I've come to learn that eating half a slab of chocolate before bed is definitely not a good idea considering it's one in the morning and I'm still up.

I stare up at my white ceiling wondering how on earth I can possibly get myself to fall asleep. I pull my sheets off and walk up to my desk, opening my maths textbook and deciding to use my time productively; getting my homework done. I switch my light on and take a seat with a sigh.

I know for a fact that Chris is a late sleeper so maybe he'll be awake, I highly doubt it but it's worth a shot anyway. I grab my phone and type in a quick message.

Me: Hey, you up? :]

After sending the message to him, I pick up my pen and get started with question one reluctantly when my phone pings in response.

Chris: Always. Why are YOU awake? :D

Me: Ate a chocolate before bed and now I can't sleep.

Chris: Don't you know people struggle to sleep after eating sugar right before bed?

Me: Of course I know that -_- I was just really craving it okay?

Chris: I see you're cranky in the morning :p

Me: only realising this now? Tsk.

Chris: still sarcastic in the morning...

Me: obvi.

Chris: it's okay, I like it anytime, anywhere. <3

I smile softly at the illuminated screen before putting it down and continuing on with my work that seems too indescribably difficult for my brain at this odd time of the morning.

After about thirty minutes of doing homework, I feel sleep finally wash over me and I climb into bed with a tired smile before I let myself drift off.

****

The day dragged by excruciatingly slow and I barely kept my eyes open during any of my classes. During chemistry, I fell asleep and ended up knocking the vial of surgical spirits off of my table. Needless to say, Mrs Connilson was furious that, did I not only mess her floor, but I broke the vial. I forgot my History report at home so I lost five percent and then the water tap didn't want to close in the bathroom so I drenched the front half of my dress.

Oh, and I forgot my lunch at home.

That's why, as I walk into Sunny Smiles, I can't help but sigh in relief. At least if I make any more mistakes here, there would be less people to witness it. However, I'm pretty sure Alex would make up for the whole school.

However, I can't help notice the three girls sitting on the couches in the reception area, waiting patiently for Kathy to call them for something. Kathy walks up to one of the girls and hands her a form and pen, and I briefly say hello to her before I continue onwards. Once I take on my shift from Renaé, I decide to let the kids paint a little bit. When I reach over to grab a tube of green paint, I accidentally drop it to the floor, sending it splattering. I groan out loud and pick up the now half empty tube with a deep frown.

"Woah. What made you look like death?" I hear Alex, who just walked through the door, ask. The kids all squeal and run to him and after he says hello, they return back to their seats with loud chatter.

I roll my eyes as I look at him briefly. "I couldn't sleep."

"Too busy with a guy?" He asks suggestively and I give him a deadpan look as I stand up to grab some tissue off of the table.

"No." I snap, feeling insanely agitated by the day's events. Nothing has seemed to be going smoothly today.

"Are you having a bad day or something?" He asks annoyingly and I laugh tiredly as I start cleaning up my mess.

"You have no fricking idea. I messed a substance all over the floor in chemistry, I forgot my history report at home, I drenched myself in water and-"

"Hey." I hear a gentle voice cut me off and I face Alex to see him crouching down beside me. "It's just a bad day. Not a bad life."

I purse my lips and watch him curiously. His gentle tone makes my heart speed up and I find myself wondering how this is the infamous bad boy at Ridgevale High. He stands up with me and takes the, now green, tissue from my hands.

"I'll clean it up. You watch the kids." He says and I open my mouth to protest but am cut off when he starts cleaning it straight away. I look down at him with a small smile.

"Thank you." I say and he pauses, looking up at me with a tilt of his lips before continuing.

Once he's finished wiping it with tissue he leaves the room and returns with a wet cloth, wiping the mark off of the floor. Although I cast my attention to the children and help them paint the pictures where needed, I can't help but keep looking at Alex who cleans my mess up without complaint and then goes back to his original intentions.

Maybe he was just been nice but it seems so unusual for him to be that kind to me. So out of character. That for some reason makes my heart swell because maybe he's warming up to me. Slowly, but still doing so.

"Do you know why there's so many girls by Kathy?" I ask eventually and Alex nods.

"Lucy is looking for a new partner for you. Sarah quit." He says and my eyebrows raise in surprise.

"Really?"

"Fortunately." He confirms and I give him a joking smile.

"Why do you seem to look forward to this?" I ask curiously "Hoping to try and get with my new partner?"

Alex smirks, my insides coiling from how attractive it is. "Would I even have to try?" He asks rhetorically.

"You can't get every girl." I roll my eyes although I feel like it's very untrue. Alex makes girls' knees wobble and quake by just a look; he's clearly got the required skills.

He chuckles, scratching his chin. "Alright. Since you think that, after our shifts if one of the girls are still here, I'll get her number while you watch."

"If you get her number." I say and he laughs challengingly.

"We'll see about that."

****

"Are you seriously going to do this?" I ask as Alex closes the door to the classroom as the next person takes over from our shifts. 
Alex looks at me seriously.

"Yes. I'm seriously going to do this." He says with an eye roll.

"You're so lucky there's still a girl here." I mutter and he smirks over his shoulder at me. 

As we're about to reach the end of the hallway, he stops, making me bump into him slightly. I rub my arm.

"Watch and learn." He smirks at me before entering the reception room and greeting Kathy. A blonde haired girl, quite a few heads shorter than Alex is in front of the desk and I roll my eyes when I see Alex turn to her.

Once I enter the room as well, I smile at Kathy before tuning in on Alex's conversation with the girl.

"Who's this?" Alex asks Kathy while maintaining eye contact with the girl. Kathy frowns.

"She's here for an interview." She explains and he nods.

"What's your name?" He asks the girl flirtatiously, reaching for her hand and playing with her fingers. She blushes, seeming a bit starstruck.

"Alisha." She mumbles and Alex gives her one of his charming smiles.

"Alisha; I like it." He comments and she hides behind a curtain of her hair. Kathy gives me a confused glance and I mouth 'just play along' and she nods understandingly, probably aware Alex is up to no good.

"Thank... thank you." She responds shyly. "What's yours?"

Alex smirks. "You can find out when we go on our date."

Smooth.

She frowns at Alex, obviously confused. "Our... our date?" Alex chuckles in response.

"Yes, our date." He says plainly and the girl's mouth forms an 'o' as she catches on. She looks down at the floor in a flushed state again and with the smug look Alex sends my way, I want to smack the girl upside the head for believing a guy like Alex.

"I'm going to need your number, Alisha." He shows off his pearly whites. She nods.

"Oh, of course." She pulls out a scrap piece of paper from her bag and writes numbers on it before handing it to Alex.

"You'll be hearing from me." He winks before smiling at Kathy.

"See you around Kathy." He then walks away and I smile at Kathy.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" I call out as I follow him, and she waves me goodbye.

When I push the door open, I look around the parking lot for the player who just played another victim. I let out a squeal when I see him leaning against the wall, just besides the door. He walks up to me and holds up the piece of paper with a smug smile. I roll my eyes, snatching the paper and looking at the digits. I scoff before slapping it into his chest and walking to my car, muttering "She's crazy if she gave you her legitimate number."

Alex chuckles as he walks behind me. "Upset you lost?" He teases and I roll my eyes with a smile.

"Nope. I'm just amused at how large your head can inflate without popping." I retort and he chuckles, one that's oddly sexy, slapping a hand over his heart.

"You wound me." He grins as we stop in the place between his car and mine. I cross my arms over my chest and look up at him.

"Let me know if she actually gave you a real number." I laugh.

He shakes his head. "You're something else, Sophie."

I smile. "What? Because I don't fall for your tricks?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"No." Is all he responds with and I frown at him for a moment before I laugh again, throwing my head back.

"I can't believe she actually thought you were going to call her." I chuckle and he shrugs.

"Girls who are insecure are easier to get."

"That's shallow." I deadpan and he holds his hands up in defense.

"I didn't say it was right or fair, just that it's the truth."

I shake my head as I watch him with a smile. His hazel eyes are warm, reminding me of chocolate and making me want to get lost in them. I look away briefly, admiring the now pink sky.

"Goodnight Rosewood." I say and he smiles.

"Goodnight Cooper."

I walk to my car and climb in, driving home and wondering what Alex meant when he said I was 'different'. Did he mean it in a good or bad way?

Why do I actually care, though?

I shake my head at my ridiculousness. Alex may be a Rebel and a player, but I hope that we become good friends because I just feel like I connect with him.

Like he's real with me.

And I don't know when last I had real.

Oooooh... seems like they're getting cozy. Hehehe.

I hope you "aww"ed and fangirled at this chapter!

Quick Q: what do you think Alex meant when he said Sophie was 'different'?

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