JOHN
"Hey, Alex," I hear Eliza's familiar voice. I don't mean to eavesdrop, but as I get my stuff out from my locker, I hear snippets of their conversation. "I was wondering if you were, uh, doing anything after school today." I feel a twinge of jealousy. "I think I have something, but I'll have to check..." I hear Alex say, hesitantly. Then I hear Angelica. "How's it going, Eliza? Going well with Alex?" She says loudly, and suggestively. "Angie!" She yells, and the next thing I know, she's running past me down the hall. Angelica runs after her. "Eliza, come on! Did you even ask him?" She yells. Alex keeps walking, looking confused. "Alex, what was that?" He jumps. "Oh, John. I didn't see you there." I look down at the books in my arms. "So, what was that about?" He shrugs. "I don't know. Eliza was, like, asking me out or something." He says completely casually. "Oh." The twinge of jealousy is back. "What did you say?" He looks down at his feet. "I mean, I said no. I mean, in a not obvious way." "Do you like her?" I say quietly. "I mean, not really. She's nice and all, but I only like her as a friend." "Oh." He looks back up at me. "Why?" "Uh, I was just wondering. And stuff. Um. Yeah. Because, just like... I should probably get going to class." "Okay..." He says. I turn around and head down the hall, my breath shaking. What the hell was that, John? But in truth, I know what the hell that was about. Because I don't want Alex liking Eliza.
Lunch rolls around, and I'm worried to see Alex again after our awkward encounter in the hallway earlier. But, as I sit down with my dry sand which, Alex looks as he normally does, laughing and talking with Hercules and Lafayette. He's laughing with the two of them, though I have no idea what's so funny. I look out the big window at the other end of the cafeteria. It's dark and rainy. A crack of thunder splits the conversation. Alex looks around anxiously, and stands up quickly. "Guys... I'll, uh, be right back." Hercules and Lafayette look at each other, as if sharing an unspoken secret. "Do you want us to come with you?" Hercules says quietly. Alexander shakes his head quickly. "I'll be fine..." And with that he runs out of the cafeteria. I stand up, hesitating. "I should go check in on him." I say, not sure what's going on. "Um, I wouldn't reccomend that." Lafayette says slowly. "Our Alex has a... problem with storms." "What?" I say, sitting back down. "How so?" Hercules and Lafayette share that knowing look again. "Most of his family died in a storm when he was a kid. He's hated them ever since." I had no idea. I had known that his mother had died... but his entire family? "Is he going to be okay?" I say, starting to pack up my stuff. "Yeah, he'll be fine probably. He's usually okay after a little while." Hercules says. "A little while?" I practically shout. "Why aren't you making this a bigger deal? I'm going to go find him." Before the two boys can protest, I grab my backpack and leave the cafeteria. I realize I have no idea where Alex is, but what I do know is that I have to find him.
I search the halls, then move on to the classrooms. Why is this school so huge...
I'm about ready to give up trying to find him, when as a last resort, I go look in the bathroom on the first floor, the one no one ever goes into. Alex is sitting in the corner next to the sink, his knees to his chest, a far away look in his eyes. He doesn't notice me come in. "Alex?" I whisper. Either he doesn't hear me, or he chooses not to answer. I go over to where he is and sit down next to him. "John." He says quietly, turning towards me. The far away look in his eyes returns as he looks away. "Alex, are you okay?" "Yeah..." He forces out a shaky smile. "I'm just not a big fan of storms." Not knowing what to say next, I settle into the silence. The radiator hums, and students voices fill the hallways outside, reminding me that lunch is over. But I don't mind if I miss class just this once. I just hope that if I'm late, my dad won't find out...
Alex can clearly sense my nervousness. "Lunch is over." He says softly. "You can go to your class." "No, I'll stay here with you."
I look out the window at the driving rain. A burst of lightning sparks, and is followed by a huge crack of thunder. Alex yelps, and covers his face. "It's gonna be okay, Alex. I'm sure the storm is almost over." I put my arm around him. We sit in silence. Alex turns to me all of a sudden. His face is red and tear streaked. "That's what my brother said." "What?" I say, confused. He sighs. "That's what my brother said... during the storm. That was the last time I ever saw him." "I'm so sorry, Alex. I'm so sorry." He doesn't seem to hear, just looks away. "Never saw him again. He was my only friend left. I had him and I had my aunt. And then... I had no one. I had no one at all." Alex sobs, and turns around, trying to hide his face. The poor guy... I take his hand lightly. "It's okay. It's going to be okay." "That one storm was his last." He mutters. "I never know when one storm may be my last." I grip his hand tighter. I can feel my cheeks flush from the contact, but I ignore it. "It's going to be okay, Alex. I promise. I'm here."
