It’d been a week since the whole ordeal with Alex happened and he kept blowing my phone up with text messages and phone calls. On days they had band practice and I was home he’d keep pestering me until I slammed my bedroom door in his face. Today would be the worst day of all though because the second semester started back up and I have 6 classes with the annoying pest. I was currently in the bathroom straightening my hair when Rian walked in to brush his teeth.

“Morning,” he grumbled and I couldn’t help but laugh at him. Neither one of us was ready to be waking up so early again.

“Morning to you too, sunshine.”

“We have to leave soon; we have to take Alex to school today. He said something about his car not working,” Rian mentioned before leaving the bathroom once he finished. Of course, Alex’s car ‘isn’t working.’ I quickly finished my hair and brushed my teeth before going back into my room to finish getting ready. I walked downstairs fully dressed and ready to go, Rian met me by the door and handed me a granola bar and bottle of orange juice before heading out to his car. We drove the short distance to Alex’s house and I braced myself to get questioned the whole car ride to Jack’s. A sleepy looking Alex walked out of his house and climbed into the backseat. I let out a deep breath to prepare myself for his annoyance, but he said nothing the entire drive to Jack’s. I shook it off and enjoyed the stories Jack was telling us about his weekend in New York with his sister. Once we got to school I climbed out of the car and immediately went to the sophomore lockers to grab what I would need. Just as I grabbed my things for English and I was getting ready to walk away from my locker, Jack walked by and knocked my things out of my hands and walked off laughing.

“Jerk!” I called after him with a smile on my face before bending down to start picking up all my papers and books.

I was just about to grab the last book that had fallen when someone grabbed it before I could, when I looked up Brad was smiling down at me. He offered me his hand and I took it as he helped me up and handed me my book.

“Thanks,” I told him with a smile on my face as I adjusted the items in my arms.

“No problem, least I could do,” he told me. “See you around,” he said, with a wink, before walking off in the other direction. I quickly walked to my English class but came to a halting stop when I overheard a girl’s conversation.

“Alex and I are back together,” a blonde said, and when I looked over I saw that it was that Lisa girl from the party.

“Yes, because everything worked out perfectly the last 4 times you all went out,” a brunette said to her, and the girl looked really familiar but I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen her.

“This time we’re going to work,” Lisa said and I rolled my eyes. Typical girl wanting to marry her high school sweetheart.

“I thought he was talking to that one new girl? The one who transferred from that private school downtown?” Another mentioned to Lisa.

“No, I shut that down as fast as possible. She’s not good enough for him,” Lisa said while she flipped her hair behind her shoulder. I rolled my eyes before walking the short distance to my English class, and once I got there I wished I didn’t stop to eavesdrop on Lisa’s conversation about Alex because the only available seat was next to the devil himself. I dropped my things, loudly, onto the table before pulling my chair out and sitting down. I looked at Alex who was busy scribbling in one of his notebooks.

It was half way through the class when I saw a folded up piece of paper slide into my line of vision, I picked it up and looked at Alex who gave me a look that said open it, so I did.

You can’t be mad at me forever. I read his scratchy handwriting before replying.

Yes I can, trust me. I passed it back to him and waited for his response.

Meet me in the field during free period? After reading this I looked up at Alex and he was silently begging me to go.

Why aren’t you asking your girlfriend, Lisa, to go with you?

That stung a little bit. Because I need to talk to you, now will you meet me there? After thinking about whether or not I wanted to go to the field after class, I responded.

Fine, I’ll go. But I can’t stay long because I have to study for the math test we have today.

For the rest of class I kept my nose in my school work, avoiding Alex who kept poking me with his pencil when he got bored. When the bell rang I jumped from my seat and quickly walked out to the field. The faster we got this over with the better I was. As soon as I walked out of the doors of Delaney and towards the field I pulled my winter coat on and wrapped it around my body, as tight as it would go.

“Eleanor, will you wait up?” Alex yelled from behind me.

“No. The faster we get this over with the better,” I said to him, just coming up on the field.

“Stop running from me!” Alex yelled as he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.

“Well you’re the one pushing me to run!” I yelled at him as he still held me close to him.

“Lisa’s not my girlfriend,” Alex said while searched my face for any kind of emotion.

“Well you better talk to her about that because that’s not what she’s telling people,” I said as I pulled my arm from his grasp and looked at the ground.

“I know what I want,” Alex whispered and I snapped my head up to look at him. We stared into each other’s eyes for what felt like the longest time until I decided to break the silence.

“Are you gonna tell me or are you just going to stare at me?” I asked him.

“I can show you better than I can tell you,” he said before pressing his cold, perfect lips to mine. Once we pulled apart Alex leaned his forehead against mine, both of us breathing heavily.

“This still doesn’t prove anything,” I whispered to him.

“How?”

“What if Lisa texts you again in two weeks wanting to get back together? Are you going to leave me stranded again?” I asked him, resting my hands on his coat-clad chest.

“Not if you give me a reason to stay with you,” Alex quietly said to me while he stroked my cheeks. It was below 30 degrees out, neither of us had gloves on, yet his touch electrified me.

“What can I do?” I asked him, looking into his eyes.

“Free yourself,” he stated while walking backwards and leading me with our hands intertwined. We barely made it five feet when Alex tripped over his own feet and fell backwards, bringing me down with him. I couldn’t stop the laughter that was escaping me, and neither could the laughing Alex beneath me.

“I just ruined a perfectly good moment!” Alex said in between his fits of laughter and it caused me to laugh more.

“No you didn’t,” I said as I came down from my high and placed my hands on either side of his face before moving my face closer to his and covering his lips with mine. We worked our lips against one another’s for a little bit until Alex flipped us over so he was now on top. We rest his hand on the skin that was exposed due to my shirt riding up. It sent shocks through my body, I don’t know why his touch did that to me, but it was a feeling I could get used to. He swiped his tongue along my bottom lip asking for entrance, which I gave permission. We fought for dominance, which Alex won, until I felt him start to move his hand further up my shirt and his other hand came up to rest on my upper thigh. I quickly pulled apart and turned my head to the side.

“What’s the matter?” Alex asked as he moved to sit next to me.

“I’m—I’m just not ready to free myself in that way. I have to go,” I told him as I stood up and quickly walked back to the school, ignoring all of Alex’s protests.

Notes

Title Credit:
Song: Grandpa(Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ole Days)
Artist: Danielle Bradbery (cover)
-originally sung by: The Judds