Fall For You

(13)

Campus is busy, really busy. People are everywhere, moving in all directions. I scan the crowd for Alex. I don't even know why exactly. I should want to avoid him. But another part of me wants to see him. The last time I saw him was Saturday, when we had our fight -  That was 4 days ago. Maybe it's stubbornness. Like I can't let him have the last word. 

It's almost mid-morning Wednesday, so he'd just be getting out of Literature. Unless he cut class. I laugh. Right, as if. Skipping doesn't exactly seem like it would be on his list of things to do. 

I turn, ready to walk into the building where Literature is held. Maybe I can meet him on his way out. That seems like the smart thing to do. With people around, there's no way we can start another shouting match. 

But then, I catch a glimpse of familiar brown hair. Alex. As I get closer, I notice that he's back in his usual wardrobe - plaid shirt and denim shorts. He's done playing dress up.

I groan internally when I see who he's with. 

Matilda. My replacement. The perfect daughter. She's the Golden Girl. The valedictorian of her high school. The one who always says please and thank you. The kind girl next door. 

She's everything I'm not.

Her blonde hair is braided, neat and flawless, down her back. She's really doing a great job representing college pride with her CCU t-shirt tucked into her skirt. I wonder if she actually loves the school enough to showcase it, or if it's something my mother has put her up to. Either way, it's irritating. 

They are sitting together at a table outside the 1919 Cafe. Takeaway cardboard coffee cups sit in front of each of them. I wonder how long they've been there. How did they even meet? It doesn't really surprise me that they've found each other. Nerdy attracts nerdy.

I should leave them alone. But I can't. I walk up to their table. 

"Well, look who it is," I smile sweetly. "I didn't know you two knew each other."

Alex turns around and quickly says, "Hi Gemma," before he turns his attention back to Matilda, who is pretending to be really thirsty and basically chugging down her drink. 

"It's good to see you, Matilda." No, it's really not. 

"You two know each other?" Alex asks, looking between the two of us. 

"Not really," Matilda says. She's practically squirming in her seat, and I get it. She doesn't want her new bestie to know that her dad is dating my mum.

"What do you mean? We're basically inseparable." It's fun contradicting Little Miss Perfect. 

"How do you two know each other?" Alex asks, taking a sip of his coffee. 

Good question, Alex. Wanna answer that, Matilda?

Matilda doesn't say anything. She just sits, drawing on the table with her finger. I feel bad. Kinda. It's not her fault that our parents are dating. It's probably not fair of me to take out how I feel about the situation on her. 

"Are you alright?" Alex asks her.

"Yeah," she says, offering him a kind smile. "We should get to class."

"Yeah, we should," Alex nods in agreement. Matilda takes this as confirmation to stand and quickly grab her things. 

I watch them walk away, side by side, the conversation I interrupted seemingly resumes. 

Before they disappear through the door, I call out, "Alex, wait."

He stops and turns around, almost reluctantly. When I reach them, I ask, "How was your weekend?" A teasing smirk tugs at my lips. I see the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. He doesn't want Matilda to know about the party, the alcohol, the nights he let loose. 

"Good," he says, shrugging as though it's no big deal. Then, without another word, he pulls Matilda inside and shuts the door behind him. 

I let out a breath. The need to annoy him fades. It's replaced by a familiar ache.