15. Realist

Chapter 15 - Realist

   My time with Alex, I can say there was never a time where it was dull. We were either doing three things, laughing, making out, or arguing. There was always something going on and it was unstoppable. It was in the nature of our relationship. Sure, I could have done things differently, including Alex himself, but that's the thing about being young. You may think you're ready for something like this to happen. Of course you'll think you are mature, and perhaps you are, but your heart isn't. You don't realize what type of storm you're getting until you are facing it on the edge of a cliff, not when you are facing the calm before the storm.

   I like to think of myself as a realist, that would avoid love at all cost. But that didn't happen when Alex came into place. I've always looked at my parents as the number one example. What ever happened to love? I constantly asked myself that prior to their divorce. But Alex was changing my views in the way I didn't notice.

   I never really got a grip of why Derek and my Dad were so against me dating, or even talking to a boy, or Hell, even being around Alexander Gaskarth. At first I thought it could have been the fact that they didn't want to see me grow up. But the night that Alex was gripped by his collar of his jacket by my Dad, and I was held back by Derek, in that second, I knew it was much more.

But I just didn't know what it could be.

   It was in the very moment, when my dad screamed into his face like the way he did. Veins popping out of his neck, his face hot with red. "What do you want!?" He spat into his face.

   He looked over at me, "How dare you lie to me, Laila! This was who you were really going out with?" His grip couldn't have been any tighter around Alex's collar. I knew I had to do something fast or Alex's mighty tough fist would be connected to his face. "One of the Gaskarth boys, really? Why?"

   Derek's grasp on me didn’t allow me to get out of it, no matter how hard I try. "I don't understand." I had the water works in my eyes, my cheeks are most likely running in the colors of red.

"Let go of me!" Alex barked, pushing his hands on my Dad's chest. It wasn't surprising that my Dad ended up letting go. Alex has muscles, there was no doubt about that.

"Why can't I be happy Dad?!" I wiggle out of Derek's touch. "What's so bad about him?" I point to Alex, who stood there with his face flushed and his fists to his sides. "Huh? You don't even know him!"

"I know enough, Laila. You're grounded. Now go to your room." He demanded, his eyes are daggers into mine.

I hesitated, I knew that if I didn't obey that I would be dead meat but something in me turned on like a flip of a switch. I was going to stand my ground. "No." I folded my arms.

"Laila," Alex warned, shaking his head.

"You can get out of my fucking house." My Dad said to Alex, and pointed directly to the door. "And never come back."

    Alex sucks on his teeth, and slowly turned around. His eyes told millions of words. Angry was the first one. And out of all the other ones, there was a hint of sadness to them, but no one would be able to tell besides me. But it fades away, right before he walks out.

   "I'm sorry that I happen to care for your daughter." The sarcasm rolled off his tongue like it always did with the slick words he puts to use when needed.

   My heart shattered right there and then. At the time, I didn't understand. Alex and I only knew each other for little under two months. But something about Alex and his charm, or maybe that's not the right word to use, perhaps it was all the things Alex did that made it seem like I've known him longer. But yet, it felt like there was so much more that I didn't know about Alex.

"Why?" It was the only thing I could get out after Derek closed the front door and the screeching of Alex's tires went to rest.

"It's for your own good." Derek mumbled, and right before he walked away, I couldn't control it any longer.

"Bullshit!" I screamed on the top of my lungs. Derek and Dad turned around by the choice of my words. I've never been the one to cuss in front of them. Actually, I've never been the one to cuss at all until Alex happened. "Just tell me! Tell me why you want to ruin my life! And why you can't accept the fact I'm happy for once in my life!"

"Grow up, Laila! And get over yourself. You have no idea! Just stay away from him." Derek screamed back at me.

I ran upstairs with tears flowing down my face, not even bothering with what they had to say anymore.

  Once I finally get upstairs, my crying was uncontrollable, including my hand that was tugging on the roots of my hair. I paced around my room with the door locked for hours on end. I knew I had to wake up early so I could finish my homework but for the first time, I didn't care. I never allowed myself to not finish my homework on a Friday. I didn't like doing my homework on a Saturday or a Sunday. But at this point I didn't care about the fact my homework wasn't finished on this Friday night - more like the early morning of Saturday.

   I dived right into my writing at my desk and my hand was at a endless speed of moving on the sheet of paper. One sheet turned into two, and then three, and before I could realize what time it was, there was a stack of papers that counted up to twenty. And I'm not talking just one sided, I'm talking about full front and back.

   It was four in the morning when I completely crashed, after trying to call him multiple times. He didn't pick up, and that only made me worry even more. But I was too tired to function, and my brain wouldn't allow myself to get a full grasp of what happened tonight.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

   I ended up waking up with my neck stiff, it was a terrible ache that I never wanted to experience again. And when I slowly took my time to get unwounded, all the events of what happened last night started to replay in my mind all at once.

I crawled into my bed, and tried to shut out all the voices in my mind that kept reminding me of last night.

   The date went better then it could have gone. I didn't have a care in the world. All I could think of was Alex and my surroundings. I was genuinely happy and speaking was easier and I didn't have to think long and hard about it either. Alex seemed to be having a good time as well. He looked so care free and didn't care about anything else just as much as I did.

But with my luck, Derek and Dad had to ruin it for something that I didn't know.

   But flash-forward a week later, Alex didn't show up to school at all and I'm at a no speaking basis with everyone. It's the beginning of October, and it nothing but depressing. Baltimore is over casted everyday as the leaves have fully turned into colors of red, orange, yellow, and brown.

   I decided that I no longer wanted to have Derek drive me to school or even pick me up, so I walk there. It's only a twenty minute walk. So it gives me time to think as my shoes step on the leaves of the pavement road, making a crunching noise.

   The whole argument plays in my mind regularly. ‘Grow up!’ is stuck like a broken record player, it’s annoying and gives me a reason to stay in my room during dinner. It hurts to be downgraded like that by my brother who I once thought knew me better than anyone.

    It's now the following Monday, and I'm doubtful of Alex showing up. But he had already skipped a full week of school, and they are probably on his butt for skipping fourteen days of school so early in the school year already.

   I put on a maroon sweater and leggings, and added on a beanie to my hair for the colder weather. Then of course I tied my converse onto my feet.

When I walked down stairs, it takes me by surprise to see my father in his study, busy typing away on his computer.

   He's usually at work by this hour, so why the sudden change?

  Before I could walk away with being unnoticed, he calls mine and Derek's names.

  I bite my lip, a family meeting? Great. I've been able to dodge them all week up until now and I'm fully trapped. Unless I run out the door like the one time I did.

   I sit down on the comfortable cushion chair in front of his oaked desk, and Derek does the same to another chair that is right beside mine.

“I have some news to say,” My dad takes off his glasses and pinches his nose.

“Great.” I muttered, sinking a little into my seat.

“I’ve been writing a rough draft.” He states.

   My body jolts out, nearly making me fall out of my seat. Derek happens to do the same. He’s back into writing? After all these years of putting his dream to the side, he’s finally picking it back up from its grave.

Derek narrows his eyes, “So you’re writing again?”

“I’ve had this idea in my head for a while. And I’ve wanted to write it forever now.” He slightly nodded his head.

   I was still trying to take this all in. I knew what this all meant, he’s going to be taking time off from work, and he will be spending all of his time when he’s home locked up in his study. I was familiar with the writing process, being a writer myself and all. It takes dedication and it will deprive all of your time.

“What’s it about?” Derek ponders.

“It’s a romantic novel.”

I scoff, and cross my arms together. A romance novel? You got to be kidding me.

"Problem?" My dad raises his eyebrows.

   I look dead straight into his eyes, and made sure to show no emotion what so ever. I was tired of the way I've been treated lately, and I wasn't going to have it any longer.

   I gripped onto the arm rest of my seat, barely getting up a little. "I'm calling you out. How about you grow up, Dad." I sneered his name, and stood up fiercely. I hurried out the room without caring what my father had to say anymore.

I pick up my school bag and walked out the door, not really bothering with breakfast at this point.

   Alex attended school, but skipped first period. I ended up seeing him in the hallways later on in the day. It wasn’t until around lunch time when things picked up. I was eating my lunch without any interruptions, until a girl I knew from eighth grade blocks my way of seeing Alex, who is sitting at his regular lunch table.

Sofia leaned over the table with her hands pressed against it, her black curly hair felled on the table. “Stay away from him.” She sneered. “He’s isn’t good news for a quiet shy girl like you. Got me?”

A million sarcastic and sassy comebacks came into thought, but all I did was raised my eyebrows.

   Sofia used to be one of those genuine good girls who headed into trouble in every way possible the minute she stepped into high school. Her Latina heritage gives her the looks, but her personality could kill someone now that she hangs around in a bad crowd. You know those groups of people that your parents always warned you about?

She left with the sound of her tongue sucking on her teeth, oh how I hated that noise…

   She had no right to come over to my table and tell me what to do. How did she even know Alex? That makes me truly wonder. Alex is new to this school but isn’t new here locally, God only knows who he hung out with before he came here. Perhaps that’s how Sofia knew, considering she’s hangs out with the trouble maker kids that make it seem like they get arrested every other week and sell drugs in the bathrooms of the school.

   But how did she even know that we were whatever we were? Rumors must be going around, and I didn’t like the feeling of knowing that there are girls talking about me in the bathrooms, or even in text messages. And I’m sure it’s more than just that, boys are probably talking about us in the locker room, and during practices, or wherever they may do their ‘manly’ gossip.

    I take in a deep breath, and looked around the cafeteria. For some strange reason, things felt different. In a bad way type of different. The atmosphere wasn’t the same as to how it was for the past months of being in school. Everything was chaotic almost. It made my breathing go at a fast pace and my stomach turn, I didn’t enjoy this at all.

   I get up with my trash and throw it out. When I glance over at Alex – It was hard not to, he was standing up, talking to a familiar guy. My mind tried to figure out where I’ve seen him before, but my senses are clouded.

  Alex’s body language was recognizable to me; his hands were to his side tight into a fist, his face was boiling with red, and his back standing tall. I’ve seen it all before.

  The cafeteria was too loud to hear what they could have been arguing about, but Alex was practically spitting out his words.

   I sneak close to them without being noticed – The perk of being the mute girl of the school, no one takes notice of me. At this point, it was my curiosity that was getting to me. But when I slowly got near, it finally came to my senses of who he was arguing with.  It was one of the guys that were with Caleb when they stopped us the day of when we first went out for breakfast.

   This had bad news written all over it and I was restricted to do anything. When I looked around, everyone’s attention was on Alex and the brown-haired guy. Some were whispering into others ears, and others were snickering like they knew what was about to happen.

   When I look back towards Alex, his fist was thrown right into the guy’s jaw, causing him to fall and Alex to tumble on top of him.

   A full circle is rapidly formed around them in a mere second. I’m easily pushed around for others to get a better view.

   I stand on my tippy toes, only to see Alex being punched hard in the gut by the other guy.

   “C’mon Jake, beat the shit out of him!” A guy to the right of me screamed, I recognize him from the football team.

  The apparently so called Jake, who was fighting, hits Alex right into the gut again. The groan from Alex shatters my heart, I hated seeing this.

    Finally, teachers come in to pull them apart, along with Rian and Jack who tried before any of them came to the rescue.

   “How dare you say that about her!” Alex barked over all the chattering and hollering. My breathing was out of control when the words hit me. Her.  It couldn’t have been me? But who could it be? “You don’t know anything about Laila!”

Nope, it was definitely me. Without a second thought.

   I take a run for it when everyone’s eyes turn to me, and out of all of them, Alex’s stood out. He was being hold back by fat old man, with his arms restrained.

My heart sinks with the look he gave me, and that’s when I took a run for it.

______

a.n

The Lailex feels oh my god.

Honestly I didn't think I would get an update out since I'm exhausted from skateboarding to CVS just to buy makeup that put a hole in my pocket. Geez I need a good 8 hour sleep.

Anywayysss, vote and comment! Definitely helps with putting out a new chapter faster. Also, since it's the 15 chapter, things will be picked up quickly within the plot(or maybe not, I was planning for this book to end between 25- 30 chapters but I think there might be more then just that. idk). You guys have no idea what's in store *rubs my hands evily*

Chapter dedicated to - Kyra_the_Killjoy! P.s - your name rocks ;)

It Will Rain by Bruno Mars is on the side bc it reminds me of Lailex.

-Kc July 7, 2014

Also *Important* I'm moving at the end of the month (my house is offically closed on the 29th) meaning if I disappear at the end of the month, it's because I couldn't get out an update or status before my computer is packed, but I'm moving down the street so I'm not that worried about getting out updates and etc.