| VEXED |

chapter | thirty five

Alex's pov

I walked into Ethan's house with all of my bags sitting in front of me. Ethan put down two boxes he had in his hands, setting them on the floor. 

"what's going on?" me and Ethan both looked to where Grayson was standing. "Alex is going to stay here for a bit, as long as she needs." Ethan looked at me and smiled. I looked towards Grayson and he held a straight face.

he turned and walked away. "he'll get over whatever you guys argued about, he's just pouting." he laughed and I nodded.

-

I woke up in the middle of the night and looked at my unfamiliar surroundings. I rubbed my head and walked out of my new room quietly. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. "I hope you aren't going to do this every night." I heard a voice making me almost drop my water.

"Sorry, I uh couldn't sleep," I tried explaining, setting down my water. I looked at Grayson, he was shirtless with grey sweats on. the moonlight was cast through the window, I turned around looking at it. it has been weird between me and him after what he said at the school.

"look Alex, what I said at the school-" he began but it seemed like he couldn't get what he was trying to say out. I turned to face him, but he was already behind me. 

"its fine Grayson, I get it. you still look at me like im supposed to be that girl you met at the coffee shop. the girl that was pushed around by some rich whore at school, and the same broken girl who cried on the ground because of some guy. but I'm just not that girl anymore, gray." I responded, my voice cracking slightly because of what I was saying.

he grabbed my face gently and looked into my eyes. "Alex, I like the person you are now. A nose piercing and dark clothes can't define you, neither can the gang. I loved you before all this, nothing is going to change that." he spoke softly rubbing the side of my face. when I heard the word love, my eyes widened. he surprised himself by it too obviously.

"what are you guys doing up?" Ethan rubbed his eyes and Grayson quickly moved away. "couldn't sleep." I responded grabbing my glass of water holding it up.

"my room is always open if you need it Alex." he responded  and I nodded. "that's my cue." Grayson responded. he glanced at me then walked towards the stairs. 

-

I walked into second period and sat down with my things. Elena sat beside me, she looked kind of green. "are you still not feeling well?" I asked with a worried look and she shook her head. "was it the food last night?" I asked and she motioned no.

"I eat that stuff all the time it shouldn't upset my stomach like this." she put her hand on her head and I looked at the clock. we still had about 15 minutes before class starts.

"How bout we go get you some ginger ale?" I smiled and she nodded. we walked towards the vending machines and I put a dollar in it, receiving her soda. 

I handed it to her and she smiled. "Elena, you good?" Ethan asked walking over to us with the guys. I saw Theo from behind them, he smiled and waved. wonder why he was so happy, he began walking over to me so I guess im about to find out why.

"guess who isn't a member of the gang anymore." Theo smiled proudly and we all looked at him with a shocked look. "what? how?" I asked, not believing him. 

"after your speech to larce, and some phone call he got, he left town. the mansion is all mine." he smiled more and I hugged him. "that's great!" I laughed. 

"Technically I didn't totally leave it, but something seemed to have troubled him badly. whatever it was it made him leave so suddenly and he left me in charge of the mansion. but no larce, no gang." he shrugged.

Ethan gave him a guy handshake and so did Jackson and Grayson. I looked back at Elena and she was sipping on her ginger ale.

Behind Theo, I saw two police officers and our principal walking in our direction. I automatically stiffened, seeing as our principal never comes out of his office. I haven't seen police in these halls since freshman year when they abandoned their jobs here. everyone's eyes began to follow their movements. 

"what the hell?" Jackson squinted. they arrived over to us, and the cop immediately looked at me. "are you Alexandra Parker?" he asked, and the principal looked at me. probably unsure himself since he barely does his job.

I looked at Ethan who moved to my side and crossed his arms. "y- yeah that's me." I stuttered. "I don't want to say this here, would you like to go somewhere private and talk?" he asked. "it's fine, you can say whatever it is here," I responded nicely. I feel the safest around my friends, so whatever it is I don't want to be away from them.

he let out a breath and took off his hat, my heart began to race and I looked at Ethan. "Ms Parker, is your sister Dani Parker?" he asked with a serious face on and I slowly nodded.

"im sorry ma'am, but she was in a serious car accident. she died at the scene," he spoke, gripping his hat. I felt my heart begin to break. "no?" I said almost as a question as my voice began to break.

Ethan wrapped his arms around me and I felt as though my stability was reliant on him. I stood up straight quickly wiping a tear that was coming down. I don't want to sound emotionless, but she and Brynn were always close. I didn't really grow up with her as they did, but her daughter was my entire life. Wait, paisley? 

 "was there a little girl in the car?" I asked seriously, and they looked at each other.

"yes, she has a 5-year-old daughter. she was also involved in the accident." he added and I felt as though my body was on fire. "is she okay? do you know her condition?" I walked closer to the cop. I was full-blown panicking at this point, choking on my words.

"I don't know anything else. shes at oak valley regional center, they rushed her there. that's all I know." I responded quietly. 

I struggled to get my keys from my bag, I started sprinting towards the door. I was running as fast as I could to my jeep so I could go to the hospital. she can't be dead, this can't be happening. Dani can't be.

paisley can't be, she's so young. she's one of the brightest lights in my life. I closed the door of my jeep and let out a loud scream and hit my steering wheel. 

I started the car, my vision blurred from everything. the world is spinning way too fast for me to keep up right now, I can't take it.

this isn't real, this can't be. my sister can't be dead. 

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Dis girl really be goin THROUGH it