Alexandrea's P.O.V

"Alex?" A tired voice called and I turned to see Daisy. I sent her a tired smile and she raised an eyebrow at me. She walked over to me and sat beside me on the couch. She used her index finger to tilt my chin towards her.

"Honey, why are you up so early? Did you even sleep at all?" she said. It wasn't that obvious was it?

"Of course I did" I said giving her another tired smile while glancing outside and checking the clock. I didn't leave the spot I sat so I didn't realize outside was already bright. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize that it was now 6:00am in the morning.

"Your face tells a different story" she said removing her finger and placing her hands on her lap. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nope not at all. I'm okay" I said tiredly. I'm not okay. At all.

"If you say so. Go freshen up so I'll make breakfast okay?" She said standing up.

"I already freshened up and made waffles for breakfast" I said standing up as well.

"Oh, wow!" She gave me a puzzled look "you definitely didn't sleep" she confirmed.

"Yeah. Some issue came up" I sighed looking at my fingers.

"Okay. If you want to talk about it, I'm here" she smiled and began to warm the waffles in a toaster.

"Yeah. I need to head home, I have no clothes for school" I laughed and she nodded.

"Let me call Nick to drop you home since you don't have a ride I'm guessing" she said and walked towards Nick's door. Honestly, Nick is the last person I want to see right now after what happened last night.

"Nick! Get up, it's past six already!" She yelled and knocked on the door. When she didn't hear any sound, she kept on knocking until a tired looking Nick opened the door, wearing only sweats. Just sweats.

"God! I'm awake!" He groaned frustrated.

"Get some clothes on and drop Alex home" she said not concerned about the fact that he was wearing sweats. I tore my eyes away from his torso and looked on the ground.

"Okay" he said and I heard his door shut again.

" I swear that boy sleeps like the dead" Daisy shook her head and went back to the kitchen. I sat back down on the couch feeling really grumpy. I took a deep breath immediately I heard the door of Nick's room open and close.

"Let's go" he said and I stood up. We reached for the door handle at the same time before I remember bed my hand and stared ahead. He opened it and go out first with me following.

"Hey baby, good morning" he muttered smiling a little as he ran his hands through the side of his car. I would comment about that if the situation wasn't so awkward. He opened the door and slid in the car. The driver's side specifically. I rolled my eyes and got in the passenger's side of the car.

He started driving and I looked out the window with my arms crossed over my chest. Grenade by Bruno Mars started playing on the radio and it made me  remember the first time I entered his car. The car ride was awfully silent and really awkward. Thankfully, after counting every car I saw so I won't be bored, Nick pulled up in my driveway.

"Thanks" I muttered and rushed out of the car. I heard his car drives off some seconds later as I stood in front of the door to my house. I took a deep breath and opened the door, entering.

There was no one in the sitting room and it was really clean like there weren't bottles of beers scattered yesterday. I closed the door behind me and was about to climb up the stairs when I heard my mom's voice.

"Oh, you're back! Where were you last night? I searched everywhere for you and you look a little sick, are you okay?" She said.

"I'm fine" I mumbled and walked up the stairs ignoring her other questions. I'm not in the mood to talk to her. I changed from yesterday's clothes and didn't bother concealing my tired eyes with make up.

Grabbing my school bag and keys, I walked down the stairs and saw my mom at the end of the stairs.

"Alex, I-"

"Mom please, there's no use in apologizing since you're gonna do it  again" I said calmly and she hung her head low in shame.

"Have you had breakfast?" She changed the subject and I nodded.

"Have a nice day at school" she said with a smile.

"Bye" I mumbled without smiling back and left the house.

I needed to pick Bex up because u doubt she'll want to drive to school after yesterday's incident. I pulled up at her driveway and knocked on the door. The door opened to reveal Mrs Johnson, Barbara with a wide grin.

"Alex!!!" She yelled before pulling me into a hug. Yup, the choking hug runs in the Johnson's family. I pulled away from her and plastered a smile on my face.

"How are you? It's been a while" she said as she ushered me in and closed the door.

"I've been good as always Barb" I smiled.

"Please sit" she said and I groaned internally before sitting. "Richard!!!!" She yelled and Bex's dad, Mr Johnson came down the stairs.

"Stop yelling" he said and his face broke into a wide grin as he saw me. "Alex!!!!" He yelled before pulling me into another choking hug. I pulled away still smiling and praying for Bex to arrive soon before they start firing me with questions.

"So how's school? Any boyfriends?" Mrs Johnson wiggled her eyebrows at me and I internally cringed.

"Yeah! you can tell us you know" Mr Johnson added.

"Well...there's no boyfriend" I said awkwardly and silently praying for Bex to come downstairs.

"Boy problems? Crushes?" Mrs Johnson asked again.

"We want to advise you so your relationship can last" Mr Johnson said looking at his wife lovingly. "Like ours" he added still looking at his wife and smiling.

Barbara and Richard met at the office, she was his secretary and she had a crush on him for years. He finally noticed her and they fell in love. Now they're married with two kids. Yep, Bex has a younger brother who's really cute.

"Mom! Where's my other shirt?!!!" Kevin yelled as he walked down the stairs then he saw me. He quickly leaned against the wall and ran his hands through his blonde hair then winked at me.

"Hello there" He bit his lower lip "Alexandrea" okay, this is weird.

"Hi Kev" I smiled.

"I love it when you call me that" he winked me again.

"Am I not like four years older than you?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Ages are just numbers babe" he said changing his posture. His parents were looking at him suspiciously probably wondering what the hell was going on.

"Kevin, what do you want?" Mrs Johnson said.

"My other shirt! Where is it?" He said.

"I'll be right back Alex" Mrs Johnson said as she stood up as she and Kevin disappear up the stairs. I turned and gave Mr Johnson an awkward smile.

"So... I'll continue where my wife stopped. If you have a boyfriend-" he said and I glanced at the stairs impatiently and spotted Bex then I cut him off.

"Bex!" I said and stood up to meet her. She rubbed her eye and looked at me still in her PJs.

"Alex? Alex!" She said as realization leaned upon her.

"Let's go to your room, please" I whispered to her and she nodded.

"Bye dad" she yelled and we ran up the stairs.

"Thank you!" I said while she laughed at me.

"How are you doing?" I asked a bit worried.

"I'm good, I've had enough sleep so I'll be okay" she smiled assuring me.

"Good. We'll visit Luke by the weekend okay?" I say and she nods.

"So how come you arrived with Nick in Nick's car at the same time with Nick?" She asked with a teasingly smile and I rolled my eyes at her.

"My mom did it again so I went to the beach and he happened to be there. I didn't want to go home so I asked if I could stay with him and he said yes. That's it"  I shrugged and looked down at my shoes.

"Then...." She trailed off expecting more.

"Then nothing" I said.

"Something definitely happened with the way you're glancing at your shoes" she stated and I sighed and told her everything.

"Wow! He's a dick!" She said. "Let me teach him some manners" she said as she cracked her knuckles which refuse to crack.

"Bex! We're not teaching anyone anything okay? So dress up and let's go to school" I said and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine" she started rummaging through her wardrobe for something to wear after taking her bath. I was sitting on her bed the whole time.

"You can wear this one" I suggested a green jeans with white long sleeve top and she glared at me.

"I was just helping, sorry" I raised my hands in surrender.

"You want me to go to school looking like I got walked over by a herd of Buffaloes then shitted on by birds of all kind?" She asked .

"Geez, I didn't know my suggestion was that bad" I rolled my eyes. She eventually picked something similar to my clothes.

"Let's go" she said and I stood up. We got into my car after countless hugs from Bex's parents and a wink from Kevin.

We got to school and went to the different classes that we were having. I already made up my mind on not sleeping in the night anymore,it will be the other way round. I avoided Nick throughout and eventually bumped into Eddy

"Hey Ed" I grinned.

"Hi" he smiled and we both headed to a bench to sit. We have not gotten a new psychology teacher so for now, it was a free period.

"So...Zoey huh?" I wiggled my eyebrows at him and I saw his cheeks turn a bright pink color.

"We're just friends" he said.

"That's the problem why?" I asked.

"What?" He said, confused.

"Why are you still friends? You guys obviously like each other" I said.

"She likes me?" He asked hopefully.

"I'm sure she does, you would never know if you don't ask " I said he frowned.

"I can't" he said.

"Why?"

"Because... because Nick will murder me and if she doesn't feel the same way, I'll be risking our friendship" he said still frowning.

"Let Nick hate you if he wants to. Just do what your heart says and ask yourself if it is worth risking your friendship for" I advised

"Thanks" he smiled showing his dimples. Oh God!! Dimples!!!

"Yeah, I'm doing this because when you get married, I'll be the godmother of your children" I winked and he blushed.

"You're crazy" he said still smiling.

"Besides have you decided on names? For the children? I want unique names like Aphra, Amadeus, Oeric, Drusilla-"

"God! Alex!" He cut me off. My lack of sleep is really getting to me.

"Sorry. I got a bit carried away" I pouted.

"It's okay. I'll leave for class now. Bye crazy" he yelled and a few heads turned to look at me.

I managed to get through school amd finished my assignment in school too. I ignored Nick successfully and wiggled my eyebrows at Ed at every chance I got. I caught the queen bitch glaring at me occasionally but I ignored her. I was about to go wait for Bex at the parking lot when I saw Eli.

"Hey!" He grinned and I smiled back.

"What are you doing?" I asked wondering why he was just standing by the side of the walkway.

"Waiting for you" he said as we began to walk together towards my car.

"Oh okay" I said as we got to my car.

"Yeah, give me your phone for a second" he said and I gave him a confused look.

"Why?" I asked as I brought it out from my back. He shrugged and collected it from me. He typed something and gave it back leaving me confused as he left for his car. I was too lazy to check my phone so I just shoved it back in my bag.

"Hey!" Bex said and I smiled at her as we got into the car. I dropped her at home and moments later, I was pulling in my driveway.  I entered and figured out my mom was in her room. I packed some junk food from the cupboards and fridge and headed to my room then locked the door so I won't have any reason to go downstairs and face my mom.

I ate some chips and slept off. I woke up hours later around midnight and saw a message in my phone. I opened it and it was from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hi!

Me: hey! sorry, who's this?

Unknown: your crush.

I rolled my eyes and I realized the in person that would say that is Eli.

Me: I know it's you, Eli.

Unknown: So I'm your crush huh?

Me: Ew, never

I saved his number and sat up on my bed.

Elijerk: Don't you think it's late for you to be awake by this time?

Me: same goes for you

Elijerk : I'm busy with some stuffs that's why

Me: same here

Elijerk: Wanna come o er sometime? Again?

Me: I don't think Chef Lily will want me to. Are you missing me already? I teased.

Elijerk : you wish. Pops got me, gotta sleep, bye

Me: Pops?

Elijerk: my father

Me: oh, why call him Pops?

Elijerk: Because

Me : Because?

Elijerk: goodnight

Me: wait..., I was kinda enjoying his company.

Elijerk: what?

Me: Do you like birds? I asked stupidly.

Elijerk: I love all animals, Can we keep on texting?Pop's gone.

Me: I love all animals too. Kay

So we kept on talking about random things till Dawn. Yes till morning and I didn't even realize. At least I know more about him, we have a lot in common.

The rest of the week was the same routine, not really healthy but I'll do anything to keep those nightmares away so it was worth it. Spending the night texting with Eli, ignoring mom,going to school with Bex, avoiding Nick, wiggling eyebrows at Eddy, trying to talk to Zoey to thank her for the room sharing, doing homework, going home, sleeping ,then waking up by night and repeat.

Perfectly normal, right?

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Writer: Hello sweethearts,

Thank you so much for the votes and reads on this book. It means a lot.

Sorry for the boring chapter, I'll make it up with the next chapter.

Everyone is at Tom's ( a bird) funeral. So they won't be able to-

Nick: *a bored look* hello guys * grins and winks* hello girls

Writer: Nick! Aren't you meant to be at the funeral?

Eli: hello people!

Eddy: hi there!

Writer: what are you guys doing here?

Nick: to do this *winks at the audience* don't forget to vote-

Eddy: *flexes muscles* -comment-

Eli: *grins widely* -and follow. Enjoy

Writer: *yells loudly* GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!

*They all disappear in fear*

*Smiles at audience* so don't forget to-

Audience: -they already said it.

Writer: But-

Audience: we would allow you to repeat it if you had muscles and flaws but you don't.

Writer : *gasps and storms away in anger to the gym* we'll see about that.

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26/6/2020