Alfred peered over Tori's shoulder, half-heartedly listening to the gossip about Blackwell's popular Heather Bing and her alleged sex scandal with a college student. (Alfred had stopped caring much for Bing ever since he caught her trying to seduce someone else during a party—while they were still dating.)
"What are you looking at? Oh" Tori had noticed his distracted gaze looking past her and turned to see what he was so fixated on. "Juniors. They're Rosewaters and very rich. Old money." She said as she spotted the twins laughing, but clearly not paying attention to [Name]. "They're twins, the blondes—obviously. Rumor has it that the Rosewaters are related to British royalty"
Frankly, Alfred wouldn't be surprised if they were. Eloise was poised and had all the makings of a high queen and Allen was a disciplined prince. He wasn't sure about Arin though. But he didn't let his mind wander too far about the Rosewaters. He was interested in someone else.
But Tori didn't bother to tell him about the girl with the two possible royals, which bothered him because [Name] was the real reason why he'd been spacing out since homeroom.
After his failure of a first session as Arin's tutor he had spent a good deal of his night staring at the ceiling and his glow-in-the-dark stars. The stars reminded him of happy times, of apple pies and lazy Sunday afternoons, the years before this fucking sickness got to him. He then remembered [Name] and the Rosewater family's protectiveness of her. Was she sick too? He hadn't expected her to talk to him the way she did that evening. No apology, no pity either. The way she tilted her head and asked if he was going to throw up again, she looked at him like he was an endemic bird from Africa, like he fascinated her. How does one deal with a person like that? Alfred didn't know, and he fell asleep still not knowing what the girl thought of him.
"I hear she already slept with half the members of the hockey team" Tori blurted out and Alfred shook his head, realizing that he'd been staring the entire time.
"What?"
"The girl twin" Tori pointed out, unaware that Alfred's eyes were on [Name] and not Arin.
"What about her?"
"Jesus." Tori sighed "There's a rumor that she's already slept with half of the basketball team."
Alfred slanted his head, half-amused and half-confused. Amused because Tori was jealous and for all the wrong reasons, and confused because so what if Arin got around? Ethan was basically sex on a stick and Tori never called him out for it.
"Why are you telling me this"
"Because I don't want you associating yourself with a girl who throws herself at any guy. At many guys."
He chuckled "Thank you for your concern, Tori. But I assure you, Arin Rosewater isn't my type. She's too. . ." She's annoying, he wanted to say, recalling how she insulted his intelligence at first meeting. "She's just not my type" He grinned and ruffled Tori's hair.
And my love life isn't the issue right now, he thought as he snuck one last glance of [Name] before the bell for next period rang.
Today's lunch was mac and cheese. It came out looking like bright yellow rice the second time around.
Alfred flicked his hands, annoying droplets of water going everywhere as he stepped out the men's room.
"Don't you guys have paper towels in there?" Alfred jumped at the sudden voice behind him. It was [Name]. She didn't look the least bit embarrassed or awkward despite the intrusion.
He just stared at her.
She sighed and opened her backpack. "I was on my way to the cafeteria when I saw you walk here. Something told me that you didn't go pottie"
"Why do you care?" It came out more bitter than Alfred intended but [Name] merely shrugged.
"You seem like a nice guy. You apologized for your douchebag friend." She pushed a box of Kleenex to his chest.
"Ethan. . .he can rub off some people the wrong way"
She moved past Ethan and continued, "This is going to seem cliché but people like you tend to be more prone to depression so I'm going to just say it straightly: Whatever problem you have now, it's gonna pass. Don't take out your anger on anyone or yourself."
Alfred hadn't expected that.
She fished out something from her bag and handed it to him. "Here"
Alfred eyeballed the Tupperware full of chopped bananas and soda crackers.
"They can help calm your stomach, chew slowly. And don't stuff yourself or you're gonna want to throw up again." She talked to him like she was his pediatrician, speaking clearly and with a wagging finger. Amusement tugged at Alfred's lips as he watched her finished with a huff.
"Anyway, that's all I wanted to say"
That's all you wanted to say? No aw, poor Alfie—no bullshit. Straight to the point but sympathetic. Awe-struck and a bit charmed, Alfred watched her check the time on her phone.
"That's Arin. She already bought me lunch." She said it more to herself than to him.
"You sound exasperated"
"A little. Yes." She shut her phone "Arin's my best friend but she likes to baby me. She and Allen both, actually"
"From personal experience I can tell you're not the type of person who likes to be babied" He pointed out, referring to how brazen yet nonchalant she'd been with him right now.
"No" She shook her head softly "No, I do not." She said, and then raised a brow at his widened eyes "What is it?"
He blinked, "Ah. It's just that you and Allen and Arin. . .you don't really seem compatible"
She giggled and Alfred gawked at her wide-eyed. She'd never smiled before, let alone laugh. "The preppy prince, the pretty blonde and the chubby loner, right?"
Alfred flushed "That's not what I—"
"I know, I was just teasing you." She said, expression softening.
Alfred paused and then waved the container in the air, the crackers bumping against the plastic, "I still got time before bio" He edged his chin towards the cafeteria entrance "Care to share a booth?"
*
"You're smiling" Arin narrowed her eyes playfully as you opened the passenger side door.
"I am?" She forced your chin up the rearview mirror. You gave her a half-shrug. "I guess I am"
Allen joined in moments later, setting three thick books and a big binder down in the backseat before shrugging off his backpack.
"[Name]'s been smiling" Arin announced.
You rolled your eyes "It isn't a big deal" Actually, it was. Ever since the incident genuine smiles were rare to come by.
"We should celebrate." Allen fixed the collar of his polo shirt.
"I don't remember the last time you smiled like this" Arin turned on her iPod.
You buckled your seatbelt "You mean before winter vacation happened?"
The twins fell into a silence and you suddenly felt guilty. You cleared your throat "It was a joke, guys. I'm. . .I'm dealing with it."
Arin reached over the armrest and gave your hand a reassuring squeeze.
"We're right here" Allen whispered.
"I know, I know. You two and Jennifer and Muriel and Geoffrey. I just feel so—"
"Don't say it" Allen warned. Don't say guilty.
You disagreed, but wisely nodded. "Okay"
Author's note:
There's Drawn to You for Jason and Until I Met You for Alfred. EHMAGAWD!!! Why didn't I think of this before? GOSH DARN IT. Anyway, please leave a comment if you have any thoughts about the story that you'd like to share. xxx