HER

Chapter 2 - old friends

ALEX POV

Dad's not even home when I get there. Typical. I enter and make my way to the kitchen. I haven't eaten since last night, and I am fucking starving. I hear it before I see it, the whiny voice complaining about something unimportant, belonging to an annoying brat. Chanel.
"So I was like, you totally can't wear that, it's my signature look and honey, it would look like Fluffy's shit!!" She cackles and her best friend joins in.
"She is so fat since breaking up with Jake, I don't even know why we hang out with Talia" Lola says with a look of disgust on her face.
"Wow, you haven't changed one bit" I say walking past them to see what food we've got in. I am starving.
"Why are you even here Alex, no one wants you here. I mean, can't you see? Your dad isn't even here to welcome you back!" She says with a smirks and Lola snickers.
I must admit that stung. But don't do anything stupid Alex, rise above it. I take a deep breath and my eyes land on a packet of donuts. Perfect. I take them out and turn around, facing the two witches. I look at the donuts then back at them.
"I would offer you one, but I can tell you're trying to watch your weight, right?" I say with a fake smile plastered across my face. Chanel gasps and looks like she's about to cry. Lola gives me the evils. I walk out the kitchen and turn around before leaving.
"Oh yeah and Chanel? Your nose looks good, could almost say nothing happened to it, almost" I smirk and head to my room not waiting for an answer, when I get there I collapse on my bed. I hate them so much. I stare up at the ceiling and sigh. There's no point being miserable so I sit up and take a bite of one of the donuts. Damn this is good. I have missed real food, the stuff they gave us at Kings was crap. As I'm about to take another bite my phone rings and I pick it up to see who's calling. It's Jay, I answer.
"Wazzaaa" he greets.
"Yoo how are you bro?" I ask after finishing my mouth full.
"Come mall with me I'm bored" he states lazily.
"Sure thing, sugar. I'll be there in 20" I reply and hear him chuckle before I end the call. I get up lazily and head to my wardrobe, I look at all the clothes and grimace. Half of them are gone and the other half don't even fit me anymore. I pick out an old sweatshirt and grab some black skinny jeans. I put on my white Doc Martens and head downstairs. I go down to the garage and head to the far end. In front of me stands my beloved motorcycle. I smile happily to myself as I get on and turn the engine on. It rumbles beneath me and I press the garage door button to open it. I put on my helmet and head to the mall.

*****

I've been waiting for 10 minutes when two hands cover my eyes. My reflexes kick in and before I realise what I'm doing I've flipped that person over my shoulder and they are laying stunned staring up at me. I gasp when I realise it's Jay then burst out laughing. He joins in as he jumps up and pulls me in for a hug. His familiar smell overwhelms me and I hug him harder, remembering how much I've missed him.
"Jeez Alex, talk about making me look weak. I practically flew over you, you're a lot stronger than you look" he says laughing.
"I'm gonna take that as I compliment so thanks" I grin and let go of him stepping back to see how much he's changed. He's taller than I remember and he has a little stubble on his chin.
"Come on I need to go shopping" I state walking into the nearest clothes shop. I hear him huff but he follows me in.

After looking for about an hour I ended up buying a little too much but hey, I haven't been shopping for two years, give me a break. I told Jay to leave me alone because he kept complaining and wouldn't help me decide which top I should buy. I exit the shop and head towards Starbucks where he told me he'd be waiting. I scan the seating area and sure enough he's sat there. And of course there's a girl with long blonde hair stood in front of him, they're laughing and I can see he keeps trying to subtly get closer to her. I roll my eyes and make my way towards them. They don't notice me stood directly beside them so I awkwardly cough to make my presence known. They look at me and I inhale as I see who the girl is.
It's Avery, my ex-bestfriend. We didn't fall out or anything, we just grew apart after Megan moved away. Avery, Megan and I were best friends since I'd moved to the school. But when Megan announced she was moving in a month, Avery started to have more interest in her than me and I admit it hurt because it was meant to be me and Avery then Megan not Avery and Megan then me. I guess you could say I got jealous and started hanging out with CJ and Lucy. Until I never even spoke to Avery anymore. I do miss her because she was really funny and we got along really well.
"Oh hey Alex!" Jay exclaims looking at me for a moment before staring at Avery.
"Hey, long time no see Avery. How are you?" I ask awkwardly.
"Umm, I'm good thanks" she replies not looking at me. I nod and try and fight the smile that risks breaking out. In awkward situations I laugh, I can't help it.
Jay is completely oblivious to the awkwardness and won't stop staring at Avery. I roll my eyes and pretend to look around, suddenly interested in the barista that is cleaning the counter.
"Well, I think I'll go. It was nice seeing you again Alex, I'm glad your back" she says smiling at me.
"You too, we should meet up some time or something" I reply, nodding.
"Yeah sure. Bye Jay" she says turning to him and smiling widely. This seems to break him out of his trance and he gets up suddenly, almost touching Avery. She looks up at him and smiles awkwardly.
"Yeah, uhh, I'll see you around. Yeah, bye. Hey, I'll text you or something? Yeah, I'll, umm text you. Bye Avery. I'll see you around" he says and tries to hug her, they stand in the awkward embrace for a bit longer. And I have to turn away before bursting out laughing, they look so awkward. She pulls away from him, blushing and he scratches his neck.
"See ya" she says walking away. Jay stares after her and I roll my eyes, again.
"You should ask her out" I say slipping into the booth opposite him. His head turns sharply towards me.
"What!?" He asks quickly.
"You should ask her out, you know, on a date" I say again. He pulls a puzzled look and pauses for a moment.
"Why'd you say that?" He asks suspiciously.
"Umm, because your both into each other, you could barely stop yourself drooling" I say as if it's obvious.
"You thinks she's into me?"
"Yeah definitely" I reply.
"Wow, cool. Thanks Alex"
"It's fine" I chuckle.
After just talking and catching up on everything, Jay has to go home because his sister's in a singing competition. I head home and drop my bags off before heading out to the old diner I used to work at.
Before I left for Kings, Maggie, the owner said I could have my job back as a waitress as soon as I came back. I quickly text her telling her I'm on my way and she replies saying I can start my first shift as soon as I get there. I change into a white t-shirt and put on a black tennis skirt with black tights. I tuck my t-shirt into the skirt and slip my black old skool vans on.

*****

The diner's packed and I can barely squeeze through to the counter without getting too close to anyone. CJ is the bartender, currently making a milkshake and shouting at the machine because it keeps breaking. I laugh and saunter over, taking a seat on a stool right in front of her. She doesn't notice and begins cursing the machine with all the swear words she knows.
"You need to screw the lid back on, the machines hardwired into turning off if the lid's not on the right place" I say chuckling.
"Yeah, I know how to do my fucking job tha-" she stops abruptly and spins around. Almost knocking over the milkshakes next to her. Her face fills up with excitement as her eyes land on me. I grin and go behind the counter, meeting her with a bone crushing hug. I inhale her familiar scent and draw back, taking a look at her face.
Her hair is platinum blonde with highlights and her eyes are even more blue than I remember. She seems taller than I remember but I look down and she still has her signature ankle boots on with a 4 inch heel.
"Umm excuse me, I'm waiting for my milkshake over here" we hear someone say and I roll my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back, I can't believe you're here it feels like ages" she asks walking over to the milkshake machine and finishing the milkshake she was in the middle of making.
"I didn't know I was coming back till this morning so I didn't really have time" I say grabbing a white apron from one of the hooks on the door and putting it on. I tie my hair up into a low bun and pull the front bits out, without doing that I look like a 12 year old boy.

After what seems like 5 minutes our shift is up and we close the diner. CJ decides to stay at mine tonight and hopes on the back of my motorcycle.
"You know how much I hate this dumb thing" she says getting on behind me nervously.
"God, you're such a girl!" I reply rolling my eyes and passing her my spare helmet. Safety first kids.
I start the engine with a roar and feel CJs arms tighten around my waist.

We get home and the house is empty, Rose, our cleaner tells me Dad and Nataly are at a business meeting in Las Vegas and Chanel and Prada are staying at their friends houses. We order pizza and decide to start watching 13 reasons why.
"Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, new boy. Last year. Pretty hot. Full of himself and the new badboy of the school" CJ tells me as I bring the pizzas in after paying the delivery guy. I raise my eyebrows.
"Luke Convict?" I ask. She stares at me and her mouth falls into a perfectly shaped o.
"What? How'd you know?" She replied dumbstruck.
"I know everything" I say grinning. I see her face fall in confusion. "Nah I'm kidding, I met him in holding. You know for burning down the barn" I say smiling, remembering what I did.
"Honestly Alex, you're gonna end up in jail. And they won't let you out one day and then you'll be sorry" she says taking a bite of pizza.
"I'll use my charm and they'll open my cell just like that" I say snapping my fingers she laughs and we focus our attention on the show.