The Way Back To You

Chapter 5

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After lunch and our routinely unceremonious dumping of the tray's, only to have our food regurgitated into "mystery mush," for the next day... Mason, Charity, and I make our way to Home Economics, one of the classes we all share together.

I love this class. It's a nice, welcome distraction from everything that life throw's my way. Never mind the fact that I cannot cook to save my life...I like mixing batter in the bowls and stirring vegetables in a pot.

It's nice to produce something that you yourself actually have an influence on. Can't say the same for a whole lot of other things, so...I take what I can get.

Today, as I slip into my seat next to Mason and Quinn, with Charity on my left, I have a premonition. My gut wrenches into knots and I let out a sigh.

I look up as I sit down and sure as day follows night...There it is!

" Look. Alex Fucking Valdez."

For some reason, I can't stop staring at him, and it's not because half of the class, mostly the female half, are drooling all over him as well.

It's because of what I've been told about him. A travelling, heartbreaking boxer from Indiana who's known notoriously for his monstrous streak, but also saved my little brother from park bullies....

I don't know. Just doesn't add up.

I tilt my head and look at him, folding my knuckles under my chin and leaning forward on my desk.

Our teacher, a plump woman known as Ms. Kinnian, whispers something into his ear. I watch as he nods and pulls on his backpack, turning his head and walking towards the back of the room.

Charity and Mason share a look, and Mason wraps an arm around Quinn.

I bite on my lip and edge forward a little more.

"What do you think?"

Quinn whispers fervently, tucking strands of her long, black hair behind her ear. I focus on her intense gaze, and at the piercing blue eyes done alarmingly in mascara.

"Huh?"

Quinn leans forward and reaches up to Mason, brushing his hair off his forehead.

"About that guy? The boxing player, in both the ring and with girls? Mason told you, didn't he?"

Mason nods and leans his chin on Quinn's shoulder.

"Of course I did. What did you think, I forgot?"

Quinn places a kiss on his forehead and I'm instantly jealous. Not specifically of Mason or Quinn...Ew, seriously, I know way too much about Mason to ever think about him like that...But I'm jealous because of what they have.

It's obvious to anyone who look's at them, that they really do care about each other. I mean...Come on! They're adorable!

Mason pulls away and leans on his fist. "Something tells me he's going to continue his streak here at Roosevelt. We'd better just keep to ourselves."

Quinn smiles and wraps her arms around Mason's arm, placing the side of her face on the tabletop.

Charity presses her lips together and lets out a low exhale. I look at her and she immediately repositions her face, putting on a somewhat bored expression.

"Who cares about Alexander?"

"Alex," I say, sneaking a look back at him.

"What?"

Charity cocks her head and I immediately snap my gaze back to her and laugh nervously.

"No, I just, it's...He likes being called Alex."

Charity gives me a funny look and Quinn snorts. "In that case, we'll call him Valdez, or ooh! How about Winston?"

"Winston?"

"That's his middle name."

" I thought it was 'fucking.'"

Quinn taps her nails against the table. "Alexander Winston Valdez."

Mason and Charity immediately crack up and I force a laugh out of myself.

"I almost feel bad for the poor guy. He probably envisions his punching bags as the sot who named him that!"

Charity wipes a tear away and I weakly chuckle. I actually don't think Winston is that bad of a middle name...It's like Winston Churchill, and hey...Where would we be if not for that guy?

I inwardly smile as I think of all the Churchill quotes my Dad recites at home. He's obsessed, literally. He even has a t-shirt with Churchill's face pressed onto the sleeves.

Yeah...He needs help.

Charity nudges my shoulder. "What's up?"

I shake my head. "My mind's just out of it right now. Sorry..."

I attempt to change the topic. I don't want to hear more about Wins-Alex...Anymore.

"Let's try to cook that cheese wasabi thing with avocado."

Quinn reaches for the sheet of options and wrinkles her nose.

"That sounds gross. How about this chocolate fudge cake? We could ice it!"

"Yeah," Mason agrees. "Totally."

Of course he'd side with Quinn. He doesn't have an independent bone in his body anymore.

Charity lets out a loud sigh, probably as exasperated with the couple of them as I am.

"Fine, then. Who's going to go get the batter?"

...

As soon as Home Economics is over, I reach for my bag and saunter out of the classroom. I'm just about to step out into the hallway when a hand drops onto my shoulder.

I spin around and look up at Alex. His eyes are bright with I don't even know.

He crosses his arms. "Just wanted to make it clear..."

He steps closer. I look around for my friends, and find Charity, Mason and Quinn a few feet away, watching me.

I helplessly look up at Alex and gulp. "Yeah?"

"I do like being called Alex. I'm used to it. I don't very much mind my middle name so much as whoever named you after a month...I'm not a player. Don't talk about things you don't understand, and....Your chocolate fudge cake was a little flat."

I purse my lips and stare at a point over Alex's shoulder. He smirks and takes another step forward. I take a step back and he steps forward again. I move further behind me and slam into the locker. He places a calloused hand on the wall next to me and leans in.

I look back over to my friends, who are starting to freak out.

My eyes shift back to look at Alex and he smiles.

"Players play, that much is clear you know. But this isn't a game. Be careful what you say here or anywhere, you never know who's listening."