Alex insisted that he come over after school. I don’t think he understood the point of me not wanting anyone to live with me. I don’t want anyone at my house ever. Then he hit me with a reasoning that actually made sense. What if Jared thought I was lying? I had no proof except for my word, and my word wasn’t good enough for him.

At the end of the day, I stood by the outside doors, waiting for Alex to show his face. The stares from this morning never wavered, if anything they got worse. It may have been because I was standing here instead of in my car, almost running people over to get out of the parking lot. Tapping my finger against my arm, it seemed like I was waiting forever. I was about to say, “forget it” and leave. I was about to push myself off the wall and go to my car when he came into view. Along with people whom I assumed to be his friends. My eyes narrowed into a glare, “What took you so long?”

“I wanted to introduce you to the guys,” Alex chirps. There was something in his eyes that made me a little nervous. “This is Jack and Rian.”

I thought he said he had three close friends? Well, it’s none of my business. “Hey,” I snapped quickly before turning my attention back to the shaggy-haired idiot. “Let’s go.”

---

“I thought the deal was that you’re not rude to my friends?” Alex grumbled next to me.

I scoff, waving my free hand while I spoke, “The deal was that I wouldn’t be a bitch to them.”

He stared with an eyebrow raised, “And you don’t think the way you treated them was not being a bitch?”

As I pulled into my driveway, I look at him, “Oh Alex, you know what me being a bitch looks like, and that wasn’t even close.”

I noticed Jared’s car in the driveway. Alex was right to insist to come over. This annoying uncle of mine would want proof. I threw the car door open, making my way up to the door, which I knew would be unlocked. Alex stood behind me as I opened the door. “Honey I’m home!” I shout, venom dripping from my voice.

“Hazel, I don’t want to deal with your bullshit today!” He shouts from the other room. “You already caused a scene at school, just get in here!”

Rolling my eyes, I whisper, “Now that is my precious uncle.”

I motion for Alex to follow me into the living room, where Jared was sitting in the chair, typing away on his laptop. “I’m here fuckface,” I place my hand on my hip.

He glances in my direction, double-taking when he sees the tall boy next to me. Closing his laptop, he takes off his glasses and gets up, “Who’s this?”

“This is Alex Gaskarth,” I smirk at his shock. “My friend.”

He looks back and forth between the pair of us. “I’m honestly surprised. I didn’t expect you to make a friend so quickly,” he awes, holding his hand out to Alex. “I’m Jared, Hazel’s uncle. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The shaggy-haired boy grinned, taking his hand and shaking it, “Same here, sir.”

“Okay,” I interrupt their introduction. “You’ve met my friend and shit. Now leave.”

Jared shakes his head, “No.”

I freeze, my eyes narrowing into a glare, “No? What the hell do you mean, no?”

He ignores me, turning to Alex, “Would you like to stay for dinner?”

Please say no, please say no, please say no- “Sure,” he smiles.

I facepalm, groaning loudly so they could hear my distaste. He promised that it was just going to be in and out, but of course, he had to make me miserable. I grab the sleeve of his jacket, yanking him towards me. I don’t think he expected the strength of my pull, as he stumbled, nearly falling on his face. “Jared, I need to talk to my friend,” I tried to say as sweetly as I possibly could, but it came out more like a hiss. “Alone.”

Before either of them could protest, I drag Alex with me towards my room. I practically throw him inside, slamming the door behind us. “What the fuck was that?”

Instead of taking it seriously like he should have, he cracked a joke, “If you wanted me alone in your bedroom, you could’ve just asked-“

“Shut up,” I snap, pointing at him. “You promised that you would pop in and then pop right back out. And now both you and my uncle are staying for dinner!”

He crossed his arms over his chest, smirking, “Well, you promised not to be a bitch to my friends. I think this makes us even.”

I let out a growl, about to slap him when he walks out of the room with a smug look. I was fuming. I knew I would regret this, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. I wanted to storm out of this room and punch him in the face, watching him fall and squirm. I knew I couldn’t do it though. Jared would know that he wasn’t my real friend and he would move in, ruining everything in just five minutes.

I sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. When I knew I was calmed down to the point that I wouldn’t hit anyone, I made my way back to the living room where Jared and Alex were carrying on a conversation. “She didn’t threaten you, did she?” Jared murmurs, the pair of them not knowing that I was in the room.

I expected the teen to tell him the plan. Humans were unreliable creatures, especially if you do something they don’t like. If you cross them even in the smallest way, they would stab you in the back without a second thought. And if he did tell him, I wouldn’t blame him. We made a deal and I didn’t hold up my end of it to the best of my abilities. I watched silently as the shaggy-haired boy replied, “Not at all.”

“Is she paying you?” My uncle questions, a worried look on his face.

I close my eyes, waiting for the confirmation. “No,” Alex insists.

My eyes snapped open in shock. Was he defending me? Well, defending the plan. “Are you sure?” he pushes, leaning forward. “I know how my niece is.”

The teen shook his head, chuckling softly, “I’ll admit, it was hard. She is rude and hates people. But I think there’s something more to her than just hate. If there wasn’t, she wouldn’t have befriended me.”

My jaw was on the floor after his mini-speech. He knew something was up…I had to keep him at a distance. I would pretend to be his friend like I insisted, but I had to put up a wall. He already knew too much. Jared smiled in response, “You’re a good kid.”

“Well, duh,” I roll my eyes, deciding to announce my presence. “I wouldn’t have been friends with him if he was a horrible person.”

Alex was staring at me with something in his eyes. I couldn’t place it. My knowledge of emotions was failing me at this point. I stared back, giving him a knowing look. A look that said thank you. He grinned at my look, understanding what I meant by my stare. With that, I couldn’t help myself. I smiled softly in return.

Notes