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Junior was lying on his bed in his room at Miss. Fairchild's house when the door swung open. His brows furrowed and he looked towards the doorway where his ex girlfriend and friend, Lexy Cross stood. "What are you up to?" He wondered curiously, gaze trailing over her as he noted that she was in a red dress, black leather jacket that matched the boots on her feet over it.
Lexy gave him a smile. "You mean what are we up to." She corrected as she walked into the room, dropping shopping bags that he hadn't previously noticed onto the bed. "You, Dev, Jake, and I are going to a Christmas party." Her hands rested on her hips and a look of determination was on her face. She wasn't about to let the boys deny this request.
He frowned at that and swung his legs over the edge of his bed. "I don't know, Lex. I really don't feel like going anywhere."
The blonde sighed and took a seat beside of him, resting a hand on his shoulder, covered by a soft blue Henley. "Look, I know these past couple of months haven't been the best." Her mouth twisted as she was plagued with the memories. "But you haven't really went anywhere since you got out of the hospital. It really isn't good for you at all, Junior. Besides, all of us deserve to actually be teenagers after all the shit we went through. Especially you."
Junior swallowed hard, his hand going to his chest, right over where the scar, covered by his shirt was. It was a nervous habit he'd developed over the past few weeks. Truth be told, it would be nice to go out somewhere. To really enjoy himself with no worries. It was just the fear he had. How were people going to treat him when they saw him? Both of his parents were dead and he'd been stabbed in the chest. It had been such a close call. He really didn't feel like dealing with the looks of pity he was sure he'd receive.
As if reading his mind, Lexy gave him a reassuring look. "Listen, I know what you might be thinking and I don't blame you, but you can't let them dictate your life. Besides, if anyone makes you uncomfortable, I'll totally kick your ass." She said the last part teasingly, hoping it would get a smile at him.
He laughed at that, smile lighting up his boyish face. "Okay." He relents with a sigh before his tilts his head to the bags. "So, I guess whatever is in those bags is meant for me?"
She beamed and nodded, pushing the bags closer toward him. "I got you a new outfit." She announced. "You're going to make such an impression."
Junior dug into the bag, pulling out a soft green sweater and a pair of black jeans. "How did you know my size?" He wondered suspiciously, noting that she'd bought the correct size.
Lexy shrugged innocently. "The other day, Devon and Jake helped me sneak into your room when you were at your therapy appointment. I looked to check your shirt and pants size."
"Thanks, Lex." He murmured before reaching out to hug her warmly. "It's really nice to know how much you care. I'm really glad you're letting people see this side of you."
Her breath caught in her throat and she felt as if she was going to cry. "Ugh!" She groaned, punching him playfully in the shoulder. "Don't make me ruin my makeup!"
Junior hid his smile at that, glad not for the first time that he and Lexy were as close as they were now, without the pressures their respective parents had put on them. "So, did you buy Jake or Devon anything to wear?"
Lexy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding me? Jake would've bitched at whatever I chose for him. Besides, Devon went with me and picked his own outfit." She stood to her feet then. "Anyway, I'm going to go see if Miss. Fairchild will order us some Chinese. You shower and get dressed. We leave in two hours."
When Junior came downstairs awhile later, dressed in the outfit Lexy had bought for him, he stood in the entryway to the dining room nervously for a moment, biting his lip. Lexy, Jake, and Devon were already at the table and Miss. Fairchild, her curly hair pulled back into a ponytail was grabbing plates from the cabinet.
The woman smiled at him warmly as she turned around and saw him. "Lexy told me that you four are going to a Christmas party this evening." She said. "I'm glad you're getting out of the house. The change of scenery will do you good."
"Thanks, Miss. Fairchild." The boy in question replied as he took a seat at the table, already reaching for the Kung Pao chicken she'd ordered for him, dishing it out onto his plate.
Miss. Fairchild tutted disapprovingly. "It's Rachel, Junior." She told him lightly, taking a seat at the table. "I've said it before that you kids can call me that when we're not in school."
"Rachel." Junior amended, still not used to it just yet. He looked at Devon and Jake then. "So, are you two excited for the party."
"Yeah!" Devon exclaimed, beaming brightly.
At the same time, Jake whined, "No!!" His arms crossed under his chest and a glare fixed on Lexy who paid him no mind, eating her food, smirk on her pretty face.
Junior snickered at that and exchanged an amused look with Devon. Now that Lexy and Jake were friends, Devon and Junior had noticed the two seemed to get a thrill out of annoying the hell out of each other. At the dirty look Jake through them, Junior put on a straight face. "Oh, come on, Jake. It's not that bad. Besides, there's sure to be plenty of mistletoe around for you to make out with your boyfriend under."
Jake's face went red at that and he turned his attention to the food on his plate.
Beside Junior, Lexy smothered a giggle while Rachel pretended that she hadn't heard a word that the teens were saying.
Devon reached for his boyfriend's hand and gave it a squeeze, causing Jake to give him an achingly tender look. Junior felt happy for the cousin he'd once pretended to hate. It was nice to see the different side of the boy that Devon brought out.
Junior stared up at the unfamiliar house that the Uber Lexy had ordered pulled up in front of. It was decked out in Christmas lights and had this warm appearance that the houses he and Lexy had grown up in had never achieved. He climbed out of the car after the driver had been paid and followed his friends and cousin to the front door which immediately opened. Christmas music immediately streamed out and a girl with a freckled face and chestnut brown hair smiled brightly at them.
"Hey!" She sang out. "I'm glad you four could make it." Her green eyes flicked to Lexy as she said this, a blush pinkening her pale cheeks.
Junior exchanged a surprised look at Devon and Jake before he looked at the blonde by his side who was biting her lip and tucking her hair behind her ear. It suddenly hit him that Lexy had an ulterior motive for wanting to come to this party. Hiding his smile, he followed her inside the house. Immediately, his nose was assaulted by the smell of freshly baked ginger bread cookies. The scent of cinnamon hung in the air and across the room, he caught sight of a table filled to the brim with tasty treats.
After their coats had been taken, Lexy leaned in close to Junior. "I'm going to go hang out with Kaitlin." She said with flushed cheeks, eyes flickering over to the girl who'd greeted him who was leaning against a wall.
Junior gave her a nod and a reassuring smile. "That's fine. I'll be at the table with all of the desserts." He watched Lexy smile at him thankfully and leave with Kaitlin, holding the girl's hand. Devon and Jake had disappeared elsewhere, so he shrugged and walked across the room. He'd just poured himself some cider when he heard an unfamiliar voice behind him.
"You must be new." The voice said, sounding curious.
Junior whirled around and was immediately faced with a boy about his age, maybe a year older. He gulped. "Um, yeah." He managed, shifting on his feet. The boy was a few inches taller than him, skin a couple of shades darker than his own. His hair was dark and messy in that handsome way described in the cheesy novels he'd read. Dimples shone on the nameless boy's cheeks as he gave a grin.
"I'm Zander Abbott." The boy said, holding out a hand. "The girl throwing the party is my sister."
The smaller boy frowned in confusion at that, causing Zander to laugh.
"Kaitlin and I aren't biological siblings. My parents adopted Kaitlin when she was two." Zander explained.
A look of understanding came across Junior's face. "Oh, that makes sense." He managed, looking down in embarrassment.
Zander nudged the boy before him lightly. "You know, you never did tell me your name. It's rather rude." He looked at the boy carefully. He was cute in this innocent, sweet way that instantly charmed Zander.
"Sorry. I'm Junior. Junior Wheeler." He grimaced as he said his name, tensing up slightly as he waited for Zander to come to the realization of just who he was talking to. He feared how the boy's behavior would change towards him after that.
Hiding his shocked look, Zander shook Junior's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Junior." He told him warmly, hoping that the boy would realize he was telling the truth. Of course, he'd seen the articles written about Junior and looking at him now, he knew he'd seen him in the papers for winning cross country races. He wasn't about to make the other teen uncomfortable though. The poor boy had looked ready to jump out of his skin when he'd given his name.
A look of relief came over Junior's face and he relaxed. "It's nice to meet you too." He returned, giving a shy smile. "I actually don't know your sister. My best friend does, though and she decided to drag me to this party."
Zander snickered at that. "Lexy, right? Katie hasn't stopped talking about her since they ran into one another a couple of weeks ago."
Junior nodded. "Yeah. The two disappeared together basically as soon as we came in." He moved out of the way, closer to Zander as more people came to the table to get some food and drinks.
"You want to get out of here?" Zander asked Junior curiously. "We have a music room if you'd like to get out of here."
"That would be great." The smaller boy replied thankfully, wanting to get away from the crowd for some breathing room. He was surprised when he felt Zander's soft, warm hand take his own, leading him out of the living room and down a small hallway.
Zander flicked on a light and finally released Junior's hand. "It's not the biggest room in the world, but it's my favorite."
Junior gasped as he looked around the room, taking in the different guitars on the wall, the drum set in the corner. It was everything he ever could've dreamed of, everything he'd wanted that his father had tried to smother out of him. "It's amazing." He breathed, turning in circles as he gazed with wide eyes at everything. Tentatively, he reached out to brush the strings of a guitar with his slender fingers reverently, longingly.
Zander observed him carefully, heart aching slightly as he watched the boy. Immediately, he couldn't help but think that that maybe being a track star hadn't ever been this boy's dream. Not with the way he was gazing at the guitars, sad expression in his dark eyes. "You know, I could teach you how to play guitar if you want." He offered.
Junior's eyes lit up with genuine excitement. "That would be amazing!" He exclaimed, wide smile brightening his face.
Zander was charmed once again by the excitement that the boy showed in such a simple offer, though it also made him sad, wondering what this boy's home life had been like. Of course, he could take his guesses. There'd been rumblings about a star cross country runner's controlling father, but he'd never really paid them any mind. It really wasn't his business and it felt disgusting that people would treat abuse like this hot gossip. "Okay, but not tonight. Maybe we can try sometime next week?" He suggested hopefully.
Junior beamed. "That sounds great." He looked at Zander from under his lashes, feeling glad that he'd let Lexy convince him to come to this party.
The two continued to talk about nothing in particular until a knock on the door sounded and Lexy peered in the room at him, impish grin on her face, Devon and Jake just behind her with matching expressions.
"We should probably get going, Junior." Devon spoke up, eyes flickering between his childhood best friend and this mysterious boy with interest. He knew that he, Jake, and Lexy were all bound to ask Junior questions about this as soon as they were alone. Whatever was going on seemed like a good thing for the boy who'd been through so much these past couple of months.
Junior nodded, saying a quick goodbye to Zander after exchanging numbers with him. Then, he followed his friends out of the house, knowing that he was in for some questioning.