Parallel (Travelers Series Book 1)

Parallel (Chapter 14)

Chapter Fourteen
Boundaries

With Cooper gone, Alex immediately rushes over to my side. He’s acting as if I’d been abducted by aliens. Then again, since I’m not entirely sure where Cooper comes from, Alex’s apparent concern might be justified.

“Etta! I can’t believe you got in the truck with him. What did he want? You two looked awful serious in there.” Alex is taking his concern a little bit too far.

I can’t really blame him. For the last couple of days I’ve been acting totally bizarre and now I have Cooper showing up everywhere I go. “It was nothing, I promise.”

He doesn’t seem convinced. “Are you sure you’re not involved in something I should know about?”

“Nothing is going on. I’m sorry things got a bit out of hand.”

“How well do you even know this guy? He could have just driven off with you,” he scolds me. “How old is he anyway? He doesn’t even look like he’s in high school.”

I assure him that I’m fine and remain unscathed. “Seriously, I’m fine and I promise he’s just a friend.” I don’t know how many times I’m going to have to keep saying this. “If you really have to know, his dad works with mine and I asked him to stop by to see if his dad had heard from him. I’ve been missing my dad’s calls.” There. It’s as close to the truth as I can get without outright lying to him.

Alex’s shoulders drop and he begins to relax. “Jeez, Etta. Why didn’t you just say that from the beginning? I was beginning to think you had a stalker!”

I find myself laughing at his comment. Yeah, this wouldn’t be the first time someone’s thought that of Cooper.

“This isn’t funny Etta, what in the world did he say to make you all worked up?” Alex isn’t about to let this go.

“He didn’t have any new information about my dad, so I was kind of annoyed. That’s all.” At least this part is true.

I glance at my watch and notice it’s time to get ready for school. Alex, instead of going back home, has another idea in mind. He decides to wait until I change into my uniform and offers to give me a ride to Dominion. This is the last thing I need—more questions—but I take him up on his offer, because he isn’t giving me any choice. No one told me that dating came with so much drama attached.

After I finish showering, I’m almost ready to meet Alex downstairs when he pokes his head through my bedroom door, just as I’m zipping up my skirt. “You sure you’re all right?” He inquires again.

“Hey, privacy!” It’s nice having a potential boyfriend, but there are boundaries—and if not, there should be. I’m sure if Maggie knew he was up here she’d escort him right back down to the kitchen where he can sit and wait in front of a pile of blueberry pancakes or something.

But Alex is undeterred and enters my room once he determines I’m fully dressed. He makes himself comfortable on my bed and I don’t bother to stop him. “What’s wrong Etta?”

“I think Jaime’s on her way. She’ll need a ride too,” I answer instead. At least I think she’s on her way. Where is she when I need her? She’s always around during the most inconvenient times and now she’s nowhere to be found. The last thing I need is another moment alone with Alex. I really do like him, but the whole boyfriend thing is all new territory to me. Its bad enough I have to learn a whole new life.

“You know Jaime. By the time she finally finishes getting ready, school will already be over,” he points out. “So, what did he tell you?”

“You’re still with that?” I ask, moving over to the bed. “I already told you, nothing. Look I know I’ve been acting weird lately, but there’s nothing to worry about. Cooper is just keeping an eye out for me while my dad is gone.”