"Okay, class! Listen up! Today, y'all be readin' pages..." Dr. Simms, my new English teacher, rambles on and on. Alex isn't here at school. I wonder why. Why would Alex miss the second day of school? Eddy acted weird last night. Talking about Alex like he was someone I should be scared of. Alex wouldn't harm me. More than anything, he would protect me from harm. I haven't gotten a text back from him.
This morning, I texted him, "See ya at school. Can't wait 😉" Never got a text back.
• • • • •
I sit at my lunch table with the very few friends I have made. Cass, Eddy, Laney, and Izzy. Alex still nowhere to be found.
"Jordan, don't ya worry 'bout him. Worry 'bout the upcomin' science test," Eddy says to me.
I frown and say, "Eddy, I can't stop thinking about him. He's my 2 am thoughts. I can't get him out of my head. I can't learn. I can't eat. I can't sleep. I can't breathe. I can't live if he's out of my sight. I love him, Eddy. I love him!" Everyone stops eating at the table.
"Jordan, you're confused right now. A big thing has popped up in your life now. Love. A new thing that you've never experienced before. Trust me, he's fine. Don't worry 'bout Alex. He's probably fine and just skipped school for a legitimate reason," Cass said, understanding this new thing to me called love.
"Thanks, Cass. I needed that. Love is a new, exciting, non-experienced thing happening in my life right now and I can't control it," I say. Yay, another thing that's popped up in my life!
• • • • •
I arrive home and I get two texts.
"Jordan, I love you and miss you so much! I'm so proud of you for staying with your mother. Thanks! Love you so much ❤️" My Dad texted to me before the other text.
"Jordan, I'm so sorry I missed school today. Sorry, at the airport. Long night last night. Love you so much ❤️" Alex texted to me after the other text. At the airport?