Alexa's Point of View

I leaned up in my bed, the sun shining brightly in my face throw my window. I must've forgotten to pull the curtains last night.

I looked over to see Aaron, still sound asleep. His cheeks were red, but they seemed to always be like that. I reached my hands for his face, my thumb running across his cheeks in a repetitive motion.

Realizing what I was doing, I pulled my hand away quickly and got out of bed, embarrassed. I had work again today, but this time my shift was from afternoon to night.

I sighed, grabbing what I needed to shower and left my room and went into the bathroom next door. I got undressed and stepped into the steamy shower, letting the water soak my skin and hair. I hummed to myself, bopping my head around to the music playing from my phone.

I should be quick, just in case Aaron wakes up so he's not confused. After I showered, I brushed my teeth. I wrapped my hair up in my towel and got dressed in my sweatpants and t-shirt before making my way back to my room.

When I walked into my room, Aaron was gone. I was very confused. I dropped my clothes in my hamper and left my room, searching my house for him. But Aaron was nowhere to be found.

I went back into my room, feeling a breeze traveling through my room. My eyes fell onto the window that was cracked open. Aaron left? I should text Hamzah.

Me: Hamz come over

Hamz: got it

Soon enough, my window was pulled open by Hamzah, and he climbed into my room.

"Is it safe for me to lay in your bed?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes, "Shut up Hamzah, we only slept."

Hamzah let out a laugh before plopping himself onto my bed next to me, "Where did he go?" Hamzah asked.

"That's the thing," I laughed taking my hair out of the towel and grabbing a hair brush. "I have no clue."

"What do you mean you have no clue?" Hamzah asked.

"I mean I have no clue," I said brushing my hair. "I went to shower and when I came back, he was gone."

"Was he awake before you left?"

"No," I shook my head and stood up. "Sound asleep."

"Should you text him?" Hamzah asked.

"I don't know," I said staring at myself in my mirror while pulling my hair into a ponytail.

"Not the ponytail," Hamzah said. "You have work today?"

"Yeah, one to nine," I said.

"That's the worst," Hamzah said.

I nodded walking over to my bed and lying next to him.

"What are you doing today?" I asked Hamzah.

"Haley asked to hang out but I don't think I'll go," He said.

"Haley invited you to hang out?" I asked.

"Weird, I know," He said.

"The most popular girl in our grade — our school even — asked you to hang out and you don't want to?" I asked him. "She's so hot, what's wrong with you?"

"I don't know," Hamzah said. "She's just not the girl I want."

"Oh look at you being emo," I said judging him.

He rolled his eyes and sighed as I leaned back, "I'm so tired," I said as Hamzah wrapped his arms around me.

"Take a nap," He said. "You have work later, you don't want to be tired on the job, but I'm sure your boss won't mind."

"Hamzah seriously?!" I raised my voice as he held onto my body and I fell asleep in his arms.

***

It was the next day, and I was in school. Hamzah and I were at the cafeteria as usual before first period.

Yesterday after Hamzah and I napped, I went to work. I worked until nine then went home to sleep for school. I haven't heard from Aaron at all. Maybe if I saw him in school, we will talk.

I looked at Hamzah, his features were so soft, his skin, his lips. He noticed I was staring at him and smiled, "What?" He asked.

"Nothing," I said. "Just.. thinking.."

"You better not still be thinking of Aaron," Hamzah said crossing his arms. "He's a real dick for that Alexa, you gave him a place to sleep and when you turn your back for a second he disappears. No call? No text? No nothing?"

"Hamzah he's going through a lot right now," I shrugged. "You and I have never been in that situation before and probably will never be. We don't know what's it like to be under that sort of stress."

"Fair point," He said letting out a sigh and leaning back into his chair.

"Let's go to class," I said standing up, grabbing Hamzah's hand.

***

It was the end of the day and I was on my way to the Hamzah's class so we could walk home together. I was holding my phone, looking down at Aaron's number as I walked maybe I should just called him.

"Shit," Someone said as I bumped right into them since I wasn't paying attention ahead of me.

"Sorry I-" I picked my head up to be greeted by Aaron's light curls. "What the fuck?"

"Watch where you're walking," He said and moved past me which made me angry.

I turned around and grabbed onto his sleeve, pulling him back towards me.

"What the fuck Alexa?" He asked.

"What happened yesterday?" I asked angrily. "You just disappeared."

"Listen, you're friends with Haley not me," He said to me, his eyebrows furrowed.

"But you said-" I started but was abruptly cut off my him.

"Forget whatever I said," His eyes were burning holes into me. "I was drunk."

"What about-?"

"What about what?" Aaron asked sighing. "Because of you I'm in deep shit with my mom."

"I'm sorry Aaron.." I sighed looking down.

When I looked back up, Aaron was gone. I looked around, but I couldn't find him.

"Alexa what's wrong?" Hamzah asked walking over to me.

I shook my head, "Nothing."

We began walking out of the school.

"Did you see him?" Hamzah asked. "What did he say?"

"He was just.. being weird.. like he never confessed he once liked me and that just because of what happened, it doesn't make us friends," I shrugged. "I'm not even trying to be his friend, I just wanted to know where he disappeared to and why!"

"He's a shitty person," Hamzah said continuing to walk with his hands in his pockets. "And that makes me angry."

"Why Hamzah?" I asked.

"You helped him!" Hamzah said. "And this is how he's treating you!"

"It's fine Hamzah," I shrugged. "I'll get over it."

Hamzah huffed and puffed as we walked home. The thought of Aaron ghosting me made him very upset. Hamzah has always been super protective of me. Sometimes I can be dumb and ditsy when it comes to guys. I've talked to a few but it's never escalated past a kiss.

Hamzah was my first kiss, in middle school. Seventh grade I think. We were sitting outside in a courtyard and Hamzah really liked some girl so he kissed me to make her jealous. No warning, no nothing. Just kissed me. For about a week following the kiss I think I convinced my twelve year old self that we were actually in love.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Hamzah asked.

I nodded my head, "Tomorrow."

"Bye Alexa," He said.

"Bye Hamz," I smiled and went into my house.

***

I sat in my bed, getting ready to go to sleep. I was so exhausted and I didn't even wait any tables today. I sighed, lying my head on my pillow and covering my body using my comforter.

I heard a bang at my window, "What the fuck?" I asked myself.

I got up and rushed to the window and pulled the curtains, Hamzah stood there. His face busted up.

"Jesus Christ," I said as I opened the window. "What the fuck happened Hamzah? Did you fight someone?"

He stepped in through the window and sat on my bed, "You should see the other guy," He said with a corny smile.

"Oh my god what has gotten into you?" I asked holding his head in the palm of my hands, rotating it around to see the damage. "Who was it?"

"Aaron," He shrugged.

"Aaron?!" I exclaimed. "Are you fucking kidding me Hamzah?!"

"It made me really mad what he was doing so I.. fought him," Hamzah shrugged.

"You're so dumb," I said pacing around my room. "So fucking dumb Hamzah!"

"I didn't intend on it being a fight."

"So you didn't throw the first punch?"

Hamzah laughed, "No I did throw the first punch."

"Oh my god," I said wowed by the fact that Hamzah had actually gotten into a fight with Aaron.

"I went to go find him to see what happened. I just wanted to talk to him and get mad at him for leaving you in the dust like that," Hamzah explained.

"It was never that deep," I said shaking my head.

"But it was, Alexa," He said. "You're always zoning out, probably thinking of him."

"I was just worried, it wasn't like that Hamzah," I said sitting next to him in my bed.

"Alexa I just really care about you and I love you."

"I love you too," I said looking over to him but he shook his head. "What?"

"Nothing," He said. "I'm gonna go home now."

"You don't wanna stay?" I asked. "You can stay if you want."

He shook his head, "I'll see you tomorrow."