Handcuffed

Chapter 5

After grocery shopping, Alex and I went back to my house. I checked the time, 10:05 AM. I sigh in relief when I see my father left for work about 10 minutes ago, I look over at Alex who is already looking at me.

"What do you want to do?" I asked.

"Well, what can we do?" He asked back.

"20 questions again?" I suggest, with he responds with a nod. We move to the living room—which is surprisingly free of beer cans and bottles—and sit down.

"Okay, I'll start," Alex said. "What is your favorite thing to do?"

I thought for a moment, "Well, I haven't done it in awhile, but I like to paint and sing."

"Really?! That's so cool! I never took you as an artsy person really," Alex said, seeming somewhat interested in what I was saying.

"Yeah, most people don't. Anyways, my turn. What's your most treasured memory?" I ask. He thought for a moment.

"Well, my most treasured memory from my childhood outside of my family would have to be when I met this girl around the age of six, maybe seven. This may be surprising, but I had been bullied for the past few years by some of the guys in class, until one day a girl came and told the bullies off. At first, I thought she was going to hurt me too but instead she helped me and told me something that I still think of, up to this day."

I looked at him, hoping he would tell me what the little girl said. Thankfully, he seemed to understand, "She told me, 'Don't let their words hurt you because they don't know you and never tell someone off just because you're upset. Never let anyone else go through what you did because you know what it's like to feel the same pain'. That's why I couldn't be with Jessica after I saw her bullying you," He said in a daze of some sort, like he was reliving the memory.

"What happened to the girl?" I asked. Alex looked at me and the smile he had slowly faded into a sadder one.

"After a year, I never saw her again. I always hope that one day I'll be able to recognize her if I see her again," He paused and shook his head. "Anyways! That's enough questions from you! It's my turn now! So my question is...what is your favorite memory from your childhood?"

My mom flashed through my head, I thought for a moment memory before answering, "My favorite memory would probably have to be during the summer before my mom...left, I went to this summer camp. I made a few friends and I had met this boy, I forget his name though. Anyways, I remember one night he caught me sneaking out and said he wouldn't tell if I let him tag along. Of course I told him that he could, and I just remember showing him this 'small paradise' I had found near camp the previous day. There were trees surrounding a small lake with some semi-long grass filled with fireflies that were flickering their lights. I will never forget his reaction, he was in awe. He looked at me with such amazement that I still remember it. Unfortunately, he's probably in another country by now, considering he wasn't at camp the following year."

Alex looked at me with happiness, but also jealousy and anger. I looked at him confused, "What?"

He seemed to snap out of his daze and looked at me, "What? Oh, it's just that....that's a really cool story! I wish I could've seen this 'small paradise' you were talking about."

"Well, the camp shut down a few years ago, but I think the campsite is still there., just abandoned," He nodded. Hoping to change the subject, I quickly try to think of a question to ask. "Okay! My turn! Um...what is something you thought about me the first time we met?"

He didn't even hesitate.

"When I first saw you, I thought to myself..." Hope was building up inside me for some reason...