Desolation Row [MxM]

Chapter 06

Charlie was already gone the following morning when I got up, which I thought was odd, but I didn't complain. I did manage a look in the mirror though, after my shower. There was a fair sized bruise around one of my eyes, not to mention the dark circles under both of them. More bruises covered my sides, and my arms. The cuts going up my arms were red and irritated.

I sighed quietly, getting dressed before exiting the bathroom and running my hands through my hair, shaking it out a little. A buzzing sound caught my attention, making me glance over to where my phone sat on the table. I walked over and picked it up, seeing a new message from Sophie.

To: me

From: Soph

>>You should see this . . .

Frowning, I opened the picture that she'd sent with the text, my eyes widening as soon as it pulled up. It was obviously taken very quickly, in the hallway of Lakeview, but the subjects were what caught my attention.

Jake and Alex. Alex wasn't into PDA, but apparently that didn't seem to matter, because the two of them were avidly kissing in the picture, wrapped up around each other against a few lockers.

That was fine. After all, me and Alex weren't dating anymore. It was fine if he suddenly decided to start kissing Jake in the middle of the hall. Perfectly fine.

I calmly turned my phone off completely, holding it in my hand for a second before I grabbed my bag and my keys, going down to the car. The drive to school was easy, but as soon as I walked into the building, everyone who walked by me was staring. A few times I heard people say something along the lines of getting the shit beat out of me, but I tried to ignore it, just focusing on getting to class and taking a seat. At one point I walked by Joel, who chuckled as soon as he saw me.

“Who'd you piss off, short stack?” he asked. I just shook my head a little, not willing to talk to him or anyone else for the day.

I managed to keep to myself with minimal problems for the day, and after school I made my way back to the parking lot.

Suddenly a car was entirely too close to my legs and I jumped harshly, dropping my keys and turning to look at the car with widened eyes. I didn't know if the person driving meant to almost run me over, but it felt like a large possibility. The tires spun as the person swerved around me, taking off from the parking lot. It took me a second to reach down and pick my keys back up, jumping at every little sound I heard until I was safely in my car again.

My car was safe. No one else was in the car but me, I didn't need to worry.

Reaching into my pocket for my phone, I pulled it out and turned it back on, waiting for everything to load up before I brought up the picture Sophie'd sent again. Even after a few hours, there was no doubting that it was Alex and Jake.

I went back to my messages, starting a new one and scrolling through my contacts to Alex's name, starting a new text to him.

To: Alex

From: me

>>Are you and Jake dating???

I waited a few minutes, staring at my screen. I was waiting for a response, but when one didn't come, I dropped my phone onto the passenger seat and pulled out of the parking space, heading home.

If Alex didn't want to talk to me, then fine. That was his right. I wouldn't bother him with it. I just focused on going home, my phone clutched tightly in my hand as I headed into the building. Before I got up the steps though, my phone buzzed again, so I paused by the mailboxes at the entrance to look at the new text, my heart clenching a little when I noticed it was from Alex.

To: me

From: Alex

>>Kinda

I huffed quietly at that, staring at my screen and leaning back against the mailboxes as my phone vibrated again.

To: me

From: Alex

>>Like a week or 2 ago

A week or two. I wasn't even gone a full month, and Alex started dating Jake. That was just great, wasn't it. I turned the screen off without responding, wrapping an arm around myself as tight as I could without pain and pressing the edge of my phone against my forehead.

Alex didn't even like PDA. He hated it, he never did it with me. But a week or two into dating Jake, and suddenly that didn't matter. I figured that since Jake knew Alex and I broke up, he saw the perfect opportunity and just went for it. I couldn't be mad at him, I mean, it wasn't like Alex and I were together still. But, not even a month of being broken up, and he was already moving on? Meanwhile here I am in Arbor Heights, struggling to make sure I get through each day moderately unharmed.

Why did I care so much? Alex was allowed to move on, and it wasn't any of my business. Just as I was telling myself that though, someone cleared their throat and made me jump violently, my phone falling out of my hand and onto the floor as I watched it skid a few feet over to someone's shoe. The person bent down to grab it, and the brief sight of blue eyes informed me that it was Joel as he stood back up, giving me a pointed look. “You wanna move out of my way there buddy?” he asked.

I ducked my head as I moved out from in front of the mailboxes, taking my phone from Joel when he offered it to me and heading up the stairs. I got into the apartment quickly, going right to my room and laying down on the bed. I was too tired to do anything else but just lay there, keeping my phone under my pillow. Eventually it buzzed again, and I sighed a little before checking it.

To: me

From: Soph

>>Hey Vic, do you think we all could come visit you soon ?

I wanted so badly to tell her no, but I did miss her, and Alex as much as I hated to say it. So slowly I replied, watching my thumbs hit each of the letters on the screen.

To: Soph

From: me

>>idk I'd have to ask Charlie tomorrow

To: me

From: Soph

>>We just miss you a lot . Hope youre doing okay .

I turned my phone off at that and didn't respond.