Chapter 4

"Well Spanish was a little better today, despite the freakin' exam" Alvin said at lunch.

He popped some fries in his mouth and took a sip of coke.

Alex, who been invited to join them again (privileged much?) replied to his comment, "Oh yeah? What made it better? I mean I got the impression you two hated Spanish"

Steph's mouth went to the side and she looked up then back at Alex, "Well not hate, that's too strong but loath is pretty close"

Alvin continued, "Yeah, but we had a hot new teacher"

Alex seemed to choke on his drink. Everyone looked at him; Eleanor patted his back.

He thanked Eleanor, "Thanks, but, uh, don't say she's hot...that's my mum, and that, dude, is a little weird"

The others looked blankly, Alvin blushed and Steph laughed, "Oh now I see why she looked familiar"

Simon asked, "Is it weird having your mum teaching at the same school?"

Alex shook his head, "Nah, been like that since I started school, but that's why I never take Spanish, THAT would be weird...and having mates say she's hot"

Alvin tipped his hat, "Respect bro, no comment on your mum, gotcha"

Steph asked the blonde question, "Kennedy? Harper? Explanation please?"

Alex dropped his head; Eleanor kicked Steph under the table, "Ow! Sorry if you don't wanna answer...sorry sometimes shit just comes outta my mouth without me fully thinking it through"

Alex smiled a little, "Nah its ok. My mum and dad are divorced; he pissed off somewhere when I was two, and mum went back to her maiden name, but I kept my dad's"

The others nodded as they understood as Jeanette said, "Well that would explain it then" Steph rubbed her leg (And thus providing a full view down her top) "Yeah it does. Ow. Geez Ellie you can kick"

Eleanor smiled proudly, "Best striker on the soccer team"

Theodore wrapped his arm round Eleanor's shoulders and kissed her cheek, "That's my girl" Alex meanwhile had been staring down Steph's top; Alvin noticed and chuckled under his breath before stating, "Yo Alex, good view?"

Alex snapped out of his stare as Steph sat up looking at the two of them and then laughing, "Ha, busted!"

Alex blushed a little, "Sorry, I'm so sorry"

Simon chimed in, "Trust me, she doesn't mind, in fact I'm sure she'll give you a show if you ask"

Steph laughed again, "Hey I'll give you a show even if you don't ask" Alex blushed again. Brittany tried to console him, "Aww Steph you're embarrassing him"

Alex waved her off nicely, "I'm good" he chuckled, "is there an encore?"

Steph, for once had no comeback, and instead went bright red; feeling her face she muttered, "I...I...shit, I gotta go" and picked up her bag, heading quickly toward the other side other quad.

Alex asked, "Was it something I said?"

Simon pushed his glasses up his nose, "I'm not sure what just happened, it's not like Steph to not have a comeback"

Theodore agreed, "Or to get embarrassed"

Alvin smiled at Alex, "You have achieved the one thing I cannot do to Steph, and let me tell you, I have tried EVERYTHING"

Theodore nodded, "It's true, he really has"

Simon rolled his eyes, "Yes well let's not get into that"

Brittany and the girls decided to go after Steph, "We'll just go check to see she's ok" they grabbed their things and followed after in the direction Steph ran off to.

Steph was in the bathroom, splashing water on her face when the girls came in, "Oh hey" she reached for the paper towels and began drying her face.

Jeanette adjusted her bag, "You ok Steph?"

Eleanor reached out and touched her arm, "You ran off pretty quickly"

Steph gave an awkward smile, "Ha, yeah I'm fine"

After a moment of silence, Brittany smirked, "You like him don't you?"

Steph threw her head back, shaking her waves, "I can't like him, it's not even be a whole day yet"

Jeanette giggled, "It doesn't need to be a day, sometimes it's just love at first sight"

Steph screwed up her face, "Oh gag, come on Jen. Maybe it's like that in Chipmunk world, but in people world, it doesn't happen that way"

Eleanor looked at the others then back at Steph, "Well what about Zach Thornton?"

Steph pointed a finger at Eleanor, "No! Besides he only used me in the end"

Jeanette added, "OK, well what about Jesse Andrews?"

Steph's eyes widened, "Oh no, that was just a one-off, and not a very smart one-off" Brittany thought, "Oh well what about Carter McGee?"

Steph shook her head; "Ok THAT was a total mistake"

Jeanette looked up, pondering, "Isn't he gay now?"

Steph yelled, "Jeanette!"

Jeanette looked back to the girls, "Huh? Oh right, sorry"

Steph smiled and rolled her eyes, "Anyway, I can't just like Alex straight away...what is it turns out like every other guy I've been with?"

Eleanor put her arm around Steph; she had been trying to reach around her shoulders, but Steph was much taller than she was, "Just take it slow"

Steph laughed nervously, "Slow? Right, cause my reputation screams slow"

Brittany nudged her, "Never too late to build a new reputation hey?"

Steph sighed, "Ok I guess you're right" she paused before speaking again, "but how am I gonna speak to him again?"

Jeanette stepped closer and felt Steph's forehead, "Girls I think this may be serious"

Steph flipped her hand away, "Oh geez, ok I'm back, suck it up right?"

Eleanor bounced on her toes, "At a girl Stephy" she beamed.

Steph just laughed and picked up her bag, "Come on, guys, last period beckons us, let's get back to the boys and be on our merry way"

They all walked arm over shoulders out the bathroom toward the boys.

Brittany slipped her hands over Alvin's eyes, "Guess who?"

Alvin reached behind up Brittany's arms, and awkwardly leant behind to her breasts. At this Brittany squealed and slapped him on the head, Alvin laughed, "Ow, ha ha, it was worth it" Alex and Theodore smuggled a chuckle.

Simon stole a kiss from Jeanette and stated, "So you're back then?"

Steph shrugged, "Just catchin up on our girl times" she smiled.

The bell rang, Simon and Jeanette grabbed their books, "Well I guess we'll see you guys at home then, Jeanette and I have a double free"

Theodore interjected quickly, "Oh well Ellie and I only have a single period left, can you wait and take us home then too?"

Simon looked at Jeanette, "We could always go to the library?"She suggested, discreetly holding his hand.

Simon looked into her hazel eyes, "Well a little more study couldn't hurt, I suppose, we'll wait for you at the car"

Steph hollered, "Whoo, catching up on 'personal' study time eh?"

Simon gave her, yet another one of his looks. Jeanette just smiled, and pulled Simon by the hand toward the library.

Steph laughed, "OK so what's next for you Alex?"

Alex coughed, "Ahem, uh, I got auto shop"

Steph's eyes widened, "Ooh, we got ourselves a mechanic here, watch out. Nah seriously, it's good to know, daddy's old rust bucket of a pickup could use a service or two"

Alex nodded, "Yeah I can check it out if you'd like?"

Steph hooked her bag over her shoulder, and came within inches of Alex's face, "Good, and if you do a good enough job, you may just get your encore"

Alex was left in stunned silence as Alvin and Brittany broke off in laughter, with Alvin calling, "Oh yeah! Whoo!" Steph simply walked over toward her next class.