I cringe even as I write this, but I got my period today when I was in the car with my brothers. Worse, I was wearing a skirt. In my defense, it came early, so I wasn't expecting it. It bled through to the seat, and when my dad asked us about it, I blamed it on Hugo and a nosebleed. I'm horrible, I know, but I was just so embarrassed. He got grounded for a week and has to wash both cars by hand. He knows it was me, but he hasn't said a word. Best brother in the world. How did I get so lucky? -Georgie aka Alexx

Alex's mom watched from the doorway as she panicked over her white high tops. Not that they were white anymore. She'd drawn and colored them in. Her dad called them psychedelic, which made Alex laugh. He'd never admit it, but she would bet a thousand bucks he'd been hippie back in the day likely with a soul patch to match.

"Will you be home for dinner?" her mom asked.

"I think so. The meeting should only last for an hour. Two tops." She rummaged through a pile of clothes, flinging shirts and jeans onto her bed.

Come on, come on.

"Text me if you stay out longer."

"I will, Mom."

A text pinged.

Alex reached for the nightstand but it was too far away, so she threw herself across the bed, disregarding the rumpled clothes on top, and grabbed her phone. She ignored the sound her mom made because yes, she already knew she was a mess thank you very much—no need to point it out. Again.

Georgie: Out front

"Georgie's here." Frustrated, she hung her head over the edge and met with a mouthful of bedskirt. Pushing it aside, she saw her sneakers sticking out from under the bed. She scrambled to put them on, then grabbed her jean jacket. It was always freezing inside Playhouse.

"Who's driving?" her mom asked, following her down the dingy hallway lined with family photos and into the living room.

"I'm assuming her dad. Sloane and Bri are with her."

"Here. For gas." Her mom handed her a ten-dollar bill.

An itchy feeling crawled down Alex's throat. "Mom, they don't—"

"I know, but they drive you all the time."

Her family only had one car—an old Ford that looked like it'd been through the battle of Gettysburg—but it got them from point A to point B so no complaints. On the weekdays, her mom drove it to her job at a construction company. She was the office manager. Her dad's nursing shifts were scattered so he'd take the bus most of the time except on weekends when he took the car, or her mom drove him.

She pocketed the money as her mom opened the front door. "Be safe and have fun," she said, kissing Alex on the cheek.

"I will," she yelled as she rushed down four flights of stairs because the elevator was broken. Management promised to fix it, but that was two months ago.

Heat smacked her in the face as she left the building. She scanned the street and saw the Lorde's silver SUV. The girls were packed in the back, leaving Alex the front seat. She slid in and came face to face with Hugo.

"Hi," she squeaked in surprise. He looked good in a pair of sunglasses and a white tee that showed off his summer tan. She silently laughed when she saw the front. It read, Shh, I'm hiding from stupid people with a pair of eyes looking to the side.

He gave her a chin nod. "You gonna close that?"

Cheeks flaming, she closed the door and put on her seat belt. As he drove, she turned and waved to the girls. "How was your hike?"

"Amazing," Alexx said, looking up from her phone. The bridge of her nose and top of her cheeks glowed pink, just shy of being sunburnt. "You should have come with us. When we reached the top, the clouds finally parted and we could see for miles. Here, I have pictures."

She scrolled through Alexx's phone and pretended to ooh and ahh over dirt trails and cloudy skies. She would happily trade those clouds for her bed, which was as soft as a cloud and much less work. Handing it back, she listened as they went on and on about a deer they encountered.

When they pulled into the parking lot, Hugo whispered, "You did a good job."

She looked back, but the girls were already out of the car. "Of what?"

"Pretending you give a crap." Hopping out, he rounded the car and waited for her. "Though pro tip—wearing sunglasses so they can't see the glazed look in your eye helps."

She slid out, and he locked the door behind her. "That obvious?" she asked as they began walking.

He slid his sunglasses down his nose and winked. "Only to someone's that been there."

"I thought you liked hiking and all those outdoorsy things." She'd never seen him complain.

He shrugged. "It's easier to go along with everyone than make waves."

"I know what you mean." She was a go-with-the-flow type of person too. Or at least, she had been. She frowned. She didn't know what she was anymore.

"That's what I like about you," Hugo replied. "You never go out of your way to make things difficult."

A warm, fluttery sensation filled her chest. "So if you don't want to do the outdoor stuff, what do you like to do? Theater?"

He gave a short bark of laughter. "That's Georgie's jam. I'm just along for the ride."

"Aren't we all?" she joked. They shared knowing grins that had her heart pounding.

He stuffed his hands into his jeans and edged closer. He smelled breezy and refreshing with a hint of salty goodness that had her dreaming of water lapping her feet as she walked under a moonlit night.

"What I'd like to do is get into gaming, but that's a non-negotiable with my dad," Hugo said.

She frowned. "You're talking about video games, right?"

His lips quirked. "What else would I be talking about? Board games?"

"Well, I don't know! Monopoly gets super competitive in your house."

Smirking, he bumped her shoulder with his. "We wouldn't have to if you and my sister didn't cheat all the time."

"We do not cheat!"

"Uh-huh," he murmured.

They totally did, but she wasn't giving him the satisfaction of saying it.

"But yeah, I'm talking about video games like Overwatch and Fortnite." He pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head, mussing up his blonde locks, and sighed. "My dad thinks it's a waste of money. If I want to play, I have to pay for it which isn't a big deal, I'm cool with getting a job, but he won't let me. Says I'll get distracted and my grades will suffer."

He made a noise in the back of his throat as he gestured to Playhouse, frustration stamped on his face. "And yet, Georgie gets to do this twice a year, and somehow it's not a distraction."

"Not exactly fair," she murmured.

"Not at all. I want to get into gaming because I want to be a developer, but he doesn't approve. He doesn't think it's a 'viable career option.'" His hands clenched at his side. "As if becoming a Broadway actress is easily attainable. Talk about double standards. He can't say no to Alexx, but we all know the real person he can't say no to is her." Bitterness coated his words.

No question about who her was. She didn't know much about their mom except for what Alexx said, and she didn't say much besides her being a free spirit who gave Alexx the extra X. "Georgie looks like her?"

"A carbon copy. I get that it's hard on him but god—" he shook his head in disbelief "—develop a backbone. She stomped on him like a welcome mat, and he still worships her. The only reason our house isn't a shrine to that woman is because Lance and I won't let it be."

A scream from a little kid pulled Hugo out of his thoughts. He wet his lips, regret pouring out of him. "I'm sorry I shouldn't be dumping this on you. You're her best friend. You don't need to hear about my problems."

"It's okay." She sent him a shy smile. "I like talking to you."

"Me too." He gave her a small, worried smile. "You won't tell Georgie about what I said, will you? Lance and I try to shield her from this kind of stuff."

Her heart melted at his protectiveness. "Don't worry. I'm a vault." She drew an X over her chest.

His shoulders fell as he let out a breath. "Thanks."

"Oh, before I forget." She held out the bill her mom gave her. "Gas money."

Hugo waved her off. "You don't have to keep giving us money. We're happy to pick you up." They also lived on the opposite side of town.

"I know, but my mom insists."

"It's too much."

"If you don't take this, my mom will be mad at me. You don't want her to be mad at me, do you?" She thrust out her bottom lip and batted her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat when his gaze honed in on her lips, and for a second, she looked at his.

He cleared his throat and glanced away. "And here I thought you were the nice Alex." He pocketed the money. "Tell your mom I said thanks."

Someone called out Hugo's name and he lifted a hand in greeting. Before he left, he glanced down, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You're easy to talk to, Alex. That could get me in trouble." Her pulse raced as his blue eyes met hers, the mischief firmly back in place. "But I have a feeling I might like trouble. See ya after the meeting."

He sauntered into the Playhouse, acting like he hadn't just shaken her world upside down.

She took a few calming breaths. Something shifted in those moments, she could feel it down to her bones, and she knew Hugo felt it too. She wondered if he was as scared of it as she was. Or maybe this was an everyday occurrence for him.

As she walked into the auditorium, she noticed a bigger crowd than last year. Alexx waved to her from the first row. She waved back and headed down the aisle. Her neck prickled as she felt a pair of eyes on her.

Don't look for him, don't look for him, don't look for him.

She kept her eyes trained on the red carpet and concentrated on not tripping because let's be real. That's something she would do.

Alexx patted the empty seat next to her, and she slid in. "Where were you?" Alexx whispered.

She shrugged, still feeling the weight of his gaze. "Arguing about gas money with your brother."

Her best friend chided her. "You don't have to do that. I know things are tight at home."

And yet, Alexx insisted on going to the mall and trying on clothes while Alex sat there and watched. No, that was unfair. They did other things, but it would just be nice if Alexx thought of her a little more and herself a little less.

Alexx pulled on her arm and leaned forward. "Did you bring the book with you?"

She winced. "I meant too, but I was running around looking for my shoes, and I forgot."

Alexx rolled her eyes, her glossy lips puckered into a disproving frown. "I swear, you're the most disorganized person on the planet. I don't know how you're going to survive high school."

Her best friend took organization to the extreme. Everything had to be color-coded and in its proper place. Her lists even had a list.

"Well, bring it to me on Monday, okay?" Her blonde brows wiggled. "I've got some juicy stuff to tell you."

"Tell me now."

Alexx shook her head, her eyes darting around. "Too many ears. I'll write it in our notebook later." She nudged her with her elbow. "Hey, did you notice who isn't here?"

Her neck prickled. There was that sensation again, but she refused to turn around and search for Hugo. "No, who?"

"Keya," Alexx answered in a smug tone. "I guess she couldn't take being second lead again." She grabbed a bag from under her seat and dumped it in Alex's lap. "By the way, is this fixable? It's my favorite pair of jeans."

Alex pulled them out and fingered the deep rip along the waistband. "Maybe. Is it okay if I add patch?"

Alexx pumped a fist in the air. "I was hoping you'd say that. Can you add one of your embroideries like you have on your jean jacket? I heart those so much."

Those embroideries were her favorite too, but they were painstakingly detailed. "It might take me a while, so as long as you don't mind waiting..."

"You're the best." Alexx reached over to hug her, and her hair caught in Alexx's earrings. Alexx tried to untangle them but only made the situation worse.

"I got it." Alex pulled her hair free from the earrings. Silver music notes dangling from small hoops. She hadn't seen them before. "These are cute. Are they new?"

Guilt flashed across Alexx's face. "Um, Sloane got them for us."

"Us?" She glanced at Sloane who sat on the other side of Alexx. She was talking to Bri, her hair slicked back in her signature braid, and Alex could see silver stars twinkling from her lobes. Alex would bet a lifetime supply of fabric, she'd see silver earrings dangling from Bri's as well.

"Freddy," Alexx started, her tone imploring. "You've been pulling away. You don't hang out with them on weekends, and at lunch, you hardly speak."

"I know. I get it. I do." But it still stung, which made no sense since she didn't want to be included in the first place. Correction. She wanted to be included, but she wanted the chance to turn them down, and wow. Didn't that make her the biggest jerk in the world?

Alexx squeezed her hand. "You okay?"

"Fine," she replied lightly, but underneath there was a growing realization. She needed a clean break from the group for the girls' sake as well as her own.

Applause broke out as the director, Randy, came on stage. He bowed, then held out his hands, and said in a booming voice, "Welcome! Who's ready to spend the next couple of months together working hard and bringing forth the best play this theater has ever experienced?"

Her best friend grinned.

Alex didn't.

Next couple of months together?

Great. Looks like she needed to invest in a pair of sunglasses.