Battle of Hearts: Two

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I don't come out of my room until it's time for dinner having the fear that Alex was downstairs ruining my college life. As I'm taking the stairs, I only hear silence in the living room. Alex is quietly watching some history shows and I slowly slip into the couch, aware of his every movement.

He only gives me an eye roll and retrieves to the television. "Ally! You're downstairs right? Dinner's ready!" I hear my mom yelling from the kitchen.

"Yes! I'm right here!" I shout back and soon she walks with two plates in hand. She hands one to Alex and another to me.

Our family, well, only my dad, Alex and I have the habit of eating dinner in front of the television. Mom sits down next to me, she usually waits for my father to have silent dinner with him and like usual he'd come home late.

I chew carefully not even daring to blink as I'm awaiting Alex to reveal my secret. But, slowly the plates are empty, clocks keeps ticking and he doesn't say a word. I'm shocked but I don't let him see that.

At 11 p.m he throws off the remote to the table and dawdles to his room, it is in that moment that I breath a sigh of relief. I don't know why he didn't disclose me but I'm guessing he's saving it for a better time for his selfish motives. Whenever a family member pins on him, he's going to want to throw the spotlight on me and tell every one how I'm not as good as they think.

Now I'm not even scared if he really does that, because I've realized that it is not wrong to care about someone more than you care about yourself.

*

A day before Christmas Eve, a phone call from an old friend breathes a new excitement in my life. I had no idea she was in town, we didn't have a good conversation in five months. Exchanging pleasantries on Facebook doesn't count.

"Hey, Ally!" Haley's excited voice greets like always.

I smile, "Hey, Hales! Long time no see, huh?"

"I know. It doesn't really cost that much to call someone sometimes, Al." She taunts.

"Sorry, I was so busy with college and stuff. So... what's up with you?"

"I don't know. You tell me. What about we all hang out my house and have lunch at the food carts like we used to?"

"I'm ready! Wait... Who else is in town?" I felt so awful and selfish not having any idea where my school friends now. I had been so caught up in my own problems, I hardly had any idea what was going on in their lives. Did Haley and Luke get back together?

I wanted to ask her that but I refrained myself, we just started reconnecting. "Um... Well, only Ryan and Cameron. You obviously know about him."

"What about Becky and Luke?" I tried not to flinch at his name.

"I'll tell you everything. Just come for lunch."

I hung up the phone agreeing to her plan. I was excited as well as nervous to meet Haley and Ryan. I sincerely hoped they were still as silly as I had left them. I couldn't wait to know about their new lives, new friends and new experiences. I had drowned too much in my own drama involving Cameron and his parents and all his annoying friends and Los Angeles and then Alex... I needed a detoxification of my life.

*

I drive to Haley's house at twelve and notice Ryan's beat up car parked. Either Cameron hadn't arrived or he had come with Ryan. I sincerely hope he had come we hadn't talked to each other since Alex found out. He was busy with family stuff and I was busy trying to find something to do.