Rescue From The Stars {An Alex Nichols Love Story}

Chapter 5: Home Is Where The Heart Is

(Alex POV)

Once I'm out of their line of sight, I break into a run. Tuck and Munch would find a way to humiliate me in front of her if they see me run. They think that I like her. I guess I do, a bit. But that's not what my problem is.

I really don't care all too much about her. I mean, she's really nice and I like her, but there isn't a point in it if I'm going to move away. I'm already too close to Tuck and Munch. The construction guys, in their own way, have used it to hurt me. Not like it's intentional, but it hurts all the same.

I find myself sprinting to my bike. I feel a sort of need to get away. To not get attached. It already hurts a lot. I don't want to find myself having another friend to say goodbye to in three weeks.

And a girl. I did say I'm rubbish around girls, didn't I? Well, that's also a problem. I think it's safe to say that I have never had a successful conversation with a girl before. By successful, I mean one without her walking away thinking 'what a loser'.

Well, maybe I just had a successful conversation with Alia-Rose, but there is still a big chance that she thinks something is up. Mainly because there is.

I climb onto my bike and race home. I didn't actually get a text message. Well, I did. I got Munch to rig my phone to send itself a text when I maxed out or turned off the volume. It's my getaway excuse. Somehow, Munch doesn't remember doing it, so I know he won't suspect that I didn't actually get a text.

I run through the door and up to my room. I sit on the edge of my bed and pull out my books to find something to do that would keep me occupied for a while. I finish assignment after assignment regardless of when it is due. When I look at the clock hanging above my desk, I notice that only two hours have gone by.

Annoyed, I shove all my books in my bag. I take out my phone and try to find an entertaining game to play.

Before I can, I get a text message. It's from Munch.

I scan the contents of the message. It contains a series of ten digits. I rush to my desk and grab a paper with one of Munch's code breakers. I start trying to decode it, but then I get another text.

It's not a code.

I'm about to ask what is it but he beats me with his explanation.

It's Alia-Rose's number. I got it for you.

And then he sends me another text, and the only contents of it is the tongue-sticking-out emoji.

I roll my eyes and turn my phone off. That's when I hear my foster mom call my name from downstairs.

I run down and see that she is on the computer with my dad.

There's a problem. They only go on the computer in their room when it means business

I pull up a chair to see what is going on. There are two tabs on the window.

One is some site where they are looking to buy a new house. I relax when I see the picture, but then I feel homesick, even though I'm at home.

The new house they are looking at looks exactly like this one and just about every house on this block. Possibly every single one in the entire complex of houses.

I turn away, not bothering to look at what the other tab is. I don't want to think about moving.

My foster mom puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me.

The thing is, I didn't feel any better. Usually, only my foster dad can do that. I don't sense him coming up behind me. I never do. But either way, that is when he tried to scare me. It didn't even so much as startle me. But if it were a normal day, I'd still be laughing.