The connection

Chapter four - Challenges

Chase

My eyes focused on the clock counting down the seconds until I could escape the airless prison of Hoskins classroom. I don't know how I'd managed to land myself in another detention but every minute I sat in this room felt like torture. How had this day that started so perfect waking up next to Alex turned out to be this bad? I felt like my world came crashing down when I found her in the girl's bathrooms verging on passing out, and then she did pass out and it was like someone had stabbed me in the chest. I don't even know what made me go in there, I could somehow sense that she needed me or something. I was drawn to that room the way I'd been drawn to the supply cupboard the day before. I pressed my eyes shut and relived the memory of hearing her angry voice beating herself up over unprotected sex. I can't believe I didn't think about it sooner. As soon as she said it was her first time, I should have made the connection that she wasn't on birth control. Screw that I should have remembered to wear a fucking condom. I was no saint, but I was always careful, the fact that it didn't even cross my mind afterwards showed how messed up this situation was. My eyes flung open at the sound of the bell. The torture of detention was over, and I seriously needed to get away from this place and clear my head.

I stepped out onto the quad and relief filled my body when I saw it was empty. I half expected to find her sitting there waiting for me on a bench. That bench I found her on yesterday thinking of me touching her in the supply cupboard, thinking of me kissing her neck. Stop it. I shook my head willing the memory to clear itself from my mind. What was it about this girl, I couldn't think straight around her, she had some sort of power over me and I over her? We were bad for each other, or at least I was bad for her. One afternoon together and we can already check off unprotected sex from out list of the most stupid things you could do in high school. Fuck, this could ruin my life, this could ruin her life. I just wish I could wake up and this all be some crazy ass dream, I mean what the fuck was wrong with us hearing each other's thoughts that shits not normal, nothing about this was normal. I brushed my hand through my hair and turned to make my way to the gates stopping dead in my tracks at what I saw.

A flash of brunette waves running through the gates. Fuck, she'd been there all along and judging by the speed she was running away from me she probably heard every word I'd been thinking.

Alex

I could feel my heart beating a thousand miles an hour again, this time it was because I was running home in this ridiculous heatwave. I willed my legs to keep moving faster, I needed to get as far away from him as possible. I know he saw me, I'm pretty sure I heard him call after me, but it was too late. I was gone, I needed to shut everything out and focus on getting home and getting away from this crazy mess. I turned onto my street and felt relief at the knowledge that I was almost home, I turned to make one final glance behind to check he wasn't following me when I felt my body smack straight into someone.

His strong arms steadied me, so we didn't topple over and I looked up at those familiar blonde waves.

"Jesus Alex why the hell are you running like that" Josh's tone seemed to have softened since our earlier conversation this morning. I found myself struggling for breath as my abrupt running came to a halt.

"Sor.... ry.....I...I... wa...- "I reached down to my knees to try and ease the pain building in my chest.

"Deep breaths Alex, just take deeps breaths" his arms moved to my shoulders steadying me as he observed the pained look on my face and my tear stained cheeks. "Look at me, in then out" he mimicked deep breathing techniques and I followed him. I felt my pulse start to ease; his concerned gaze locked on my eyes.

"Lex"

Josh's eyes shot up towards the sound and he moved in front on me as if to protect me from a predator.