I know I suck at updating and this story has taken me years but I love Alex and i love Ace and I have a lot more written for the next few chapters! Enjoy and please review x
Alex had been avoiding Ace the last few weeks. She hadn't seen any of the cobras since the night with Ace, she didn't know how to face them. She felt stupid for nearly letting herself fall for Ace. The stress and tension of the day had gotten to the both of them and for a moment she allowed herself to be weak. In the moment she had wanted him and that's what scared her most.
She threw herself into school work knowing the last place any of them would ever look for her would be the library. So that's how she found herself climbing through the window late one night. The library had shut despite her desperate pleas with the librarian and with no other place to go, she resorted to breaking and entering. Alex had always found herself in trouble at school but she doubted even teachers could justify punishing her for breaking in to study.
She flicked through her math textbook, the numbers were scrambled on the page. She had an important test next week that she had only began studying for. She had wanted to, but hanging in bars and pool halls leaves little time for studying and any attempt to do so was usually mocked or scorned.
A faint cough echoed against the tall ceilings, she spun to see who had made the noise ready to climb out the window she had just entered. Instead of seeing the scrawny librarian who usually punished perpetrators that dared utter a sound she saw Eyeball's brother.
"What you doing here Chambers?"
"Should ask you the same thing"
"I'm studying" she mumbled, Chris laughed a little. She threw him daggers and his face fell serious.
"For real? Just never thought I'd hear a Cobra say that" Alex rolled her eyes , everyone has a comment to make about them.
They were in the same grade but had never really spoken. She knew Ace had it in for him, the Cobras had messed him and his friends up pretty bad after one of them pulled a gun on Ace but Alex hadn't been around then.
"Aren't you a little too good to be here? You must've broken in as well-" he dropped a set of keys in front of her before she could finish.
"Being good has some perks" she looked at them, they were the real deal. "They're not stolen either, I have a deal with the librarian she lets me study here any time if things get too much at home." Chris trailed off, clearly embarrassed after mentioning it.
Alex bit her lip, she had heard all about the abuse in the chambers home from Eyeball and it was sickening. As the oldest he was able to escape most of it leaving the majority of the abuse to be passed down to his younger siblings, as the second oldest she assumed home was hell for Chris. She didn't have the greatest of homes but the scar on eyeballs face said it all.
"So what you running from" Alex froze.
"Who says I'm running" she replied defensively.
"Alright, so you're here for fun?" Chris had a warm smile across his face and it melted Alex's cold tone. "I know Ace hates me and you don't wanna go behind his back, but it's just me right now."
"Sorry…" she mumbled under her breath so quietly Chris wasn't sure he'd even heard it. "I'm studying for this math test but I reckon i'm already fucked" she flicked a page before lighting a cigarette. She offered one to Chris who looked at its sceptically. "You're right, Ace isn't here" she motioned to the packet and he took one tentatively.
"You're smart I'm sure you can pass it" he encouraged.
Now it was Alex's time to laugh "Yeah sure, hanging round with Ace and your brother is educational but in the wrong way, we can't all have brainiacs like Lachance as friends. I give up I'm another bad kid with shit for brains." She went t shut the book but Chris' hand stopped her.
"You're more than that." He looked her dead in the eyes with such fierce intensity Alex nearly believed him. Chris had a way of talking that made you feel unnerved like he looked past people's bravados and confidence like he was searching for the truth. Alex didn't like feeling exposed. She avoided his eyes feeling them pierce her.
"I'll believe it when I see it" she leant back blowing a cloud of smoke above her head.
"Look" Alex's eyes snapped back to Chris "Gordie's been helping me with study and I'm getting pretty good at math, and I know you'll probably shoot me down anyway but i'll help you if you want"
No one had ever offered Alex help before. Since being dragged up she'd always relied on herself for everything, Ace had always had her back but this was different.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why do you wanna help me, what's in it for you."
"Nothing, I just wanna help and I know you're too proud to ask. I have a key, we can study whenever you want, plus I have a feeling you're not as bad as the rest of them" he gritted his teeth his resentment at the bitter memories clear as day.
"You're right Chambers, I'm even worse" they both laughed. Chris pulled his chair closer and read through the problems on the page. Their apprehension fell away as the night progressed and their chatter turned to laughter and jokes. Before they knew it bright light streamed through the high windows.
"Shit it's nearly 6am! I need to go get ready for school" Alex groaned packing her books into her backpack and throwing it over her shoulder.
"Same time tomorrow?" He asked at the door. Alex squinted at the brightness, her bare legs welcomed the warmth as it spread across her skin, she was glad to be walking out this time.
"Sure." Alex began to walk away, Chris watched her as she left pondering for a minute "Maybe then you'll tell me what you're running from"
Alex didn't break her stride or look back.
"Don't count on it."
