Beneath the Boardwalk (Alex Turner)

7 {distorting the facts}

I pull up my hood and try to calm my heartbeat. What was I thinking? What if he saw me? 

I had made it so I was hiding behind a corner. I knew Turner was in the alleyway, alone. A million questions ran through my head. I risked a short glance around the corner to see him, with a cigarette between his fingers. He inhaled slowly, then I saw smoke escape his lips, and fade away in the cool night chill. I knew he must be waiting for someone.

I quickly turned back before he saw me. At least I thought. I pressed my back against the wall. God, this was crazy. I was freezing cold and could be at home doing something more productive, but I was impulsively watching where my professor left at night? That doesn't sound at all like me! I saw my breath in the air, cold. 

Then I heard footsteps--coming my way. They grew closer. I felt pale. I needed to find a place to hide--quickly. I was cursing a string of words in my head, and I decided the best I could do was run. I knew my feet were loud slapping the pavement, but at least I had my hood up. I could run pretty fast, so nobody would ever see me. I'd just never wear this sweater again, so nobody would recognize it. 

But then I heard somebody running. Oh god, they were fast. I didn't want to check who they were. I ran behind the corner of some building and hope I'd lost whoever it was. 

It wasn't long before they caught up to me, grabbed my arms and pinned me harshly against the wall. With a pit of dread falling below my feet, I confirmed it was Turner. He was standing only a few inches away from me, a little out of breath. His eyes were wide and eyebrows raised, cheeks red. I felt uncomfortably close. 

"What the hell, Greene?" He whispered furiously. 

It was hard looking up at him. Panic made it hard to breathe as well, I wanted to be home and have no part in this. I bit the inside of my cheek, hard. My curiousity had no limits. "I--"

Suddenly his hand clamps over my mouth. It was warm and had a sense of urgency, and he listened for something. Soon I could hear voices in the distance. Alex took a deep breath, concentrating hard. He grabbed my wristly roughly, and dragged me along beside him, taking me around a few corners. He'd obviously had alot of practice being quiet--I stumbled a bit. 

Soon we were further away and he softly opened the doors on the ground, the ones beside a building that always provide a way to the basement--only I had no clue as to why we were here, and painfully waited for an explanation. Turner helped guide me down the steps in the dark, shut the doors without sound, and turned on the lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. 

It was a small basement, and I wondered where to. Or how he was able to come down here--let alone why this wasn't locked. 

He let out a breath, shutting his eyes for a moment. I carefully looked at his features, then turned away when he opened his eyes again. "I--" He shook his head. "What are you doing," he angrily whispers. 

I can't think of a lie, and he's gaze stares into me as if he already knows. The truth just seems to slip out. I swallow, extremely nervous. I take off my hood, then pull my hair behind my ears. "I just...." Alex made a move that signalled I should be quieter. "I just wanted to see if the rumours were true," I whispered. 

He squinted his eyes at me, staring at me in silence for about a minute. I was never used to the attention of somebody studying me that much, trying to figure me out. "The....." He paused. "... Rumours," he said flatly. 

"You know.... students....talk."

His eyelids flutter in annoyance, rolling his eyes. And he leans against the wall, slides down on his back, and sits down. I follow him, sitting down. 

"There are rumours about me..?" He says in a husky voice. "About what," he almost dares me to say. 

My heart skips a beat. "Uh... you know."

"No, darlin', I really don't."

I sigh. "Just... along the lines that... you're an alcoholic, and... a few ideas of what you do after teaching."

He's stuck in silence for a moment. The light is dim, eerie and cold. The light reflects in his dark brown eyes, and I can't read his expression. Then he smirks, tilting his head. "What do you think I do after teaching...?"

I wasn't expecting that response. "Um--n-no idea, that's why... I wanted to check it out," I mumbled, embarassed. I brought my knees to my chest. 

"Have you concluded anything since... on why I brought you here. Or are you drawing your conclusions based on the rumours. Because Greene," his voice drops a notch, "get the facts first. Distort them later."

It's so cold. Turner continues, darkness encompassing his face. The basement is quiet and the only sound is of his assertive voice. "I don't care what the rumours are. They aren't the truth, I assure you. We're sitting here because we're hiding, and I can't tell you who from, but they're going to be pissed. I was supposed to meet them. You don't know what you caused me tonight. So do you know what you're going to do?" I feel the harsh tone in his voice. "In a few hours, you're going to leave here. Then you're going to go back to your home, go to school like everyday, and live your normal pathetic life without danger. We will never speak of this again, and you will never listen to those rumours."

I'm stunned. I hate to admit I found that slightly... sexy? Shut up Quinn. Shut up, because nothing would've happened if you would've just stayed home and not followed anybody around. But one thing lingers at the back of my mind. "Danger?" 

Who was this guy? Turner stands up. He says nothing. "Never follow me again, Greene. And don't leave until a few hours have passed. None of this ever happened."