Air Catcher

I Did Not Know it was Such a Violet Island

Alyx's pov

I woke up with a groggy memory, like I did often, wondering why I was on the couch. Then I realized I was leaning on someone and went rigid. I didn't. I did not fall asleep on Tyler. I opened my eyes a crack and looked around me, careful not to move my head.

I did.

A stream of curses ran through my head and I had to press my lips tightly together to keep them from coming out. I took a quiet breath and paid close attention to the boy next to me. He was tense and his breaths were too shallow to be asleep. So there was no easy way of getting out of this. We were in the living room alone, but I heard quiet voices coming from the kitchen. That was good.

There was no avoiding this. It was going to happen and it was going to be awkward and it might have ruined everything.

I really wanted to stay his friend. I just didn't have the need and didn't want to take the risk for a relationship. It wouldn't be worth it.

But there was that little voice in the back of my mind telling me he was worth it even if no one else was. How I wanted to listen to that voice.

I scolded myself and once again told myself to get over it. I'd play dumb. I would pretend to be groggy and tired and then freak out and apologize and maybe find a way to get everyone out of my house to cut my losses.

I yawned and stretched carefully so i wouldn't bump into him. I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and ran my fingers through my hair before turning to look at him. My eyes went wide in fake shock and I blushed. The latter was unintentional and frustrating, but it helped the act so I didn't linger too long on it. I put my hand over my mouth.

"Good morning." He smiled almost adoringly at me.

"Oh my gosh, Tyler, I'm so sorry!"

He ran his hand through his hair. My eyes unintentionally followed the movement. My blush intensified and I silently cursed again. "That's alright. Teletubbies isn't that interesting, I know."

"You're right, it was probably your stupid show that made me fall asleep."

"Or the fact that you clearly aren't used to staying up as late as me and should have gone to bed a lot earlier rather than talking to me. Either way... I don't mind." He looked down.

I glared at him as my face turned a shade of red I didn't know was possible.

'Alright, Mr. Charming, time to go home. You've screwed with my emotions enough today.' I muttered in my head.

Right on que Merritt walked in. "Josh says he needs to head home, Tyler. Are you going to ride with him or me?"

Tyler turned to look at her. "I'll... yeah, I'll go with Josh. Um... thanks, Alyx- I mean for having me over. It was lots of fun. To hang out with you guys not.... bye." He managed a small smile before heading out the door with Josh.

Hannah walked into the living room as soon as the front door closed. "Well I'd say that was a smashing success." She remarked.

"Is Patrick gone?" I asked, my voice shaking with the effort to stay calm. Hannah nodded.

I gave them both my best death glare. "Both of you sit down. Now."

The obeyed, though both of them were holding back laughter.

"What the heck was that?" I tried my best not to yell.

"We were helping you out." Mere smiled.

"Helping me out? No. That was prying and screwing with my life like you have no right to. I don't know how you knew I've been hanging out with Tyler, but that was not OK." My fingernails were digging into my arms.