The Original Four

Book 3: Chapter 1

Dear Diary,

Manners are not part of who I am. You can teach them all you want and tell me that it's polite, but I don't care. I am who I am . . .

So, after politely greeting Alex, my parents scold me for rudely acknowledging him and tell me to give him a hug. The parents leave the room, and I walk over.

"Hi," I say annoyed.

I wrap my arms around him, expecting nothing but a cold reply, when his warm, strong arms embrace me. This is odd.

"Hey, Sophia," he whispers, sending shivers down my spine.

I pull away from him and sit on the couch, typing away on my phone. Alex was staring at me. I could feel his gaze burning at the back of my neck. "Do you need something?" I ask.

He sits a few feet away from me. "You look different."

I shoot him a look, and he throws his hands into the air. "A good different. You used to hide yourself from people. You look pretty."

"Uh . . . thanks?"

This is the part where most girls would fall in love with Alex Howard.

I'm not like most girls.

"Do you want to do something later? I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind us leaving," he says.

I roll my eyes at him. "You ignored me all of freshman year, and expect me to hang out with you? Alex, you must be insane."

He frowns as if there's a bigger reason for him wanting to hang out with me.

"Well yeah . . . " he says bluntly. "I just thought we could catch up."

I stand up and walk towards him. "Alex, there's a difference between me and you. You use girls as if they're a toy, and you trick your friends and family into thinking that you'll always stick by them."

Alex looks at the closed door where our parents are.

"I'm not talking about them. Don't you remember?" I ask.

"Remember what?" Alex asks with a confused look.

I unlock my phone and go into my camera roll, clicking on a picture of the two of us when we were just five years old. We were at my house, celebrating our birthdays since he is only three days older than me. We had our arms around each other and were smiling through our missing teeth.

"Remember when we were best friends?"

Alex looks up from my phone and stares at me. "Yeah. We hung out all the time up until-"

"Freshman year when you decided I wasn't good enough for you," I interrupt.

"I don't know what to say . . . "

I scoff. "There's nothing to say. What's done is done. It may have been in the past, but it still doesn't mean I want anything to do with you."

He nods his head slowly. "Sophia, what if you were to give me another chance?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. We hang out for three months. Each day, I'll try to earn your trust back. If I do, we'll be friends again."

"And if not?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

Alex sighs. "Then I'll leave you alone. Do we have a deal?"

"Deal."

.

I politely excuse myself from the dinner table, letting them know I have to use the restroom.

I grew up in this house. Knowing exactly where it is, I make my way over when something stops me. A door creaked open, I peek in and see Alex's room.

I looked around the hallway. I knew it was wrong to enter without permission, but something was telling me to. I quietly push the door open and walk in. His room was any typical teenage boy's. The walls were a light blue with sports trophies, awards, and plaques everywhere.

His book case was full of sports magazines and a couple textbooks from school, and his bed was neatly made.

Walking over to his dresser, I see there are frames scattered all over. One in particular caught my eye. The frame was silver and was peeking out behind the rest as it was almost hidden. I pick it up carefully and stare at the photo.

It was of us.

Of him and me.

Alex had kept it after all this time. I don't understand why since he was the reason our friendship ended in the first place.

It's not like I meant anything to him.

I'm about to put the photo back when the door opens even wider.

"What are you doing in my room?"

My eyes widen. "Nice trophies," I say quickly.

Alex raises his eyebrows.

"I couldn't find the bathroom," I lie. "I got lost."

"Lies. You've been here more times than you've been to school. Why were you in my room?"

I walk over and sit on his bed, the frame still in my hands. "Why do you have this?"

Now, it's his turn to be embarrassed. "It has good memories."

I smile. "Then why'd you leave me?"

He frowns upon hearing this. "It's a long story; maybe another time. Although, I have to say I was a horrible best friend."

I nudge him playfully in the shoulder. "Hey, you got three months. Don't waste it."