Chapter 2

"I kinda like the little rush you get when you're standing close to death...like when you're driving me crazy." -After Midnight by Blink 182

I sat in the hallway outside the principal's office, covered in food from Alex and I's fight in the lunchroom an hour ago. Alex sat across the hall from me, leaning over with his elbows on his knees as he stared at me like I was the devil.

"I hate you for this, Tayler." Alex complained. I scoffed and crossed my arms.

"Shut the hell up. You started it." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"How old ARE you? Twelve?" he hissed, still shooting daggers at me with his eyes.

"That's hilarious coming from you." I seethed.

He leaned back and sighed. "I might be immature, but I didn't start the damn fight. You threw a tuna sandwich at me. I reek of fish."

I bit my lip and tried to hold in a laugh. Alex looked at me and smiled lightly, also trying to fight the outburst. "But you kissed me." I said. "That's what actually started it." I chuckled.

Alex's face became serious again. Nice. I blew any chance we had at bonding. "You know you loved it." He said, turning away. I didn't reply because deep down, I knew it was true. Over the years of denying it, I had developed feelings for Alex somewhere in my heart. Did that moment in the hallway really spark his interest? Or did I just misread the signs and he was actually just trying to get laid? Most likely the second one.

The principal opened the door and sighed. "You two? I should've known you two would lose it eventually. You're always at each others throats. I want to let you go home, but...that cafeteria is a mess." She threw two mops and buckets at us. "You know what to do. Get to work."

I stood and grabbed my supplies. Alex unwillingly did the same and followed me to the lunchroom. I looked around and couldn't believe we'd made the mess that was held in here.

I filled up my bucket with soap and water and stirred my mop in it. I began to clean the floor. Alex sat on the table, leaning back and closing his eyes.

After an hour, I'd cleaned the whole room and not noticed Alex's lack of effort until that point.

"GASKARTH!" I shouted, unsuccessfully waking him up. I walked over and hit him in the stomach with my palm, which made him squirm a bit.

"Leave me alone..." He groaned, swatting my hand away. So he was awake...just ignoring me.

I looked from Alex to my bucket of water and an idea hit me. Bingo.

I dumped the water on him and laughed as he shot up, soaked in dirty water and looking pissed.

"DAMMIT EAKINS!" he growled. I put my hand over my mouth and cracked up. He stared at me for a minute, angered, but then he chuckled a bit, too. "Shut up." He said, smiling.

"I had to do all this cleaning by myself. It was only fair that I did that." I said, picking up our supplies and carrying them back to the principal. After she inspected the cafeteria, we were dismissed.

I walked to my locker and grabbed my books. School wouldn't be out for another 10 minutes, so there weren't any kids swarming around. I saw Alex down the hall, grabbing his things too. I debated waiting for him, but instead I just began to walk to the parking lot.

Halfway to my car I heard him calling after me. "Hey, Eakins!" Alex shouted. I sighed and turned around, clutching my books to my chest. He smiled and jogged to catch up with me, and we walked to my car. I unlocked it and wrenched the old door open, throwing my books and bag into the passenger seat. I leaned over, putting the keys in the ignition. I felt Alex's eyes on me the whole time.

I stood up straight and turned around, my body running into his for the second time today. He had his hands plastered on either side of me, resting his palms on the top of my car. I was trapped between his arms.

"Thanks again. For doing all the cleaning and stuff." Alex murmured. "Even after I called you a bitch and all that..." he trailed off.

I swallowed hard. His face was inches from mine. What if he kissed me again? No...he wouldn't. But he was Alex Gaskarth. It wouldn't be surprising if he did. "N-no problem, Alex." I said, hardly getting the words out. Why was I so nervous?

He smiled his lopsided smile. "See you around," He whispered seductively. He pushed himself upright, put his hands in his pockets, and walked over to his car, getting in and pulling out of the lot.

I stood there, my heart beating out of my chest. I was still calming my nerves when the bell rang. I quickly hopped in the car and began to drive home, but I decided to get some coffee first. My parents wouldn't be home for another two hours anyway, so I drove to the local Starbucks.

I parked my car and got out, walking up to the building. I opened the heavy glass door and warm, coffee scented air rushed out at me. I looked at the menu and ordered a pumpkin spice latte. I stepped off to the side and leaned on the counter, waiting for my beverage to be ready. I took out my cell phone and checked my messages out of boredom. I had one new text message from a number I didn't recognize. It read:

'Hey Eakins, it's Alex. Gaskarth. Jack gave me your number. Don't be mad at him? Text me sometime;)'

I stared at it and shook my head. Damn Jack. Now I couldn't even escape Alex when I left the school. I looked up from my phone, and that's when I saw him.

He had shaggy dark brown hair that was almost black, and it was cut about to the middle of his ears. His eyes were a gorgeous dark blue, and his facial features were hard and manly, yet soft and perfectly curved. He had two silver snakebite rings in his lips and one bridge piercing. My jaw dropped and I quickly turned when he caught me staring.

The lady set my coffee down and I quickly grabbed it, walking to the bar of creamers. I stirred in two cups of creamer and grabbed some napkins. The whole time, I was stealing glimpses of him.

I took a seat and began to take a sip of my coffee. He sat down right in front of me and I didn't see him until I had set the cup back down.

I swallowed, and the piping hot coffee burned my throat going down.

"Fuuuuck!" I yelled, coughing as my throat was being eaten away by the coffee. The guy laughed and tossed his hair out of his eyes, taking a sip from the straw of his raspberry iced tea.

"Careful, it's hot." He winked, his voice that of an angel. I smiled softly.

"I'm Oliver. Oliver Andersen." He smirked, showing me a glimpse of his pearly, straight teeth. He was a dream.

I shook his extended hand. "Tayler. Tayler Eakins." I nodded, breathing a laugh. Oliver took another sip of his tea.

"That's a pretty name." He said, staring at my eyes. I blinked and looked away. "So where do you go to school, Tayler?"

"Dulaney High School." I said.

Oliver nodded. "Cute little place. I go to school on the other side of town. Came up to visit my friend today. I'm on my way to see him right now, actually." He said, looking at his watch. "As a matter of fact, I'd better get going. But first...please. Give me your number." He grinned. I smiled and scribbled my number down, giving him the paper. He took it, threw out his tea, and walked out of the Starbucks. I sighed, finished my own coffee, then started the drive home.

I pulled into my driveway and saw Alex's car in his driveway. I grabbed my things and walked up to my door, unlocking it and walking inside. I shut the door behind me and walked upstairs. I threw my books and bags onto the bed, relieved I didn't have homework.

I walked downstairs and almost had a heart attack when I saw Alex in my living room.

"Jesus!" I shouted, clasping my hand over my heart. "Alex, what the hell?"

"I knocked." He shrugged. "You didn't answer. Your door was unlocked."

"So you've been in here for like twenty seconds?" i asked.

"Basically." He chuckled. I rolled my eyes.

"Not cool. You can't just do that." I shook my head. "You scared the shit out of me."

Alex smiled and walked into the kitchen. "I'm thirsty."

He reemerged from the kitchen holding a can of Coke.

"Help yourself," I mumbled sarcastically. He grinned and clicked the can open, bringing it to his lips. I looked away as he swallowed it. I walked over to the TV and was about to sit down on the couch when I felt Alex's hand on my wrist.

He spun me around into him.

Not again, I thought.

He pressed his lips to mine, holding me to him as he pressed his hands to my lower back. My arms were being pushed around him by the firmness of his hold on me.

And for some reason I couldn't think of, I kissed him back.

And I loved every second of it.