagram, and scrolled. I had planned to just bump into him unexpectedly, but I was really getting into Instagram and started commenting on something. I was more distracted then a kid with a dry erase board in class. I didn't bump into the boy, but instead hit my head hard on the tree. And fell backwards onto the wet grass, unconscious. I have amazing coordination.

***

The boy, THAT boy, had his hand cupped over my face. His dark blue eyes were soft and caring. He was kneeling beside me. His hair, oh my gosh, it seemed so soft and dark and it hanged over is eyebrows perfectly. His skin was light but obviously tanned a little. And his jawline, like O to the M to the G. Oh gosh, do I have like a huge, ugly butt of a bruise on my head? That would be soooooo embarrassing! He put his hand over my chest, most likely to check if I was dead. I'm glad I'm not. His hand. It was so warm and assuring and I instantly had butterflies in my stomach. Max has done something like this before, but this is totally different. With Max, I felt the instant assurance and I could tell he was nervous about touching me. This had to be a dream. Why does this feel different? I love Max, right? RIGHT?!?! I do. I know I do. Then why is this different? I get it! This dream is just testing my devotion for Max, and if I can let this go when I wake up, our relationship will definitely last. Most certainly.

I closed my eyes, I think he was staring at my shirt and didn't see my eyes open or something, and tried to imagine that boy being Max. That's better. I could just feel Max's tender hand rubbing against my cheek. Max smiled that goofy smile and showed me his sassy face. He pushed my bangs out of the way softly. The image was perfect. Suddenly, Max leaned in close, so close I could feel his breath. Then, he spoke of those wonderful three words:

"Great, she's alive."
What? That wasn't an "I love you"... I jerked and opened my eyes. It was the boy. When he saw my eyes open, he sighed with relief and leaned back on the grass. This was reality. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't a test. This wasn't Max. How do I feel about that?

"Jesus, I thought you died." The boy wiped some dirt off of his face. "Well, I'm gonna...get going." He started picking up his things.

"Wait. Don't go just yet." He looked toward me, curious. "Who are you?"

"I'm Daxter, but it's not like it's my name you wanted to know."

"Whatever, I just want to know how you know me. I have never met you before."

"I...don't know you."

"Yes you do, stop lying to me."

"I mean, my dad taught me to lie to strangers."

"Fine then. I'm Alexis, I like your shirt, let's be friends! There, now we're not strangers and you can tell me the truth." It was true, I did like his Greenday shirt, but he's not getting away that fast.

"Now that we're friends I can give you my number and I can tell you later."

"Stop trying to find loopholes. Tell me now. Spill it."

"I have nothing to spill."

"I know you were the one stalking me one year ago. Don't even try to deny it."

"It wasn't-"

"Stop it!"

"Fine, my father forced me to, I swear."

"Finally, I believe you. Why is your father stalking me?"

"If I can walk you home, I'll tell you about it." I had some mixed feelings about that. Max has only walked me home like once.

"You know where I-never mind. I would but, Lola was supposed to take me home."

"Umm...there's no one here anymore. Why would anyone be here at 7:30?"

"7:30?!?!?" I looked towards the parking lot. There was no car to be seen. It couldn't possibly be 7:30...how long was I out? "Fine, walk me home. Tell me everything. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. My future depends on it."