Aleks storms out of the front entrance of the building and runs through the manicured lawn to get away from the school grounds. She had to escape before the other kids came out and before Ryan or Seth spotted her. Her second day at Harbor proved to be worse then the first, it wasn't the other students that bothered her as much as her perverted P.E. teacher. The last thing she needed was some pathetic athletic coach hitting on her, she was definitely switching out of that class.
Aleks walked briskly down the road toward the bay, she needed to be alone and didn't want to go home yet. In New York when she was upset she would go for a run and that always made her feel much better. Afterwards she would go to her favorite café in Greenwich Village, it was like all her problems melted away after a few hours of reading a good book and sipping a hot chai latte. She missed her home, she missed her Mom and her friends and her school. Could she ever be happy again?
"You running away or something?" she turns around to see a black jeep next her, inside was an attractive young man with dark hair and a goatee.
"Why do you ask?" she replies looking away.
"It's not often you see a girls such as yourself walking around alone out here" he tells her kindly, "you go to Harbor?"
"How do I know I can trust you?" she asks suspiciously.
"Because I'm not from here, I'm new in town" he continues to follow her in his jeep.
"Oh well now I feel much better…….." Aleks begins to walk faster.
"You are too" he interrupts, "you're from New York I mean"
She stops suddenly and turns to face him, "how do you know that? Who are you?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out" he says calmly, "Aleks right? You're in my sister's trig class" she looks confused so he goes on. "I picked her up from school yesterday and I saw you waiting for your ride. You looked different then the other girls so I asked Jamie if she knew you. She said she sat next to you in math class and that you were from New York." he finally pauses for a response.
"Sorry, I didn't notice her………Jamie I mean" he had gotten her interest now, there was something charming about this guy. "So where are you guys from then?"
"Philly originally, but we moved here from Seattle this summer…………..I tell you what, where you headed? I'll give you a ride" he says confidently.
Aleks agrees only because her backpack is killing her, she would never take a ride from a stranger in Manhattan, but she was in Newport after all. She climbs in and they take off.
"By the way, I'm Jay" he sticks out his hand cordially. Aleks shakes it but remains silent.
"Where'd you say you were going" he asks again.
"I don't really know, anywhere but home or school, any suggestions?
"I was just going to grab a bite at the crab shack before I pick Jamie up from her tutoring, care to join me, my treat?" Jay offers.
Aleks was hungry since she had spent lunch time on the treadmill, trying to run off some steam after gym class. There was something really likeable about Jay, he was different then the other guys in Newport. "I am kind of hungry" she says, " do you promise your not a stocker?" she smiles at her half joking question.
"I promise" he assures her and returns a smile.
Aleks jumps out of the jeep and waves goodbye to Jay. This guy had to be too good to be true, she thought as she walked up the driveway. He was kind, totally cute and had a car, nineteen wasn't too old for her was it? Aleks would be 16 this spring and she was definitely mature for age. She was lost in her thoughts when Kirsten opened the front door to let her in.
"Aleks, where have you been? The boys said they couldn't find you after school, and no one could reach you on your cell. We were so worried……." Kirsten looks upset.
"I'm fine, I was with a friend, I guess I had my cell phone off, sorry" She starts to walk away assuming her aunt was done with her.
"Wait a minute" she stops "you need to tell us if you want to go out after school, call Sandy or I and let us know. It's not ok to just disappear, something could of happened to you"
"Kirsten, relax, It's only 7 o'clock" she says defensively, "I'm not a little kid, I can take care of myself". Aleks' mom never got home until 9 or 10 at night, and she was free to do what she wanted after school. She didn't understand why Kirsten was being so protective.
"Look honey, why don't you have some dinner" Kirsten begins to take out the leftovers, "we can talk about it later".
"No, it's ok, I already ate" Aleks says and hurries up the stairs to her room.
She shoves her door closed and flies onto her bed, stuffing her face in her pillow she begins to cry. She wasn't mad, she had just become overly sensitive lately, the smallest thing would bring her to tears. It was so unfair, she thought, why was life so hard on her? She felt more defensive now then usual, like she didn't want any one else acting like her parent. She hoped Kirsten wouldn't get in the way of her potential social life, after all she has been lonely without a boyfriend. The only good thing that has happened to her since coming to Newport was meeting Jay. She had to see him again somehow, she thought. Then she remembered his sister Jamie in her trig class, she could introduce herself and make friends with her. Finally things started to look up for Aleks, she had something to look forward to now.
This chapter is kind of short, sorry about that. It's a busy week for me but I wanted to at least post one more chapter before the weekend. Anyway, I have some ideas about little twists in the story, but once again I accept suggestions. If anyone has something in mind they want to see happen then please let me know. Thanks.