I had been out of it since I got the news about the shapeshifters from Rian. I felt very wary of my surroundings and any suspicious activity. I was also really bummed because I didn’t want anything happening to Beth.
She seemed to notice my odd behavior, and often called me out on it.
Like right now, for instance. We were sitting in her car in the school parking lot drinking Starbucks before class started. I insisted on driving, but when I got the drinks, I guess it was too early or something because they only gave us one straw. I noticed this, but because I was in such a daze, I didn’t think to ask for another one.
So that leads us to where we are now. She was drinking with a straw, while I carefully and awkwardly drank mine from the cup.
“That’s not the proper way to drink a frappuccino..” She joked.
“It’ll do.” I shrugged and chuckled a bit, drinking some more.
“You really need to get it together.”
“What do you mean?” I pretended I didn’t know what she was getting at.
“You’ve been so out of it lately. And paranoid.” She took another sip of her drink.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re fine.” She raised her brows at me in disbelief.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just.. I don’t know. Worried about the next test.” I lied, though she didn’t believe me at all.
“Alex you know everything there is to know on the next test. And the next one. And the one after that. So why are you so on edge?”
“I just feel really protective right now? I’m worried something bad will happen and it’s bothering me.” I fessed up, without giving her any information about what I knew.
“Why are you so worried? Did something happen?” She gave me a look of concern.
“I just can’t explain it. I’m getting bad vibes. It’s just a complicated ghost thing.” I was hoping she’d leave it at that.
“Well, get over your complicated ghost thing. It’s annoying.” She rolled her eyes.
“Will do, girlfriend.” I drank some more from my cup, then heard her giggling.
“What?” I turned to look at her.
“You got whipped cream on your nose.” She continued to giggle, making me roll my eyes and smile at her cuteness.
“Well, get it off!”
“I got it!” She leaned over and kissed my nose, licking off the whipped cream in the process.
“Wow.. What a whore.” I joked, making her smack my arm and laugh.
“I’m leaving!” She giggled, getting out of the car.
I laughed and got out, running after her and catching her by wrapping my arms around her from behind.
“I’m sooorryy! Love me!”
“Noooo!” She giggled really hard, weakly struggling to get out of my grip.
I turned her around and pressed my lips to hers, wrapping my arms around her waist, and feeling her melt into my touch.
She smiled into the kiss and settled for resting her hands on my chest, before pushing me back and giggling.
“Loser!”
I laughed and shook my head, taking her hand and walking into the building.

---

It was at lunch when Bethany told me she was going with Jack to his class so he could study for something. I offered to get food for her and then meet them there.
Once I got out of the lunch line, the cafeteria was way too crowded, so I figured I’d just cut through by going outside and into the other door.
But once I was halfway to the door, I heard an all too familiar voice call my name.
“Hey, Gaskarth! Get over here!”
I turned around, seeing none other than Zack Merrick. And he didn’t look too happy, either.
I sighed and reluctantly walked over.
“I really wasn’t planning on wasting my ti-“ He cut me off by grabbing me by the collar, making me drop the juice and bag of chips for Bethany, in the process.
“Listen, Alex. I didn’t appreciate your little outburst a few days ago. You think you’re so cool, don’t you? Threatening me as if I would never get you back for it..” He tightened his grip on my shirt, and I made sure he knew I wasn’t intimidated.
“Why don’t you just give it up, Zack? Drop the whole tough guy act. No one thinks you’re a badass. Not even Ash.” I smirked.
“Shut up!” He shoved me backwards, causing me to fall on the ground.
“You’re a nobody Alex! You and your ugly, emo girlfriend!”
I felt my blood boil at those words, and quickly shot up, tackling him to the ground.
“I’m gonna fucking kill you!” I growled, throwing punches at his face, viciously.
I hated when they talked about Bethany. If you wanna set me off, call her ugly.
Zack groaned in pain, managing to flip us over, and got himself a punch in.
I hardly noticed, I was too angry to feel it.
Just like I was too angry to notice that my skin was becoming blazing hot, from how my emotions were taking over me.
As Zack went to give my cheek another punch, his fist quickly recoiled as he hissed in pain.
“Dude, what the fuck?!” He exclaimed.
I tried shoving him off of me by his face, hearing him hiss loudly, and quickly crawl off of me.
“Dude, is your skin on fire or something?!”
I was confused for a moment, before I noticed what was going on.
I had gotten way too angry.
That wasn’t normal at all; I’m gonna get myself killed twice!
I started to freak out, and that’s when I started choking and I could feel water dripping from my hair.
I looked over at Zack, seeing him staring at me in confusion and shock.
Oh no. My episode.
I quickly got up and ran as fast as I could to the woods.
The only problem was, I could hear footsteps running behind me.
“Hey, wait up!!” It was Zack.
This wasn’t good at all. I needed to leave, quick, before my episode went full force.
Once I reached the woods, I had no idea if he had caught up to me or not, but I disappeared to Shadowland just in time.
Fuck me.

Notes

Zack may have seen him disappear.. uh oh!

Oh my gosh, it has been forever.
How was everyone's Christmas?

See ya next year! ;P

Also, I started co-writing an Alex/OC with my friend Kayla (Jack Bakarat). You can read it here!
http://www.alltimelowfanfiction.com/Story/80505/Both-Sides-Of-The-Story/

Thanks! :)

Title cred: 21 Guns- Green Day