Game On

Chapter Twelve

(Attached: Soph - Alex's Cousin)

ALEX'S P.O.V

It is a coward move, but I sprint out of that cafeteria faster than you can say "No fucking way."

I know it was directed at me, and so did everyone else. You get those vibes when hundreds of eyes are following you like a hawk.

"Carter slow down or I swear to god!" Reid's voice comes from behind me.

I swivel around to face the girl. She is leaning over her knees trying to catch her breath. Her face is red and her chest is heaving.

I shake my head and scold. "You are so unfit."

"Just. Shut it. I need a moment. To catch my breath. So I can waste it again on you." She puffs, holding up a hand.

I wait for a solid thirty seconds, asking myself why I'm staying. To get yelled at for tampering with a date because I'm a jealous and selfish son of a bitch? Nice!

"Why were you in my bedroom? Why did you cancel my date with Logan Matthews? Why do you care what I do? Why are you such an infuriating asshole?" She rants, pacing up and down the hallway.

Jordan looks really cute when she's angry. Cheeks, a soft shade of pink. Eyebrows, knitted together. Hands, tensed shut. I must've taken too long to reply, because she slams her fist into a locker.

"Ouch! Fuck!" She yells, squeezing her hand in pain. "That never happens in the movies.."

I tighten my cheeks but a small laugh escapes my lips.

"Answer me dammit!"

I've never seen Jordan like this. She's normally so composed and... normal.

"Cause I wanted to." I reply.

I mentally slap myself. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Who says 'cause I wanted to'?
Well apparently I do.

"Why do you feel the need to ruin everything for me? This boy had nothing to do with you. I have nothing to do with you!" She stands still now, shoulders square with mine.

That hurt. And when I get hurt, I fight fire with fire.

"Logan only wants you because you're easy! It's pathetic Reid! You are literally throwing yourself at him, and you cry over him when he doesn't like you back." I bite back.

Shock and hurt crosses her face, but I'm not done yet.

"You aren't the hottest girl in the school, or the nicest. You are average. And you pretend like being average is good enough for you, but its not! Everybody wants to be special. For fucks sake, even your bestfriend and your own brother are fucking you around!" I fume.

I stop talking and focus on her face. It no longer has any shock, any sadness, any hurt. It's just blank, painfully blank.

"You think I don't know that Carter? I wake up everyday knowing I'm not as popular as Spencer. Or as attractive as Jacinthe. I don't have a great personality like Ruby. But you know what? People like me. Because I like people. I don't have many friends, but I'm friendly with the whole student body. Lets take a look at you though. Everyone is either scared of you, or scared of the idea of you. The only person who likes you is Spencer! You had your girlfriend, but not anymore. Everyone is leaving you Alex!"

My shoulders slump and my heart drops. "Everyone always leaves me Jordan. You get used to it." I smoothly reply, calmly turning on one foot and slinking out the door.

I shouldn't have played the victim card. I deserved every single word Jordan spat in my face today. She didn't deserve any of the shit I spat back. Why am I like this? Can my head just sort this out? Half the time I hate the girl and love myself, and the other time its flipped up sidewards.

Okay, 'loving' Reid is a bit extreme.

I decide to go to Soph's. The little diva always knows how to cheer me up.

Sitting on the bus, I can't stop my thoughts from drifting to what Jordan said to me in our fight today.

Everyone always leaves.

But then I have to remind myself, that they only leave because I pushed them away. A prime example being Jacinthe. Another, my mother.

Before I can get too emotional over my tragic backstory, I leap up the patio steps.

"Its ya boy Alex!" I yell, knocking at the front door.

Her little face lights up. "Welcome to my MTV crib!"

I follow her through the house, patting the dog and hugging my Aunt.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Soph asks, lying down on her bed.

I throw myself into the bright pink beanbag, and give her the low-down.

"You are so bad at life." Soph looks really disappointed in me.

Same.

"However, Jordan was also out of line."

I nod my head.

"You guys are perfect for each other. Two idiots."

A humourless laugh.

Soph walks over to me and plays with my hair. I always play with her hair when she's upset, and now I know why she likes it so much. The action is really soothing and comforting.

"What should I do Soph?" I groan.

Upon reflection, it's a little sad for me to be asking a little girl for life advice. But desperate situations call for desperate measures.

"Um... When I don't get along with someone at my school, mum always tells me to play a game with them?" Soph suggests.

I scoff. Maybe asking her wasn't my best idea. A game won't fix anything. Plus, it'll only make matters worse. Jordan and I are both very competitive. The game will only end in someone getting hurt.

"You can play like kiss-chasey or something? That's what we play with the boys."

Kiss-chasey. That doesn't sound like such a bad idea.

I look over to Soph in interest. "How do you play?"

"You have to chase after the other person and try and make them kiss you." She explains, as if I live under a rock.

"I see."

I think I may begin a game of kiss-chasey.

Sophie goes on to explain the rules of the game in-depth. I switch off and allow my mind to wander to other things.

Because in true Alex Carter style, the rules will be broken.

hey :)

i love soph so much shes so badass and she's way too mature for her age but ya know what people this is fiction and i like her like that!!!!11!!!!!! (she's rowan blanchard)

bye :) - grace