Reflections (Jalex)

Chapter 5

Alex's POV

6:00am flashed in bright red, almost blinding me. Today I was going to be early, even if it killed me. Dammit should not joke about stuff like that, jesus Alex sort it out. I wriggled into my skinny jeans, no these ones weren't my mom's like i thought, and slung a Blink t-shirt over my head and ruffled my hair before sorting it out with straighteners and hairspray which lead me up to 7. Breakfast time, food made me feel absolutely sick. I took my mom up on the offer of waffles because why not. Today was going to be good. I sat at the kitchen table and pulled my laces tight, "Lex go get the door?" Zack called from the garden, god knows what he was doing out there. I sprinted to the door when a boy, not looking much older than myself, stood in some dirty converse, a plaid shirt and jeans that were potentially tighter than mine. He was pale, dead pale, no exaggeration. I heard Zack come running through, folders in hand. "Thanks man, I've been meaning to get rid of them for a while now." I stood and watched the two part take in a small conversation but Zack was the only one speaking actual words and he seemed terrified as if he'd rather be gauging his eyes out. "Oh! This is Alex and I'm not in college tomorrow because I have free's first and last but he'll walk with you." And with that he shut the door. "Um hello? Do I not get a say in this!" I was raging honestly being forced to go to college with some guy I've never met. "He's just a bit...creepy okay? I kinda pitty him but I've got someone to meet this morning. That girl from the party.." That's when I zoned out completely, I was taking a pitty-boy in my wings and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself because honestly, he was hot.

Next Morning

A genuine smile, that was new already for me as I approached the guys door as instructed by Zack. "Well I'm with you for the next two lessons and the others up until lunch but then none after that today. M-maybe we could..walk home together? I mean- I-If you want. You don-t have tt-to?" His stutter was cu- no alex. No feelings, just good grades. "Sure, I mean it's either you or Zack and he's a pain in the ass." He smiled at that but I realised I didn't even know his name. We just stood there for a few minutes staring at one another until the bell went and I dragged him into the classroom before the mad rush started and I'd learnt by now that once you were in that, there was no way of getting out again. All day we were joint at the hip, I could get used to this. Having a friend like Jack was going to be great and I was feeling better about the whole approach to college. I mean of course I had Zee but I was constantly with him due to living together and all and he wanted to be around girls more so I left him to it.

The snow storm hit whilst we were in our last lesson so we were let out earlier than usual and of course I was walking home with Jack, Zack got a lift and he offered but I couldn't let Jack walk on his own. I found out his name when it was called in registration. "You don't need to walk so far away from me you know? I chuckled before gently colliding into him which he returned a gentle push, I felt like a teenager when in fact I was 21. "Have you seen anyone around here that's tickled your fancy?"I forgot we were playing this game to pass the long walk. "Oh man. Honestly? Not a single person. But how about you?" I said person implying not just girls, I wanted him to pick up on the fact I'm not even straight now. "Just girls, not exactly a relationship kinda guy myself." He shy-ed away, was he embarresed? Crap, I'd made him shy again. "Hey, it's alright man. Truth is, me either because frankly-" "You're too scared of commitment and heartbreak. Me too, which is why I'm going steady with my current girlfriend." Jack was right. 100 percent correct, he'd literally taken the words from my mouth but when he said girlfriend I felt my stomach drop towards the ground. Straight, fully and utterly straight. "Well this is my stop." I sighed, muttering a bye and headed inside.

"What's going on with you two then?" Zack asked as soon as we sat at the table, jesus here goes. "What? You made me walk with him. We're not even friends okay?" Zack shook his head before crushing the sofa as he sat on it. "You know why I asked you to walk with him? Because he's weird okay like super weird, he says he has these girlfriends but no one's ever seen them. Literally he's only spoken to me when he came for those books, just once. He was having a full blown conversation with you but something I don't get? The way he-" I couldn't help but allow the creepy grin to fill my face. "You think he's hot? Oh Alex! You're 21, you can't have crushes and definitely not him!" I didn't even reply to his last comment so he decided to go and work out, as per usual.