façade, I managed to keep my emotions from my family. In fact, I was lucky if they saw me at all.
While running this morning, I’d stopped by the river’s edge that faced our other neighbour’s property. I had Nitocris blaring in my ears, and I lamented that they had broken up. An angry girl band was what I needed more of.
This new routine felt symbolic; I no longer needed him, and the further I ran away from Alex Reynolds, the better. Each step I pounded into the ground was reinforcement into the shield that protected me. No more did he factor into my dreams.
I pulled my earphones out as I bent over to stretch, and it was then that I felt his shadow behind me. I stood and turned, and there was Alex in his sweatpants, looking furiously into my eyes.
“You avoiding me, Beatrice?”
I cringed at the use of my full name.
“No, Alex,” I threw back. “I’ve been busy. Anyway, better get back home. Later.”
I put my ear phones back in and jogged past him while looking at the ground. I felt him behind me again but continued to ignore him, and it was not until we were almost home that he grabbed my arm. I almost lost my footing as my body whooshed backwards.
“What in the hell, Alex? I could’ve twisted something!” I huffed, glaring at him.
He pulled me closer until we were nose to nose, and he sneered, “I asked you a question, and you lied to me. Are you avoiding me?”
He glared, gripping onto my arm tightly. We both stared at each other, our chests heaving in frustration. His grip tightened as he looked down at my face. His stormy eyes, so close to mine, reflected a gaze that I hadn’t seen before. My breath caught as I watched his eyes trail down my face to my lips and linger there, which caused me to subconsciously lick my bottom lip. Kiss me, my mind begged. Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
I stood there, paralysed, unsure of what to do. Before I leaned into him, his eyes cleared as he shook his head, turned and looked away from me. Oh, that’s right. He is with that she-bitch. Well, screw that.
I pushed him away. “Piss off, Alex, get over yourself. I have finals, too. Just because you’re
in your last year of school doesn’t mean you’re the only one who’s busy. Back off.” I held my face firm, determined to not let him get to me.
“Bullshit, you’ve been acting weird ever since I’ve been with Stacey. What’s the go? Jealous?”
It was like a punch to the gut. I momentarily couldn’t breathe. “Fuck no. I can’t stand her, that’s all,” I rasped, wondering again how he didn’t realise what she was to me.
“Overprotective over little ol’ me?” He batted his eyelashes. “No need to be, honey, as she is easily taken care of.”
Gag. I wanted to vomit at his feet.
“Yuck. As much as this chat has been enlightening, I’m going. See you later.”
I turned to go, and then Alex said softly, “I’m sorry I haven’t been around much, Bea-Bea. Let’s catch up soon, okay? I know your gala is coming up this weekend, so I’d love to hear about it.”
For a moment, I was almost willing to be amicable with Alex. Instead, the anger that I held within rose swiftly to the surface. “No, Alex! I said I was busy. Just lay off, okay? Go hang out with your bitch girlfriend. I don’t need a babysitter.” I tore off back home, determined to run upstairs and away from him.
Instead, I heard, “So, I’ll see you on Sunday for a run then? Or I’ll come and get you!”
I flipped him the bird and raced up the stairs.
Chapter Five
“Save Yourself”
Stabbing Westward
Alex
What was her problem? No way was I going to let her get out of our routine. Watching Bea sprint to her house, I knew something was up. Never in all the years that I had known her had we not seen each other for more than a month. She was always about. Even after we decimated her Barbie dolls when she was five, she still came and played pillow forts with Robbie and me a few hours later. The thing about Bea was that
While running this morning, I’d stopped by the river’s edge that faced our other neighbour’s property. I had Nitocris blaring in my ears, and I lamented that they had broken up. An angry girl band was what I needed more of.
This new routine felt symbolic; I no longer needed him, and the further I ran away from Alex Reynolds, the better. Each step I pounded into the ground was reinforcement into the shield that protected me. No more did he factor into my dreams.
I pulled my earphones out as I bent over to stretch, and it was then that I felt his shadow behind me. I stood and turned, and there was Alex in his sweatpants, looking furiously into my eyes.
“You avoiding me, Beatrice?”
I cringed at the use of my full name.
“No, Alex,” I threw back. “I’ve been busy. Anyway, better get back home. Later.”
I put my ear phones back in and jogged past him while looking at the ground. I felt him behind me again but continued to ignore him, and it was not until we were almost home that he grabbed my arm. I almost lost my footing as my body whooshed backwards.
“What in the hell, Alex? I could’ve twisted something!” I huffed, glaring at him.
He pulled me closer until we were nose to nose, and he sneered, “I asked you a question, and you lied to me. Are you avoiding me?”
He glared, gripping onto my arm tightly. We both stared at each other, our chests heaving in frustration. His grip tightened as he looked down at my face. His stormy eyes, so close to mine, reflected a gaze that I hadn’t seen before. My breath caught as I watched his eyes trail down my face to my lips and linger there, which caused me to subconsciously lick my bottom lip. Kiss me, my mind begged. Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
I stood there, paralysed, unsure of what to do. Before I leaned into him, his eyes cleared as he shook his head, turned and looked away from me. Oh, that’s right. He is with that she-bitch. Well, screw that.
I pushed him away. “Piss off, Alex, get over yourself. I have finals, too. Just because you’re
in your last year of school doesn’t mean you’re the only one who’s busy. Back off.” I held my face firm, determined to not let him get to me.
“Bullshit, you’ve been acting weird ever since I’ve been with Stacey. What’s the go? Jealous?”
It was like a punch to the gut. I momentarily couldn’t breathe. “Fuck no. I can’t stand her, that’s all,” I rasped, wondering again how he didn’t realise what she was to me.
“Overprotective over little ol’ me?” He batted his eyelashes. “No need to be, honey, as she is easily taken care of.”
Gag. I wanted to vomit at his feet.
“Yuck. As much as this chat has been enlightening, I’m going. See you later.”
I turned to go, and then Alex said softly, “I’m sorry I haven’t been around much, Bea-Bea. Let’s catch up soon, okay? I know your gala is coming up this weekend, so I’d love to hear about it.”
For a moment, I was almost willing to be amicable with Alex. Instead, the anger that I held within rose swiftly to the surface. “No, Alex! I said I was busy. Just lay off, okay? Go hang out with your bitch girlfriend. I don’t need a babysitter.” I tore off back home, determined to run upstairs and away from him.
Instead, I heard, “So, I’ll see you on Sunday for a run then? Or I’ll come and get you!”
I flipped him the bird and raced up the stairs.
Chapter Five
“Save Yourself”
Stabbing Westward
Alex
What was her problem? No way was I going to let her get out of our routine. Watching Bea sprint to her house, I knew something was up. Never in all the years that I had known her had we not seen each other for more than a month. She was always about. Even after we decimated her Barbie dolls when she was five, she still came and played pillow forts with Robbie and me a few hours later. The thing about Bea was that
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