Chapter Text
“Hey,” said a voice from beside him.
Alex slammed his locker shut and turned around, preparing himself for his daily ridiculing, “Look, I don’t have– oh. Hey Nora.” There was a pause as Alex attempted to regain his composure. “Do you need something?”
“Yeah… I mean, not really. Just checking in on you since you look like you just crawled out of a trash can,” Nora teased.
“Gee, thanks a lot, that’s one of the best compliments I’ve gotten all day.” He said as he turned away and walked down the hall.
“Wait, it was just a joke, don’t leave me!” Nora laughed, as she ran to catch up to him.
“Yeah it was a great joke. Really made me laugh,” he jeered, “why don’t you go hang out with June over there, m’kay?” Alex gestured to the other side of the hall where a group of girls chattered excitedly to each other.
Nora glanced over to where June was standing, “Yeah… I could.”
“Why the sudden mood swing, princess?” Alex quipped. “You’re giving me whiplash.”
Nora looked away, tugging at her hoodie strings, but not before Alex noticed the tinge of red across her cheeks. “It’s just…” she sighed. “Lin is over there. I just can’t be there…by her.”
Alex glanced back and forth between the two, putting the puzzle pieces together. “Ahh,” he paused. “Why Lin though?” Alex asked, ignoring the glare Nora shot his way. “There are some way better people out there.”
“You know what—,” Nora was cut short by a tall figure striding to catch up to them.
“Hey Nora! Wait up!” said the handsome newcomer, striding towards the pair.
Alex glances over his shoulder to see his favourite pretty boy, Henry Fox.
“Shouldn’t you be in class–” the handsome newcomer paused, catching sight of Alex. “Who’s your friend?” he asked, looking him up and down.
“This is Alex,” Nora said, shoving him towards Henry. Startled, Alex stumbled forward, clumsily falling into Henry’s arms. “Alex, this is Henry, and I,” she grinned, “am about to be late for class.” Spinning on her heel, she strode away, her shout of, “Have fun,
boys!”, echoing through the now empty hallway.
Suddenly aware of their closeness, Alex took an awkward step back, glancing at his feet. The remaining two teens flinched as the final bell buzzed angrily, officially marking their tardiness.
“Well,” Alex sighed defeatedly, “there goes my punctuality streak. Could this day get any worse?”
“I mean–,” Henry chuckled, “yeah, it probably could.” As Alex smirked, he continued, “But…I, we, could try to make it better?
“Ummm, okay, how exactly?”
“Would you like to go out with me, Alex? Like, right now?”