Babysitter or Boyfriend?

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

It was nearing one o'clock when I finished with classes and arrived back at the apartment. My heart leapt when I saw Alex sitting on the front porch.

"Hey," I said as I climbed out of the car and moved a bit warily towards him. After the few texts we'd exchanged that morning, I figured things were okay between us but didn't want to assume anything.

Alex flashed me a quick grin and rose to his feet, immediately towering over me. "Hi," he replied. Then, with a sigh, he placed one hand on my shoulder and yanked me towards him. I hit face first into his chest, and with a sigh of my own, wrapped my arms around his waist. "I don't like fighting with you, Ave. I hate it."

"Me too," I murmured. "I'm sorry I grilled you about kissing Brooke. You were right-it's not my business."

"I shouldn't have been so harsh with you about it, though," Alex responded. "And I'm sorry that it bothers you. I wasn't...I wasn't trying to spite you by kissing Brooke. I wasn't."

I pulled back slightly and looked up at him. "I believe you," I told him, and we smiled at one another.

Alex lifted a Subway bag from off the porch. "Lunch?" He gave me a hopeful looked. "I got you roast beef. Please tell me that's still your favorite."

My stomach rumbling at the mere thought of food, I pulled him into the apartment. "It's still my favorite," I assured him. "Thank you. I was too nervous to eat much for breakfast this morning, so by now I'm starving."

We sat on barstools at the counter and began to unwrap our sandwiches. "Yeah, how were classes?" Alex asked. "Is college everything you wanted it to be so far?"

I grinned at him. "Everything and more," I replied cheesily. Then, remembering Becca, I felt my smile turn into a frown. "Alex, there's something I feel like I should tell you."

"Okay, shoot."

"Um...I think Conner's ex is in my English class. And I think we're becoming friends," I mumbled.

Alex looked appropriately shocked. "Wow," he said softly after a moment. "You're sure it's the same Becca? I mean, there's bound to be more than one Becca at UC-"

"Her last name is Reynolds," I cut him off. "And she's from Washington. Petite, dark hair, big smile, really friendly...?"

"Shit," Alex muttered, staring with a concerned look at his already half-eaten sandwich. "That's Becca, alright. Conner's gonna freak."

My appetite was slowly fading, and I put down my own sandwich. "About which part?" I asked, feeling grumpy. Of course. The first friend I made at UC, and of course there were strings attached. "The part about her being in my English class or the fact that I think she and I could actually be friends?"

Alex gazed at me for a long moment. "How good of friends are we talking?" He asked warily.

I sighed. "I don't know. She's so nice, and I really like her. She seems really genuine, and heaven knows I'm sort of low on girl friends here at UC. It'd be nice to have someone to talk to about..." when Alex stared expectantly at me, I continued, "You know, girl stuff."

He thought for a moment. "Well, for right now, I think you should just...not tell Conner. If you see him. He's really trying hard to get over her, and if he found out she was you friend, and the two of you possibly started hanging out...hell, it'd mess him up, Ave. A lot. Sometimes Con acts like he's tough and all, but I've seen him when he thinks no one else is around. He really, really misses her."

I felt as though my heart could be snapped right in half. Partly because as nice of a person as Conner was, it made me sad to see him hurt so deeply. Partly because I couldn't imagine someone as sweet as Becca having motive to dump him. Partly because I knew I had some feelings for Conner, and I knew that every time I saw Becca it would only reinforce the fact that I couldn't have him.