Chapter Three: How Does it Feel?

"River!"

River turned his head to see Alex storming towards him with fury radiating off of her. He smirked to himself. She'd likely just found out that he wasn't going to be there for the tennis tourney. River sighed and waited for her to stop in front of him. He'd always thought that Alex came to school later than now.

"Yes Alex?" He asked while grabbing his books and shutting the door of his locker gently. Her sandy blonde hair was slightly wavy today. It was flying around her face as she walked quickly towards him. He found himself smirking again.

"You're leaving? The day ofour tourney?" She questioned him, narrowing her eyes when she finally reached him. River smiled before shifting his books to his other arm and putting the other one around her shoulders. "What are you doing?" She could fight back dangerously if he provoked her enough. Instead, he took her towards the semi-empty cafeteria.

"I just wanted to sit down with my second favourite tennis star and discuss this dilemma." River said slyly, sitting her down in a chair. She didn't protest or say anything for that matter when he sat down beside her. She picked up her purple canvas bag and put it on her shoulders while maintaining her scowl. If River didn't have control over his emotions, he would have allowed himself to blush and smile at her image. She was too cute for her own good.

"So? Why are you leaving?" She rephrased her question and he raised his eyebrows. He couldn't deny it anymore. He really did like Alex, but he knew he could never have her. He could never convince her of considering him. Instead it was time for some shameless flirting.

"You know," River said as he looked her face up and down. "You're pretty cute when you're angry." She sent him a glare, but he caught her cheeks turning pink. River smirked happily. He'd flattered her and she would admit it to no one.

"Come on Pierce. Tell me why you're leaving on the day of the tourney." She said briskly. He leaned forward slightly in his chair.

"You want to know the truth?" he asked and she nodded, setting her hands on the table in front of her. "The truth is…I don't know why." Alex slammed her hands against the table angrily and startled him.

"You don't know why?" She repeated through pursed lips and he nodded.

"My parents were the ones that booked the cruise, not me, but I would rather stay. I'm perfectly happy in Roscoe." River said and Alex sighed unhappily.

"Some captain you are." She muttered. River rolled his eyes. "What? You could've at least said that you've got something important to do! River, you're the captain and they're marking us on that as well as playing!"

"It's not my fault Alex! My parents just issued it," River sighed and Alex looked away, clearly frustrated. River winced at this. The fact that he had made her more than annoyed bothered him. "Anyway, you'll do great. You're the next best guy Alex." Without issuing his response he reached over and set his hand on top of hers, rubbing it softly. His action spoke to him when she tensed beneath his touch.

"River…" She mumbled turning to face him. Her cheeks were stained a bright red and he knew exactly why. He'd never done anything like this before. For once he was letting himself be himself. Not the arrogant captain of everything he portrayed himself as. Taking in the moment, River reached forward to brush the piece of hair that had fallen into her face away and smiled.

"It could work." He whispered. The blonde glared at him and pushed him away. River watched through the eyes of himself as she grabbed her bag and left, weaving through the tables of the cafeteria. He stretched back in his chair and brushed it off like he was tired. He could get any girl in the school…except the one he really wanted.

&&&&&&&&

Robbie sat in the cafeteria with his head in his hands when his thinking was interrupted by the fast sound of approaching footsteps.

"Robbie!" Kim's voice was just a little too happy to be normal, but it hardly affected his mood. He lifted his head and tried to smile at his girlfriend.

"Hey." He mumbled. As much as he hated to admit it, the kiss was still on his mind. She had been right. It stuck to his mind like peanut butter sticks to the roof of his mouth and no matter how many times he tried to swallow it, it remained where it was.

"Okay. I don't want you to hear it from someone else, so here it goes. You know how we were going to spend Christmas Eve together?" Kim began. Robbie nodded vaguely. "Well, I can't do that anymore." Her statement made Robbie look up at her as he began to panic.

"What?" They'd planned everything together. Hot Chocolate at Mickey's, skating at the park, going back to his house and watching a movie, then walking her home. It was supposed to be the most romantic Christmas Eve for a couple. Now she was backing out? He was suddenly convinced that life couldn't be more complicated than this. "Why?"

"My parents booked a 2 week cruise through the Caribbean and we're going with the Pierce's which makes it all the more wonderful" Kim muttered sarcastically as she stared hard at her nails. There was a moment's silence and Robbie watched the different couples walking around the cafeteria. "Look, I know this isn't fair. You know I would much rather not go and be here for Christmas with you, but my parents won't listen to me."

"Did you try talking to them?" Robbie asked and Kim rolled her eyes.

"Of course I did Robbie. When they told me this morning I tried explaining, but they wouldn't listen. Parents are like that. Especially my parents. They just expect you to follow along with their plans." Kim said angrily and he looked at her sympathetically. She was choking back tears. "I'm so sorry."

&&&&&&&&

"Alex!" Parker exclaimed as she caught sight of the blonde sitting on the floor by her locker, staring into space. Worry and stress were etched onto her face and Parker suddenly felt extremely sorry for this side of her friend.

"Yeah?" Her voice cracked when she spoke. The brunette sat down beside her and waved a hand in front of her face. Alex turned her head wearily towards Parker. "Hey."

"Talk to Robbie?" Parker asked with the farthest hope in her voice. Alex shook her head and the hope slowly disintegrated.

"No, I haven't yet." She replied and Parker put an arm around her shoulders. She was tense. Her voice was distant.

"Then what's wrong?" She was confused. It seemed like the only logical explanation to the frown on the blonde's face. Alex rubbed the side of her nose before replying.

"River…I went to talk to him and he…he sort of got really emotional. He touched my hand and brushed the hair out of my eyes. Then he said in this misty voice It could work…" Alex said while trying her best not to scream. Parker sighed. She wouldn't exactly blame River for liking her. With her long dark blonde waves and bright green eyes, Alex was very attractive. She was also a star tennis player with an attitude that defined her. Female jocks that were gifted in their sport of choice was a very rare thing to come across in the halls of Roscoe High.

"Well," Parker sighed, feeling her own emotion come through. "Crushes are very hard to control." Alex turned her surprised head toward Parker. Parker only laughed. She'd never expressed feelings like this before. "Any way Lily sent me to tell you that we're doing a Super Secret Santa."

"A Super Secret Santa?" Alex repeated bewildered and Parker nodded, enthusiasm flooding back to her.

"Yep. We're all going to pick a name and whoever you get is who you buy for!" Parker said as she stood up. The Santa hat that she had brought with her suddenly was floating in front of Alex's face. "Here. There are names in here. You can't tell me who you got, okay?"

"Got it." Alex agreed before plunging her hand into the hat.

&&&&&&&&

Ray. His name sat in curly letters on the tear of paper. This was great. Ray was the easiest person to buy for on the entire list of their friends. She could casually just ask him what was on his list for Christmas. If it was nothing in particular, she would just get him some animal slippers. He'd been looking for a pair of beaver slippers and she'd seen a pair at Mandy's Gifts that was a reasonable price.

"Who'd you get?" Parker tried and Alex laughed, forgetting for a moment about the weight upon her.

"I can't tell you." Alex giggled and Parker nodded with a grin.

"Good girl. We're exchanging on the 24th at 7pm at Mickey's. Don't be late!" Parker yelled as she walked down the now busy hall. Alex sighed and ran her hands through her hair before standing up. With that distraction gone it was back to River and Robbie. She liked Robbie. She always had. Yet somehow feelings had slipped through when River had grabbed her hand. It showed a different side of him that wasn't his usual I'm-so-much-better-than-you persona. He had shown her an emotional side.

"This day cannot get any worse." Alex muttered to herself. It was almost as if someone was taunting her when she looked up and saw Robbie walking toward her with Travis. She managed to catch his glance and wanted so badly to pretend what was happening wasn't. Alex tried to smile and took the easy way out. Her feet began running to her next class. Robbie could wait until after school. Right now, she needed to pass Chemistry.

&&&&&&&&&

"Robbie! Travis!" Parker's voice got to them before she did. Travis turned around to find his heartbeat quickening and his breathing become short. He still had to become used to this feeling again. After Bridget left, Travis had been heartbroken, but at the same time he'd met and started talking to Parker. It hadn't taken him long to discover a gem in her. A gem that seemed to be as unique as he was.

"Hey Parker." Robbie said casually. "Have you talked to Ale-"

"Never mind that now McGrath," Parker cut him off knowingly. "I'm the messenger for the Super Secret Santa that me and Lily made up and you have to do it, no exceptions."

"Okay, that sounds like fun, but-"

"Pick a name! And you can't tell anyone who you got!" Parker cut him off again happily. Travis laughed. She'd carefully avoided the subject of Alex like he'd been doing all morning. He wasn't involved enough with this matter to answer any of Robbie's questions. "Go on, pick!"

&&&&&&&

"Okay," Robbie said, reaching into the hat Parker held out to him. The small slip of paper weighed his fingers down while he opened it. Alex sat in curly letters on the surface. He sighed deeply. Could this get any worse? "Can I pick again?" Travis glanced at him with an identical fold of paper in his own hands. They all seemed to know who he had picked.

"No! We're meeting and exchanging on the 24th at 7 at Mickey's. Don't be late!" Parker grinned before skipping down the hall and out of sight.

"Well that was interesting." Robbie could only nod in reply to Travis's statement. Interesting indeed.

&&&&&&&

"I'll see you later. I've got History right now." Robbie was down the hall before he could reply. Travis had guessed who Robbie had gotten the second he had asked to switch, and he could only hope that he would get the person he wanted. Travis opened the slip of paper and stared at the name. Parker. He smiled. It would take thought to get her the right gift, but maybe this was the opportune moment to express his feelings.