The Boxer And The Ballerina

12. "It's Withdraw, man."

12. "it's withdraw , man"

When it counted he could't count on her.

She was wrapped up in things that had her mind elsewhere.

_

|STEPH'S POV|

Alex and I walked side by side, he laughed, talking about something Nick had did in their childhood.

I was only half listening, the other half of me was engulfed in the way his mouth move, how melodically deep his voice was, and how he spoke with his large -LARGE hands.

But there was also a little piece of me that wondered back to 'Tyler' and the way we kissed last night- and this morning. I didn't know if I should feel bad or not, you know- about doing it when I had just made up with Alex.

We hadn't labeled anything.

And if we were going to, it wasn't happening until AFTER homecoming.

I guess no matter how much I argued myself, I'd steel feel guilty because I was pretty sure he wasn't out making out with Brook and their still dating "Technically "

I wondered if there was a little piece of him that thought of her.

And then I'm torn from my thoughts, "Can I ask you something?" He asks.

I nod, looking over to him.

We walked the side walks of the upper east side and the sky was still a brith blue, though by the time 6 rolls around it will be ready to go a shade darker.

He told me we could do anything I wanted to do and I told him it didn't matter to me, and then we just wound up walking.

It excited me, the fact that he could turn such a simple task- walking- into something I'd enjoy wholeheartedly.

"Don't freak out or anything," he adds.

And that made me freak out.

I blinked once or twice, "I- uh-" Alex mumbled, it was almost as I'd he'd wished he'd never spoke up.

But it was to late to go back now.

He clears his throat, looking down at his feet while we walked, "let's say you had a friend-" he begins, I raise my eyebrows. Hypothetical questions were always related to something.

"Mhm," I nod, urging for him to continue.

"He's into some bad things, maybe like drugs or something..." Alex shrugs.

I nod, "how bad are the drugs?" I ask. He smiles a little, "o.k. The drugs Arn't that bad. It's not like crack or anything. Maybe like boosters," Alex says nonchalantly.

"So... Steroids." I say.

And then it hits me, "is this about NICK?" I ask.

Alex looks hesitant and then he nods quickly, "uh, yea." He mumbles.

"You and him are friends, right?" Alex asks.

"Mutuals, more so." I say. He nods, "would you look at him differently if let's say he stopped steroids .... But relapsed." Alex says.

"Oh gosh, Alex. You should tell someone- i mean, you're telling me hit but someone who can help him." I say quickly.

"Well- what if he could stop if he wanted to." Alex says. "Is that what he's telling you? NO! Don't listen to it, all addicts say that." I warn quickly.

I see a flicker of fear in Alex's eyes, I thought it was adorable how much he cared about his friend.

Alex exhales, "but you wouldn't look at him different?" He asks.