T W O

ARABELLA. 

"Don't you think you're forgetting something?" Sinclair calls out to me when I step out of the car and I adjust my backpack before I turn to him with a frown. "I don't think so?" I look over at my seat to ensure I have everything with me. 

Raising my head to his gaze, I state firmly, "I'm not. "

"Are you sure about that? It seems like you are. " He says, turning his head to the other side and I smile at the meaning of his words. 

"Don't you think I'm a little too old for that now?" I tease him, folding my hands to my chest and when he glares at me, I giggle before I slip my head through the window. He leans over the seat and I press my lips to his cheek before I move back, "Satisfied?"

"Have fun. " He says as he starts the car and I give him a small wave as I watch his car disappear out of sight before I turn back to the building. 

Striding down the usual hallway like I've been doing since the beginning of the semester, I walk straight to my locker. Inputting the combination numbers that open it, I switch the books and I'm about to close it when it shuts on its own, and I flinch back, only to hiss at the sight of Dex standing next to me. Dex is my best friend, and surprisingly, the only friend I have, considering the fact that we've known each other since middle school. 

"Hey, baby. " He winks as he leans against the locker and I say, "How come you're here so fast? I thought you needed to resolve some issues?"

"She was just being dramatic as usual, and I tried to call you, but it wasn't going through. " He explains as he leans away from the locker to step to my side and I hum, "You could have just sent a text like you previously did. "

"Bummer, isn't it?" He smiles and I roll my eyes. 

He chuckles. "Are you mad at me?"

"I'm not. Why would I be?" I answer and he raises his shoulder. "I don't know. You were frowning when I saw you. "

"Was just thinking about something. " I tell him and he suddenly steps in front of me, stopping me from moving any further. He tilts his head a bit to meet my eyes and I brush my hair behind my ear to reveal my face. Dex speaks first, "Should I be worried about you Arabella Leovough?"

"Not with that face, you shouldn't. " I joke and he shakes his head with a laugh. When he stops, he says, "I'm serious though. Should I be? "

"No, I'm fine. I promise. " I tell him and he nods before he steps back to my side, and slides an arm around my shoulder, lowering me to his side. "I don't want to see that frown for the rest of the day. "

"Dex, I swear; if you don't remove your hand—" I start to threaten but he cuts me off. "What are you going to do? What can you do even?" He laughs, lowering me even more while I struggle to move his hand, only for me to gasp when we bump into a body. Dex is quick to remove his hand from me, and I straighten my back, smoothing my hands down my hair, only to lift my head and see the same dirty blonde hair from this morning. 

His silver eyes are cold; they hold no emotion and they're staring straight at Dex who remains at my side without a word. 

"Hey, sorry dude. I didn't see you there. " Dex finally speaks, and the new guy doesn't say a word as he keeps his gaze on him before he shifts it to me, and the intensity of them sends that familiar cold shiver from earlier through my body. He's staring at me like he's trying to unravel the truth behind my eyes, and when he keeps them on for long; I'm forced to look away from him then I hear the sound of footsteps and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. 

"Is he a new one?" Dex voices out and I turn my head to watch him disappear through the corner, just before our eyes meet. "I think so. " I answer, looking away and taking a gulp. 

"Looks like the girls will have a new target. " He chuckles and I don't say a word as I begin to stroll to class, only to be yanked to the side by a hand and I collapse against a hard chest. 

Lifting my head, blue eyes are staring down at me with excitement shining through them and I smile at him. "Hey, you. "

"Hey. " Pete responds, leaning down to press his lips to mine before he pulls back and says, "I've missed you. "

"You saw me just yesterday. " I remark as he loosens his grip around me sooner than I would want him to but I don't say a word as I take a step back. 

"That was yesterday. This is today. " He says, then looks behind me and says, "Hey, Dex. "

"Can you not like— pull her like that again? We were in the middle of an important conversation. " I hear Dex say, to which Pete replies, "Don't you think they're priorities?"

"And you're definitely not the first. " Knowing where this is going, I groan and grab Dex's arm, pulling him away from Pete. 

"I'll see you after class. " I say to Pete as we move out of sight. 

"Your boyfriend makes me so mad. " He says and I chuckle, "He isn't as bad as you make him out to be. "

"You're just saying that because he's your boyfriend. Are you guys okay by the way? It was a little awkward back there. "

I let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah. Yeah, we are. " Except he refuses to touch me for some reasons best known to him. 

~

"Guess who's having a party tonight?" Dex says as he drops his tray in front of him and takes the seat across from me. 

"Ria. I heard about it. " I tell him and he grins, "It'll be so fucking fun! I can't wait to—"

"Isn't it your turn to babysit your brother?" I remind him and he groans, throwing his head to the back. "Fuck! How could I forget about that?"

I laugh. "Looks like someone won't be coming to the party. "

He glares at me. "Don't start with me, Ara. I can't believe I'll miss the party. "

"Don't worry. I'll fill you in. " I say and he raises an amusing brow, "You're going without me?"

"Yes. Peter is going, and wants me to come with him. "

"Not the boy. " He rolls his eyes as he grabs one of his fries, and I cackle, looking to my side at the sound of chairs scraping against the floor. A few girls are rushing in the direction of the new guy's table and I roll my eyes at the sight. 

"What did I say?" Dex says, bringing my attention back to him and I say, "He isn't even talking to anyone. "

"They'll get him to talk soon. " He beams, and I look at the view again. I'm staring straight at him again, but he looks away before our gazes can meet. 

What was that?

~

"Will you be fine without me, babe? I need to have a word with my friends. " Peter asks as we walk inside the room, and I nod, giving him an assuring smile. "Sure, I'll be. Go have fun. " I tell him, and he caresses my back before he disappears and I let out a sigh as I look around the room, my eyes unconsciously meeting the one at the other far corner. Girls surround him, and they keep laughing though he isn't saying a word. I keep my gaze on him for a while before I look away when he doesn't, my heart thumping in my heart as I move away from the spot to grab a cup. 

"Why are you alone?" Ben, a classmate, asks as he gives me a cup and I throw him a smile before I take a sip, "Dex had some things to do, and couldn't come. "

"I didn't mean your friend, Bell. I meant your boyfriend. " He explains and my eyes instantly go to where Peter stands with his friends with a smile on his face. I look away. "Having fun. "

"Are you?" He asks and I meet his eyes. "It just started, so I'll leave that decision for later. "

He chuckles and clicks his cup against mine before a girl walks past us and he excuses himself. I laugh as I watch him trail after her before I look back at Peter, and I straighten against the wall as I watch a blonde walk up to him. They exchange words for a few minutes, laughing at whatever it is they're talking about before the girl suddenly steps forward, grabbing the front of his shirt and closing her lips over his. A scoff leaves my lips and I wait for Peter to push her away, but he doesn't, and instead, I watch as his hand starts to lower around her waist then he opens his eyes and meets mine. 

He pushes her off him, and I shake my head, dropping my cup before I turn in the direction of the exit. 

"Ara. Please wait up!" I hear his call of my name behind me, but I don't stop and I only quicken my steps, making my way through the crowd with my hands balled into fists and anger surging through me. 

"Ara!" His voice gets more desperate and when I step outside, his grip lands on my wrist and he turns me to him. "Goddamn it, Bella!" 

I look down at his hand on him. "Let go of me. " I say through gritted teeth and he shakes his head as he steps closer to me, "No, I won't. You have to let me explain. "

"Explain what?" I scoff. "The fact that you were about to go along with her step?"

"Of course not, baby. I wouldn't do that. I didn't kiss her, Ara. She kissed—"

"Yes, I saw. She kissed you, and you would have kissed back if you didn't see me. " I jerk my hand away from his, taking a step back from him. 

"Ara—" he sighs. 

"Do you want to kiss her? Is that it? Because I swear, I won't stop you from doing it. You can go back in there and—"

"God no. " He cuts me off, closing the distance between us. He holds my face in his hands and crushes his lips to mine. The feel of his lips on mine threatens to melt my anger but it only takes that image of his hand falling to her side before I shove him away from me. 

His breathing is heavy and his eyes are wide when he meets my eyes. "Ara. "

Keeping my eyes locked on his, I swipe my finger across my lip and I watch his face fall. "Don't. Don't even try to, Peter. "

He nods. "I'm sorry. I just— I'm sorry, Arabella. "

"I want to leave here. "

"I can take you home. Please let me drive you home. "

"No. " My response is immediate and he frowns, "Why not? Bell, you have no other way to get home. "

"I can walk. " I state the obvious and he's quick to disagree, "No, you won't. I won't let you do that. Let me drive you home, Arabella. Please, I promise not to cross the line. "

"No, I do not want you to drive me home, and I do not want to see your face for tonight, Peter. Don't follow me, I mean it. " I warn him. 

"Ara, please—" I don't let him complete his words before I turn back, and walk away from his sight. I hear the usual calls of my name, but I keep walking till I'm away from the house and strolling down an unfamiliar road. 

"Out of all nights for you to disappear, Dex; it just had to be this one. " I cuss under my breath as I remove my phone from the back pocket when a bike suddenly stops by my side. 

I recognize the black jacket, and the hair that falls over the forehead, and when he turns his head, it's the same guy. 

He extends the helmet to me and I stare at it before I meet his eyes and shake my head, "No, you don't have to. I can take care of myself. "

He doesn't say a word, and he doesn't pull his hand back, and after a few minutes of standing there, looking into each other's eyes; I finally give in and take the helmet from him, hauling my phone back inside my pocket.  

Putting it on, I get on the space behind him, making sure there's a small gap between our bodies, but that small gap is eliminated when he roars the bike and my body falls forward with my chest pressed to his back. He looks over his shoulder, and I make a tiny sound under my breath before I move back, "Sorry, I wasn't expecting that to happen. "

Once again, he doesn't say a word and I remain still for him to start. When he doesn't seem like he's making a move, I tilt my head to the side to catch a glimpse of his face and he looks down at my hands. I look down at the same spot before I meet his eyes, "My hands?"

He motions to the back, and I furrow my brows in confusion. He sighs and turns on his side, grabs my hands and wraps them around his waist. 

"Oh, you wanted them there. " I murmur and he turns back to his front as he starts to drive. 

Why don't you just talk to me? I keep my head tilted and when he drives fasten, I tighten my grip around his waist, my face breaking into a smile at the breeze that blows past us and the bright images of places that flashes through my eyes. The feeling is indescribable and I can feel my thoughts become lighter, my body responding to the air around me, only for it to be taken too soon as he stops the bike and I lift my head to realize he's in front of my place. 

I remain still for a second before I unwrap my hands from his waist and climb off the bike. I remove the helmet and smoothen my hair before I extend it to him, and he takes it, hanging it on the handle. 

"Um— Thank you. " I tell him as I stand in front of him, and he meets his eyes. Once again, I'm in awe of his eyes and the way something about them just intrigues me. They seem to contain too much yet too little at the same time?

"Are you alright?" My eyes widen just barely when he opens his mouth. I'm hearing his voice for the first time in the entire day, and it's soothing, calm to the ears with a rasp to its edge. 

"I am. Thank you. " I throw him a smile, but he doesn't return it as he nods and looks away from me, and my smile drops at that. 

He's about to start the engine, when my hand shoots out and glides over his. We both freeze at the contact, the feel of skin against skin, with the slight vibrations and his cold eyes meets mine once again. I don't need him to give me that look twice before I remove my hand, and keep it to my side, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I just— wanted to ask a question. "

He doesn't respond and I take that as my cue to continue. "What's your name? I thought I should know since we're living right next to each other, and our paths might cross paths often. I'm Arabella. "

He ignores my words as if he didn't just hear them, and I step back as he starts the bike and turns it. With his head lowered, just before he drives away; I hear the breeze of 'Alexander. '

My lips stretch into a smile as I watch him disappear with the echoes of that name ringing in my ear. 

Alexander. His name is Alexander. 

And why the hell am I smiling so much to that?