Chapter 1: First Touch
Alexander was walking his way back to his High School. He recalled the events that happened last night.
'I hope Carrie is okay... She had to endure a lot from her mother...' He thought.
The events were still playing in his mind, causing him to wander endlessly. He pondered on what to do.
'Ewen Consolidated High School... Supposedly, this high school is one of the best in Maine... Years of hell for me.' Alexander thought.
Before he knew it, Alexander accidentally bumped into someone while lost in thought. It turns out, the person he bumped into was Carrie, who was holding a few notebooks.
"Oh... I-I'm so sorry about that. I was lost in thought..." Alexander said, not knowing who he bumped into.
He quickly picked up the notebooks. Carrie watched with slight interest and surprise as he picked the books for her. Upon seeing her face, Alexander briefly blushed in response. He then noticed several bruise marks on her face.
"Are you okay?" Alexander said, briefly forgetting his shy demeanor.
Carrie was surprised of his actions. Upon feeling his hand touch her fingers, she reacted by blushing. Upon feeling his warm hands, her pale face turned a healthy pink in response. Soon, Alexander realized what he was doing and blushed red in response.
"I-I'm sorry about that...! I-I-I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable..." Alexander apologized, stuttering.
He provided the notebooks to Carrie before walking away, flustered. Said girl watched as Alexander moved awkwardly away from her.
'He touched my hand...but I don't feel any problems from him... It was...comforting.' She thought, clutching where Alexander touched her hand.
Morning Math class was awkward for Alexander. He was desperately trying to hide his blush, but failed. Several classmates noticed his head turning red.
"Oh my... He's certainly turning red." A female student teased.
Alexander knew who the voice was and felt disgusted hearing it.
'Tina Blake... A real awful person to be near...' He thought.
The teacher soon arrived. Everyone was still watching Alexander, trying any way to tease him.
"Okay, class. Settle down." The math teacher ordered.
Everyone was quiet. Soon, Carrie walked in the classroom, wearing her outfit from yesterday.
"Ah, Carrie. Good to see you're on time." The teacher said.
She meekly nodded in response. Alexander looked at the math teacher.
'Mr. Cross... He's known for being a friendly teacher.' Alexander thought.
Mr. Cross was a slightly above average person with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. His skin tone was a pale peach color. He stood no taller than 5'10, making him average in height.
"Okay class, we're about to start on precalculus." He said.
Lunch came by. Alexander was seen sitting alone, away from his peers. Tommy noticed him looking lonely.
"Hey Alex. How are you doing?" He said with an extroverted spirit.
Alexander was startled from the sudden greeting. He saw Tommy near him and calmed down.
"I... I'm doing okay..." Alexander responded meekly.
Tommy sat near him in response. He ate his lunch quickly while Alexander ate in a slow, calm manner.
"What have you been up to, Alex?" Tommy asked.
"Nothing... Just school..." Alexander answered.
"You should try to open up a little... It will help you in the future." Tommy said.
Alexander was conflicted on what to do. Soon, a third person came in. Carrie arrived near him.
"Um... Is it okay if I can sit here?" She asked in a gentle, shy tone.
Tommy didn't mind it and nodded. Alexander meekly nodded, blushing red. Carrie was curious of Alexander's blushing face. Tommy realized his friend has a crush on her and smiled inwardly.
"It was good chatting with you, Alex. I'll see you some other time." Tommy said, leaving Alexander and Carrie alone.
This made the two shy teens look each other for a split second before looking away. Some of their classmates noticed the interaction. They attempted to tease them, but seeing them looking flustered made them think otherwise.
Lunch period ended. Alexander was walking to his locker, about to open it.
'I can't believe I was with Carrie today during lunch period... She looked okay, but I couldn't ask her what was wrong.' He thought.
Unknown to him, Carrie was nearby, opening her locker. She was pandering of her recent interaction with Alexander.
'Alexander seemed like a nice person. He also looked like how I am...' She thought.
Once Alex closed his locker, he noticed Carrie and quickly responded by blushing. The girl also noticed him in response, blushing red.
"I-I'm sorry...! I didn't see you there." Alexander quickly responded.
"No, it's okay. I'm also surprised." Carrie reassured.
"Um... What class are you taking next?" Alexander asked, trying to chat with her.
"Math...and Science..." Carrie spoke with a soft tone.
'T-that's the same classes I'm taking...! I know she doesn't go to Science due to her mother... I pray that a miracle will save her...' Alexander thought.
The school day was over. Alexander was about to leave Ewen Consolidated High School till Carrie showed up. She had a timid expression, feeling as though the slightest touch from a feather would force her to run away. Alex also looked incredibly nervous, unable to even look at her face without blushing.
"H-Hi Carrie." He stuttered.
"Hi Alex... Do you...mind...if I walk...with you?" She asked in a quiet, cute tone.
Alexander couldn't resist at all. Hearing the tone from Carrie made him feel lucky. Though he was trying to keep himself composed, his excitement was barely restrained.
"I-I don't mind." He answered, blushing.
This gave Carrie a gentle smile, feeling reassured. Alex thought he saw an angel in front of him.
'I never thought that Carrie would ask me to walk with her... I could barely even talk or even look whenever she's around... I still have my crush for her, even during our younger days...' Alex thought, blushing red.
Carrie noticed his face was turning red. It made her worried that Alex was catching an illness.
"Are you okay, Alex? Your face is turning red." She said.
"It-It's okay...! I'm fine, really." Alex answered, trying to hold his embarrassment back.
Carrie tilted her head in confusion, making the sight cute to Alex's eyes. It made him blush red in response.
'We should be close to our homes... However, knowing how long the walk is, it would feel like a life long journey.' Alex thought.
A young male biker was nearby. This made Carrie move close to Alex, not wanting to see him. The close contact from her was enough to make Alex blush, but he knew the biker.
'Great, that child is a frequent harasser of Carrie. He always shouted -Crazy Carrie!- all the time when he's around. It makes me sick thinking about it.' Alex thought.
The biker was about to get closer to Carrie, but Alex flashed an angry look to the boy. This deterred the boy, forcing him to move away.
"He won't bother you, Carrie. He's gone." Alex reassured.
He felt her release him, which made Alex pout for a brief moment. However, he knew it wasn't a good idea to linger the feeling.
"Thank you." Carrie said.
"It's no problem, Carrie." Alex reassured.
Carrie remained close to Alex as they walked their way back home. Both had a ghost of a content expression, but they were both so shy, they had a blush in their faces for being close to each other.
After several minutes, they arrived at their homes. Carrie looked despondent, seeing the ruined house with many holes. Alex felt bad for her, seeing that she didn't like her cruel mother.
"I'll... I'll see you tomorrow, Carrie." Alex said, blushing.
Carrie looked away, blushing before responding.
"Me too..." She said in a quiet, cute tone.
Alex was able to hear her and blushed upon the events that happened today. He went inside his home, only to be greeted by his grandparents whom were happy for him.
"I'm proud of you, Alex. You were a gentleman to walk with Carrie back to her home." His grandfather said.
"Grandpa... Please don't tease me..." Alex pouted.
"Ho ho ho... It reminds me of our time when we were young, right hunny?" His grandmother said.
"Ah yes. We were like that in high school. It was a time of our youth. I'll admit, I was just like you, Alex, when I first met your grandmother. We both couldn't help but blush each time we saw each other." His grandfather spoke.
Alex was surprised, hearing the early times of his grandparents. It made him curious.
"Luckily, my parents were understanding. They were not like Carrie's mother though. In fact, they welcomed your grandfather with open arms." His grandmother finished.
Alex had a brief sour expression. Being reminded of Margaret always made a disdainful reaction on him. He wished the mother would be more understanding than berating her daughter like a lunatic.
That night, Alex heard a commotion near his room. He looked outside of his window near Carrie's house to see a horrifying sight.
"Oh my God... Carrie...!" Alex said in shock.
He watched as Carrie was being abused by Margaret, slapping her and holding a Holy Bible on her left hand. His hands clenched so deeply into his palms, blood was being drawn out. He unconsciously shaped the blood into a cross before hurling it out, hitting the next door window. This startled Margaret, which caused Alex to quickly hide. Upon seeing the bloody cross, Margaret left Carrie's room.
'I can't believe what I just did... I shouldn't use my ability to manipulate blood, but I lost myself when Carrie was being attacked...' Alex thought.
Carrie went to the window, surprised of the cross. She couldn't find any explanation to the bloody cross, but it oddly felt reassuring. It was as though someone was watching her from afar, protecting her from Margaret's wrath.
'Who could have send this cross to me? I'm happy, whoever it was, that sent it here to stop Mama...' Carrie thought.
Alexander scurried to his bed, and quickly hid underneath the covers. He was afraid of being found out. While he kept himself hidden, Carrie looked through her window to see Alex on his bed. Through her eyes, she thought he was sleeping.
'Alex... I don't understand why... I just feel safe when I'm with you...' Carrie thought.
Her heart began to race, which made her face flushed. Alexander was eventually asleep as Carrie looked at his room through the window.
