Ravi smiled at me today! I was telling him about that one time we won Wicked tickets. Do you remember that? We both had our cells dialing the radio station plus my brothers' phones and Bri and Sloane's. Everyone thought we were nuts for trying. Oh, ye of little faith. Not only did we win, but we also got a free dinner at that fancy Italian place. Of course, it was a romantic dinner for two, but we played it up, having the best time. You'll always be my first date ;) Now, if only I can get Ravi to be my second! -Georgie aka Alexx

Alex stumbled back and blinked. "W-what are you doing here?" Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. He lived here. Asinine questions seemed to be her forte. "I mean, why are you here now?" Had he been wandering around parks again missing his family?

She realized how it sounded as his smirk faded, and he stepped away, his expression turning frosty. "Should I not be?" Her mouth was too busy catching up to her mind to respond, and he took her silence as an answer. Letting out a bitter chuckle, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Hopped on their bandwagon, huh? Don't want them knowing we're friends?"

"No!" Guilt stabbed her. Why did the wrong things tumble out of her mouth anytime he was around? "I mean how come—"

"Don't worry. I won't tell." His expression twisted. "Wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea."

Damn him. Why did he always jump to the wrong conclusion? She grabbed his arm, squeezing as if her words could penetrate through touch. "That's not what I meant. I—"

The front door opened. "Alex?" Keya called. "Is everything—oh. You're back."

Ravi's frost turned arctic, so much so that Alex shivered. "And to such a warm welcome." He brushed past Alex without another word. She wanted to call him back, explain she had a serious case of foot in mouth, but Keya stood in the doorway with a pinched look.

"You okay?" Keya asked before looking back in the house where the sounds of her mom shouting could be heard. Grimacing, Keya rubbed her palm over her jeans. "Did my cousin say something to you?"

"Ravi didn't do anything. I'm the one who..." The words dried up as she thought of the flash of hurt on his face.

Keya glanced back, then stepped out and quietly shut the door behind her. "Look, I know you two are buddy-buddy in class, but outside of school, Ravi is different. He's not someone you want to get mixed up with."

"What are you talking about?" Alex thought of the night on the swings and shook her head. "Ravi's a good guy. He's just..." Lonely. Painfully and utterly lonely. He had no friends and from what she could see no place to call home. This might be where he lived, but there were no pictures of him on the wall, nothing to indicate he was accepted and loved except for that doodle on his door.

Keya gave a sad sigh. "Deep down, he is a good guy, and despite what he might tell you, I like Ravi and think we'd be friends if things were different, but they're not."

Alex's hands balled as her heart ached for Ravi. "It's not his fault he was sent here. He just wants to go home and be with his brother. Can't you understand that?"

Keya gave a short, but swift nod. "Absolutely. I'd be devastated if I was in his shoes, but did he tell you why he was sent here instead of staying with our uncle in New Jersey?"

"Because they didn't get along," she said slowly, feeling a prickling sensation along her scalp when Keya gave her a pitiful look.

"That's part of it, but the biggest reason is that he made some bad friends who made bad decisions and ended up in a steaming pile of dog crap."

The news knocked Alex back on her preverbal ass. What kind of friends? And what kind of decisions? Ravi hadn't said a word about either.

Keya went on, "I get why he's angry and resentful—I would be too if I lived away from my family and everything I knew—but that doesn't mean he has a right to do what he wants and get away with it." Keya's voice rose as a thread of frustration weaved in. "I tried to be friends with him, but he..." Keya exhaled loudly. "Just be careful, okay?"

Alex forced herself to nod and followed Keya back inside. Her mind was whirling with this new information, but she didn't have time to process. As Alex sat across the table from Ravi, she noticed the atmosphere had changed from happy and boisterous to tense and subdued.

The only one still smiling was Jaya as she bubbly informed Ravi all about her day, going into great detail about the recent drama on the playground. Alex wanted to make a joke about playgrounds and swings but obviously not the time. Besides, Ravi wouldn't even look at her. His gaze was studiously planted on his plate as he moved his food around with his fork.

"Alex," Mrs. Patel said, "you're in the same English class as Keya, correct? That's how the two of you become friends?"

"That's right. And Ravi." All eyes came to her making, her feel like a bug under a microscope. Shrinking in her chair, she murmured, "He's in our class too."

There was a small pause before Mrs. Patel said, "Of course." Then she smoothly steered the conversation away. "And how are you liking Mrs. Trentworth?"

"She's a good teacher, although I could do without the fondness of essays." Everyone chuckled except Ravi, who was still staring at his plate, and Jaya who was too busy sneaking food to the cat.

"Tell me about it," Keya said, rolling her shoulders as she leaned back. "The Scarlet Letter one nearly killed me, and we have how many more to go before the semester ends?"

"What are you reading next? The mosquito one—" Mrs. Patel snapped her fingers. "What is it called?"

"Lord of the Flies," Ravi muttered.

"Yes, that one. I might have to read it with you. I don't know how a fly can become a lord, but I'm fascinated."

Ravi gave a sigh of annoyance, and Alex knew he wanted to list all the reasons why his aunt was wrong. Before he could, Alex intervened, making him turn her way.

"Luckily, there's no essay for this one," she said. As she spoke, she glanced at him—instantly regretting it as she got lost in those brown eyes that seemed to be shrouded in mystery and yet, had so much to say. "Um, we have a group project instead."

Keya groaned. "Group projects are ten times worse depending on who you get paired with."

"Do you get to pick?" Mr. Patel asked.

"No. She's assigning us partners." Keya glanced at Alex. "I hope she pairs us."

"As if we don't spend every spare minute together," Alex said with a small laugh.

"Yeah, but at least I know you'll do your share of the work. I got stuck with Brianne Harrison last year, and it was a nightmare."

"Really?" Alex asked in surprise. "I thought Bri was a team player."

Keya took a sip of water and shook her head. "She is, but she couldn't make her mind up about anything, so I had to make all the decisions."

"Isn't that what you prefer? People doing whatever you want?" Ravi commented in a bland tone.

Keya speared Ravi a look. "If they're idiots, yes. But Brianne isn't an idiot, and besides, a group project is supposed to be about combining ideas. I had to do all the hard work while she just did what I told her to."

Now that didn't surprise Alex one bit, but she was shocked to hear the distaste in Keya's voice. Bri might be a follower, but she was sweet and soft-spoken. If anyone ruffled feathers, it was Sloane.

"Like a Minion?" Jaya piped in.

Keya gave her sister a high-five. "Exactly like a Minion. Great for plotting world domination, not so great for a school project."

"Too bad your school project wasn't world dam...dam..." Jaya's face scrunched as she tried to get the word out. "D-Dam-ni-nation."

The whole table erupted into laughter. And did her eyes deceive her or was that a ghost of a smile on Ravi's face.

Mrs. Patel patter Jaya's hand. "I think you mean domination. Dam—well, what you said meant something else."

After they finished eating, Ravi and Keya began clearing the table. Alex followed despite Mrs. Patel's protest. "My mom would ground me if I didn't pitch in, especially after a meal like that," Alex told her.

Mrs. Patel beamed as if she'd won an award. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. You come over often, okay? I'll make you anything you want."

"Good thing you know how to sew," Nisha said, looking up from her phone. She'd been glued to that thing as soon as dinner was over. "Eat over here enough, and you'll need a whole new wardrobe."

Mrs. Patel jutted out a hip as she tapped her foot. "You complaining?"

"Of course not," Nisha quickly assured her. She winked at Alex. "Why do you think I come home so often?"

Laughing, Alex grabbed the last of the dishes and took them into the kitchen where Keya was scraping leftovers into containers while Ravi started soaping up the pots and pans.

Keya's phone rang, and she quickly put everything down to answer it. "Cleo? Hey! How are you feeling?" A pause. "Uh-huh. Yeah. I got your homework and class notes. You still want them tonight?" Another pause. "No problem. I'll get Nisha to swing by when we drop Alex off." A longer pause and then Keya glanced at Alex. "Alex? Yeah, we went shopping for costumes today and then she came over for dinner."

Cleo says hi, she mouthed to Alex.

Alex set the dishes on the counter. "Tell her I say hi back."

Keya gave a chin nod. "Alex says hi back," she said to Cleo and then rolled her eyes at Alex and made yapping gestures with her hand. "The costumes? Oh yeah, we hit the jackpot today. Hey, have you talked to Jack about the sound equipment?" As Keya listened, she motioned to her room and mouthed, I'll be back.

The room went electric as soon as Keya was gone. She knew Ravi was acutely aware of her every movement just like she was of his. Silently, Alex finished packing the leftovers, snapping the covers on the bowls and stacking them in the fridge.

The strain between them was taut as a guitar string as she saddled up to the sink. "What I said earlier—"

He turned on the water, drowning out her words. "Doesn't matter," he replied roughly.

"Ravi—"

"Can you hand me that bowl? Thanks."

His cool, impersonal tone stung. "It matters to me," she whispered.

He flipped off the faucet and slapped his hands against the countertop, turning to her with flashing eyes. "Why? Why does it matter to you?

"Did something happen?" She hadn't noticed earlier, too shocked by his sudden appearance, but there were dark smudges under his eyes, and his mouth was pinched with tension. The only thing that could illicit this time of reaction... "Is your brother okay?"

He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "He's being bullied at school by a couple of punk ass kids. He emailed today begging me to come home and I can't..." He trailed off, rapidly blinking as his voice cracked. "I hate this. I hate being here. I hate feeling like I'm an outsider who can't do anything right." His fingers curled around the edge of the sink. "Most of all I hate that you're here to see it."

Her heart began to pound. "Ravi..."

His muscles tensed, then he shook his head and forced his fingers to release his death grip. "It's fine. Let's finish this before my aunt wonders if I corrupted you."

"Keya said something earlier about you getting in trouble in New Jersey..."

"Of course she did," he said bitterly. He went to town on a pot, scrubbing so hard she feared he'd rub a hole in it. "I bet she got a kick out of telling you what a horrible person I am."

"It wasn't like that," she said. At Ravi's snort of disbelief, she insisted, "It wasn't. She likes you, you know."

"Yeah, well she has a funny way of showing it."

Well, he wasn't the easiest person to approach. "I think if you—"

"Hey, sorry about that," Keya said, rushing in. "Cleo was just updating me on everything."

Alex beat back a growl of frustration. Keya could win a trophy for having the worst timing in the world. After that, Alex didn't have a moment alone with Ravi. The minute—no, the second—they finished cleaning he was in his room with the door firmly shut. As she said her goodbyes to the Patels, she made enough noise so he would know she was leaving, but he didn't come out.

When she got home, it was dark except for the dim glow of the TV. Her mom was stretched out on the sofa, fast asleep. Knowing how tired her mom must be, Alex lowered the volume and tiptoed past. Her mouth started salivating when she saw the cupcakes in the kitchen. She swiped her finger into the mile-high, pillowy frosting and licked. If only life could be this sweet.

She wished she had Ravi's number so she could explain. She could try in class tomorrow but Keya would there. Maybe she could write a note. Writing seemed to be the only way she could communicate now-days.

As she went to take another swipe, her elbow caught the edge of her mom's purse. It tumbled to the floor, and the contents inside spilled out in a loud clatter. She checked over her shoulder and—phew—her mom was still sleeping. Bending down, she stuffed everything back in, making note of a pretty lipstick she might steal for her date with Hugo whenever that happened.

Under the cabinet, her mom's phone lit up, scaring the crap out of Alex. Probably her dad wondering if Alex got home all right. She went to text him back but paused. It wasn't from her dad, but from her mom's boss—Mr. Conway.

Dale: Please, can we talk? I can come to you or if your family is home we can meet somewhere else. What about at that park we met last week?

A bad feeling stirred in her stomach. Last Tuesday, her mom had suddenly rushed out after dinner, saying she forgot something at the office. Had she been meeting her boss instead? The implication made her want to hurl, but it explained the sudden overtimes and impromptu meetings.

Blood rushed to her head as stars blurred her vision. God, this would kill her dad. Her parents had their problems, but this? This was crossing a line they might never come back from.

Alex jumped as her phone rang. She quickly answered it, "Hello?"

"Why are we whispering?" Hugo asked in a hushed voice.

"Don't want to wake my..." She squeezed her eyes shut as her nose prickled. "C-Can you give m-me a minute?"

A pause. "Sure." Hesitation coated his voice. "Call me when you can."

Hanging up, she stuffed her mom's phone back in her purse and placed it on the counter. She silently walked past the living room, not able to look at her mother.

Alex got to her room and quietly shut the door behind her. It was dark except for the tiny clock on her nightstand which flashed red. Tearing, she leaned against the door and slid until she hit the carpet, all the while, keeping watch as time marched forward and desperately wishing it would move back.