Fate's Call ✓

chapter two

MY HANDS FIDGET in the pocket of my jeans as I wait on the roof for Alyssa. Judging by our last interactions, I don't even think she'll come, but I'm still hoping on that one percent she might. I glance at my watch for the third time - it's still ten minutes early. But I feel as if I'm reaching for thin strings; where Alyssa's the puppeteer, bending me to her will.

Eventually, someone does come up onto the roof.

Lexia.

She glances at me. It's the expression I'm starting to see a lot from her, all at the fault of Alyssa. Lexia says, "Alyssa had to go home. But she told me to give you this."

She hands me an envelope. One that is pristine white, and signed in calligraphy. I peel open the letter to find a sheet of thin folded line paper. A light aroma of jasmine seems to come from it. The number of words greatly outnumbers by own.

    Jace,

I hope you know that I'm spending valuable time writing this. I seriously hope it's worth it, and maybe we can work something out lest you somehow make things worse. But why are you suddenly so interested in becoming friends?

We've gone to the same schools for years and you've never asked for my friendship then - I hardly believe you even knew who I was. This year I have become extremely busy, and cannot deal with this sort of nonsense going on as well.

I really am sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable yesterday. I try my best to keep my foul mood to myself but it occasionally lets out sometimes. This is what a friendship with me may look like if that's what you seek. I've been told that it takes a lot of patience to put up with me, and what's been called as my 'arrogant' remarks.

Get back to me - if you want. I won't be upset if you don't.

- Alyssa

I slide the paper back into the envelope, maybe more meticulously than I needed to be. Lexia is still here, and I thank her before leaving the rooftop. Nick finds me in the halls straight after and leans heavily onto my shoulders. He babbles something to me, but I'm not listening. And Nick notices fast. He blurts, "Are you dealing with chick drama?"

I just shrug him off.

"You're starting to look as mopey as Rhys. And Rhys was hella whipped."

I scowl at him. "Am not, just mind your own business."

"So I'm right then," Nick says with a laugh, "it's girl drama." Just as he's about to speak again, no doubt to tease me about the situation, Lexia walks up behind us.

Pink rises on her cheeks and she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. She asks me, "Can I speak to you alone?"

Never have I been more relieved to see Lexia at this moment. I grin like a Cheshire at Nick before making a dismissive gesture with my hands, "You heard the girl. Get out."

He makes an exaggerated eye roll, before slowly dragging himself away. I turn to Lexia. "So, what do you need?"

"Nothing," she says quickly. "You just seemed upset after reading Alyssa's letter. I wanted to make sure you weren't too upset."

Rubbing my neck, I contemplate my answer, "I'm not, it's just a little frustrating. Alyssa isn't superbly open to new relationships, is she?"

"I guess not. Was she a little offensive in the letter?"

I shake my head. "No, she was surprisingly nice about the whole thing."

Lexia smiles brightly. "Really? That's great. I'm glad she's warming up to you, you seem like a nice guy." Clearly, she doesn't hear about me from gossip. I wonder if she's not in school as much either, but Alyssa seems well acquainted with my reputation. Lexia starts to pull out a small strip of paper. She holds out her hand to me and says, "It's my and Alyssa's phone numbers; we should meet up sometime to work on the English assignment."