Part 8
The Boy Named Matt
The alarm in Alex's room beeped, the red digital numbers blinking with each beep. Alex groaned and slammed her fist down onto the alarm, making it stop, and fell back to sleep.
~~~
Uni woke up a half an hour later, perking her ears up. She stretched and yawned, then jumped out of her bed and made her way into Alex's room. She jumped up onto the bed and looked at Alex's sleeping form. She smiled, then looked at the clock. It said 7:45 on it. Uni nudged Alex's hand with her wet nose. Alex giggled, turning over in her sleep. Uni leapt over Alex and looked at her again, confused.
"Alex…wake up, you have to get to school," she said, then licked Alex's face. Alex sat up and screamed, accidentally smacking Uni with her hand. Uni yelped and fell back onto her tail, a surprised look on her face. Alex wiped at her cheek, then looked at Uni and gasped.
"What are you doing here, cat!?" she asked harshly, rubbing her eyes. Uni shook her head clear, still dazed from when Alex hit her, then looked up at Alex.
"Well…" she said, turning to the clock and pointing at it with her paw, "Sammy already left for school, and I thought you had to go as well…" Alex screamed, grabbing the clock.
"NO! IT CAN'T BE!!!" she said, throwing the clock down, shattering it to pieces. She got up and changed, grabbing her backpack and heading for the door. "I'm late! Teach is gonna be sooo mad!" she said, opening the door. Uni ran out of her room, looking at Alex.
"Have a nice day, Alex!" she said with a smile. Alex stopped herself and turned back to Uni, who had a huge grin on her face. Alex couldn't help but smile as well.
"Yeah…you too, kid…" she said, opening the door and walking out.
~~~
Alex ran through the school doors just as the five-minute bell rang. She casually walked down the hall, watching as other kids passed by her on their way to class. Alex sighed. "Another boring day at school," she said, putting her hands behind her head.
"THERE HE IS!!!" a girl screamed.
"LET'S GET HIM!!!" screamed another. More screams followed, and a boy ran toward Alex, hiding behind her.
"Alex, ya gotta hide me! They're after me again!" he said, peeking over her shoulder. Alex sighed and glared at the herd of girls running toward them. They all stopped when their eyes met her gaze. They all sighed and groaned.
"Oh no, it's ALEX!" said one snotty girl, chewing on some gum. The girls began to break apart, heading for class.
"She's sooo lucky!" she heard one say. Alex rolled her eyes and turned to the boy. He fixed the red tie around his neck and cleared his throat.
"Thanks a bunch, Alex…" he said, blushing. "I thought they had me there for a second. I was runnin' around the whole school, lookin' for a place to hide, and then there you were!" he said with a smile. Alex raised her hand.
"Don't mention it. So, what's happenin', Gil?" she asked the boy.
"Oh, nothin' new," Gil replied, sticking his hand in his pants pocket. "What about you, Alex?"
"Oh, same old. I'm just having…some minor pet problems at home…" she said, thinking about Uni. Gil smiled.
"Sammy botherin' ya 'bout gettin' a new pet?" he asked. Alex sighed.
"Let's just say she won." Just then, the one-minute bell rang, and Alex and Gil looked up.
"Well, better head for homeroom!" Gil said, walking off, waving to Alex as he went. "See ya in math, Alex!" he said, then ran off, looking out for girls as he went. Alex smiled. She still couldn't believe that this boy, Gil, used to work for the Negaverse as Gold. She was glad that he was still alive. She walked up to her homeroom door and walked in, sitting in her assigned seat. She dropped her backpack next to her desk and sighed, folding her hands together onto the desk.
The bell rang, and all the students took their seats. Alex closed her eyes and sighed once again. The teacher spoke, reading the announcements, telling what was for lunch that day, what's been going on in the school sports activities, etc.; Alex didn't hear her, not until she said, "Today, we have a new exchange student who has come to us all the way from Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. What was your name again?" Alex opened an eye and looked at the boy standing at the front of the room. He was so tall next to the teacher. His hair was up in blond spikes, his ice blue eyes cut through the soul of everyone in the classroom. He had a serious expression on his face. His right hand was stuck in his pants pocket, the other held his small black backpack.
"My name is Matt Stevenson…it's a pleasure…" he said, not changing his expression at all. Alex was amazed by this boy. He seemed like the perfect guy; she could swear that she felt her face get hotter as she blushed. She rubbed her eyes and closed her mouth, folding her arms across her chest.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Matt! Now, children, I want you all to make Matt feel welcome here at our school, all right?" She looked around the classroom, stretching her neck to look at all the desks. "Well, Matt, why don't you have a seat at the back of the room, behind Alex?" Alex gasped, looking around nervously. Matt very casually walked over to her, his backpack now slung over one shoulder. When he passed her, Alex felt a sudden surge of energy pass through her body. Her eyes went wide and she squeezed her hands, clutching the sides of her chair.
"Is something wrong, Ms. Richardson?" the teacher asked. Alex looked at her, letting out a small laugh.
"Oh, it's nothing, really…I'm just a little jumpy…I didn't get much sleep last night…" she said, smiling. The teacher smiled back.
"Ah, did you stay up all night to study for that math test you have today?" Alex gasped, becoming even more surprised.
"Math…t-test?" she asked herself, just as the bell rang. The children got up, heading right for the door, none of them turning back. Matt got up and walked by Alex again. She felt the energy flow through her veins once again, and she grabbed the sides of her desk. As Matt got further and further away from her, she felt the energy getting weaker and weaker. Her grip loosened, and she turned her head to him. Matt reached the door and placed his hand on the doorknob. He opened the door, then stood there, looking out at the hall. Alex looked confused. Matt turned his head and looked at her. Alex gasped, holding her breath and blinking. Matt stared at her, then raised a hand.
"See ya later, Alex," he said in his deep manly voice, then walked out the door into the bustling hallway. Alex let out her breath in a huge sigh, resting her forehead on the desk. She reached down for her backpack and got up, slinging the backpack over one shoulder and leaving the classroom.
~~~
When lunchtime came, Alex bought herself a gross cafeteria lunch and sat down next to Gil at a table. All the girls surrounding Gil at the time began to break away, mumbling things about Alex. Gil thanked her as usual, and Alex told him he didn't have to thank her. Gil took a bite of his hotdog and took a sip of his soda, then turned to Alex, who was eating her own hotdog.
"So, have you met the new kid yet?" he asked, nudging her. Alex turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
"New kid? Ya mean Matt Stephenson?" she asked. Gil blinked, smiling. He scratched his head.
"Wow. The kid's new, and you already know his name. It's not like you to remember like that. HEY!" Gil yelped as Alex knocked his hat off his head and it drifted into his lap. He waved his hands in front of him, trying to defend himself. "Ok, ok, sheesh! I'm just jokin' around, Al!" he said, turning back to his hotdog.
"Don't call…"
"I know, I know, don't call you Al! Sheesh…" he said, shaking his head and taking another bite of his hotdog. Alex rolled her eyes and did the same, then took a sip of her own soda. Gil turned around and smiled.
"Hey, there he is now!" Gil said, nudging Alex again. Alex gasped and also turned around. Sure enough, there was Matt, in line to buy a lunch. When he bought his lunch and made his way toward them, she turned away and hunched her shoulders, taking small bites at her hotdog.
"Hey, why don't we invite him to sit with us? YO, NEW GUY! MATT!" Gil said, waving to Matt.
"No, don't!" Alex whispered harshly, pulling at Gil's arms. Matt turned to them, raising an eyebrow. Gil turned to Alex.
"Aw, come on, Al! We wanna make this guy feel like he fits in here, right?"
"Don't call me…"
"Hi…" Matt said, now standing next to the table. Alex gasped, turning back to her hotdog and taking small bites at it once again. Gil smiled, shaking Matt's hand.
"Hey, Matt! I'm Gilbert Jones, but just call me Gil. I sit by ya in Science, remember?" Gil said, a silly grin on his face. Matt shook Gil's hand.
"Yeah, I know…you're the one with the big mouth…" Matt said with a small smile. Gil laughed, scratching his head.
"Yep! That's me, all right! Hehehe…" Gil turned to Alex and put a hand on her shoulder. "This shy one right here is my pal, Alex Richardson. Don't call her Al, though, or she'll kill ya." Alex could feel herself blush. How she wanted to kick Gil right now. Matt walked over to her and sat down next to her. Alex felt the energy rush through her once again.
What is this feeling I have when I'm around him? There's something strange about him…I wonder…she thought, still nibbling at her hotdog. Gil's hand waved in front of her face. "Hola? Earth to Alex, hello? Am I making contact here, or what?" Alex jumped, coming out of her thoughts and looked over at Matt. She gasped.
"I-I'm sorry…I'm being rude…." she said, blushing.
"It's ok, Alex. I don't mind," he said with a kind smile. Alex turned to him and met his gaze. His ice blue eyes stared into her golden brown ones. He shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Alex…"
~~~
"Well, I don't know about you, but I think he's a pretty cool guy!" Gil said, walking backwards, his hands behind his head, looking at Alex, who had her head bowed, looking down at her feet as she walked. Gil had a confused look on his face, so he stopped and looked at Alex. "Alex, are you feelin' ok?" he asked, sounding a bit concerned. Alex lifted her head and looked into his eyes.
"I'm fine, Gil…really…"
"You're bummed cuz of that math test we got next class, huh?" he said, folding his arms across his chest. Alex sighed.
"Yeah, I am…" Alex lied, and continued walking. "Let's just get that stupid test over with…" Gil smiled.
"Hey, now that sounds like the Alex I know!" he said, patting her back.
"Whatever…" she said with a smile as they made their way to the math room.
~~~
After school, Alex went straight home. She ran into her apartment and threw her backpack onto the kitchen counter. Uni walked out and looked at her as she reached into the fridge and grabbed a soda. Uni walked up to her and smiled.
"Hey, Alex! How was your day at school?" she asked, trying to make small talk. Alex took a gulp of the soda and looked down at Uni.
"Is it any of your business, cat?" she asked coldly, slamming the fridge door. Uni jumped, then cringed.
"I was just trying to start a conversation, Alex…you don't have to yell at me, you know/" Uni said sadly. Alex glared at her, then walked over to the kitchen table.
"Whatever…where's Sammy?" she asked, taking another sip. Uni walked over with her.
"Sammy took Apollo for a little walk. She asked if I wanted to come, but I decided to stay here and greet you when you got home." Alex looked down at her and sneered.
"Well, ya didn't have to, cat…" she said, getting up and walking to the couch. Uni followed her. Alex stopped and once again looked down at the cat. "Would ya stop following me?!" she screamed. Uni cringed, then ran off and sat on the armchair in the living room, pulling her ears back and putting her tail between her legs. "THANK YOU!" Alex said, throwing herself down onto the couch. She grabbed the remote and turned on the television. She flipped through the channels. Uni just sat there, staring at her, a frightened look on her face. Alex turned to Uni and raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you actin' so scared? It's not like I'm gonna kill you or anything…" she said, turning the television off when she decided that nothing good was on. Uni blinked, looking down at the floor.
"Well, ya see…"
"Whatever…save it for Sammy, will ya? I'm gonna take a nap…" she said, making her way towards her room. She walked in and closed the door behind her, leaving Uni back in the living room, trying to hold back her tears.
~~~
About a half an hour later, Sammy walked back into the apartment, Apollo prancing behind her. Sammy hung up her blue coat and put away Apollo's leash. Apollo looked around the apartment. He turned to Sammy.
"I wonder where everyone is?" he said, walking into the living room. "Oh, there's Uni," he said when he found the little kitten asleep on the seat where Alex had left her. Sammy poked her head into Alex's room to find her sister also fast asleep in her bed.
"And here's Alex," she said, closing Alex's door. Alex sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes.
"Huh? What…?" she said, yawning. Sammy opened the door again and looked back in. She giggled, walking up to Alex.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest and leaning against the wall. Alex turned to Sammy and got up.
"No, I just had another dream…it was really weird…" she said, straightening her shirt. "Sammy, there's something I have to talk to you about…" she started, and she and Sammy walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Sammy put her arms on the table and looked over at Alex.
"Yeah, what is it, Alex?" she asked. Alex let out her breath and leaned back in her chair.
"There's this new guy at school, and…well…everytime I get near him, I get this feeling…" Sammy screamed, and Alex jumped. Sammy began to laugh, and she put her hands over her mouth.
"Alex! You have a crush on the new kid at your school?!" she said with a huge grin on her face. Alex shook her head, narrowing her eyes.
"No, Sammy, it's not that…" Even though he is kinda cute…she though. "It was a feeling like…I don't know, a whole bunch of energy was flowing through my body or something." Sammy raised an eyebrow.
"Are you serious, Alex?" she asked, now also leaning back in her chair.
"Yes, I am, Sammy! I think we'd better keep an eye on this guy…"
"What's his name?" Uni asked, now awake from Sammy's screaming. She and Apollo walked up to the two and she looked up at Alex. Alex looked down at her and sneered, then turned away.
"It's none of your business, cat. You're not even a fully fledged Guardian Cat, like Luna or Artemis. You're only a rookie, so why should I tell you anything?!" Uni, hurt by these words, started to build up tears in her eyes. Alex ignored her and folded her arms across her chest. Apollo looked from Alex to Uni, then back to Alex. Turning back to Uni, he put a paw on her shoulder.
"Uni, don't…" Uni pulled away from him and ran into Sammy's room, jumping into her bed and started to cry, burying her face into the pillow. Apollo followed her. Sammy sat up and glared at Alex.
"ALEX! Why do you have to be so mean to Uni!? She's just trying to help!" she said, then ran off to her room after Uni and Apollo, slamming her door and locking it behind her. Alex sighed, then got up and went into her own room, closing and locking it behind her.
~End Part 8~
AUTHOR'S NOTE-Sorry I ended it so quickly, it's cuz some of my friends really wanted me to get this done, before they'd kill me! Hope you like it, guys! ^_^