Do you ever think of your parents as real people? I mean, I know they're people, but as people outside of being parents? It's weird to think about them as kids or adults who make mistakes or bad decisions. Although I guess it's different with you because of your mom. You know her faults—you've lived through them. I think I'm learning about my parents' faults. It's eye-opening. And real. So very, very real. -Freddy aka Alex

PS. Do you think lying is intrinsically evil? Can't there be good lying and bad lying? Or is it all just...lying?

The events of the day gnawed on Alexx until she felt like a chewed bone spit out onto the sidewalk. She trudged down the hall, every step a battle. Arlo was waiting for her, an expectant look on his face.

She let a low growl. "What are you doing here?" She wasn't in the mood for his teasing.

"What bug crawled up your ass?" he asked, moving out of the way so she could get to her locker.

She threw her books in, not caring how or where they landed. "Can you just answer the question?"

He rested his arm on the open locker door and leaned in. "I don't know, can I?"

"Oh my fudging cod," she muttered, eyeing her locker. Too bad she couldn't fit in and lock the world away. No, even better, shove Arlo in. Then she wouldn't have to hear that stupid, perfectly sexy voice that made her want to rip her hair out and kiss him simultaneously. "Don't mess with me today, Arlo."

Her seriousness must have penetrated because he grabbed her shoulders and forced her to face him. "What happened?"

She didn't want to answer, so she did the next best thing—deflect. "Where's that girl I saw you making out with in the halls?"

He smirked, but the hard, glittering look in his eyes didn't fade. "You're gonna have to be more specific than that."

She shrugged his hands off, ignoring the tingling sensation as he let them drift down her arms. "Go bother her or whoever else your tongue has been down." She went back to her locker, taking out the books she needed and then slamming it shut, hitting it again for good measure.

"Someone has anger management issues."

"I'm not angry." She was frustrated and confused, and most of all, hurt. Hurt that her best friend could betray her with such ease. Didn't she feel guilty at all?

"You make the Hulk look like an overgrown pussycat," Arlo told her.

She shouldered past him. "Just shut up and leave me alone."

"Hold on there, Rambo." He dangled his keys in front of her nose. "I'm your ride home today."

She hugged her books to her chest. "Where's Hugo? And don't you have basketball practice?"

"Aw, you know my schedule? I'm flattered."

"It's hard not to when you're at my house practically every day." And she may or may not have swiped his schedule from his bag when he wasn't looking and memorized it. Not because she liked him. Definitely not. It was so she could avoid him at all costs. Yup.

Arlo rolled his eyes. "Every day? That's an exaggeration, princess."

"Is it? You've sat at our table for five of the seven dinners this week."

His gaze dropped to the ground as a flush spread across the tops of his cheeks. He looked utterly adorable, but then he flashed a wicked smile her way. "Been keeping track, huh?"

Unbelievable. He could turn anything around and make it about him. "So why can't Hugo drive me?" she asked.

"Hugo's currently occupied, and I'm coming back for practice after I drop you off."

"That's stupid and a waste of gas. I can get a ride with someone else." Maybe she could catch Sloane and Bri before they left. She was already heading to the drop-off and pick up zone when Arlo grabbed her backpack, stopping her in her tracks. "Hey!"

"You're coming with me," Arlo told her, dragging her towards the student parking lot. "I promised your brother on a stack of cookies and I ain't breaking that sacred bond."

Alexx snorted. "Your fanatical devotion to cookies is seriously disturbing."

"You say disturbing; I say devotion."

"Devotion to diabetes, maybe," she muttered. "But I guess we shouldn't complain. At least you're committed to something."

He stopped, an edge to his voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Everyone knows you're a commitment-phobe. You make Leonardo DiCaprio look like a monk." Arlo's expression went stony, and Alexx knew she'd hit a nerve. "I didn't mean it like that." It was the truth, but there could have been a better way to phrase it or not say it all because regardless of the teasing, Arlo was a good guy. "You caught me at a bad time, and I'm taking it out on you."

Nodding, Arlo resumed walking, and she had to jog to keep up. "Tell me what's wrong then," he said. "Maybe I can fix it."

What was with guys and the need to solve other people's problems? In a scathing voice, she replied, "I don't need you to fix anything. I can take care of my own problems."

"Alrighty-then," he muttered, swinging his keys on his finger as he picked up the pace.

The drive home was more awkward than that Christmas dinner when she turned thirteen, and her great-aunt kept talking about her breast size while her baby cousin thought it was hilarious to drop corn and mashed potatoes down her shirt. Not only was Arlo ignoring her, but he kept smacking his gum which he very well knew grated on her nerves.

Alexx drummed her fingers on the console. Not being able to take it anymore, she asked, "What's Hugo doing that he's not coming home?"

Arlo gave her a quick side glance. "I think he's driving your friend home."

The only friend of hers that Hugo would hang out with would be... "Freddy?" she asked in disbelief. So her best friend could plan to meet up with Hugo, but she couldn't respond to any of Alexx's texts?

Screw it, she thought. If Keya could hang out at Alex's place, then she could show up out of the blue no problem. "Arlo?" she asked, turning down the air conditioning.

He immediately turned it back up. "My car, my rules."

She rolled her eyes. It wasn't worth the fight. "Instead of taking me home, can you drop me off at Freddy's?"

"That's Alex, right? Why can't you two go by your actual names? All these nicknames are giving me a headache."

"I'm sorry your head is so small it can't grasp two names—"

He cranked the AC up even higher, giving her an evil look. "You were saying?"

"Ugh!" she exclaimed, goosebumps breaking out over her arms. She rubbed them, ignoring more smacking sounds. "Can you not be annoying for ten minutes?"

"Back atcha', princess."

"And stop calling me that!"

"Do you want to get dropped off at your friend's place or not?"

"Whatever. Just take me there."

"I can't stay and drive you home," he warned.

"It's fine. Don't worry about me."

"I try not too," he muttered under his breathe.

"What was that?"

He cranked up his stereo and smiled at her innocently, smacking his gum right in her face. She wanted to stick her tongue out at him, but she didn't want to seem immature, so instead, she crossed her legs and pointedly looked out the window.

When they arrived in front of Alex's apartment building, she searched for her brother's car but didn't see it. Had he left already or maybe they hadn't even arrived yet. What if he took Alex somewhere?

"You in or out?" Arlo asked. He checked his watch. "I gotta be at practice in eleven minutes."

It took twenty minutes to get to Alex's apartment. Feeling guilty, Alexx immediately hopped out. The window rolled down, and Arlo leaned over. "Princess?"

She let out an annoyed sigh at that dumb nickname but still bent down and looked through the open window. "Yeah?"

"For the record, I'm not a commitment-phobe." Alexx's pulse raced as Arlo's gaze turned probing, but what he was looking for, she had no clue. "I'm just picky about who or what I commit too."

She swallowed, her throat as dry as a desert. "Arlo..."

He went on, his tone low. "And I know you can solve your own problems, but just because you can doesn't mean you have to. Remember that." He rolled up the window and took off.

Alexx put a hand over her heart, feeling it go into overdrive. It was almost like Arlo...

She shook her head, extinguishing any flicker of hope. It didn't matter what Arlo said or did. He had his chance way back when, but he hadn't wanted her.

Alexx looked up at the apartment building, shielding her eyes from the late afternoon sun. Pressing her lips together, she wiped her clammy hands on her jeans and went inside. She tried to temper her nerves, but every step closer made her anxiety spike.

Was she ready to hear what Alex had to say? A part of her screamed yes. She wanted an explanation regardless of what that might mean, but the other half desperately wanted to march outside and go home. Maybe she should make a pro and con list. See what would be the best option instead of going in blind, but before she knew it, Alexx was on the seventh floor.

Loud voices could be heard through the walls, yelling and screaming at each other. She winced, wondering what two people could be arguing about at four in the afternoon. Poor Alex. How could anyone concentrate with that much less do their homework?

The voices got louder and louder, and as she stopped in front of Alex's place, she realized with growing horror the people fighting were Mr. and Mrs. Canterbury.

"—don't talk to me about being tired! I work just as hard, if not more than you, and you have the audacity to complain about stopping at the grocery store and picking up a measly chicken?!"

"Are you serious? I've been on shift for thirty-two hours, and I haven't slept for twenty-eight of them! Of course, I don't want to go to the freaking store."

"It would have taken five minutes, Dave. Five fricking minutes."

"And what were you doing that you couldn't spend five minutes at the grocery store? Spending late night with your boss again?"

A long pause. "You know what? I'm exhausted and hungry, and I don't want to do this right now."

"I don't want to do this either but—Don't you dare walk out that door!"

The door flew open, and Mrs. Canterbury stormed out straight into Alexx. The harsh grooves etched into her face faded as surprise took hold. "Alexx? What are you doing here?"

She fidgeted with the hem of her top. "Um, I-I'm coming to see Alex."

Mrs. Canterbury expression turned disapproving. "She didn't say anything to me."

Okay, clearly Alex hadn't lied about her parents not liking people over. That would be a relief if she weren't caught up in this awkward situation. "She doesn't know. I'm surprising her."

"Okay, well, she's in her room. Just go in."

In? Alexx gulped. She didn't exactly want to run into Mr. Canterbury. This was the first time Alexx actually preferred her mom abandoning the family instead of staying because living through that type of fighting? Nu-uh. No way. No how. How did Alex manage without pulling all her hair out?

Luckily, Mr. Canterbury wasn't in the living room or kitchen when Alexx headed in. She peeked down the hall but didn't see him either. Tip-toeing, she tried to recall which room was Alex's. She stopped in front of one and put her ear to the door, hearing the soft whirring sound of a sewing machine. Jackpot.

She gently knocked and then poked her head inside. Alex was sitting behind her sewing machine, working on a navy pinstriped pant leg with headphones on, and not those pinky-dinky type of headphones but the ones that went over the ears, blocking out all sounds.

Her best friend looked up and jerked back in surprise, sewing a crooked line into the pants. "Crap!" she exclaimed, quickly disengaging and cutting the thread. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting you."

Alex looked confused, then took off her headphones, setting them down like they were diamonds. Maybe they were if that's the only thing that muted her parents' yelling. "Sorry, what was that?"

"I'm here to see you."

"Why? Is something wrong?" Alex asked, carefully inspecting the crooked seam. She cursed and began ripping out the thread with a little tool.

It always amazed Alexx to watch her best friend work. Every motion was precise. Controlled. And oh, so confident. Alex knew exactly which fabrics and patterns went together and how to coax the best out of even the most crappiest items. It was a talent, and she had no doubt Alex would go far.

"Just wanted to talk." Alexx wandered around the room. It was completely opposite of her own. Mounds of clothes were scattered around her room along with books, sheets of paper, and pencils.

Various sketches hung on one of the walls. She cocked her head to the side and studied them. It was the Guys and Dolls costumes grouped by characters. It looked good. Really good. Although she shouldn't be surprised. Any clothing involving Alex would be impressive.

"Oh, um, okay." Her best friend's eyes suddenly narrowed. "How long have you been here?"

Alexx motioned to the door over her shoulder. "Just got here." Maybe it was her imagination, but Alex seemed relieved. Was she embarrassed by her parents' fighting? "How're the costumes coming?"

Her best friend pulled her brunette hair into a bun and stretched. "Slow but I'll make it work. I'll be happy when this is over, and I have free time again."

Alexx forced a chuckle. "I bet. Must have been nice to have some alone time with Hugo though. I should be mad that he made Arlo drive me home instead of going with you two but whatever. See? This is how much of a good friend I am."

Alex's nose scrunched. "What are you talking about? My dad got off his shift early and picked me up."

Her pulse spiked. "Oh, for some reason I thought Hugo drove you home."

Alex slowly shook her head, her lips pressed together in a tight line.

"My mistake," Alexx responded, flashing a bright smile even as her mind went reeling. Arlo had lied to her? Or had Hugo lied to Arlo? But why? And more importantly, who was her brother hanging out with?

Alex rummaged through a bag full of spools of threads, picking them up and disregarding them until she found the one she was looking for. "So what's up? Are you here to give me the notebook?"

"No, I'll have that for you tomorrow. I was just wondering where you were at lunch. You didn't answer any of my texts."

"Oh that?" she asked, waving a hand. "I had a drama club meeting. Sorry for not responding. You know how Keya is." Alex rolled her eyes in exasperation. It was ridiculously convincing, and Alexx would have bought it if she hadn't seen Keya with her own eyes.

She quickly turned around so Alex couldn't see the pain flashing across her face. Why was her best friend outright lying to her? What was she doing that was so secretive? That's how it started with Cleo too. The secretiveness and then slowly fazing Alexx out her life until they were no longer friends.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a photograph sitting on Alex's nightstand. It was of the two of them after opening night of last year's Playhouse production. They had their arms over each other's shoulders, grinning ear to ear, as they laughed at something Seth had said.

The memory brought back a rush of emotion, and suddenly, Alexx was angry. Angry that her best friend could ruin everything they had for who-knows-what. She didn't know what was going on, but she was going to get to the bottom of it starting with Ravi Malik.

Pivoting, she speared her best friend with a determined look, pinning Alex in place. "Why didn't you tell me you had a class with Ravi? Why did you lie to me about knowing him?" she asked, watching with little satisfaction as all the blood drained from Alex's face.