Troubled | alex turner

eighteen

autumn chloe radford

I smirked to myself; I could feel how uncomfortable, how shaken up he was. His awkward eyes shifted across the room. "Hello," He smiles nervously.

The rest of the Razor Roses reply with different greetings, as Alex and I take a seat on a single sofa, me on his lap. "You okay?" I whispered in his ear, and he smiled at me with a nod.

"What's this all about?" Taylor smirks, looking at how Alex and I were seated.

I looked at Alex briefly. "Alex," I smiled, and he looked up at me, "is a good friend of mine," I conclude, and they all nod. Of course a few sly smiles dotted throughout the room were to be expected.

"Cigs Leo," I demanded, as Leo hesitated for a second before passing me my box of organic cigarettes. Opening it, the box was half full with cigarettes and the other half was filled up with the space of a lighter. I took one out, lit it and inhaled from it slowly, clouds of smoke beginning to surround me.

"I'm Taylor, that asshole wearing all black is Luke, that 90's boy over there is Leo and that Irish leprechaun over there is Niall," Taylor introduced the group to Alex.

"Ah, fuck off taylor," Niall said in annoyance.

"Yeah, Taylor, do one," Luke replied, sticking his middle finger in the air. Taylor responded calmly with an elegant kiss in the air.

"Nice to meet you," He replied, laughing a little at her description of them.

"You guys want to play something?" Luke asked, looking around the room, searching for an answer.

"Depends on what you've got in mind," Leo retorted.

"Two truths and a lie maybe?" Luke asks, and we all nod in approval.

"Leo, you're up first," I laugh, and he sticks the middle finger up at me. He hates being put on the spot.

He scratches his head, before blinking a couple of times. "Okay. Here are my three phrases, one: I've done weed, two: I've got an A+ in chemistry and three: I'm bisexual," Leo says finally, and waits for a response of some sort.

"You got an A+, that's obviously the lie," I said as soon as he said his three phrases, and Leo raised his eyebrows in surprise, whilst everyone else's expressions were pretty neutral.

"Yeah, I guess that sounds reasonable," Niall nods in agreement with me.

"You definitely didn't get an A+ in Chemistry," Luke realises.

"Alex, what'd you think?" Taylor turned to look at Alex in question, whilst Alex looked deep in thought.

"Could you repeat your three phrases again please?" Alex asked politely, and Leo looked more shocked this time, but complied to Alex's strange request, as Alex made sure to pay close attention.

"You haven't done weed have you?" Alex asked, and I was surprised in his difference of answer.

"Shit, man. You're right," Leo laughed, "wow, nice one," Leo said, and ruffled Alex's gel free hair, and hit his hand in congratulation.

"How have you not done weed though," Luke said, his eyebrows knotting together, "marijuana is the least harmful drug and has probably the best effect."

"You just answered your own question, Luke," I replied, "Hey Al, I'll give you a lift home," I said, standing up and Alex took my hand.

"Already? You've been here five minutes," Leo said, looking up at me as we stood up.

"Give the kid a break," I say, holding Alex's hand, as he smiled.

Looking around the messy garage, all the stupid bastards had smirks on their faces. "Don't kiss too much, eh?" Leo laughed, giving me a kiss on the forehead, and I waved him off.

"I don't tend to kiss my good friends," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Everyone has exceptions, though," Taylor winked.

I turned to Alex, who had gone pink. I exhaled slowly. "Ready Al?" I asked, and he nodded with a smile.

"BYE AUTUMN, BYE ALEX!" They all shout, as we leave the dump that is the garage, and I wave in response.

Once we are out of the chaotic garage, Alex and I take a moment to appreciate the soft silence, and the wonderfully calm atmosphere. I exhale slowly.

"Sorry about them," I laugh quietly.

"No, I like them," Alex nods definitely, "they're great," he turned and saw the confused look and started laughing with me. " A bit loud," he nodded, "but, maybe that is a good thing."

I shook my head, completely oblivious to understanding,"maybe," I said nevertheless, and we walked to my motorcycle.

I swing my leg over it before sitting down in triumph, and handing a helmet to Alex.

"Where's yours?" He asks, concerned, looking at me completely.

"You know I don't wear one," I reply, shaking my head.

"Maybe you should start to," Alex retorts quietly.

I pause for a moment, puncturing my tongue through my cheek before responding. I grab the helmet back. "Maybe we should both die from brain trauma," I say, hanging the helmet strap on the brakes.

Alex hums blissfully, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Sounds good," he says, and I can feel his smile against my neck. I inhale slowly, and Alex backs away in alarm. "Oh, I'm sorry," he apologises sincerely.

"No," I responded, "I like it," and before wrapping his arms around me again. What the fuck was I doing?

I smile to myself before starting the motorbike, and begin to drive towards Alex's place.

Despite the roaring engine of my motorbike, and the harsh winds that followed, the drive to Alex's house was almost completely silent. Upon the arrival to his house, Alex released his arms from me and stepped down from the motorbike.

"I had a good time," Alex says, his arms on either side of the bike, as I tilted my stance to face him.

I laughed a little, "that sounds like a very cliche ending of a date."

Alex blushed, and looked up at me. "Is this a date?"

I shrugged playfully. "Can't say, it's the end now."

Alex pushed me to the side gently. "I'll make it a date."

I pretended to ponder. "How?"

He stepped on to the motorbike and kissed me certainly, before looking at me for a couple seconds. "Bye Miss Radford."

"Bye sir," I nodded with a smile, before he turned and walked home.