Page 32 of Falling Too Late

I ran the paperwork to the courthouse to get it recorded first thing this morning.?

“Amanda’s dad works with a lot of police officers, so it makes sense she would jump to call them,” Juniper said.

Juni didn’t know much about my situation, and I never volunteered the information. As it was, I had always felt like anoutcast, worried people would smell me when my mom wouldn’t let me shower or notice my torn clothing.

“How do you know Amanda?” I had been curious about Amanda since I saw her. Alex had never mentioned he had a girlfriend, and I’d never asked. It hadn’t crossed my mind that he was dating anyone.

“We have math together.” Juniper laid her head on her arms and looked up at me. “What I want to know is when did you and Alex get so close?”

I hadn’t told Juniper that I had been living with Alex the last few months. I didn’t know how to tell her or want the implications that the situation would cause.

“He lives in the apartment next to mine,” was all I said.

“Well, rumor says you guys hold hands on the way to school.”

I look at her, confused. “Yes. We hold hands. Why is that such a big deal?”

Juni looked at me like I was an idiot. “Wren, only couples hold hands. People who are dating.” She raised her brows as if that would explain everything.

“Well, Alex and I aren’t dating; we are just friends, and friends can hold hands.”

Just then, Alex dropped his bag on the table across from us.??

“Hey there, Alexander.” Juniper’s head sprung up from the table. “I heard you had a wild first period.” A Cheshire cat grin spread across her face. I looked between the two, confused. I didn’t have any classes with Alex. Juniper and I only had biology together.

Alex dug into his backpack and pulled out his biology book. He picked up my replacement backpack and put it into it. “Juniper, mind your business,” Alex said quietly, without annoyance in his tone.

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked the two of them, and then it was there. Alex’s knuckles were busted open, blood dried on them, a deep purple blooming across them.

“Alex!” I reached out and grabbed his hand. “What the hell?”

He pulled his hand away. “Don’t worry about it.” He brushed away my concern. “Hey, I want to introduce you to my best friend after school. Are you up for that?”

I could feel my brow furrow. Best friend?

“Yeah?”

“Okay. Meet me by the gate after school.”??

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. I couldn’t fight the smile. I tried to direct him back to the topic at hand, but Alex just brushed me off.?

“You two are so cute together.” Juni had her elbows on the table, her grinning face cradled in her hands. I rolled my eyes at her, trying to pull myself out of the memory.

“Juni. . . ” I warned but could tell she wasn’t listening.

“So, Alexander, why don’t you tell me when you started dating my little Wren bird over here?”

“Juni!” My voice rose the angrier I got. “Alex and I are not dating! I am not going to date him! I am never going to date anyone!”

“Jeez, Wren.” Juni lifted her hands, gesturing for me to calm down. “You don’t gotta get your panties in a twist.”

The day went on, and I found out through Juniper that Alex and some kid named Jacob had gotten into a fight. Juniper said Jacob had said something about me and my mom, and Alex took it into his own hands. I was glad it was Friday. Hopefully I wouldn’t be the topic of gossip by Monday.I rubbed my face in embarrassment at my words during lunch. I could tell it was no skin off Juni’s back. She really didn’t care and was used to pushing people's buttons until they blew up at her. Alex, on the other hand, looked like I had slapped him, excusing himself from the table shortly after to head to class.

I was waiting by the school's front gate for Alex.Planning on apologizing to him. The look on his face stayed in my mind all day, and I felt horrible.

Juni had embarrassed me at lunch. Dating someone meanthaving sex, and having sex with someone felt like I was saying what Kevin did to me wasn’t okay.

It wasn’t okay.

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