| VEXED |

chapter | fourteen

Alex's pov

I stood up off of Theo and he stood up also. I have a sports bra under this ripped shirt, so it wasn't like I literally flashed him.  

I walked over and grabbed the zip-up sweatshirt I had. I turned and looked at him, his eyes were still glued on me. I walked back over in his direction and he was smirking at me.

I was thinking of something to ask him, but I couldn't think straight. he was standing in front of me, and I remembered that time in his room where he was teasing me.

I pulled my shirt over my head and his eyes went wide. he turned around quickly and I laughed. I zipped the sweatshirt up and he turned back around.

I sat back on the floor and he sat in front of me again. "why didn't you just kill jess when you had the chance? better yet, why do you keep saving my life?" I asked and he stiffened.

"1, I  didn't kill jess because the arrow would have gone through you to get to her. 2, because you constantly put yourself in stupid situations." he tried to laugh and avoid my question.

"you could have shot the winning shot and killed us both. would have gotten rid of both of your problems, so why?" I asked again and he rolled his eyes. "I would never hurt you." he shook his head and I looked at him sideways.

I scooted closer to him and he looked away. "I was honest with you so now you have to be honest with me." I spoke seriously and he made eye contact with me.

"Because I care about your dumb ass sometimes Alex." he admitted quietly and I furrowed my brows. "is that what you were worried about saying? Theo, I care about you too." I laughed and he shook his head.

"no Alex, I don't think you get it. I care about you too much," he responded looking away from me. wait, does Theo like me? I don't think he even knows what that feels like. maybe that's why he's acting so weird.

"oh." I looked down at my hands and he looked back at me. "so is that what has been bothering you?" I asked and he nodded. "most of it. the other part is me having to go to high school." he admitted shaking his head.

"you'll be okay Theo." I smiled and he shook his head again. "you don't get it. im not equipped to be around a bunch of people." he breathed out frustrated.

"what do you mean?" I asked studying his expression. "Can't you tell? I'm not exactly a people person Alex. You of all people should know that." He rolled his eyes and I laughed.

"Then you're definitely gonna hate my school." I laughed and he dropped his hands to his sides dramatically.

"I'm teasing. As long as you stick to yourself everything will be fine. "I mean yeah there's drugs, violence, and ironically enough, gangs." I continued.

"Are you scared to go back?" He asked after a moment. "Not so much scared, more of a dread feeling. Just the fact that I might come in contact with the people I used to know." I shrugged.

"I can tell larce isn't going to want you associating with them." He responded. "Not that I'm going to but why wouldn't he?" I asked

"Why do you think he hopped on the idea of us going to school with you? not from the kindness of his heart, I can tell you that much." he shook his head, not making eye contact with me. larce may not be the best person in the world but so far he has let me make my own decisions.