THE RAVENS

eleven

- aliyah -

Alex is going to be a Father.

A Dad.

He's only seventeen. He still needs to finish high school. He hasn't gone to college yet. He still hasn't gotten his grades up. He still needs to reconcile with his Father. He still needs to find himself. How will he ever be a Father?

It was a Sunday afternoon. The sun was shining bright and as the children rode their bikes with their friends, I told myself not to call Alex. I haven't talked to him since the day we had our study session together. Every now and then, we would nod or say a simple hi, I've been spending way too much time with Xavier and Jackson, that I totally forgot about Alex. But again, he has never asked me to help him study ever since our last session together.

But then, he called me.

"Hey...Aliyah...I haven't talked to you in a long time." He said, his voice deep and gruff. He lightly chuckled and so did I.

"Hey, Alex. How are you doing?" I said I tried not to bring up Cassidy, but again, why else would he be calling me?

"So you probably already heard, huh?" He said, a slightly nervous chuckle and soon he sniffled. He was crying.

"Yeah..." I replied, not knowing what to say, or if I should tell Alex that Jackson told me. It would be better if I just kept my mouth shut.

"Aliyah, I'm sorry if you thought I was avoiding you these past few weeks, it's been hectic, ya know?" He said,  I heard a girl yell on the other end of the line, but I pretended as if I didn't hear it. It was probably Cassidy.

"Alex...it's fine. I just helped you study, you don't need to keep up with me." I state, keeping the conversation low and non-intense. But the topic...it was getting there, and soon I knew Alex would be talking about it.

"Aliyah, that time we studied together...when I told you about my Father and everything...you were the only person I told. You are the only person that knows. And I...I don't know why I told you..." He lightly chuckled before continuing,  "And as cliche as this sounds...I think you understand me. So...please, just not tell anyone what I told you. Let's just keep it between us, alright, Jones?" He informed me, I pictured him leaning against a wall with his phone next to his ear as he runs his hands through his silky dirty blonde hair, just like the time we met.

"Yeah..of course. And Alex...if you ever need someone to talk too, you know I'm here for you, right?" I said I wanted Alex to know that he isn't alone and that I'm here for him. Because I know what it's like to feel alone, and it fucking sucks.

- monday -

As I walked in the halls of Vixton High, no one was talking about Cassidy being pregnant or Alex being the Father. It was as if someone swept it beneath the carpet along with all the other lies and secrets that are hidden underneath this posh prestigious high school.

Rachel came back from her trip and she seemed happier than ever, I was glad that she's happy.

"Hey, girlies!" Mackenzie said as she walked towards Rachel and me.

"Hey!" I said as we all walked alongside each other towards my locker. As I opened my locker, Xavier walked by and stared at me, his arm was around a pretty brunette although his eyes were infixed on mine, the pretty brunette didn't notice. Perhaps she has too indulged in the fact that Xavier, a ruthless boy had his arm around her shoulder. Pathetic, really.