After the party, Jessie and I walked home in silence. We knew the familiar Baltimore streets like the back of our hands. “What happened after I left you?” She asked, glancing at me from behind her bangs. I hesitated on telling her about the boy and the drugs in the bathroom, but remembered that I told her everything. I always told her everything. No matter what.
“Well, I went to the bathroom and met someone,” I replied, avoiding her eyes. “I didn’t catch his name, but he had dirty blond hair and brown eyes.”
Jessie stopped walking and stood in front of me, putting her hands on my shoulders. Her eyes searched mine and I froze in fear, remembering what happened with the bird. “What was he doing when you met?” She asked. I raised an eyebrow, wondering why she was asking.
“Um, coke?” I replied. She groaned at my answer.
“Alex,” She muttered under her breath, running a hand over her eyes.
“Who?”
“Alexander William Gaskarth,” She said, venom dripping off of every word. She looked me over, scanning for any sign that there was something wrong with me. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” I shook my head.
“Do you know him?” I asked, as she started to walk again and I skipped to keep up. She let out a choppy laugh.
“Know him? I hate him,” She scoffed. I began to ask why, but she cut me off before the words could leave my mouth. “It’s irrelevant. But, Hannah you need to listen to me. Stay away from him.” I nodded, deciding against asking why.
The next time I saw you, Alex, was a week after our bathroom incident. Jessie and I walked into the commons of our highschool. The green grass bending in the warm April breeze made me smile. Spring always made me happy, why? I don’t know.
Jessie and I grabbed a table far away from the others and began picking at our lunches. I heard Jessie scoff. I looked up at her, to see her making a face at something over my shoulder. I followed her eyes and then I saw you. You were walking with Jessie’s brother, Jack, and two other boys who I recognized from passing by in the hallway. Rian and Zack, I recalled faintly remembering their names. You sat at a table on the other side of the commons. I watched as you began to unwrap your sandwich, and for a split second, your eyes met mine. I quickly turned away, feeling my heart leap in my chest at the fact that you acknowledged my existence. “Stay away, Hannah Kirk,” Jessie muttered under her breath. I nodded, remembering that I shouldn’t feel this way about you.
I like to think that that was the day I began to fall in love with you, Alex. But, honestly, I don’t even know where it began. I guess it’s like a snowstorm. You look away for five seconds, and all of the sudden, your lawn is covered with a white blanket. And I honestly believe that’s the beauty of it all.