For the Writing Club [Book Club] on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.
For a moment, Haley thinks she must be seeing things. She blinks. Then she blinks again. As it turns out, she isn't seeing things. Alex really is sitting on the beach with Pelican Town's latest resident—the new girl who's taken on the farm up north. Their thighs are pressed together and their hands intertwined in his lap. Before she can make a run for it, he lifts his head and makes eye contact. He smiles, raising his free hand in greeting. In return, Haley forces her lips to curl upwards before hastily making her exit.
Later, Alex barrels into her room, a wide grin on his face. He plops himself on the end of her bed, animatedly talking about his date in the sand.
"Your third date?" Haley questions, echoing his words back to him. "That was your third date?"
"Yeah." Much to her dismay, he sounds thrilled. "Third date in two weeks."
"You didn't even tell me you were interested in her," she says, trying to keep her voice level. "Why the secret?"
Alex scoffs. "It was hardly a secret, Hales. There just wasn't much to tell. Three dates. Completely PG."
She frowns, knowing that she can't exactly argue with that. At least, she can't without him getting suspicious. For once, the boy makes a good point.
"I just didn't even know you were interested in dating at all," she says. "Thought you were focused on football."
"I am. But that doesn't mean I can't have some fun."
Haley hums her half-hearted agreement. Alex seems to take the noise as an invitation to continue waxing lyrical about the new girl. Her hair, her work ethic, the lilt in her voice that gives away her city upbringing...Alex, apparently, just can't get enough.
It makes Haley's stomach churn. With every word, Haley can only picture her sister. Her sister, who's been in love with Alex for as long as she can remember. Her sister, who Haley definitely has to tell about Alex's three dates. Her sister, whose heart is about to be broken.
