CODE RED (Book 1)

Thankful

Thankful—13

As band class went on I found myself laughing more than usual. What was wrong with me? This was a complete foreign feeling for me, a person who always stayed serious and distant from those around me. As it turns out both Nai and D.C were really cool people to hang with. They took my mind off the problematic things. I talked to him asking him questions about the school so far considering he was new, feeling every second of Alex watching us. I thought he was over reacting with the whole situation of me interacting with Nai and truthfully he was, but I didn't notice. Maybe he was jealous of Nai. But I didn't find that amusing—I had offered him to join us in conversation while we played our guitars but he shook his head and kept his distance. My smile went away slowly as Nai spoke to me. His voice becoming distant in my ears as I grew distracted. My eyebrows furrowed in concentration as I thought to myself. "I'll be right back." I interrupted his talking.

"Okay, are you alright. You blanked out on me for a few seconds," he asked.

I nodded." Yeah, I just need to handle something really quick." He nodded before turning to D.C and both of them began playing their instruments. The band room was a loud room of musical noise, some were practicing and some were just talented up to my level of expertise. I climbed the short stairs up to Alex who was sitting on the very top. He was the only one at the top while everyone was below or in the middle. I wondered why was he distancing himself from the people around? But I would be lying if I had said I wasn't slightly happy about it, I mean those girls were surrounding him and it made me fidget every second that they were. Any one would get like that when their significant other was surrounded by attractive people that wanted to date him.

I sat down next to him and placed my guitar in my lap and randomly started strumming a few notes quietly as I asked."What's wrong with you?" He looked up at me a blank look on his face." Nothing," he said flatly. I continued to strum at my guitar but stopped as I turned to him and lifted an eyebrow. He was looking away from me, focusing on his own guitar. Sighing I lifted my guitar and set it down on the floor next to me before facing him fully." Okay I'm serious, what's the matter with you. You're. . .distant." as soon as the words passed my lips he brought his eyes to me a not so happy look in his eyes." I'm the distant one," he asked, his voice sounding agitated now. He stopped strumming as he focused completely on me.

I nodded slowly deciding to shrug off the way he had sounded." Yeah, you are. Why are you up here all alone? I thought you'd sit by me." I could see the muscles in his jaw clench as he stared at me with a hard look." I don't get you. . .I completely don't understand you at times and this is definitely one of those times."

I frowned in confusion as he stood up asking permission to be dismissed from class. I watched him grab his guitar before walking away from me." Where are you going, Alex?" he turned to face me." Anywhere but here, I'm sure you made it clear that you didn't want to tell me what was wrong with you this morning even though we've talked about this. You told me that you'd tell me things that were clearly bothering you. But. . ."he shrugged." I guess not." he said bitterly before turning away from me, heading down the stairs the rest of the way before exiting the class.

I sat there frozen not fully registering what had just happened but when I did I quickly stood up and ran down the stairs asking for permission to be dismissed as well and as soon as the teacher said yes I bolted out of the class room. I heard D.C call after me but I ignored her as the class door shit behind me. The noise of it echoing through the long hall. I walked out looking down the hall to see Alex walking away, a hand pushing back his hair as he speed walked further away from the class.

I shook my head jogging after him." Wait a minute, Alex." but despite me saying this he didn't stop nor did he turn around to look at me." You're following me now," he said