The Friendship Algorithm

Chapter Two

About a week later Alexandria and I spent all of our time together. I was learning to pick up the smallest details in the way people are dressed and hear the subtext of what they were saying. We were just getting out of school when she grabbed my arm, stopping me.

"Bryon... I've been meaning to ask. Do you have depression?"

I could tell she was worried. Her eyes got darker when she's worried or scared.

"No. I'm just morose. That idiotic group of females turned an amiable kid to a sad kid who never wants to go to the one place he felt at home. They ruined it all for me."

She hugged me. Alexandria. She... hugged me! I wrapped my arms around her awkwardly not really knowing how to affectionately hug a person. Especially one with breasts. Like it's so odd to not have someone with a flat chest like my father.

"I'll put this in a way you'll understand better Bryon. It's their objective to make you miserable. They want to make people's' lives look grim and like they have nothing to live for anymore. You can't let them get into your head. Remember what I taught you."

"Everyone has a secret. You just have to watch their body language and follow their words. You'll know it with out even hearing it come from their mouth. Find the allusion."

She truly was an expert on the whole bully thing. I do feel bad for her, she lives with her aunt because she lost her parents when she was three. She had to go to school everyday and listen to the bogus rumors about why she's living with her aunt. No. I didn't get that from the allusions. She told me.

"I know Alexandria. It's just hard sometimes. Especially with my father."

I couldn't say that happily. She knows how my father drinks and is abusive to me.

She just hugged me tighter. It was still unusual for me to hug a female. Just the feeling of not having their full torso against me irritated me. I sighed and let go of her.

She didn't let me go.

"Alexandria?"

"Hmm?"

"Why aren't you letting me go?"

"I'm not happy yet."

Oh goodness... This isn't supposed to happen! I'm not supposed to be hugged for this long. I can't do this.

Calm down! She needs you Bryon. Alexandria needs you. Not anyone else. You.

I wrapped my arms around her again and rested my chin on her head causing me to lean down some.

I smiled softly at the feeling of her calm down more in my arms. She finally let me go causing me to loose my balance.

"Thank you Bry-"

I fell on her. Of course! The one day I felt like we wouldn't get awkward. We fell down the steps causing everyone to laugh at us. By the time we got to the bottom of the steps we both were cut up and bruised.

"I'm so sorry Alexandria!"

"I-It's fine."

It wasn't fine. She's hurt. Really hurt.

"Do you need a doctor Alexandria?"

She simply nodded and fell into my chest crying holding her arm.

Watching nurses and doctors walk by you is always comforting when you're scared of what will be the outcome. Hour after hour. Just waiting.

"Bryon this isn't your fault."

I glared at my step mother. She isn't what society would call beautiful, or even pretty. She was thing lips and small eyes. She always seems to have her hair up in a messy ponytail and wears whatever she wants. It's nice to see this still around, people like her are comforting.

"I fell on her Melissa. I was the reason we fell. I'm the reason she could have broken her arm!"

"Sweetie please."

"No, I'm not your son. You may act like I am but I know I'm not. You'll never replace my real mom!"

And with that I got up to check to see if I could see Alexandria yet.

"Hi sweetie, before you ask the doctors are letting people see her now. They told me that she as been asking for a Mr. Bryon North."

I smiled. She's been asking for me.

"Room 204 Mr. North."