BANG. I shot into a sit up position, my heart beating quickly at the sudden commotion. I checked the time, it read 1:30am.
What the hell was going on?
The noise came again and I realised it was the slamming of doors. Curiously, I crawled out of my bed and opened my door only a creek. I popped my head out of the door and listened. More of the loud noises erupted before sighing and Elaine's voice in a whisper yell.
"Will you stop?! You're going to wake the kids!"
I listened, but I couldn't hear much else. It was clear they were arguing. Excessive yelling came next, but I couldn't work out what they were saying, other than the occasional name, "Alex".
That's when I noticed him. Stood doing the exact same as me, although a little closer to the stair case as his door was closer. He shook his head and turned as soon as I noticed he was there, almost as on cue.
He stared at me, clearly tired with a down expression on his face, which soon smoothed out to almost emotionless. Almost. You don't fool me Alex Parker.
I thought of saying something to him. Maybe going to comfort him. He would probably hate that.
He hated me, so why would he want me around at that moment? I offered him a sympathetic smile, but he only stared for a few more seconds before closing his door on me.
I did the same, getting back into bed and facing the ceiling as the hushed arguing continued. Poor Alex.
~~~
When we got up that morning, Thomas Parker was of course, gone and Elaine was playing her usual happy role of the 'there's nothing going on, our family is in a perfect place' type of mum. I felt bad, if they were having problems, it was most likely not helping that I was staying. I was probably stressing out Alex even more than he needed.
Speaking of Alex, it was 11am and he hadn't yet shown his face. He got up before me, when I came down he was in the shower and since then he had not moved from his room.
Avoiding me? I didn't blame him. Maybe he was embarrassed that I had heard.
Elaine headed out to work and I decided it was probably time I saw my best friend, Casey Leigh. It felt like I hadn't seen her in ages. However, I didn't want to disturb Alex, so I scribbled down a note and left it on the kitchen counter. I grabbed my jacket and headed out to Casey's house, only a fifteen minute walk.
When I got in her drive I texted her.
"Hey can I come over?"
"Sure, I'm in."
"Good cause I'm in your driveway :p"
I didn't bother knocking, I just walked in, yelled that I was here and made my way to Casey's room.
When I entered, she was stood by her mirror, holding two skirts up and weighing out her options. When she saw me, she dropped them and ran to engulf me in a hug.
"What're you doing?" I watch her confused as she returned to the mirror and I plonked myself on her bed.
Since when did Casey wear nice skirts?
"You wouldn't know since I haven't seen you in forever! But that's beside the point. I have a date with Luke." she grinned excitedly.
Luke was a guy from our school of which Casey had been good friends with for months, she had been swooning over him for as long as I could remember, but was waiting for him to make the first move.
"Finally! Took him long enough!"
"I know! I had to hint like a million times! Anyway, how's the life of living with Alex Parker? " she's sat beside me, staring at me and awaiting gossip. I thought for a moment, it wasn't actually that bad, but I didn't want her to think I actually liked him because I for one, so did not.
"Hmm, he's annoying. I hate him with a passion that just keeps growing, but I tolerate him. Although he's big on pranking." I rolled my eyes and she giggled.
"So when he goes out with his friends. What do you do? Stay home and hang out with his mom?" She laughed at her joke.
"I go with them." I answered and she looked at me in disbelief.
"Yeah sure you do." When I shot her a look of confusion, she answered again.
"Wait seriously?! You hang out with the bad boys of the school? You, Max Carrington who claims to hate every one of them. Go meet up with them?" I nodded simply as she clearly analysed my features.
"The other three aren't all that bad. In fact, I love them. It's just Alex I can't stand. I get along with Grayson quite well actually."
"Never did I ever think that would come out of your mouth." Casey grinned, shaking her head. "Where is the Max I know who would rather eat her own hand than spend time with those four ' imbeciles' " She quoted me from only two weeks ago.
Maybe I shouldn't have judged a book by its cover, but then again, if they were friends with Alex Parker, what else was I supposed to expect?
~~~
I got back to the Parker's house at about 6pm and threw myself into the couch and grabbed the t.v. Remote. A strong hand firmly ripped it from my grasp.
"I don't think so Max." Alex chuckled and turned on the t.v while throwing a few takeout menus at me.
"My parents are working late tonight. Where do you want to order from?"
After arguing for at least a half hour and exchanging numerous , rather creative insults, we decided on pizza. Alex ordered it while I flicked through Netflix for a decent movie to watch. We had decided on a horror because Alex seemed to think I was a 'little girl that can't handle horrors.'
yeah I'd show him. I was not great with them, but I did love them. Although I couldn't promise I wouldn't sleep with the light on tonight.
"How about scream?" I suggested. I had suggested about 6 already, but Alex seemed to dismiss all of them.
"Hmm, a classic but not scary enough." he smirked.
"Hush?" I asked again after five minutes. He sat from his slouched position, reading the description.
"Perfectly realistic...play it." His smirk stretched and I already started to get nervous. It was okay max, you could take a simple realistic horror movie.
The pizza arrived only 20 minutes through the movie and I was starting to get slightly creeped out to the point of my short nails digging into my palms as my hands become clammy. I was filling my mouth with food to stop myself from shrieking.
Great, why did I pick a movie that involves a psychotic killer break in? Good job Max.
Alex and I were sat at opposite sides of the couch and despite usually not wanting to go anywhere near him, I actually wanted to sit as close as possible to him, purely out of mild terror of course.
I glanced over at him, his eyes were wide, looking totally into the movie. He looked over at me, catching my stare and smirked.
"Scared?"Â I gulped and shook my head no, I'd rather jump of a cliff than admit being scared to Alex, I think he knew that too.
~~~
"I have to admit it was a pretty good movie." I told him as we moved our dishes to the sink.
"Yeah. I enjoyed it, but you know what I enjoyed more?"
"What did you enjoy more. Alex?" I sighed, knowing somehow he would make a fool of me.
"You're face when he trapped her hand in the door and stomped on It!" He burst into a fit of laughter , which he had already done twice about this same situation.
"It was disgusting! Her fingers were bent in disturbing directions! I felt the pain, Alex Parker" I cringed at the thought of it and he held his stomach, laughing harder.
He ran his fingers through his messy brown short waves of hair and cleared his throat.
"Well uh, I guess I'll be going to bed. Night dork." he smirked and turned, heading for the stairs. I rolled my eyes before coming at him with my own insult.
"Night dumbass." I called as he headed around the corner.
He popped half his body around the door, a smirk plastered along his face and a hand held to his chest.
"Wow, that almost hurt cupcake." He winked and I followed him up the stairs.
He stopped at his door standing in the doorway quietly. I stood in the frame of mine, facing him, wondering what exactly he was doing.
"Don't get to scared without me." He said, I glared at him as he chuckled once again while turning into his room and swinging his door shut.
I crawled into my bed and stared at the ceiling until sleep took over.
I heard a noise, one that I couldn't quite pinpoint.
I stirred, half awake, half asleep and turned on my side, squeezing my eyes shut. The sound came again, louder this time and shot me into an upright position.
Woke up again?! Wait WHAT WAS THAT?! Oh no, the movie was coming to life! The scary mask guy was here! HE WAS GOING TO KILL US ALL! I'd never prepared myself for a day where my final moments would be in the presence of Alex Parker, what an excruciating way to go! Okay calm down Max.
The noise happened again and I scurried out of bed, grabbed my hairspray bottle from my desk and rushed into the hall and into Alex's room.
My heart raced furiously at the sudden silence from downstairs.
"Alex!" I hissed.
Nothing.
"Alex!!" I whisper yelled, shaking him lightly.
"Whaaat?" He groaned.
"Alex wake up! Please!" I felt like crying, fear making the hairs stand on the back of my neck.
"Go away weasel! Go to sleep!" He didn't open his eyes, only rolled onto his other side.
"Alex someone's breaking in!" I felt the goosebumps rising on my arms.
"It. Was. Just. A. Movie!" He dug his face into his pillow.
The noise came louder and he heard it too.
Alex jumped out of bed. His eyes sleepy yet alarmed, his hair tousled. He stood in his boxers, I had to admit, he looked good. NOT THE TIME MAX!
Alex grabbed my hand and a baseball bat from his wardrobe. We crept down the stairs, my palms grew sweaty, but he didn't seem to care, I clung to him tightly.
Quieter sounds become more frequent. Were we really going to investigate? The horror movie rules state: DO NOT INVESTIGATE!!!
The sound was coming from the living room window, the curtains were drawn. Anticipation build up in my stomach, knowing the masked killer obviously laid behind them.
This was it, this was where I'd be brutally murdered by a guy with a Bow and arrow, right?
We edged closer and I held the hairspray firmly in front of me with my fingers ready to press the button.
Alex gripped the curtain and mouthed the words to me. One...Two...Three!
He yanked the curtains open and I screamed, pushing down the button. Yelling sounded and I stopped quickly.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" A voice I had heard more than once yelled. He held his eyes, rubbing frantically. "IT BURNS!!"
"Jace?!" Alex and I exclaimed in unison.
We looked at each other weirdly then back to Jace. Relief flushed through my body.
No impostor. Phew.
The air cleared up and we were able to see clearly. Alex and I burst out laughing at the sight of Jace wedged between the partly open window and the sill. His body dangled, half in and half out.
"What are you doing here? You scared the hell out of us!" I shoved the window open so he could crawl through and Alex being the self absorbed person he was, didn't care to help.
"You" he pointed to Alex. "Usually leave the window unlocked for us! I had to wedge the damn thing open!" He rubbed his bloodshot eyes once again.
"So what are you doing here at " I paused to check the time "two am?"
"Hiding from my girlfriend." he rolled his eyes and headed for Alex's room instantly. We followed behind him.
"Girlfriend?" I asked.
"Yeah. I love her to death, but she drives me crazy. See, it's my birthday tomorrow...well today technically. And I'm not into the whole gift thing, so I'm hiding from her. She usually comes to my house in about a half hour on my birthday so she can be the first." He shook his head and sat on Alex's bed.
Alex grabbed the chair and I sat at the bottom of the bed, legs crossed.
"I'm sure she'd love to meet you, she gets tired of being the only girl." He added.
"Jace and Tara have been together for three years! I personally don't understand why you'd tie yourself down Like that." Alex exclaimed, shrugging.
"Shut up Alex, just because Jace can keep a girlfriend unlike you - who can't even get one." I sniped at him although I didn't mean it in a completely mean way.
"Oh I can get one cupcake , I just don't want one. Why waste your time with a girlfriend when you can have a new one every night?" Alex held his usual smirk and I scoffed.
"Some people actually like commitment." I spoke to him as though he was younger than me.
"Can you two stop bickering? You don't stop." Jace groaned and I flashed him a sympathetic smile.
"Happy Birthday, by the way."
"Not you too!" He groaned and threw himself back onto the bed. I laughed a little.
"Sorrryyyy!"
We talked for what felt like hours more about nonsense and I was certain I was the first to fall asleep.
I stirred when I felt myself being picked up in bridal style by two muscular arms. I turned into their chest.
"Nice drool, dirtbag." Alex chuckled to himself and I groaned, too tired respond. Instead, I just wiped my mouth clean.
He carefully placed me in my bed, which was more than he would have done if I was awake. I was surprised when he was considerate enough to actually cover me up with my quilt.
I felt myself slipping back into a deeper sleep as he sat beside me and moved a few strands of hair from my face.
He leaned closer to me and soon I could feel his hot breath prickle against my cheeks. Alex stayed there for a few moments, his breath fanning my face.
"You're not so bad cupcake." he whispered.
~~~
Hola, opinions on the book so far? I'm sorry if this is bad, but I Am trying. Thank you for reading :) btw the photo is Alex Parker :)