Nothing But Trouble

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Alex's POV

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I could feel eyes on me. From where though? I didn't look up from the book in my lap, instead freezing, my eyes refusing to read anymore. The gaze was apparent, but I couldn't tell ny who. The tree hustled above me, and I jumped, half-expecting someone to be watching me from the branches. But it was only a frisbee that had soared into the tree.

"Hey, can you get that, please?" The guy who'd been playing with his friends asked me as he came over. I nodded, closing my book and reach up to get the red plastic. I handed it to him wordlessly.  "Thanks." He jogged off back to his friends. The thing was, people didn't go out of their way to 'bully' me per say, but they didn't go out of their way to include me either. Which was worse, I couldn't tell you.

I sat back down and reopened my book, a piece of paper falling out of the old and worn pages. I raised an eyebrow at it and opened the folding notebook paper cautiously.

You looked really cute today, gray looks nice on you.

I blinked, unsure how to take the weird compliment. I must've known the person, but how the hell were they able to slip a note into my book without me seeing them? Whoever it was, must've been sneaky, but enough so that I was nowhere near tipped off. I brushed it off as a one-time thing. Why would someone make sure to pay me a simple compliment? Especially in such a secretive manner? I looked around the courtyard, dozens of people in my view, but none appeared to be watching me. Eh. I stood and shoved the paper back into my book and began walking back to my dorm room.

Everyone was all hyped up for Vinny's party, which was the next night. The worst part, I had nothing to wear and was thinking of not even going.

"What? C'mon, Alex. Go, for me?" Matt pleaded. We were at the local fast food joint, having lunch together. I shrugged at his plea.

"I'm not one for parties, and I don't know anyone." I tumbled out the lousy excuse.

"But you'll never get to know anyone with that attitude! And I know there's a party-animal inside you, Alex Gaskarth." Matt grinned at me, hoping I'd changed my mind.

"I think I'll just stay in." I mumbled to him. There really was no point in going, meaning, what could I really gain? I had homework to do, I needed to call my mum and...I needed to clean. Yeah, clean.

"You're joking with ne right now, right?" Matt asked me seriously. I shrugged again.

"I've been a bit down lately. Perhaps, I'm coming down with a cold." I averted my gaze from him. Matt could tell that anything he said to me wouldn't change my mind. He sighed heavily.

"Fine, you don't have to. It's cool. But you owe me, we're gonna hang out, okay?" Matt smiled at me as he took a swig of his Coke. I laughed a little at him. I had been to college parties before, I knew what went down and how things worked, but I was the weird kid instead of that guy who could party with anyone here. That's kind of why I planned on staying home for this one. No reason to put myself in front of the firing squad if I didn't have to.

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I was two levels below where the party was going on, and I could still hear the fucking music. I wasn't trying to sleep, but hear the televsion that was set to some cartoon. I wasn't entertained by it in the least, but rather, just upset with myself for deciding not to go. My roomates had all gone, everyone was there..but me. It's not too late. I thought to myself as I glanced at the clock that read eleven thirty. The party would just be getting started, no reason to not go. I turned off the televsion and stood from my couch. I went into my room, took a quick shower and stood in front of my closet, gazing upon the fabric that all seemed inadequate to go to a party in. My hair was behaving, slightly. It was still a bit wavy and unruly, so I threw on my gray beanie and my gray v-neck with some light, acid-wash blue skinnies. I gave myself a quick once-over before walking out of my dorm and to the party upstairs.

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