A Series Of Emotions

Ch 2: Valentines Day.

flashback 2/14/17
Running up the stairs of the school, Alexander rushed to his fourth period class. He had to get there before Eliana did. If she received the valentines grams, he was fucked. No, scratch that. Alexander would have to leave. His feet began to slow down, as he saw the door at the end of the last hallway. He hadn't even realized he had made past the usual corner "hello" stops, as he was too caught up in his thoughts. He saw Matt Tyler ahead of him, and the door open and just barely could he make out their table, full of the Valentine grams that his friends had bought for Leo.

He stopped, halfway down the hallway. He started to think of the best escape route. Alex knew if he could make it down the stairs, and out to the quad before security did their usual stroll for tardy kids who were really skipping classes, he knew he could make it to his car down the street. Alex knew that he also had his way with Timothy, the youngest of the security crew. He loved the kids, but he knew sometimes they had to make a break and leave, so he'd help them if they really needed to go. But before, Alex could take off, Eliana had already made her way to him.

"H-Happy Valentines Day, Eli." He smiled, grabbing the back of his neck.
She gave a slow nod and handed him one of 'his' valentines grams back. From her cheeks to the tips of her ears, blood rushed through and gave her skin a warm blush. As he unfolded the gram, Leo began to walk back to class, unable to keep still and tolerate the tension and silence she forced upon them.

While it is very nice of you to show your admiration towards me, I have to decline the offer of being your valentine. Please, not today. Not tomorrow. And definitely not tonight, Alexander. Only speak to me about photo editing, thank you.
Z.Leo.
Also, please refrain from calling me anything but Leo. We're just friends.

That's what helped sophomore Alexander decide he was leaving as quickly as he could. No one had seen Alexander so frustrated. Yet, no one knew what the other emotion that possessed the boy was. The embarrassment and heartbreak in his eyes that everyone assumed were glossy from a heated passion showed the slightest bit of sadness that he worked hard to conceal.

Stumbling over his own feet, Alex barely caught himself on the school gate. As he slid through the gate, someone coughed. All he could do was quickly wipe his eyes and slowly turn to face whoever owned the cough with the angriest glare.

———————present day———————
Junior year Alexander chose to spend Valentine's Day a lot different. Sulking in his corner of his fourth period classroom, he sat at the empty table furthest from Leo. She kept looking at him, a sad and sympathetic look as he isolated from them all, specifically her. He didn't exactly want to be so harsh, but at the same time she was elegantly heartless to something that he didn't even do last year.

New Message Alert.
Wednesday. February 14, 2018 11:27AM

hey.eliana: why don't you come join us?
hey.eliana: we get it you hate us, or me, but c'mon.

yosoyalex: not that I hate you guys
yosoyalex: or you, I just don't want to 
yosoyalex: why do you care if I'm over here?

hey.eliana: don't get ahead of yourself, I don't.
hey.eliana: It's just we're all having a nice time
hey.eliana: and it's hard when you're pouting
hey.eliana: in the corner like someone kicked your
hey.eliana: ...puppy or something.

Leo knew exactly why he was sitting in the corner. She declined his valentine proposal. But in her defense, you don't write a girl multiple letters, a few in which you discuss the length of certain body parts and where they can go upon and within the receiver of said letter. But at the same time, she couldn't help but give pity to the sad party he threw for himself. She actually could say she felt bad.
She heard from her cousin Savannah, who had heard Alexander's best friend Matt Tyler, that Alexander cried. She felt bad, rejecting him though, because the rest of the year proved that he was actually somewhat of a sweet boy, when it was the two of them alone. She's never admitted this though. She couldn't. She was the girl who broke the sweet side of him.

New Message Alert.
Today 11:34am.

yosoyalex: I'm not pouting.
yosoyalex: I am just more productive by myself
yosoyalex: this Wednesday. In the corner.

Now to Leo, last valentines was a prank. A joke. She had no clue that it was somewhat of a forced confession though. Alex actually developed a small crush on the at-the-time photo editor of the yearbook staff. So he let her believe it was a joke the next day. Well, it wasn't exactly how he intended to cover up the incident but, it's what he left it off as.

flashback 2/15/17
Walking up to the classroom, Alexander had an apology rose. It was white. Pure white to show that his intentions were pure. This rose lied on a well written letter with a sprig of baby's breath around it.

Leo.
Yesterday, a mass amount of Valentine grams were left on your table from the school, addressed from me. Now I didn't intend for this to happen. I didn't send them, to be honest. My buddy M.Tyler can vouch that I don't do these things. Our friends think you're one of the prettiest Junior in your class. And I shouldn't have let them know you had fourth period with me, as they decided to express their love from me. As me. This rose is a symbol of my intentions with this letter are to be pure. As pure as I could be. I found the whitest rose possible. I would like our friendshi- acquaintance to continue the way it always has. You ignoring me and then messaging me your opinions or response for my work or any questions I ask. That is all.
Alexander Ryan Ramos.

Alexander placed them neatly on her usual spot and sat down at his within their table. When Leo walked through, All went silent except for the sound of him working, typing as fast as he could so no one would interrupt him. It wasn't a secret of how he observed her, and typed mindlessly into an empty word document as her thin fingers lifted up the paper effortlessly and held it still so she could read. He seen the shift of color in her eyes, from a dark green to this light, gentle green. The kind that looks cold like ice water on a warm day but inviting. Lying in a meadow kind of green.
When Leo finished reading, they held eye contact for a short moment, before Alex nodded and dove headfirst back into his work. Leo would've spoken to him right then and there, but it seemed he was already brushing her off. He couldn't help but notice that when Leo began to work on her computer, her eyes were almost electric, bright and a new color. He couldn't place what her emotions were, but it slightly frightened him.

———————present day———————

New Message Alert.
Today 11:34am.

hey.eliana: not a joke.
hey.eliana: come with me to get coffee later

yosoyalex: why would I assume it's a joke?
yosoyalex: you making references there, Leo?
yosoyalex: why?

hey.eliana: maybe.
hey.eliana: because I want to get coffee?
hey.eliana: because I'm inviting you?

yosoyalex: uh.
yosoyalex: 5:30?

hey.eliana: yeah, that's a good time.
hey.eliana: happy valentines, Alexander.