Arranging Alexandria [ON HOLD]

Chapter 17

"So I saw an envelope on your coffee table earlier." I told Alex as we sat under the stars. After McDonald's we walked around town a little. Then we went to the park and laid down in a big open field. Now we're just talking, but I'm wait to ask her about her scholarship. "I got curious and read it. You got a basketball scholarship?"

"I don't wanna talk about it." She mumbled and sat up, bringing her knees to her chest. I sat up as well.

"Why? That's amazing, Alex." I told her truthfully.

"Did you forget that I can't accept the scholarship?" She asked me.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Because of you." She stated. "You have to live in London for your stupid job. Dad is making me live with you. Did you forget that? I can't accept a scholarship to a college in Pittsburgh while I live in London."

"Oh."

Well, now I feel terrible.

"You could go to university in London." I offered.

"It's not the same. I earned my scholarship. It wouldn't be the same if I just went to another college." She shook her head.

"Well, can I do anything to make it better? Because I feel bad." I frowned.

"It's not your fault." She mumbled, not looking up at me. "I'm just mad at everybody."

"What can I do to make it up?" I asked her.

"Listen to me bitch about it?" She asked hopefully. I laughed and nodded. "Well, I'm mad at dad and Hannah because my whole life they kept saying shit about I'll end up getting a scholarship for some sport and they'll be so proud of me. Now I got the damn scholarship and I can't accept it, thanks to them. I can't just be a normal kid. No, that's too mainstream. I have to be a fucking I don't even know what who has to marry some guy she just met and then move to another fucking continent. I wanna be a normal kid. But no. Of course not. Jessica and Casey and Hailey get to be normal kids. Me? No. I don't get to live my life. I have to live it according to how dad and Hannah think I should live it. And apparently, they think I should get married when I'm eighteen. Well, this is not gonna turn out fucking good. My dad was stupid and got married at eighteen. You wanna know where my mom is now? I don't have a fucking clue! She could be dead! I could be dead and she wouldn't know or care!"

Well, that was a bit more than I expected her to tell me. She held her head in her hands. "God, why did I tell him that?" Alex mumbled to herself.

I got closer to her and wrapped my arm around her comfortingly. "You don't have to tell me any more if you don't want to." I whispered to her. But I actually hoped that she would tell me more. I'm curious about her mother now. I want to know what happened.

"Thanks." She said quietly and rested her head on her knees, slightly leaning into me.

"Cold?" I asked, realizing now would be a good time for the jacket thing.

"A little." She mumbled. I slid my jacket off and draped it over her small body. "Thanks." She said, laughing a little bit for some unknown reason.

"How's your knee?" I asked, changing the subject.

"It's fine, actually." She shrugged. "The stupid brace gets on my nerves, though."

It got quiet. I decided now would be the time to ask her the questions that have been on my mind.

"So... I like you, a lot." I said bluntly. "Do you like me back?"

"Uh, wow, that was straight forward." She chuckled. "But, uhm, yeah. I do."