Alex nods in what seems like relief and when Martin finally pitches up to break the ice, I can't help but run a hand over my face.

"Who wants drinks?" He asks and everyone murmurs their agreements. Martin beckons us into the kitchen and we follow him to it, telling him what we want so that he can put it on the island. I settle with a glass of water. Nina eyes me curiously at my choice but doesn't comment.

Once we all have drinks in hand, we head outside into his garden, settling down on the table that's placed on the deck.

"Why can't our school just burn down?" Martin asks, leaning his head against the chair with a sigh.

"Because the universe hates you?" Cole says.

Martin flips him the bird and Alex chuckles. "If you really wanted to, we could set it on fire ourselves..."

"Don't make jokes like that Alex. You know he'll legitimately try it." Nina rolls her eyes. Alex lets out a loud laugh and I feel a hint of jealousy curl around my stomach at the thought that I can't make Alex laugh like that.

Martin rolls his eyes, "I'm not that bad!"

Everyone gives him a deadpan look.

"You once tried to break down the walls in your house to extend your bedroom." Nina deadpans

"You flooded your bathroom in attempt to make it a pool." Christina adds.

"You were the one who put that idea up in my head!" He pouts and Christina laughs.

"Are we all going to forget about that time Martin painted his room pink and put wallpaper on it to 'experiment' with his four walls?" Cole asks and I can't help myself from throwing my head back with a loud laugh. They all eye me in amusement and I wipe at the stray tears that make its way down my cheeks.

Alex watches my reaction with amusement and once I've composed myself, I take in a deep breath.

"You're insane, Martin." I comment with a wide smile. He smiles childishly at me.

"You haven't seen the worst of it." Nina directs at me with a lopsided smile. I'm taken by surprise by her casual comment. Nina has never being someone who forgives easily or is civil to people she doesn't like. However, I'm not feeling the resentment I should.

I smile in response, hoping that she knows I appreciate her friendliness.

"Can we stop mentioning all of the crazy shit I've done? I don't want Sophie to think I'm mentally unstable." Martin's green eyes glance at everyone. Alex scoffs.

"I'm afraid that's too late, bro." Alex smirks at Martin. Martin gawks at him before shrugging casually and taking a sip out of his beer can. We all chuckle at his reaction.

"If Sophie is going to be a part of us, she needs to know all this crazy shit." Cole teases and I find myself feeling warm at his comment.

"Yeah," Alex says looking down at me from my side, with glee lighting up his eyes, "she does."

****

"Okay, one... two... three... go!" Cole shouts. Alex, Nina and I jug the liquid down hastily, trying to finish the liquid as fast as possible. It burns my throat but I shrug it off, not foreign to the sensation. Once the liquid in my glass is no longer existent I jump up in victory. Martin, Cole and Christina cheer for me, clapping their hands which is accompanied with laughter.

"Yes! I finished first!" I cheer. "Pay up underestimaters." I say sticking my hand out towards Alex and Nina. While we were outside, the topic of how Christina can't stomach lemon juice came up and after I mentioned how much I loved it, Alex found it fit to bet me that I couldn't finish a glass of the sour juice before him. Nina decided to join his challenge however, she seems regretful now as she digs through her pockets for ten dollars. Alex rolls his eyes although they're twinkling with amusement and gives me ten bucks along with Nina who pants tiredly not even getting halfway through her drink.

Score.

I wear a proud smile. I just kicked Alex's ego.

Another score.

"But you can drink like a fish." Martin chuckles lowly and I roll my eyes. "I wasn't kidding when I said I really like lemon juice."

Christina's nose wrinkles in disgust and she shakes her head. "I have no idea how you can drink that, Sophie. It's worse than tequila."

I laugh at her reaction, generally surprised that she dislikes it so much. She steps away from the counter. "I'm going out outside, that smell is even nauseating."

Everyone chuckles as she walks outside with a pale face.

"How about a movie?" Martin suggests and Cole is about say something when Alex cuts him off.

"I got to get Sophie back home guys, maybe next time," Alex says while standing up. I feel myself deflate at that since I'm actually enjoying myself. However, I don't want to overstay or put Alex out so I merely follow his lead and stand up.

"Why? Is Alex Rosewood scared we're going to watch a horror movie?" Nina teases pouting her lips like a little child. He gives her a deadpan look, "You know I'm the least bit scared." He says smirking.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." She laughs with a dismissive hand wave.

Once we're finished saying goodbye to everyone, we make our way outside into Martin's driveway. Alex opens his car and step inside, tying my hair up once I'm inside. As Alex puts his key into the ignition, he turns to face me.

"Want to go for ice-cream?" He asks and I frown a little. He told the Rebels that he had to take me home and yet here he is, offering to take me to get ice-cream. I don't say anything and check the time on my phone, knowing it's still not late. I shrug.

"Sure, why not?"

He smiles crookedly at me, reversing.

"You know we can't go somewhere nearby right? Someone could see us together." I tell him once we're on the road. He rolls his eyes.

"I know that sweetheart. That's why we're going out of town." He comments, briefly looking at me before gazing back at the road.

"Out of town? For ice-cream?" I ask him in amusement. He'll really go out of his way for me? For ice-cream?

His lip quirks into a smirk and his hazel eyes bore into mine.

"Got a problem with that?" He asks and I laugh.

"Not at all."

****

"I'll have a scoop of lemon sorbet please," I ask the blonde boy behind the counter, ordering the same flavour I used to when I was a kid. Alex wasn't kidding when he said out of town and ended up bringing me to a small place about a twenty minute drive from home. "Anything for you sweet lady," The boy winks. I see Alex tense beside me and he scowls at the flirtatious cashier before turning to face me and casually raising an eyebrow. "Lemon sorbet?"

"Yeah? What?" I ask defensively.

"Nothing, I just pictured you being a bubblegum flavour addict." He teases with an amused grin.

"I hate bubblegum." I say in disgust. He chuckles.

The cashier returns with a cup of lemon sorbet and another with chocolate, handing it to us before looking back at me with a very wide smile. "That'd be five dollars please, one less because of you." He winks and I give him a tight lipped smile, ignoring his flirting. However, Alex doesn't seem to do so as he glares at the boy. I ignore Alex's annoyed behavior, searching through my wallet to find my money only to see Alex hand the guy a five dollar bill, "Here."

"What are you doing? I can pay for myself." I say

"I didn't say you couldn't," he counters and I respond with an eye roll.

After paying for our ice-cream, we leave the shop catching the view of the brightly lit night sky.

"You had some fire back there at Martin." Alex teases once we're strolling along the pathway at leisurely pace.
"Are you saying I was hot?" I giggle.

"No. We both know I'm hotter than you." He remarks,

"So you're admitting that I'm cooler than you?" I question, knowing that I caught him out. He opens his mouth to respond but closes it instead once he realises I've won. I laugh at his reaction and continue eating my zesty sorbet.
"This reminds me so much of my dad." I say pointing to the ice-cream.

"Why?" He asks, amused at my eating manners since my mouth is full of the goodness. "Before he left, he always used to take me for ice cream at a place similar to this and then he'd let me choose any flavour and it'd always be this one." I smile at the fond memory until I realise Alex is staring at me.

"Left?" He asks with a frown. I kick myself for mentioning my dad and I purse my lips, try to decide whether or not I'd like to dive into this topic with Alex. However, when I look back up at him to see his eyes watching me in concern, I sigh and allow myself the vulnerability.

"Yeah. He had an affair when I was eight."

Alex frowns deeply. "Why?"

I shrug, "I don't really know, to be honest. But when he left, my mom was devastated- not to mention I was confused as hell. My mom told me what happened but I didn't quite understand, I just understood he did something 'naughty'." I explain, my throat becoming coarse. Maybe I've moved on from what happened but it still hurts. Alex nods, encouraging me to go on.

"He came back when I was about twelve and told my mom he made a mistake, so you can only imagine how happy my mom and I were. She was a little skeptical at first but she loved him so she let him in again. He was with us for about three months and things sort of went back to normal although he was still a little distant. But then one day he told my mom he was actually engaged and just needed a place to stay after having an arguement with his fiancé's parents.

"I guess that was when he really hurt us, I tought I had my dad back and my mom thought she had the man she loved back, afterall we battled those four years after he left so when he came we thought it was only going to get better." I say. I've never really opened up about this to anyone- except Rachel of course- so it's like a huge weight lifted off my chest and the fact that Alex isn't giving me pitiful glances makes me feel confident in sharing this piece of my life.

"I'm so sorry, have you spoken to him since?" Alex says with concern as he continues eating his ice-cream. I shove another spoonful into my mouth.

"I haven't spoken to him for the last two years unless it's about the
payments. Which is usually by email anyway," I shrug.

Alex raises a brow at me, "Payments?"

"The deal between him and my mom was that, since he is wealthy enough, he has to pay me and my mom both an allowance." I answer. "That's how I afford my dresses and the parties. Not that my mom can't pay for them but rather that I don't want her too." He nods at what I say, not saying anything after that. However, the comfortable silence is enough for me. I glance at him to see his eyes trained on his sneakers. I nudge him with my elbow and he looks up at me with his lips pressed into a firm line.

"How did you feel when he left?" He asks cautiously. I ponder over what he asks for a second, trying to find a way to put what I felt into words. "Hurt and angry, I guess. I was close with my dad and he was really good to me so when ne left for four years and I couldn't understand why, it frustrated me. But when he came back again, I was ecstatic to have him although a little hesistant, I mean I missed him. After he left again, I vowed I would never let him back in. And so far I haven't." Is what I settle with and silence follows as we continue eating our ice-creams, the soft chatter of people who are on the sidewalks or sitting at the small coffee shops been the only noise for us to listen to. Although that is soon broken by Alex.

"I know it isn't a fun experience, but you're not alone. I've gone through it before as well. " He says as we walk along the streets. I raise my eyebrow at him silently willing him to go on this time.
"My dad left when I was twelve." He clears his throat, scratching at his neck.

"But he didn't leave because of an affair, I don't actually know why he left." His voice is laced with resentment and I look over at him. His eyes are flat with pain and anger and I want to hug him to stop the pain seeping through his voice. Wanting more of the story, I keep quiet. He sighs, "I haven't told anybody this, so you should feel lucky I am." He comments and I feel myself growing warm at that fact.

"I'm honoured," I giggle. He laughs quietly before continuing, "So my mom met him and had me and then had my sister a few years later. He became an alcoholic and a really unstable person and it got worse and worse as time went by. My parents were basically just living on the border line, barely affording anything due to my fathers antics. Suddenly, he just... left oneday, leaving my mom and her two children to fend for themselves. He told my mom's boss some story to get her fired and it certainly worked. Now she had to look after me, and a toddler without a job." He runs a hand through his hair, "By then we weren't even living. She couldn't find a job. She couldn't pay the bills. Nothing. It was hell. But then she got a job at this hotel." He says, his adams-apple bopping up and down.

"And she worked there for a while, she earned just enough money to pay for everything with a little more to spare. One day she took me to work with her to meet her 'friend' even though he was really her boss, and soon they were a couple. She was dating the owner of all Rosewood Hotels and he was dating a maid. I was furious. And then before I knew it they were married and we were living all together, my mom had a new husband, and lots of money." He finally finishes, a deep frown etched onto his face. I feel terrible for him, I thought I went through pain when Alex went through something even worse. At least my father wasn't an alcoholic or got my mom fired. At least we were still able to live, not like Alex's mother. A question pops into my head and I ponder whether to ask it or not but decide to anyway, hoping Alex won't be upset.

"Can I ask why you dislike him so much?" I ask cautiously.

He sighs, "He didn't love my mom Sophie, he pitied her. Here was a woman with two children and no husband with barely any money. She was beautiful and hard working so he thought he should 'save' her. I know he didn't love her, and my mom knew that too- imagine marrying a man who you know is only marrying you out of guilt and pit? Not out of love. I guess I've always hated him for that- pitying us. Thinking he 'saved' us. Because sure he helped, but he isn't our hero.

"I know over time they've started to love each other, the way they should have from the start and I'm happy for my mom, but I still hate the fact that he only married her for that reason. So... I piss him off, disobey him and disappoint him. That way he knows I don't care what he thinks and he will never be my dad. That he can't 'save' me."

When Alex is finished explaining, I feel like a new weight has been placed on my shoulders. I can't imagine having to go through that. Alex is proof that everyone has their reasons and a story begins their smile. I wish more people understood that. However, he should rather try and work at the relationship with Mr Rosewood rather than constantly trying to tear it down. It isn't going to get better if he continues to do so, if only it'll get worse.

"And thats why you said been caught with ll Marijuana wasn't so bad?" I ask, him nodding his head in agreement.

"Yeah. He bailed me out, I was actually going to stay longer but he has connections. He was upset about it, which meant I succeeded." He chuckles. I chuckle along with him although I don't necessarily agree with what Alex is doing but he has his reasons and I don't believe it's my place to judge whether or not they're reasonable.

"But he loves my mom now, so I avoid him at home. That way, living with him is actually manageable." He mumbles in conclusion.

My heart swells at how much he cares about his mom, it's adorable, especially coming from the boy who literally treats girls like bubblegum; once he's bored of their flavour he tosses them
out.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that but in the end you've come out a stronger person and a sweet guy. It's mended you and I think that's amazing." I comment truthfully, shoving another spoonful of my ice-cream into my mouth.

I notice his presence is no longer beside mine and I turn around to try and see why that is. He then does something I've never seen him do at me- he smiles. He doesn't smirk, or give me a half-smile. He full on, genuinely smiles and honestly... it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

****

After a very long day of been with the Rebels and then going for ice-cream with Alex, which was highly interesting, he dropped me at home at nine. The fact that Alex opened up to me makes me smile. He's a really private person and the fact that people don't know what he told me, makes me feel like he thinks I'm special enough for him to have shared it with me. He came from a hard life which explains some of the things he does.

Everyone thinks that he's just some careless guy who doesn't give a shit about anything or anyone, who does the things he does just for the sake of it when in fact, he does it for a reason. Maybe a silly one- though I won't be the judge of that- but a reason nonetheless. It doesn't explain everything that he does or validate it either, but it is a start to understanding him.

And he's given me the opportunity to do that, which I can't be more grateful for.

Not to mention I opened up to him about my life too. I don't know what makes me so comfortable to tell him everything but I just feel like I can trust him. Maybe it's a dangerous decision, a risky thing to do but I feel like he's real with me. And I want to be real with him, too.

When I'm back in my room, I undress out of my clothes and put my pyjamas on, climbing into bed for some much needed rest.

I have a slight feeling that maybe, just maybe I'll finally escape the Elite after so long.

Hello once again my lovelies♡
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
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