It was in her best friend's bedroom that kicked everything off, a mainly shy, hardworking girl with an eye for books turned to talking about boys and most of the time, that didn't happen very often. 

Elizabeth and Alexia sat on Alexia's bed as the sunset from outside baked in full view, signalling the end of the day. Both of them were on a much needed sleepover as they didn't see each other out of school very often. Alexia was quite tall as a fourteen year old while Elizabeth, older but not bolder was fifteen and studying for GCSEs at the local comprehensive.

"Come on Elizabeth! You must tell all about this secret crush, that note during assembly has sparked off my mind." begged Alexia.

"Oh Alexia, it's someone that we both know well, he is in my form group and he is hardworking."

"Who?"

"It's Alexander Chelsea, you know? The boy who wants to go into the navy." 

"You really like him Liz? He always comes top in maths and science!"

"Yes, I do know that Lex but that is what makes me like him so much. He doesn't tread down the wrong paths unlike some of the boys in our year..."

"Tell me about it," sighed Alexia as she rolled her eyes, "I swear your year group has some really naughty ones just like mine."

"Yes, a boy who has been excluded from school twice!"

"Golly! Surely he's not a danger to the other students?"

"Well, to me he is!" laughed Elizabeth, "He has asked me out before but I turned him down because he was a total bad boy and a player."

"So, with Alexander then, you are close to him as a friend?"

"Yes but..."

"You want more?"

"Of course I do, he's just so kind and wonderful. I don't really know where I would be without him."

Alexia smiled at her best friend as she handed her some tissue to help take off part of her mascara, "That's so sweet."

"Thanks Lex, but do you know what else I love about him? His eyes. I mean, they are so dreamy and beautiful to look at."

"Next minute, you will have a dream about them!" exclaimed Alexia.

"Tough luck, I already have!"

As Elizabeth lay back on her friend's bed, she couldn't help but picture Alexander and his face. After all, she had known him for a couple of years now and before these feelings of love had come along, they had been best friends, give or take a few things. His eyes really stood out to Elizabeth as through his eyes, he portrayed reassurance and passion. He made her feel safe and secure and that was one of the beauties about him. His brown hair was neatly styled and his school uniform was always smart and worn correctly.  

Just as her eyes began to close, a soft thing landed smack bang on her face, a pink pillow.

"Alexia! Why did you do that?"

Her friend gave a giggle, "Because I don't want you being lovesick on our sleepover girl!"

"I'm sorry Lex, at least give me another chance?"

"Hm, I'm not sure I should."

That was Elizabeth's cue to grab the pillow and dive towards her with it. Alexia laughed as she picked up another pillow and began to duel around the room, laughter erupted from their mouths as they wacked each other with the pillows.

"Soon, feathers will erupt from them and then, we will create a boa!" declared Alexia.

"Don't remind me about art, I was so bad at that!"  

After some more giggling and running around the bedroom, both of them crawled into their sleeping bags ready for a good night's sleep.

Elizabeth stared at her friend as she dropped off to sleep and turned quietly to face her friend's alarm clock on her bedside table.

"Sleep tight Alexander." whispered Elizabeth as she closed her eyes and rested back on the pillow. And soon, she began to dream about them both, together, watching over the ocean that was beneath their boat and the whales that swam around them happily. 

'BOOOOO!' yelled Alexia as the sun poured in through her bedroom curtains.

Elizabeth woke up with a start, "What in the world Lex? I was right in the middle of a dream!"

"Yes, a dream about you and Alexander together!"

"Shut-up, we were together hand in hand on a ship in the middle of the ocean."

"AWWW, that is the cutest dream ever, you lucky girl you!"

Elizabeth dived under the sleeping bag in embarrassment, her face had turned to a shade of crimson.

"Now girl, it's time we make a move as I don't want any teachers yelling at us if we show up late."

"Of course Lex, but thanks to you, everytime that I will see Alexander today, I am going to blush like a beetroot."

It was a rush as both Elizabeth and Alexia got ready for school. There were noises of running footsteps and hysterical laughter from them both as they threw on their school uniforms and checked their rucksacks to see if all of their books were tucked in there, safe and sound.

"What happens if Alexander catches us giggling about him?" asked Elizabeth.

"We will come up with a little lie, something funny that happened on the news."

"Like what Lex? A crazy chipmunk bursts into local sweets shop?"

"Oh Liz," giggled Alexia, "You are one hell of a funny person!"

"I try to be."

The race towards their school took twenty-five minutes as they ran most of the distance to keep in pace with the timings. The main route was through a housing estate then onto the main road.

"Phew! We are so unfit!" yelled Alexia.

"Tell me about it, my hip aches so much."

As they reached the school gates, both sets of eyes landed on a boy, a tall, handsome boy who had just stepped off the coach and was walking towards them. 

"Oh help Lex!" whispered Elizabeth, "What should I do?"

"Don't ask me, I'm no love professor. But I do have to confess something he does have, a cute bum."

Elizabeth blushed, "What the?"

Alexander had stopped walking as if he had overheard Alexia's remark.

Elizabeth sighed, "You are an idiot Lex, he knows now!"

But as Alexander slowly approached them, he didn't bring up Alexia's remark at all, "What's so funny?"

"Well, if you really want to know the gossip, a crazy chipmunk gate-crashed a local sweets shop, it was totally hilarious."

"Um, Alexia? I don't think there are any chipmunks in this area?"

"Oh really Alexander? Talk about bad press."

On the other hand, Elizabeth was staring tenderly into Alexander's eyes. Until she felt a sharp nudge on her shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You were preoccupied Elizabeth, about something."

"She was just thinking about her Biology test Alexander. Don't go jumping to conclusions!"

"Well, if that's the case, I'm sure that you did well."

"Thanks Alexander, I'll guess I will see you around."

Both girls watched Alexander as he joined up with another one of his friends from the year group.

"Gosh Alexia! You nearly gave things away!" wailed Elizabeth as she wiped her hair away from her face.

"I'm sorry Liz, it won't happen again."

"It better not."

As they walked towards the main school entrance, Elizabeth's mind was preoccupied with Alexander and the incident prior which was heavily contributed to by Alexia. After all, Alexia did have the tendency to let things slip at the wrong times. Biology didn't cross her thoughts one bit, it wasn't her best subject, but boy biology was crossing her mind and that main boy was Alexander, the talented, hardworking navy boy.

This is a rewritten first chapter but I dearly hope that it has sparked your interest in The Navy Boy and that you stick around for more Alexander and Elizabeth. Love Scarlett x