The Name's Alex

Chapter Seven

It's now been two weeks of pure bliss at school, Alex and Tom finally becoming accustomed to the American lifestyle. On Saturdays the two would join Eagle at the gun range and then lunch downtown. After school the two would attend their respected clubs, always managing to take the late bus back home.

Through a series of texts Alice found out that they had been taking the bus to and from school. Considering the fact that both boys knew the pixie haired girl's personality, it really is no surprise that they now carpool with Edward in his grey Lexus. Alex doesn't know how she managed to get Edward to do it, maybe blackmail. But he still isn't sure if what's worse: the crowded bus of teens or the awkward silence in the car with the exception of the radio.

"I'm going to assign you and your partner a certain portion of the book to analyze." Ms. Melissa instructs as she hands out the English assignment. "You'll have a week to finish the assignment for next Monday. Try to actually get work done over the weekend, because I'm not giving you any extra time for it."

Once Ms. Melissa lists off the assigned partners, Alex gets up and looks around the room. A teen with short light brown hair, blue collared shirt, and khaki pants makes eye contact with him before waving him over.

"Jack, right?" Alex asks.

"Yup. You're Alex, right? Otherwise this would be pretty awkward if not." He jokes with a smile on his face.

They both sit down to go through the packet's simple instructions: Create a presentation on the assigned topic, must make a 3D model or prop as support.

"Do you wanna meet up tomorrow? I'd rather get this is out of the way as soon as possible." Jack offers while they start the outline of their presentation topic.

" How about we meet up after school at the local library? It might be pretty crowded at school."

"Fine by me. I just hope this won't take too long, can barely stand this book on a good day." He lets out an exaggerated sigh.

Patting him on the back, Alex lets out a quiet snort. "Don't worry. Half the class hates it too."

For the rest of class, they plan the outline and what they can work on in the library, all while cracking jokes until the bell signal the end of the period. Packing up, Alex turns to Jack and gives him a grin as they walk outside the classroom.

"You better be ready for the pain and suffering that we're going to go through." He teases, laughing at Jack's exaggerated of a sigh.

"I guess...I mean, not like we can't just skip the project."

Saying their goodbyes, Alex is barely ten feet down the hallway when stopped by Jessica calling out. Turning around, he sees her walking over with a concerned look, thus concerning him since she's never concerned.

"Jessica? Everything okay?" He watches as she stops with a slight frown on her face.

"Alex, do you even know who you were talking to just now?" She asks, barely giving him time to respond before answering her own question. "That was Jack Montierre! His family is associated with loan sharks, he's not someone you want to be seen with."

It was as if she triggered something. Alex remembered his time back in England, when he was judged based on his lack of family, how their shadows haunted him. A surge of anger from that time washes over before he manages to keep it in check. It's not Jessica's fault she didn't understand what kind of an effect it had on him, his past.

"Listen, Jessica." Alex's voice chilly. "I'm not going to go into detail, but I don't think you should judge him based on his family's choices. I only know him as a funny and smart guy who wants to get into a good college with a full ride. And that's the guy that I'm going to know him as. Alright?"