Ash’s POV

For the first time in his life, Alex was actually up before me. It was seven, and normally I would be up by now, but it was weekend and I barely slept at all. Something was bugging me, but I didn’t know what. Do you know that feeling? When your mind keeps waking you up because you’re too busy thinking? It might have been the fact that we were going to a theme park today, but I didn’t feel like it was that. It was probably because I kept hearing a song I was trying to write. My brain tried to think of things to do different and things to add. It was pretty annoying.

“Wake up!” Alex stormed into my room and threw the covers off me, “Jack will be here in half an hour!”

“Half an hour already?” I groaned and turned onto my stomach so I didn’t have to see the excited older boy.

“Yes, but knowing Jack it will take him an hour,” he walked up to the edge of the bed and did something unexpected. I was suddenly in his arms and was being carried to the bathroom, “go take a shower.”

He turned on the water and put me on the floor before exiting the room. I just stood there, trying to figure out what had just happened. Ever since I actually told Alex I wanted to be friends with him, he had been a lot more comfortable around me; he actually seemed to act normal! But this was really random. I wasn’t going to step in the shower without having anything to change into.

I opened the door and called Alex, “I need something to wear! Unless you want me to come in just a towel!”

He appeared in no time with clothes I did not recognize, “Harper gave these to me yesterday for you to wear.”

“Oh god,” I sighed, not actually thinking she was going to do it, “she’s been telling me she needs to take me shopping so I can wear ‘nice clothes’. Please help me!”

Alex chuckled and gave me the pile, “I’m pretty sure it will look fine.”

“Ugh… I’ll see…” I thanked him and closed the door, making sure to lock it so nobody would walk in. Maybe Alex didn’t mind me walking in while he was showering or, umm, using the toilet for liquid substances, but I definitely did.

I hopped into the shower, letting the cool water run through my hair and roll down my back. After lathering my hair, I shaved anything I felt like and felt like I needed for what Harper was making me wear. To be honest, I really wasn’t excited to see what she was forcing me to put on. Her clothing style wasn’t exactly the same as mine. She wore things that were a lot more, let’s say, revealing.

I washed out the shampoo and turned off the water, hoping nobody arrived yet. After drying off and putting on my underwear, which was my own and only made me wonder how Alex got it, I unfolded the clothes. Well, great. Harper gave me super short denim, ripped shorts to wear and a gray tight crop top. It was really not something I would wear. But she would only get mad if I didn’t wear it, so I put it on and checked the mirror. I didn’t like it, but at least it fit.

As soon as I left the bathroom, I went straight into Alex’s room and started whining, “Alex…” I pointed at the clothes I was wearing.

He looked up from his phone and smiled at me, “you look amazing.”

“No,” I shook my head, “I don’t like it.”

“Trust me,” he stood up and looked at me, “you really, really look good.”

“But you can see my stomach and these shorts are way too short!”

“Ok, well,” he went to his closet and looked around before returning to me, “here wear this,” he handed me a red zip up hoodie.

I don’t know why he gave me his; I could have easily gone to my room to get a hoodie, or even change into something. But he really looked like he wanted me to have it. Who was I to decline it? So, I accepted it, thanked him, and put it on. And I also didn’t know how, but I also immediately felt better about myself. I no longer felt exposed, and actually felt like my body was covered up. Even though it was a bit too big for me, I still liked wearing it.

“You look even better now,” Alex winked before there was another awkward silence between us, “so, umm, do you still want to eat something?”

I nodded; I was actually pretty hungry and it seemed like Alex also hadn’t eaten anything yet. We both quietly went downstairs, making sure not to disturb his parents, who were still asleep. Not really in the mood for cereal or anything else, we each took a slice of cake, which Isobel had made two days before. It was pretty good; plain, but good.

When we saw the minivan pull up on the driveway, I quickly ran upstairs to get my bag and brush my teeth, before going out of the house. But I froze before we stepped into the back of the van. There was no way I was getting in that.

“Please don’t tell me Jack is driving,” I pointed at the boy I was talking about.

“Hey!” Jack pouted and crossed his arms over his chest, “I’m probably a much better driver than you are!”

“Why would you think that?”

“I at least have a driver’s permit!” Jack showed off.

I raised my eyebrow and reached into my bag, “I have one too, but I can’t use it here, and I need to have an adult with me if I drive in Germany.”

“Let me see that,” Jack snatched it out of my hand, “I literally don’t understand a thing on here. I’m guessing that’s your birth date, that’s your name, I really don’t know what this all is, and here’s where you were born- You were born in Essex?”

“Yes. Got a problem with that?” I took it back from him and put it back in my bag.

“No, it’s just…”

“I’m from there as well,” Alex told me and opened the sliding door to the car seats.

“Cool,” I nodded and stepped in. Alex got in just after me and sat next to me. The driver’s door opened and Jack got in before turning around to look at us - well, mainly at me.

“You look different,” Jack squinted his eyes and inspected my appearance, “good, but different.”

I immediately felt uncomfortable. It was probably the clothes that made me look like a slut. Harper wanted me to wear clothes that would make guys want me; want me even more than before. I was completely against it, and I was already getting comments. This was not nice, not nice at all-

“She’s not wearing any makeup,” Alex pointed out, catching me by surprise.

“Oh yeah,” I remarked, thinking back to my messed up routine this morning, “I totally forgot about it…”

“Well, you look good, you should do it more often,” Jack smiled at me and started the car. I just really hoped he wasn’t going to make us die. Who even suggested he’d drive! It was the stupidest idea ever! We were definitely going to die.

Next, we drove past Harper’s house where we were going to pick up her and Lianne. They both entered the car and sat down. Or, well, actually only one of them did it. The more popular of the two stopped on the first step and looked at me before gasping.

“You’re wearing the clothes! It looks so good on you!” She gushed like a proud mother, “but why the clear face?”

“Because-” I tried defending myself.

“And the fugly hoodie, what’s up with that?” She finally sat down after Jack pushed her inside.

Alex put a hand to his heart in mock hurt, “well, thank you. I’ll have you know it’s actually one of my favorite hoodies, but it was the only one that I was sure was clean.”

“Oh, it’s Alex’s. Nevermind then, keep wearing it,” she pointed at me before looking forward.

I scrunched up my face and rested my head against Alex’s shoulder, “what’s her problem today?”

“I don’t know,” Alex shrugged and ran a hand through my hair.

Notes

RottenCriminal's idea for an amusement park day had finally commenced! It took long enough, didn't it? When I was writing this, I realised it was going to be way too long, so you'll have to do with this boring part of it first. I'm sorry if this is way too boring, but I didn't want to take it out.

I promise the next one will be a lot more filled with actual stuff that happens (I hope, at least).

And since my mom walked in when I was writing this note and I forgot what I was going to write, I thought this was fitting: