Chapter 14
Chapter 14
"I'm worried about him." Said Angela as she propped her elbows on the counter. "I mean maybe I made a mistake by bringing him all the way here."
Naima propped herself on the other side of the counter. "I think he's doing all right." She said non challant.
"Naima. Be reasonable." She said rising up and putting her hands on her hips. "He didn't even make through one day of school."
"Well let him get adjusted. You said yourself that he had a hard life. Just give him a little more time."
"I don't know."
"So you're just going to give up on him like everyone else?"
Angela sighed.
Just then Jacoby appeared beside Angela. "G'Day Ladies." Angela jumped and put her hand to her chest.
"Oh! You scared me!... Don't ever do that again!" Said Angela breathing deeply.
"Oh, sorry mate." Laughed Jacoby, "Where's Alex?"
Nobody said a word. Jacoby frowned. "What happened?" He looked from Angela to Naima.
"He stormed out when we were talking about one of his families." Said Angela while looking at her feet.
Jacoby sighed. "Yea, the Parsons. They were a bunch of ass holes."
"I could tell... I don't know. He seems unstable right now." Replied Angela.
"That's because he is." Said Jacoby. "Do you want me to go Fi--"
Jacoby was interrupted by Midnights barking. She ran into the kitchen as her paws slide across the tile. She stopped at the back door and began wagging her tail and whining happily.
Alex waited on the other side of the door and rolled his neck. He twisted the door knob and stepped in slowly. Midnight nudged his hand and he rubbed her neck with a sigh. Everyone turned to look at him. He peered at them through his hair with his icy blue eyes. His face was soft and apologetic, innocent.
Alex's hands were shaking slightly now as he stopped in the middle of the kitchen.
It was dead silent.
"I..." He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry." He whispered. Midnight sat by his side.
"Aww its ok baby..." Said Angela as she ran over to Alex. She embraced him in a bear hug and rocked side to side. "I'm just happy you're safe."
Alex stood there with his arms to his sides. His eyes were wide and he smiled slightly. This is new.
Jacoby laughed. Then Angela released Alex and looked him over. Alex gave her a smirk.
"Can I go to my room?" He asked quietly.
"Yes, Yes. Go ahead sweetie. You've had a long day." Said Angela, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Alex walked down the hall, with midnight following, and Jacoby disappeared into his room.
Alex lay on his side with his legs to his chest. Jacoby had left hours ago after he became tired of sitting in silence. I'll be back. He had said. Midnight lay in front of Alex, as always, and thoughts ran through his head; of home, school, his families, his friends, and the mutants. He let himself succumb to the emotions that had been welling up inside of him... and he sobbed.
Naima lay in her bed and listened to Alex. It was heart wrenching. She battled with herself and finally decided to check on him like he did her. She slowly walked down the hall. The floor boards creaked and she knew she had been heard. As, she raised her hand to knock, Alex opened the door and wiped his eyes. The movement was so fast Naima almost missed it.
"Yea?" Asked Alex and he stared at her frowning, still holding the edge of the door.
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." She said slowly.
Alex laughed a sort of crazy laugh. "To make sure I'm ok? I was born this messed up. You think that will change now?" He rolled his head as a spark went from the tips of his hair. Naima stepped back.
Alex grimaced. "Typical. You would be afraid just like everyone else. Even Angela."
"Alex, you need to calm down." She said softly.
"Calm down?" Said Alex loudly. He snarled and grabbed Naima's shoulders and thrust her against the wall. His face was near millimeters from hers. "I've seen horrors your little spoiled self could never imagine." He spit. His head was cocked to the side, his lips hovering over hers.
She could feel his hot breathe blowing across her face. She stared wide eyed at his rage.
"...But yet..." He paused. His voice became more controlled, now. "After what you put me through, these last couple of days... I still care for you." He propped his forehead against hers and their noses touched briefly. "And I don't know why... It's as if you have some hold over me."
He searched her eyes and she searched back. She became mystified at the pools of sparkling blue. They truly were a work of art.
His muscles flexed and he tighten his grip on her arms. She winced. "I'm sorry." He said frowning and releasing his iron grasp. Yet, he stayed planted where he was. His face was oh so close to hers.
Naima smiled and then a look of shock came across her face. She realized that she cared for him, too. Even though he was stupid and had fits of rage; she truly cared for him. Why else would she go to his room in the middle of the night to see if he was ok? The epiphany startled her for many reasons; One, She only just met him, two, he was a mutant, and three, he had a menacing temper. Yet there were so many things she loved about him. The way he wiped the hair from his face, the way his eyes sparkled, the way he spoke the way he walked, etcetera etcetera... She quickly wiped the look off her face and glanced back at Alex.
Then he kissed her full on the lips, savoring every second, knowing that she could break free at any moment. But she didn't. She kissed him back. They stood there in the middle of the hall enjoying their moment of revelation. She rapped her arms around his neck and smiled -- still kissing-- at the spark that went to her hand. Electricity surged through her and she knew it was from him. It only enhanced the moment, however, and she embraced him tighter. He slid his hand to her waste and propped her against the wall. "I love you." He said softly and then embraced her lips again.
A light came on above their heads and Alex jumped back and hit the other wall with a thud. He stared shocked toward the light switch. He hadn't heard anyone coming.
Naima stared surprised down the hall and hugged the wall even closer than before.